Our Commitment to Sustainable Craft
Making things well means making them responsibly. Here's where we stand and where we're headed.
American-made manufacturing
Every SmokeTop is manufactured in the United States. That's not just a point of pride — it's a deliberate supply chain decision. Domestic manufacturing means shorter shipping distances from factory to warehouse to customer, lower transportation emissions, and the ability to maintain quality control at every stage of production.
It also means we can hold our manufacturing partners to standards we couldn't enforce from overseas. We know where our products are made, we know the conditions under which they're made, and we can visit those facilities. That transparency matters to us.
Wood chip sourcing
All Middleton Mixology wood chips are sourced from food-grade, untreated hardwoods. We work exclusively with wood that has not been treated with pesticides, preservatives, or surface stains — a non-negotiable requirement for any product intended for food and beverage use.
Our fruit woods (cherry, apple) come from orchard prunings and managed fruit tree operations — wood that would otherwise be waste material. Turning that byproduct into a useful product is a form of waste reduction that we're proud of. Our hardwoods (oak, hickory, maple) are sourced from managed forests with responsible harvesting practices.
We package wood chips in minimal, recyclable materials. The bags are small because they need to be — using just enough product to get the job done is its own kind of sustainability.
Product longevity as sustainability
The most sustainable product is one you don't have to replace. The SmokeTop's 500+ use durability is not an incidental feature — it's a philosophical position. We believe in making tools that last rather than consumables that need to be continuously replaced.
The only consumable in our ecosystem is the mesh screen, which requires replacement approximately every 100 uses. We sell replacement screens so that the entire smoker doesn't need to be discarded when one small part wears out. This component-level repair model reduces waste significantly compared to products designed as single-use or non-repairable.
Packaging decisions
Our product packaging is designed to protect the product during shipping without excess material. We use recycled cardboard where possible, and we continue to review our packaging partners for more sustainable alternatives as they become available.
We do not include single-use plastic in our packaging where an alternative exists. Instructions are printed rather than separately wrapped. Gift-ready presentation — something customers ask for — is achieved through structural packaging design rather than added plastic wrap or excessive inner packaging.
Where we're still improving
We're honest about the areas where we have room to improve. Shipping emissions are a real cost of an e-commerce business, and we're exploring carbon offset programs for our fulfillment operations. Our current packaging, while minimal, isn't yet fully recyclable at all stages, and we're working toward better solutions.
We also recognize that cocktail culture has its own consumption footprint — the spirits, the garnishes, the disposable items that often accompany cocktail service. Our role in that ecosystem is small, but we take it seriously. Every decision we make about how to source, make, and ship our products is informed by a commitment to doing less harm.