The Product: Traditional Water BBQ Smoker

Often referred to as the Weber Bullet Smoker, the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker is by far the most popular water smoker on the market, with hundreds of dedicated fan websites covering topics ranging from recipes to tricks and modifications. This Weber vertical water smoker is easy to set up, fun to use and will consistently deliver moist meats. I first gave it a try on Thanksgiving a few years back, and it became the talk of the evening as the smoked turkey easily beat out the regular one in a taste test. The best part is that the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker doesn't require a lot of work. I positioned an 18-pound brined turkey in the cooker with some room to spare, filled the water pan and just let the smoker do its work. I checked the meat from time to time and added extra charcoal once. That’s it. The access door on the side conveniently allows you to add water or smoking chips during the cooking process, and the airtight design, with four adjustable vents, guarantees incredible temperature control as well as maximimum fuel combustion.

This is a big year for the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker as 2009 brings long-overdue upgrades and a new big brother. The old 2820 Smokey Mountain Cooker had been around for almost 20 years with few improvements. Weber finally listened to all the feedback and gave the new model a total overhaul as well as a new size option: In addition to the 18.5-inch Smokey Mountain (the old model was also 18.5 inches), Weber now offers the 22.5-inch Smokey Mountain. Overdue improvements featured in both new models include:

• Built-in commercial-grade thermometer
• Improved access door with a handle that indicates locking position, a new latching mechanism and a feature that allows to the door to fold downward and stay attached to the cooker
• A 2-gallon water pan with a much tighter fit
• Sturdier legs and a heat shield mounted to the legs to protect decks and patios
• An improved charcoal grate that keeps pieces from falling through

These upgrades have made the basic smoker better in every way and should please Weber Nation. But, the larger model is the really big news. The new 22.5-inch Smokey Mountain is the same size as the larger Weber Kettle grills, making it possible to smoke enough meat at once to feed your whole neighborhood. Some features exclusive to the 22.5-inch model include:

• Two 22” cooking grates
• Second handle on the side of the lid to make it easier to maneuver
• Larger 4 ¼ inch dampers, access door and charcoal chamber
• Three gallon water pan
• More vertical room between cooking grates

If you have been waiting for a good reason to buy a Weber smoker, these upgrades provide the perfect excuse. Both Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smokers come with a premium grade cover, a Weber cookbook with some great recipes, and Weber's limited warranty—which includes amazing customer service phone support.

For recipes and all sort of ideas on how to use the Weber Smoker, visit The Virtual Weber Bullet. Also, read more about Why I Love Weber Grills

Devil's Advocate:

While the new Weber Smoker does finally include a built in thermometer, it would have been great if they added a second thermometer that you could use for the meat itself.