Not given much to go on with preparing the smoldering star anise, I held a star anise pod with a pair of metal tongs in the flame of my gas stove for a few seconds until it was flaming nicely. Turning off the stove, it remained smoldering and gave off a lovely aroma. Dropped it with a satisfying hiss into the foam of the cocktail. Side effect of making this cocktail is that it now smells like I just burnt incense in my kitchen, but I can’t complain!