Pick a torch kit if you mostly smoke whiskey drinks and want a gift-ready box. Pick the Breville smoking gun if you want smoke without a torch for both drinks and food. Pick the Gramercy infuser if you only want to see whether smoked cocktails are for you.
These are researched recommendations, not hands-on tests. We built this guide from each product listing, so check the current listing before ordering.
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| Kit | Tier | How it makes smoke | What the listing states | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gramercy Cocktail Smoker Kit | Budget | Handheld infuser, wood chips | Aluminum and plastic construction, wood chips included | No torch is mentioned in the listing |
| Whiskey Smoker Kit with Torch | Mid-range | Torch and oak smoke top | Six wood chip flavors, two glasses, two ice ball molds, torch | Torch ships without butane |
| G&J’s Finest Whiskey Smoker Kit | Splurge | Quad-flame torch and mahogany lid | Glass rest, scorch shield, six wood chip flavors, wooden gift box | Butane is required |
| Breville Smoking Gun | Splurge | Battery-powered, no torch | Four AA batteries included, Gentle and Intense settings, removable burn chamber | Chips are samples only |
How Cocktail Smokers Work
A cocktail smoker burns wood chips and directs the smoke into a glass or under a lid. Torch kits use a flame to light the chips on a smoker top that sits over the glass.
A smoking gun burns the chips in a small chamber and sends the smoke through a tube, so no flame goes near the drink. Whether smoke improves a drink is up to your taste. Choose by how you want to work and what you want to smoke.
What to Check Before Buying
- Torch or no torch: Some kits include one and some do not. The torch kits below ship without butane or require it, so budget for fuel.
- Wood chips: Count the flavors in the box and see whether the listing says samples.
- Food use: If you want to smoke cheese or other food, look for a listing that says so.
- Glasses and extras: Glasses and ice molds are handy in a first kit if you do not already own them.
- Power: The Breville runs on batteries, and the torch kits run on butane.
Fire Safety
Use a torch away from curtains, paper, alcohol bottles and anything else that can catch. Never point a flame at yourself or at a drink you are holding. Follow the maker’s directions for the torch, the smoker top and the wood chips, and let everything cool before you put it away.
Gramercy Cocktail Smoker Kit
This is the budget way to try smoke on drinks and food. The listing describes a handheld infuser with aluminum and plastic construction, and wood chips are included.
The listing does not mention a torch, so confirm what comes in the box and how you will light the chips.
Whiskey Smoker Kit With Torch
Someone who wants to smoke an old fashioned with everything in one box should look here. The listing names six wood chip flavors, two glasses, two ice ball molds, an oak smoke top and a torch. It also says the kit can smoke food such as cheese, meats and dried fruit.
The torch ships without butane and must be filled before first use, so buy butane when you order.
G&J’s Finest Whiskey Smoker Kit
This splurge kit suits a gift or a buyer who wants a hardwood top. The listing describes a genuine mahogany smoker lid with a built-in glass rest and scorch shield, plus a quad-flame torch and six wood chip flavors. It comes in a wooden gift box.
Butane is required for the torch, so factor fuel into the buy.
Breville Smoking Gun
This splurge pick makes cold smoke for drinks and food without a torch. It runs on four AA batteries, which are included, and has Gentle and Intense settings. The listing also names two mesh filters, an instruction book with recipe cards, a removable burn chamber, a silicone smoke tube and a one-year limited warranty.
Only hickory and applewood chip samples come with it, so plan on buying chips.
Smoked Drinks to Try With Your Kit
Start with a drink you already like. Our smoked cocktails at home collection has seven options beyond the old fashioned.
If you want to smoke a classic, try the apple cider old fashioned , the black forest old fashioned or the chocolate bourbon espresso old fashioned .
What to Serve With Smoked Drinks
Smoke leans savory, so the best snacks are salty, nutty or rich. A smoked old fashioned sits well beside aged cheddar or gouda, roasted almonds or pecans, and a few slices of cured meat. Dried apricots or figs add something sweet without fighting the glass.
Dark chocolate is the easy finish. A few squares on a small plate, or a bowl of chocolate-covered nuts, work with bourbon and rye drinks that have a hint of cherry, orange or coffee. If you plan a full spread, our charcuterie board for a party shows how to lay one out, and the cocktail party food ideas page has easy bites for guests who are standing with a glass in hand.
For something sweeter, the dessert charcuterie board ideas give you cookies, fruit and chocolate that suit a dessert drink such as the chocolate bourbon espresso old fashioned. Keep the food simple. The smoke is the feature, so skip anything heavily spiced or sauced that would compete with it.
Tips for Using Your Kit
Read the maker’s directions first, then do a dry run with an empty glass. That way the torch, the lid and the chips are familiar before guests are watching. Set out everything you need before you light anything, including the drink, a coaster, a heat-safe surface and a lid or cloche if your kit has one.
Build the drink first and smoke it last. Make the cocktail in its glass or a mixing glass, then add the smoke just before serving so guests get the aroma at the table. Smoke is a finishing touch, so start light and add more only if you want it.
Pick one wood and stay with it for the evening. Changing flavors between rounds is fun, but it is easier to tell what you like when you compare one drink against the next. Keep a small dish of water or a heat-safe plate nearby for spent chips, and let them cool fully before you throw them out.
Common mistakes are easy to avoid. Do not use a kit near anything that can catch, do not rush the setup while guests talk to you, and do not buy butane after the party starts. If you are hosting, our last-minute hosting checklist and the guide to setting up a cocktail party table for 8 help you plan where the smoking station goes, away from the food and the crowd.
Storing and Cleaning Your Kit
Let every part cool before you clean or pack it. Wipe the smoker top and the glass rest according to the maker’s care notes, and empty any ash before you store the kit. Keep wood chips in a dry spot in their original packaging or a sealed container so they stay usable.
Store the torch upright and away from heat, and keep spare butane with the kit so you do not forget it. For the Breville, empty the burn chamber once it is cool and follow the instruction book for the filters and the tube. If a part is not listed as dishwasher safe, wash it by hand.
Buying a Smoker Kit as a Gift
A boxed kit with glasses, ice molds and chips is easier to give than a single tool, because the recipient can use it straight away. Think about who you are buying for. A person who already owns a bar cart may want the Breville or a lid-style kit, while a new home bartender may prefer the full box with glasses.
Add something to make the gift complete. A bottle of bourbon or rye, a small bag of nuts, or a packet of dark chocolate turns it into a present. If you are building a larger set, our home bar gift ideas have more to pair with it. Remember to include butane for the torch kits, since the listings say it is not in the box or is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a smoking gun and a torch kit?
A torch kit uses a flame to burn chips on a smoker top over your glass. A smoking gun burns chips in a chamber and sends the smoke through a tube, so there is no torch.
Do I need to buy a torch separately?
Two of the kits above include a torch, and you still need butane for them. The Gramercy listing does not mention a torch.
Can I smoke food with these?
Some listings say so. The Whiskey Smoker Kit with Torch lists cheese, meats and dried fruit, and the Gramercy and Breville titles both mention food.
What food goes with a smoked cocktail?
Salty and rich foods suit smoke best, such as aged cheese, roasted nuts, cured meats and dark chocolate. Dried fruit adds a sweet note. Keep the plate simple so the drink stays the star.
Should I smoke the drink before or after mixing it?
Mix the drink first and add the smoke at the end, just before serving. That keeps the aroma at its strongest when the glass reaches the table.
Where should I use a torch kit?
Follow the maker’s directions, and keep the torch away from curtains, paper, bottles and anything else that can catch. Work on a clear, heat-safe surface and let everything cool before you pack it away.
