How To Make The Equinox Smoke & Spice Old Fashioned

Welcome to Episode 89 of Thirsty Thursday Cocktails on Your Bourbon Journey! Tonight, Rebecca crafts the Equinox Smoke & Spice, a dark, spirit-forward smoked Old Fashioned created to welcome the crisp nights of the autumn equinox.

Anchored by the bold 27% high-rye backbone and oily viscosity of Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel, this recipe layers subtle barrel-aged sweetness with aromatic complexity. Sweetened with just a whisper of bourbon barrel aged maple syrup and infused with Fee Brothers Turkish Tobacco and Aztec Chocolate bitters, this build finishes under a rich canopy of fragrant cherry wood smoke.

Whether you are hosting friends by the firepit or looking to elevate your home bar cocktail smoking technique, this balanced, non-sweet, spirit-forward build is an absolute must-try for bourbon lovers.

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🍂 Cocktail Recipe: Equinox Smoke & Spice

  • 2.0 oz Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel Bourbon
  • 1 barspoon (0.15 oz) Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup
  • 2 dashes Fee Brothers Turkish Tobacco Bitters
  • 2 dashes Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters
  • Wood Smoke: Cherry wood chips

🥃 Instructions:

  1. In a mixing glass, combine the bourbon, barrel-aged maple syrup, Turkish tobacco bitters, and Aztec chocolate bitters.
  2. Add dense ice and stir thoroughly until well chilled and properly diluted.
  3. Strain into a double rocks glass over a large clear ice cube.
  4. Place your cocktail smoking chimney top on the glass, fill with cherry wood chips, and ignite with your torch.
  5. Allow the smoke to infuse into the spirit, remove the top, and enjoy the rich hearth aromas!

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. 

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Turkish Tobacco Manhattan: The Ultimate Winter Cocktail 

🥃 The Turkish Tobacco Manhattan (Rye Twist) | December Cocktail Series Part 1/5 | Thirsty Thursday E47

Welcome to Episode 47 of Thirsty Thursday Cocktails and the exciting start of our five-part December Cocktail Series!

Tonight, we’re kicking off the holidays with a sophisticated, deep, and woodsy cocktail: The Turkish Tobacco Manhattan. This is more than just a twist on a classic; it’s a slow-sipper built for contemplation and chilly nights.

We anchor this drink with 2 oz of Sagamore Spirit Small Batch Rye Whiskey for a fantastic backbone of spice and pepper. We maintain the classic 2:1 ratio using Valdespino Sweet Vermouth, which adds a rich, almost savory depth.

The magic is in the bitters blend! We use 3 dashes of Turkish Tobacco Bitters for that deep, smoky, earthy base note (it’s all about the aroma of the cured leaf!) and 2 dashes of Cherry Bitters to provide a crucial, bright ‘lift.’

For the final touch of luxury and aroma, we smoke the coupe glass with Cherry Wood before straining. This creates a woodsy, “fireplace” aroma that ties the whole concept together. 

This is a complex, flavorful, and perfect welcome to your holiday entertaining!

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NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.

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