The barrel smoker is a simple smoker made from a retrofitted steel drum. They have been around for a while in various forms, and since they were generally hand made, no two designs were exactly alike. Now they are available commercially, consisting of a charcoal basket, cooking racks, and meat hooks for suspending the meat vertically for increased capacity. They hold a steady temperature very well and are well suited for long cooking times.
There are loads of reasons why you should get a drum or a barrel smoker. For starters, they are much easier to use, so they’re a good choice for someone just beginning to grapple with smoking and grilling. They are also easy to assemble and the temperature control is off the charts.