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R. Lopez

These 13 Cocktails Aren't Just Smoke and Mirrors

Head to these bars for drinks with a smoky element.

by Lani Furbank
View as Map
Lupo Verde
| R. Lopez
by Lani Furbank

Not all smoked cocktails are created equal. "Smoked" could mean a cocktail with smoked liquor in it, a drink that’s been set on fire or one that’s infused with a smoky flavor. Regardless of where the fiery element comes in, these 13 cocktails aren’t just smoke and mirrors.

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2941 Restaurant

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Made to look like its namesake, the “Viking Funeral” comes garnished with a burnt sprig of rosemary laid across the top of the glass. The drink has The Botanist Gin, Cocchi Americano, and Chartreuse ($14).

2941 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 270-1500
(703) 270-1500
Eater.com

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Chaplin's

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“The Lazaretto” ($12) is one of the “Smoke, Wind and Fire” cocktails at Chaplin's. It starts with a smoked apple ice cube, which is made by melting ice into a tray of apple wood chips over the smoker where they roast pork, and then freezing the smoked water with apple nectar into a large square cube. The drink contains Glenlivet 12, Carpano Antica Vermouth, and apple bitters. It’s then garnished with seared pork belly (torched over the cocktail to allow the fat to drip into the drink for extra flavor).

1501 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 644-8806
(202) 644-8806
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Del Campo

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Perfect for a cool fall night by the fire pit, “Sam’s Campfire Coffee” ($13) is made with smoked cold brew coffee, sherry, brandy, and allspice dram.

777 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Dram and Grain

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In the basement of Jack Rose, find the smoking gun that created the “Ode to Omaha” ($17). The smoking gun is filled with hickory wood chips and orange dolce tea to infuse smoke into a corked glass orb containing a mix of Thomas Tew Rum, house-made seasonal berry and cinnamon syrup, and Jerry Thomas Bitters.

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 607-1572
(202) 607-1572
Christine T./Yelp

Also featured in:

Equinox

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There's no bacon required to give this Bloody Mary ($10) its smoky flavor. It includes house-made Bloody Mary mix, lime, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, celery seeds, salt and pepper. The smoke comes from the addition of smoked paprika and smoke from a smoking gun filled with oak wood chips.

818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 331-8118
(202) 331-8118
A.R.P./Yelp

Also featured in:

Food Wine & Co.

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“The Naturalist” ($13) was a summer cocktail at Food, Wine & Co., and it’s now back on the menu by popular demand. It contains Smooth Ambler barrel aged gin, rosemary, orange juice, Grand Marnier, and liquid smoke.

7272 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 651-8008
(301) 651-8008
Facebook

Also featured in:

Lupo Verde

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Lupo Verde’s “Fumo Insolito” ($12) features a smoky mezcal and some Italian flair. Mezcal, Don Ciccio Mandarin Liqueur, lemon juice, egg white, soda, and housemade saffron bitters are shaken up and served with a rosemary garnish.

1401 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 827-4726
(202) 827-4726
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Masseria

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Smoked oil creates a dramatic effect for “The Hennessy Jed” ($14)/ A glass is filled with smoked, plum-infused glycerin that is cooked over a small camper stove. With the smoke still in the glass, the mix of Hennessy VS cognac, plums, and Peychaud’s Bitters is poured into it.

1340 4th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 608-5959
(202) 608-5959
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Osteria Morini

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The bartenders at Osteria Morini set fire to a cedar plank to create their smoked Negroni ($14). While the plank is burning, the glass is placed over it to capture the smoke. Then George Dickel No. 1 Whiskey, Cardamaro, and Cocchi Americano Bianco are poured in. Side effects may include a cedar aroma that fills the bar area.

301 Water St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 484-0660
(202) 484-0660
Official

Also featured in:

Republic

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Republic puts a mythical spin on the classic flip with their “Troll’s Blood” ($12) cocktail. It features a Smith & Cross Jamaican rum and Angostura bitters brûlée, which means it’s lit on fire through an atomizer. Cynar Artichoke Liqueur, sugar, egg white and additional Angostura bitters are added after the fiery production.

6939 Laurel Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
(301) 270-3000
(301) 270-3000
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Science Club

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It’s appropriate that Science Club’s “Carbon Copy” ($15), which is served chilled and smoking, sounds and looks a bit like a science experiment. Similar to a vodka martini, but with a smoking twist, the drink uses Russian Standard vodka, hibiscus tea, pineapple syrup, and lime bitters.

1136 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 775-0747
(202) 775-0747
Amanda H./Yelp

Also featured in:

The Round Robin Bar

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Laphroaig aged 10 years imparts the unmistakable taste of smoked Islay peat into the “Santa Anita Cup” ($15). It also includes framboise, bitters and fresh mint. It's garnished with an orange slice.

1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 628-9100
(202) 628-9100
Facebook

Also featured in:

Wildwood Kitchen by Robert Wiedmaier

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Brunch at Wildwood Kitchen is easy like “Sunday Mornings” ($12). Combining two breakfast favorites, it features smoked maple syrup, bacon-washed bourbon and a vanilla and cinnamon tincture.

10223 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 571-1700
(301) 571-1700
Eater.com

Also featured in:

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2941 Restaurant

2941 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, VA 22042

Made to look like its namesake, the “Viking Funeral” comes garnished with a burnt sprig of rosemary laid across the top of the glass. The drink has The Botanist Gin, Cocchi Americano, and Chartreuse ($14).

2941 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 270-1500
(703) 270-1500
Eater.com

Chaplin's

1501 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

“The Lazaretto” ($12) is one of the “Smoke, Wind and Fire” cocktails at Chaplin's. It starts with a smoked apple ice cube, which is made by melting ice into a tray of apple wood chips over the smoker where they roast pork, and then freezing the smoked water with apple nectar into a large square cube. The drink contains Glenlivet 12, Carpano Antica Vermouth, and apple bitters. It’s then garnished with seared pork belly (torched over the cocktail to allow the fat to drip into the drink for extra flavor).

1501 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 644-8806
(202) 644-8806
R. Lopez

Del Campo

777 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Perfect for a cool fall night by the fire pit, “Sam’s Campfire Coffee” ($13) is made with smoked cold brew coffee, sherry, brandy, and allspice dram.

777 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
R. Lopez

Dram and Grain

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

In the basement of Jack Rose, find the smoking gun that created the “Ode to Omaha” ($17). The smoking gun is filled with hickory wood chips and orange dolce tea to infuse smoke into a corked glass orb containing a mix of Thomas Tew Rum, house-made seasonal berry and cinnamon syrup, and Jerry Thomas Bitters.

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 607-1572
(202) 607-1572
Christine T./Yelp

Equinox

818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

There's no bacon required to give this Bloody Mary ($10) its smoky flavor. It includes house-made Bloody Mary mix, lime, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, celery seeds, salt and pepper. The smoke comes from the addition of smoked paprika and smoke from a smoking gun filled with oak wood chips.

818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 331-8118
(202) 331-8118
A.R.P./Yelp

Food Wine & Co.

7272 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

“The Naturalist” ($13) was a summer cocktail at Food, Wine & Co., and it’s now back on the menu by popular demand. It contains Smooth Ambler barrel aged gin, rosemary, orange juice, Grand Marnier, and liquid smoke.

7272 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 651-8008
(301) 651-8008
Facebook

Lupo Verde

1401 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Lupo Verde’s “Fumo Insolito” ($12) features a smoky mezcal and some Italian flair. Mezcal, Don Ciccio Mandarin Liqueur, lemon juice, egg white, soda, and housemade saffron bitters are shaken up and served with a rosemary garnish.

1401 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 827-4726
(202) 827-4726
R. Lopez

Masseria

1340 4th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Smoked oil creates a dramatic effect for “The Hennessy Jed” ($14)/ A glass is filled with smoked, plum-infused glycerin that is cooked over a small camper stove. With the smoke still in the glass, the mix of Hennessy VS cognac, plums, and Peychaud’s Bitters is poured into it.

1340 4th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 608-5959
(202) 608-5959
R. Lopez

Osteria Morini

301 Water St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

The bartenders at Osteria Morini set fire to a cedar plank to create their smoked Negroni ($14). While the plank is burning, the glass is placed over it to capture the smoke. Then George Dickel No. 1 Whiskey, Cardamaro, and Cocchi Americano Bianco are poured in. Side effects may include a cedar aroma that fills the bar area.

301 Water St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 484-0660
(202) 484-0660
Official

Republic

6939 Laurel Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912

Republic puts a mythical spin on the classic flip with their “Troll’s Blood” ($12) cocktail. It features a Smith & Cross Jamaican rum and Angostura bitters brûlée, which means it’s lit on fire through an atomizer. Cynar Artichoke Liqueur, sugar, egg white and additional Angostura bitters are added after the fiery production.

6939 Laurel Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
(301) 270-3000
(301) 270-3000
R. Lopez

Science Club

1136 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

It’s appropriate that Science Club’s “Carbon Copy” ($15), which is served chilled and smoking, sounds and looks a bit like a science experiment. Similar to a vodka martini, but with a smoking twist, the drink uses Russian Standard vodka, hibiscus tea, pineapple syrup, and lime bitters.

1136 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 775-0747
(202) 775-0747
Amanda H./Yelp

The Round Robin Bar

1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Laphroaig aged 10 years imparts the unmistakable taste of smoked Islay peat into the “Santa Anita Cup” ($15). It also includes framboise, bitters and fresh mint. It's garnished with an orange slice.

1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 628-9100
(202) 628-9100
Facebook

Wildwood Kitchen by Robert Wiedmaier

10223 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814

Brunch at Wildwood Kitchen is easy like “Sunday Mornings” ($12). Combining two breakfast favorites, it features smoked maple syrup, bacon-washed bourbon and a vanilla and cinnamon tincture.

10223 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 571-1700
(301) 571-1700
Eater.com

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