Our Award-Winning Hot Smoked Duck Breast: A Complete Guide

May 14, 2026 | 5 minutes

From hand curing and gentle maple smoking to serving tips and wine pairings, discover why our award-winning smoked duck has become one of our signature products.

Slices of smoked duck on a blue cheese salad with pear

A Suffolk favourite...

If you're looking for award-winning hot smoked duck breast, you've come to the right place.

We've been producing smoked foods at The Artisan Smokehouse for many years, and our smoked duck has become one of our best-loved products. Every breast is cured, smoked and cooked by hand in small batches using traditional methods and carefully chosen ingredients.

Whether you're wondering how we make it, how to serve it, what wine to pair it with or simply why it tastes so different, here's everything you need to know.

Why Our Hot Smoked Duck Is So Special...

Like everything we produce, our smoked duck starts with one simple aim: make something we'd be genuinely proud to serve to our own family and friends.

Every duck breast is carefully hand cured using sea salt, sugar, juniper berries and a precisely measured curing salt before resting overnight. The following day, each breast is gently dried, smoked over maple wood and slowly cooked until perfectly tender.

The result is duck that's wonderfully succulent, beautifully balanced and ready to enjoy straight from the pack.

We don't rush the process and we don't take shortcuts. Producing food in small batches means we can give every duck breast the attention it deserves, ensuring the quality is exactly what we've come to expect from ourselves.

A circular black badge with the words 'great taste PRODUCER' in white and gold lettering for the great Taste Awards.

An Award-Winning Smoked Duck...

We're incredibly proud that our smoked duck has been recognised by two of the UK's most respected food awards.

It was awarded Double Gold at the Great Taste Awards, as well as winning the Taste of Excellence Category at the Pig & Poultry Awards—recognition that reflects the care, craftsmanship and quality that goes into every single duck breast.

The Great Taste judges described it as having a "pleasing texture," "well-balanced flavour," and "refined smokiness," while also commenting on its attractive appearance and the exceptional care taken throughout its preparation.

Awards are lovely to receive, but what means even more to us is knowing that our customers come back time and time again for another pack.

Close-up of maple wood cross-section showing textured brown wood grain, rings, and dark radial cracks.

How We Make Our Hot Smoked Duck...

People often ask what makes our smoked duck different, and the answer is surprisingly simple—we don't try to reinvent the wheel, we just take great care over every stage of the process.

Each duck breast is hand cured overnight before being gently dried and smoked over maple wood.

Over the years we've experimented with different woods, but we always come back to maple. It produces a gentle, delicate smoke that complements the rich flavour of the duck without overpowering it.

Once smoked, every breast is slowly cooked until beautifully tender, locking in all those wonderful natural juices while creating the texture our customers love.

It's a process we've refined over many years, and although it takes longer than some methods, we think the results speak for themselves.

Why We Don't Make Cold Smoked Duck...

It's probably the question we're asked most.

"Why don't you sell cold smoked duck?"

The honest answer? Because we simply don't think it's as good.

Cold smoked duck can sometimes develop a slightly waxy texture which, in our opinion, takes away from what makes duck such a pleasure to eat.

We only make products we'd happily serve at our own table, so if we don't believe it's the very best version of something, we simply won't make it.

Around here that's known as passing the "Tim Approved" test!

How to Serve Hot Smoked Duck...

One of the things we love most about hot smoked duck is just how versatile it is.

Because it's fully cooked, it's ready to enjoy straight from the pack, making it ideal when you want something that feels a little bit special without spending hours in the kitchen.

Our favourite ways to enjoy it include:

  • layered into a fresh summer salad
  • served as part of a charcuterie or cheeseboard
  • tucked into a crusty baguette with rocket and chutney
  • alongside warm new potatoes and seasonal vegetables
  • added to a simple pasta dish
  • served as an elegant starter with fruit and leaves

It's one of those ingredients that effortlessly turns an everyday meal into something worth lingering over.

A plated gourmet salad featuring sliced pears, crumbled blue cheese, green herbs, and slices of smoked duck on a white plate, set on a light wooden surface.

Our Favourite Salad...

If we had to choose just one way to enjoy our smoked duck, this would probably be it.

Arrange slices of hot smoked duck with ripe pear, crisp frisée lettuce and generous chunks of Fourme d'Ambert.

Finish with a sweet-sharp dressing made from Dijon mustard, honey and cider vinegar.

It's fresh, elegant and ready in minutes—perfect for a warm summer evening with a chilled glass of wine.

Simple food really can be the best!

Which Cheese Goes Best with Smoked Duck?

Duck and cheese are a match made in heaven.

Our personal favourite has to be Fourme d'Ambert. Its gentle creaminess and subtle blue flavour complement the duck beautifully without stealing the show.

If you're looking for something richer, our own maple smoked Stilton makes a wonderful partner, adding another layer of smokey flavour while still allowing the duck to shine.

Whether you're building a cheeseboard or putting together a relaxed supper, you can't go wrong with either.

A glass of red wine with red grapes and a bottle of red wine

What Wine Goes with Smoked Duck?

A good wine can really bring out the best in smoked duck.

If you're choosing red, we'd recommend a Pinot Noir, particularly one from Burgundy or New Zealand. Its soft fruit flavours and gentle acidity work beautifully with the richness of the duck.

Prefer white? An off-dry Riesling is wonderfully refreshing and balances the smokey flavour perfectly.

And if the occasion calls for a celebration, a chilled Brut Rosé Champagne is hard to beat.

Of course, the most important rule is to drink what you enjoy!

Storing Your Smoked Duck...

Our hot smoked duck has a shelf life of 21 days from production, giving you plenty of time to plan the perfect meal.

Once opened, we recommend enjoying it within three days—although if our customers are anything to go by, it's unlikely to hang around for that long!

The duck can also be frozen, either unopened or after opening if carefully wrapped, making it a brilliant addition to keep in the freezer for unexpected guests, quick lunches or an effortless supper.

Ready to Try Our Award-Winning Smoked Duck?

Our smoked duck is one of those products people often buy out of curiosity… and then come back for again and again.

Whether you're creating an impressive cheeseboard, planning an easy dinner party, looking for the perfect addition to a picnic, or simply fancy treating yourself to something a little special, our award-winning hot smoked duck won't disappoint.

When you're ready, click through to our product page to discover why it's become one of our best-loved smoked foods:

Frequently Asked Questions About Smoked Duck...

Is your hot smoked duck ready to eat?

Yes. Our hot smoked duck is fully cooked and ready to enjoy straight from the pack.

Can you freeze your smoked duck?

Absolutely. Freeze unopened or wrap leftovers well before freezing.

Should smoked duck be served hot or cold?

It's delicious either way. We often serve it cold in salads and cheeseboards, but it's equally lovely gently warmed in pasta dishes or alongside seasonal vegetables.

What makes hot smoked duck different from cold smoked duck?

Hot smoked duck is fully cooked during the smoking process, giving it a wonderfully tender texture that's ready to eat. We prefer it because we believe it offers a better eating experience than cold smoked duck.