How to Flame an Orange Peel for Cocktails

(playful music)

Hello, I'm Andrew Knowlton,

the restaurant and drinks editor here at Bon Appetit

and I'm gonna show you how to flame an orange twist

for your cocktail.

First, you need a cocktail, which we have here

and then the thing that kind of gives this

drink its signature is the flaming orange twist.

Don't laugh.

So first, just take a paring knife

or any sharp knife you have,

turn the orange in your hands

so that you get kind of the perfect little circle of orange.

Want to try to avoid the pith if you can.

I like the wood matches.

Just light this.

You want to hold it about four inches

'cause you're not trying to get the flame into the drink,

just the essence of the orange in there.

A little bit here and then just squeeze and there you go.

(playful music)

(booming explosion)

And that's really all there is to it.

For more tips and techniques, go to bonappetit.com.

I'll do it one more time 'cause it's so damn good.