Your Home Bar Needs Charles Joly’s New Barware Collection

The tools of a former World’s Best Bartender, in your hands

By The Editors
September 7, 2016 9:00 am

Behind every great home bartender is a well-stocked home bar. In front of him: quality tools and glassware. But if he is really adept, he knows that a drink owes as much to presentation as it does flavor.

That’s where the Cocktail Smoking Box comes in. An impressive piece of barmanship, the kit allows you to make smoked cocktails in the comforts of your own home.

It’s part of a slick new barware line called Crafthouse by Fortessa, a new collaboration from premium tableware makers Fortessa and Chicago native Charles Joly.

You know Joly: Aviary vet. Went major with Crafthouse Cocktails. A legendary barman who’s won basically every bartending award imaginable.

And now he wants to make sure your home bar is as good as his.

If you’re in need of a complete update, Joly’s got you covered with two complete setups: the cocktail shaker set and the tool set.

But the the line’s true high point is that Cocktail Smoking Box. It’s dead simple to use, and it’s the easiest way to diffuse smoke directly onto a glass and add an extra dimension of aromatic flavor to any cocktail.

Don’t believe us? Take it from Joly himself.

Below, his recipe for Rye In Your Britches, a simple concoction you can make right in a glass, lightly smoked with hickory chips.

Rye In Your Britches
Courtesy of Charles Joly

Ingredients

2 oz American Rye Whiskey
¾ oz Cherry Heering
1 Dash Aromatic Bitters   
2 oz Milk Stout, Beer
Pinch of Nutmeg

Combine American rye whiskey, cherry heering and bitters into a mixing glass.​ Add ice and stir. Gently pour in milk stout (a basic stout will work). Stir lightly and strain into an old fashioned glass with ice. Scrape nutmeg over the top. Smoke with Cedar/cigar aroma.

Crafthouse by Fortessa is now available online now.

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