Smoked Rosemary Gin and Tonic Cocktail

You’ll love this Smoked Rosemary Gin and Tonic if you’re looking for a unique drink with an exciting twist! Whether or not you’ve tried this technique, making your own smoked gin cocktails is a surprisingly easy way to add some flavor to your happy hour.

Gin and Tonics might be one of my favorite cocktails of all time. This smoked rosemary g&t is no different. You should also check out one of my other favorite variations – my Elderflower Gin and Tonic or the Mezcal Tonic. I also did a mashup of an Aviation and a G&T for my Outlander cocktail series called the Healer’s Tonic.

Or, if you like gin in general try a Bramble Gin Spritz or a Minty Gin Mojito.

Pine, citrus, and warm spices like coriander and cardamom are gin’s primary flavors and aromas. Since gin is very aromatic, the smoke plays nicely off its tasting notes. Smoked rosemary also goes well with bourbon to make a Smoked Rosemary Old Fashioned.

How to Add Smoke Flavor to a Cocktail

There are a number of ways to infuse smoke into a cocktail. You can buy a smoke infuser that burns wood pellets or chips and infuses the residual smoke into the glass through a short hose.

Alternatively, you can purchase a cocktail smoke kit with a piece that rests on your glass. Wood chips are put into a small well with a screen underneath it, and the smoke billows into the glass, infusing the spirit by placing a direct flame on the wood chips.

This smoked gin cocktail doesn’t require special tools – you will only need a lighter, plate, some rosemary sprigs, and a glass! After lighting a rosemary sprig, allow it to burn a little and produce smoke before placing the glass directly over it. This will trap the smoke and infuse the smoky flavor into the glass. 

Ingredient Notes

You just need a few simple ingredients to make a smoked rosemary gin and tonic recipe. Most of these ingredients you may already have in your refrigerator and bar cart or can be found easily in the store.

Fresh rosemary sprigs: These are the most essential element of this recipe. Not only will you use the rosemary sprigs to smoke in your glass, but you will use them to infuse your simple syrup and garnish your drink if you like.

Look for the freshest rosemary sprigs you can find since they will have the best flavor and appearance. Rosemary goes seamlessly with gin since it has a similarly strong pine flavor. Rosemary is also very easy to grow – trust me, I have a black thumb and my rosemary in my garden has been going strong for a few years now.

Gin: You can choose whichever gin brand you prefer for this smoked gin cocktail. I’m a huge fan of a Charleston local gin called Hat Trick Botanical Gin, which is from High Wire Distillery (I highly recommend visiting if you ever make it to Charleston).

Rosemary simple syrup: Next on the list of ingredients for this smoked gin cocktail is the homemade rosemary simple syrup. You can quickly and easily make homemade rosemary simple syrup from scratch using sugar, water, and rosemary sprigs.

Tonic water: To complete this drink, top it off with some tonic water. Tonic water has sweet and slightly bitter notes from the presence of quinine. The classic cocktail, gin and tonic, is a perfectly paired combination that is very refreshing on a hot summer day. 

The tonic lends itself to the other flavors of rosemary and smoke by balancing them out. My favorites are Fever Tree and Q Mixers. If your taste buds don’t care for the taste of tonic, you can replace it with club soda for a more subtle flavor overall. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Now that we’ve covered the ingredients in this unique cocktail, it’s time to make one! You will need a cocktail glass, lighter, plate, cocktail shaker or mixing glass, strainer, and some ice.

First, you’ll need to make your rosemary simple syrup. 

Place equal parts sugar, water, and rosemary sprigs into a saucepan and heat over medium-low heat. Allow the sugar to dissolve completely and turn the heat off. Let the simple syrup cool completely before straining it into a clean air-tight container. 

Next, carefully hold the end of a rosemary sprig and light the other end, and place it on a plate. Once it has started smoking, cover it by turning your glass upside down over the smoking rosemary and let it sit until you are done mixing your cocktail. 

Add ice cubes to a mixing glass or cocktail shaker, and add your gin and rosemary syrup. Stir the gin and rosemary syrup together. Flip the smoky cocktail glass over and add ice, then strain your cocktail over the ice. 

Top the drink off with tonic water and garnish with a lime and sprig of rosemary. If you like, you can singe the end of the rosemary sprig for dramatic effect. 

Ideas to Enjoy Your Cocktail

The flavors of this smoked gin cocktail are warm and inviting and best enjoyed with friends at a winter or holiday party. This cocktail would pair well with a nice cheese and charcuterie board, accompanied with plenty of crackers, nuts, and olives. However you choose to enjoy your drink, you will surely be impressed by its complex flavors.