There are a lot of elaborate ways to get smoke into a drink.  Several of which have been featured and discussed here (check the archives and the recipe pages).  But here is a simple, easy approach where you can add herbal smoke to a drink

First prepare your coktail in a mixing glass, and add ice.  Remember, time is now a factor.

DSC02470Next, hold an empty metal shaker tin upside down and over a sink.  With your pinky, firmly hold whatever herb you are using against the lip of the shaker. Long stemmed herbs like rosemary and thyme are easy, but others may take a little balance, like the sage in this picture.

Now, take your lighter (yes, even in the days of anti smoking bars, I still carry one) ignite the herbs and catch the smoke inside the tin.  as soon as you have some smoke, drop the herbs into the sink to burn out (A-ha!!).

Cap you mixing glass with the smokey tin, and shake.  That’s it!!

If you are doing a cocktail that should be stirred, then after you cap the mixing glass, roll the ingredients once into back a forth, then uncap the glass and stir the cocktail as per usual.

The drink I made while doping this post was a Smoked Sage Margarita:

1/2 oz anejo tequila

1 oz Grand Marnier

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

1/4 oz agave syrup

2 sage leaves

combine liquid ingredients in a mixing glass.  Smoke the sage as described.  Shake and strain up into a chilled and salt rimmed cocktail glass.  Garnish with a lime wedge and sage leaf.

Salud