Smoked Black Cherry Old Fashioned with IMPOSTER Whiskey

Black cherry • orange bitters • cherry-wood smoke

Smoked Black Cherry Old Fashioned over a large ice cube with a cherry and rising smoke on dark wood

Black cherry gives this Old Fashioned-style drink its dark fruit center, while orange bitters keep the finish aromatic. The supplied recipe uses IMPOSTER Whiskey, cherry purée, and three dashes of bitters rather than a separate syrup. Stirring brings those ingredients together before they meet a large serving cube. Cherry-wood smoke is a finishing element, not something to stir through the liquid. Serve it after dinner when there is time to notice the fruit, the orange, and the smoke separately. The brandied cherry and bitters need their own label checks: a zero-proof base does not make those additions alcohol-free.

Quick Recipe Details

Prep time: Estimated 5 minutes
Total time: Estimated 5 minutes
Yield / servings: 1 cocktail
Glassware: Rocks glass
Difficulty: Additional fruit preparation or equipment required
Ice: Ice for stirring; 1 fresh large serving cube
Garnish: Brandied cherry and cherry-wood smoke
Made with: IMPOSTER Whiskey

Ingredients

2 oz IMPOSTER Whiskey
0.5 oz Black Cherry Re'al
3 dashes Orange Bitters
Garnish: brandied cherry
Ice for stirring; 1 large serving ice cube
Cherry-wood smoke, applied with a cocktail smoker

Instructions

Step 1: Measure the ingredients

Measure 2 oz IMPOSTER Whiskey, 0.5 oz Black Cherry Re'al, 3 dashes Orange Bitters into a mixing glass.

Step 2: Stir

Add ice and stir until chilled and the fruit mixer is evenly incorporated.

Step 3: Strain

Strain into a rocks glass over a fresh large ice cube.

Step 4: Finish and serve

Finish with brandied cherry and cherry-wood smoke and serve promptly.

Why This Works With IMPOSTER Whiskey

The 2 oz Whiskey measure gives the black cherry a spirit-inspired frame. The purée supplies the fruit and sweetness, while orange bitters add another aromatic layer. A large serving cube suits this short, stirred drink; ginger beer or soda would turn it into a different recipe.

Serving Notes

Stir the purée thoroughly into the Whiskey before straining so it does not remain at the bottom of the mixing glass.

Use fresh serving ice, with one large cube as directed in the source. Add the smoke only after the drink is assembled.

Use a cocktail smoker according to its instructions, in a ventilated space. Do not improvise a smoking device.

Variations and Substitutions

Without smoke

Omit the cherry-wood smoke for a still, cherry-led serve. Keep the measured liquid ingredients unchanged.

Cherry choice

An unbrandied cherry can replace the brandied garnish, but check its label too. This does not resolve the alcohol content of the bitters.

Bitters selection

Use a verified alcohol-free orange bitters if needed. Its intensity may differ, so treat this as an adaptation rather than an identical result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this Old Fashioned need extra sugar?

The supplied recipe uses Black Cherry Re’al and does not include a separate syrup. Make the measured version first rather than automatically adding the sugar used in some traditional Old Fashioneds.

When do I apply the cherry-wood smoke?

After stirring and straining over the large cube. Follow the smoker manufacturer's directions and finish with the cherry.

Is Smoked Black Cherry Old Fashioned alcohol-free?

IMPOSTER Whiskey is a zero-proof spirit-inspired base. Check the current labels for orange bitters and the brandied cherry before describing the entire finished drink as alcohol-free.