Appetizers and Snacks

Wild Turkey Bourbon’s Holiday Recipes

Glass of BourbonWild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey is a great on the table to serve at your holiday meals including Christmas, Thanksgiving and all other winter celebrations!

It also is mighty tasty when you add into popular dishes like Chocolate Pecan Pie and even the Turkey feast itself!

Here are few recipes BourbonBlog.com recommends using Wild Turkey Bourbon!

For more holiday cocktails and stories, we invite you to subscribe to our mailing list here .

 

 

 

 

Wild Turkey Acorn Squash

Serves 6

Acorn Squash3 acorn squashes cut in half
Salt
6 tablespoons Wild Turkey 101
6 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the seeds from the squash halves and discard the
seeds. Sprinkle the squashes with salt to taste. Place in each cavity ½ tablespoon of the butter
and 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar. Bake the halves for 30 minutes.
2) Remove the squashes from the over; place 1 tablespoon of bourbon in each half and dust with
the cinnamon. Cover with foil and return to over for another 30 minutes.

 

Wild Turkey Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie

6 servings

Chocolate Pecan PieAll-Purpose Pastry
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup very cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 extra-large egg yolks, lightly beaten
¼ cup ice water

Pie Filling
3 extra-large eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup Wild Turkey 101
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup pecan halves

1) To make the all-purpose pastry: Combine the flour, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Cut the
butter into the flour mixture, using a pastry blender, until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
With your hands, gradually add the egg yolks and ice water until a ball of dough is formed (do
not overwork the dough). Wrap the dough and chill it for 30 minutes before rolling it out. When
the dough is chilled, roll it on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 1/8 inch. Make a
circle 12 inches in diameter. Place the dough in a 10-inch pie pan and preheat the oven to 375
degrees.

2) To make the pie filling: In a mixing bowl beat the eggs, sugar, melted butter, corn syrup, vanilla,
and bourbon. Strain this mixture into another bowl, using a fine mesh, Sprinkle the chocolate
chips on the bottom of the unbaked piecrust, and cover with the pecans. Pour the filling on
the top of the chocolate and pecans. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, The pie is done when a knife
inserted 2 inches from the side comes clean. Cool the pie for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Wild Turkey Apple Pie

This recipe combines America’s native spirit with the all-American dessert.

6 servings

Apple Pie½ cup Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
½ cup raisins
10 Granny Smith apples
¾ cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup pecan halves, toasted
1 double piecrust
1 tablespoon superfine sugar

1) Combine the bourbon and raisins; let soak for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2) Pell the apples and slice them thinly. Saute the apple slices in a pan with a little butter until
tender. Meanwhile, toast the pecans in the oven for about 5 minutes.
3) Combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl and mix. Add the apples,
raisin mixture and pecans. Spoon the pie filling into the bottom of a 10-inch piecrust.
4) Cut the top piecrust into strips and arrange the strips over the pie filling in a lattice formation.
Sprinkle the pie with the superfine sugar and bake it at 350 degrees until the filling in the center
of the pie bubbles, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Allow the pie to cool for at least 15 minutes
before serving.

Turkey with Kentucky Bourbon Sauce

8 Servings

Thanksgiving Turkey1 (6-ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
¼ cup Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
½ cup water
¼ cup virgin olive oil
¼ cup fresh rosemary
3 cloves garlic
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 whole boneless, skinless turkey breast (about 2 pounds; thaw it if frozen)
1 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce (half of a 16-ounce can)

1.) Place the orange juice, Wild Turkey 101, water olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper in a
food processor and puree until the rosemary and garlic are chopped. Pour the mixture into a
container and add the turkey breast. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.
2.) Start the grill and heat it to medium heat. Place the turkey breast on the grill and cook it for 30
to 40 minutes, basting with leftover marinade several times. Reserve the remaining marinade.
When the internal temperature of the turkey reached 160 degrees, remove it from the grill and
allow it to rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes.
3.) Meanwhile, boil the reserved marinade with cranberry sauce in a small pot for 10 minutes so
that the sauce thickens.
4.) Slice the turkey breast and cover it with the sauce before serving.

Sweet Potatoes with Wild Turkey Bourbon

Serves 6

Baked Sweet Potatoes5 pounds sweet potatoes, unpeeled
¼ cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
Salt and pepper
1/3 cup Wild Turkey 101
¼ cup dark brown sugar

1.) Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork and place them in a
large roasting pan. Roast them for 1 hour or until tender. Remove them from the oven and allow
them to stand for at least 15 to 30 minutes before proceeding.
2.) Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into large chunks. Combine the sweet potatoes with the
cream lemon juice and lemon zest in a mixing bowl. Add the salt and pepper to taste. Using an
electric mixer, mash the sweet potato mixture.
3.) Combine the bourbon and the brown sugar in a large saucepan and heat to a boil. Stir the sweet
potato mixture into the bourbon mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, over low heat until
heated through.

Wild Turkey Pecan Pumpkin Pie

6 Servings

Pecan Pumpkin PiePie
3 eggs, slightly beaten
16 ounces canned pumpkin
¾ cup dark brown sugar
1 ½ cups half-and-half
3 tablespoons Wild Turkey 101
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon salt
1 unbaked 9-inch piecrust

Topping
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup dark brown sugar
¼ cup Wild turkey 101
1 cup pecan halves

1.) Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2.) To make the pie: Combine the eggs, pumpkin, brown sugar, half-and-half, bourbon, cinnamon,
ginger, and salt, and mix well. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the piecrust and bake for 10
minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and allow the pie to continue to bake for 45 more
minutes or until the filling is set in the middle. Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool.
3.) To make the topping: combine the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan; stir and cook over
medium heat until the butter melts, the sugar dissolves and the two ingredients are mixed. Add
2 tablespoons of the Wild Turkey and the pecans, and coat the pecans with the sugar. Spoon the
pecan mixture over the pie.
4.) Before serving the pie, place the other 2 tablespoons of Wild Turkey in a saucepan and gently
heat until the fumes are ready to ignite. Carefully ignite the Wild Turkey with a match and pour
it over the pie. When the flames die down, the pie is ready to serve.

Sweet Potato Pie with Wild Turkey Whipped Cream

Serves 6

Sweet Potato Pie with Whipped CreamPiecrust
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter
2 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening or lard
3 tablespoons ice water

Sweet Potato Mixture
1 ¾ cups cooked sweet potatoes or yams
¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
½ cup evaporated milk
6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Pecan Mixture
2 eggs
1/3 cup sugar
¾ cup honey
2 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon Wild Turkey 101
1 pinch salt

1 cup pecan halves and pieces

Wild Turkey Whipped Cream
3 cups heavy cream, well chilled
½ cup light brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup Wild Turkey 101

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2.) To make the piecrust: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and
shortening and cut in with a pastry blender until the mixture looks like small peas. Slowly add
the cold water and mix until a dough forms. Shape the dough into a disk and roll out on a lightly
flowered surface until you have a thin round that will fit n a 9-inch pie pan. Place the piecrust in
the pie pan and set it aside.
3.) To make the sweet potato mixture: Combine the sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, milk, butter,
cinnamon and vanilla in a medium bowl. Mix well and pour it into the piecrust.
4.) To make the pecan mixture: In a medium bowl, lightly beat the eggs with the sugar. Add the
honey, butter, Wild Turkey and salt and mix until blended. Stir in the pecans and pour the
mixture over the sweet potato layer. Bake the pie for 10 minutes. Lower the temperature of the
oven to 325 degrees and bake the pie for 1 additional hour.
5.) To make the whipped cream: Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl beat the cream and brown
sugar until soft peaks form; then add the Wild Turkey and beat until stuff. Refrigerate the
whipped cream mixture until ready to serve; then spread it on the pie.

 
 

NFL 2012 Season Starts with Whiskey Cocktail Recipes

NFL Logo

 

As the NFL 2012 Season starts on September 5th and goes though December 30th and with Super Bowl XLVII scheduled for February 3, 2012, we’re doing the obvious thing at BourbonBlog.com: Preparing for the season with whiskey in hand!

New football themed recipes below using whiskey not only in the glass, but also used in a chicken wing recipe below. Whether tailgating and gathering around the TV around Monday Night Football, enjoy!

 

French Quarter Cooler

Glass of Lemonade 1 ½ oz. Bulleit Rye
½ oz. Benedictine
½ oz. Yellow Chartreuse
¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
seltzer water

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients except seltzer water into mixing glass, fill with ice, shake lightly, strain into a Collin’s glass over fresh ice, and garnish with half lemon wheel.

Why it’s great for football season: We’re betting you are going to love this cooler! If you’re wanting do some NFL betting on TopBet, then a couple of French Quarter Coolers, might give you the luck you’ve been looking for…

The French Quarter cooler is perfect when fans are looking for an extra lift in the fourth quarter. This refreshing drink will be sure to keep everyone going for a fourth quarter rally.

 

 

 

New Orleans Saints

 

George Dickel Iced Tea

Sweet Iced Tea2 oz. George Dickel No. 12 Tennessee Whiskey
1 oz. Triple sec.
1 oz. Sweet and sour mix
1 oz. Cola

Instructions:

Pour triple sec, sweet and sour mix, cola and George Dickel Whiskey in a shaker over ice.

Why it’s great for football season: Fans can celebrate a sweet victory from their favorite team with this sweet drink. This iced tea is great for all occasions, whether fans are gearing up for the big game or celebrating after.

George Dickel No. 12 Tennessee Whiskey

 

 

 

Ginger Whiskey Sour

Whiskey Sour1 ½ oz. Bulleit Bourbon Whiskey
1 oz. Fresh lemon juice
½ oz. Bulleit Ginger Infusion
1 teaspoon Simple Syrupdash egg white (optional)

Instructions:

Shake and serve either straight or over ice. The traditional garnish is half an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.

Why it’s great for football season: A good Ginger Whiskey can make any football game a successful one for fans. This recipe features a great Bulleit Bourbon that perfectly complements this cocktail.

 

 

Bulleit Bourbon Label

 

 

Crown Royal Press

Crown Royal Cocktails1 ½ oz. Crown Royal Deluxe Blended Whisky
3 Dash(es) bitters
2 Squeezed lemon wedge(s)
1 Splash lemon-lime soda
1 Lemon wedge(s)

Instructions:

Serve on the rocks and top with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with a lemon and serve.

Why it’s great for football season: Whether fans are celebrating a big win or relishing in a tough loss, the Crown Royal Press makes for a great fifth quarter drinks for all to enjoy.

 

 

  Crown Royal Whiskey

 

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

 

Crown Wings

Hot Chicken Wings⅓ Cup Crown Royal Canadian Whisky
⅓ Cup honey
¼ Cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons Thai chili sauce
1 Packet (0.75-ounce) stir-fry seasoning, Sun Bird suggested
2 Teaspoons crushed garlic
4 Pounds chicken wing drumettes
3 Scallions (green onions), finely chopped (optional)
¼ Cup chopped peanuts, (optional)

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine whisky, honey, soy sauce, chili sauce, stir-fry seasoning, and garlic. Add drumettes, tossing to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in refrigerator for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.

Set up grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat. Oil grate when ready to start cooking. Let drumettes stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Place on hot, oiled grill. Cook for 12 to 18 minutes or until cooked through, turning occasionally. Transfer chicken to a platter. Sprinkle with chopped scallions and peanuts (optional).

Why it’s great for football season: Nothing says football like great wings and these drumsticks are hard to beat as they’ve been “crowned” with an incredible sauce made from Crown Royal Canadian whisky. Grab one and cheer hard to help your team become kings of the gridiron!

NFL Season 2012

Peyton Manning was singed to Denver Broncos for 96 million dollar 5 year contract

Peyton Manning was singed to Denver Broncos for 96 million dollar 5 year contract

Football Photos and images courtesy Getty images, SI, and NFL

 
 

Maker’s 46 for Super Bowl 46

Makers 46 Bourbon dipped red waxBill Samuels, Jr., Maker’s Mark Ambassador at Large tells BourbonBlog.com:

“It so happens that this year’s epic contest is number 46, which is a number that’s near and dear to my heart. It was the number our barrel maker, Brad Boswell of Independent Stave, assigned to the process of adding seared French oak staves to barrels of matured Maker’s Mark. And that was the process that, after great trial and error, led to our first new idea in 50 years: Maker’s 46.”

  • So we’re giving you some new ideas with recipes using Maker’s Mark Bourbon and Maker’s 46 for Super Bowl XLVI. Yes, that is 46.

Tailgate Toddy

1 part Maker’s 46 Bourbon
½ tsp. sugar
2 whole cloves
1 small cinnamon stick
1 lemon slice

Directions:

Measure all ingredients into a heat proof mug or glass. Place teaspoon in glass; add boiling water to fill glass (teaspoon prevents glass from breaking when boiling water is added). Stir mixture and serve immediately.
Hot Toddy cocktail

Bourbon Apple Glazed Chicken Wings

Hot Chicken WingsNotes: These tangy sweet wings get the benefit of being braised then baked, no frying involved!
Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 1 hour Level: Easy

Serves 4

2 lbs chicken wings, trimmed
1 cup Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 can frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed (12 ounces)
Makers Mark Football Bottle½ cup soy sauce
¼ cup cider vinegar
¼ cup dark brown sugar
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Directions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a medium pot. Bring to boil on high heat and then reduce to a simmer for 30-40 minutes until the wings are tender and the glaze has reduced, coating the wings.
2. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Remove the wings from the pot and transfer to a parchment lined sheet tray. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the wings begin to color and the glaze becomes shiny. Garnish with minced scallions and apple. Serve immediately.

Bourbon Onion Dip

Onion Dip RecipeNotes: Greek yogurt and ricotta cheese lighten up this usually mayonnaise heavy party favorite.
Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 1 hour Level: Easy

Serves 6-10

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 large sweet onions/Vidalias, peeled, halved, sliced thinly with the grain
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup Maker’s Mark®Bourbon, plus 1 tablespoon
Makers Mark Referee Bottle¾ cup Greek yogurt
½ cup fresh ricotta cheese
½ cup sour cream
Few drops lemon juice
Pinch sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Crudité vegetables and chips for dipping

1. In a wide heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add the sliced onions and the teaspoon of salt. Sauté the onions, stirring often until they begin to soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to stir and cook the onions until they begin to color, about another 15 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of bourbon to the pan and stir in. Reduce the heat to low and cook the onions for another 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions have colored and caramelized. Remove the onions from the pan and spread on a plate or baking sheet to cool in the fridge.

2. Using a food processor or blender, combine the ricotta and yogurt and process until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Fold in the sour cream. Once the onions have cooled, rough chop them briefly. Fold into the mixture and season to taste with lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper. Serve the dip cold with crudité and chips.

 
 

Bourbon Tomato Jam Recipe

Bourbon Tomato JamOur friends at Friends Drift Inn tell BourbonBlog.com that their Bourbon Tomato Jam creation is like a gateway to Fall. It’s thick. It’s sweet. It has cayenne peppers for punches and bourbon for kicks and giggles.

“Hearty” seems like a good descriptor. Try it on roasted pork, slather it on cornmeal muffins or even some Sweet Pumpkin Biscuits. For breakfast, perhaps you can “pop” with baked eggs…

Bourbon Tomato Jam Recipe

Inspired by Food in Jars and White on Rice couple

Ingredients

  • 5 lbs of tomatoes, coarsely chopped with peels left on
  • 3 cups pure cane sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 8 Tablespoons lime juice (2 or 3 limes could substitute lemons)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon thyme
  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 Tablespoon canning salt
  • 2 dried cayenne peppers crushed
  • 1 teaspoon pepper flakes
  • 1/3 cup bourbon (Woodford Reserve suggested)
  • 2 Tablespoons Cider Vinegar

Method

1. In a medium saucepan, bring tomatoes, sugars, lime juice, spices, salt and pepper flakes to a rolling boil.

2. Reduce to simmer, stirring occasionally. You want the consistency to be thick and gooey, like a very rich jam. This will take 1 hour and thirty to forty minutes. As the mix thickens, you will need to stir more frequently.

3. Start your water bath canner during the wait. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and ready 5 or 6 jelly jars. Start your lids and rings simmering.

4. At about the hour and fifteen minute mark, check to see if the mixture has started to thicken. When it looks “close” add bourbon.

5. Cook until thick. Stir in 2 Tablespoons of cider vinegar about two minutes before you quit cooking.

6. Fill jars to ¼ inch from rims, wiping edges clean with a damp cloth. Add lids and rings, adjusting just to “finger tight.”

7. Process in a hot water bath canner for 20 minutes.

Check out Friends Drift Inn for more recipes and stories from Joyce who lives in a barn and cooks up a storm

Tomato Jam Recipe

 
 

Makers Mark Bourbon Baked Beans

Bourbon Baked Beans, by Luke Mills

Bourbon Baked Beans RecipePrep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Yield: 8 to 10 servings

1 large Vidalia Onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. olive oil
8 slices of bacon
2x 15 oz jar Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1/2 tsp. onion powder
28 oz can Pork and Beans
1 tablespoon molasses
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup honey-mustard
1/3 cup BBQ sauce

Maker's Mark Bourbon Whisky Bottle

Instructions:

- Preheat the oven to 350.

- On medium-high heat, cook bacon to your personal preference. Drain on paper towels.

- Chop 2 of the pieces of bacon up to be sautéed with the onions, while cutting the other pieces in halves.

- Sauté the Vidalia onion with the chopped bacon pieces and 1/2 tsp. olive oil for 3-4 minutes.

- In an oven safe baking dish, combine the Bourbon, Pork and Beans, great northern beans, onion powder, ketchup, honey-mustard, molasses and the Sautéed onions. Heat on stove at high for 3 minutes while stirring.

- Move from stove and Bake in the oven, uncovered at 350°F about 45-50 minutes.

- Eat.

Recipe Courtesy Maker’s Mark Bourbon

 
 

To Build a Vinaigrette

Vikingfjord VodkaThis recipe is a raw utilization of a spirit. The rhubarb infusion is unexpected in that is doesn’t drink sour, like the raw product tastes. Instead, like a gin, it has a vegetal profile. Go figure. Here we build a vinaigrette, so you will not see exact proportions, instead I will explain the concepts behind designing a dressing/marinade that you can truly call your own.

For the infusion:

1.5 L Vodka (we use Vikingfjord Vodka) with 0.2 of 1.0 of the bottle emptied and replaced with

2 large rhubarb stalks, cut into batons

1/1 simple syrup, to fill

Let steep for at least 3 days. Enjoy.

For the vinaigrette:

Rhubarb Infusion
Lemon
Salt and Pepper
EV Olive Oil

The trick to building a great emulsion is this: build your spices and acids first. Then you incorporate the olive oil by whisking this liquid while drizzling in the oil, just a bit at a time. You can see the emulsion come together. Keep lots of spoons nearby, because you have to taste the product as it is built. The trick is to come in soft on any of the elements, because you can always add more but you can’t take it away. Close your eyes. Not enough acid? Add more lemon. Lacking body? More oil. No alcohol prevalence? Add a skosh. When done, marinate buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes in the vinaigrette, for 2-4 hours. Garnish with whole basil leaf as is tradition.

 
 

Bourbon Escargot

Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon In this recipe, I use just a slight amount of bourbon to affect the nuance. Normally, when spirits are cooked with, they are flamed in order to reduce alcohol prevalence. Here I adjust the proportions so that they provide that same nuance without the prevalence (and flammability). By the way, I found some excellent petite gris snails, canned, at our local market that are of high quality and at a surprisingly low price. I have since bought them out!

1 8 oz can Petit Gris Snails, drained
4 oz. butter, high-quality, sliced into ½ oz pieces
3 oz. (approximate) flat-leaf parsley, chiffonade
1 tbsp. Bourbon of choice (we used Four Roses Single Barrel)
1 clove garlic, sliced thin as possible
bread boule, hollowed out and toasted

With butter in it, bring pan to medium-high heat. When butter begins to foam, add escargot, then garlic. Sauté for 3 minutes, shaking often. Add Bourbon and parsley. Sauté for 1-2 minutes, shaking often. Pour inside toasted boule. Serve, allowing guests to soak up the butter mixture with the pulled interior of the bread.

The toasted crust also makes for a delicious critter tapas – as my neighborhood raccoon can attest. (I laid out this for the morning birds, yet he had designs of his own!)

Article and Recipe by BourbonBlog.com Chef/Mixologist Stephen Dennison

 
 

“Big Red” Onions Recipe

Big Red Soda Bottle , soda recipesKentuckians like Texans and vice versa. Perhaps it’s because we gave them Daniel Boone at the Alamo, or that they gave us chili (the average Kentuckian’s favorite [it’s not Kentucky burgoo] meal.) I’d honestly bet that it’s because we share the same soda- Big Red.

This stuff has traditionally been released to select states, yet it’s a prominent part of the culinary landscape in these places. Now, you can actually order Big Red from their website from where you live.  I personally was bottle fed this soda- red, yet not a crème. It is simply described as “Red,” to be truthful.

Next, we will show a familiar recipe that illustrates the use of a soda simple syrup in a culinary role. This will be based in part upon our last two articles from the Maker’s 46 series including our Blueberry/Coca-Cola Infusion and Maker’s and Coke Reengineered. We hope that you enjoy the technique and will enjoy using it with some of your own local soda selections.

For the Syrup:

1 part Big Red or local soda variation
1 part Sugar

Bring Soda to a boil. Add sugar and dissolve. Let sit to room temperature. Store refrigerated, up to two weeks. Combine:

1 part Soda Syrup
1 part water
1 part white vinegar

Warm till just below simmer.

Add: 1 medium onion, yellow, sliced.

Cover.

Let sit overnight. Serve.

Recipe and article by BourbonBlog.com‘s Chef/Mixlogist Stephen Dennison

 
 

Smackin-Cracklin Bacon

Margaritaville Dark RumSmackin-Cracklin Bacon by Stephen Dennison

What you will need:

Sheet Pan

Large Plate

Paper Towels

Sautee Pan

Whisk

Ingredients:

2 oz. Butter

2 oz. Margaritaville Dark Rum

3 Tbsp. Sugar

10 Pieces Thick-Cut Bacon (we used hickory-smoked)

Food Release Spray

Black Pepper

Procedure:

Lay out bacon on sheet pan. Bake in 300d oven. Cook until still soft, almost crispy, approx 10-14 minutes. Remove from oven. Place on paper towel-lined plate. Pat dry.

In sauté pan, add butter and rum. Melt on medium heat until incorporated, whisking occasionally. Add sugar and whisk until fully incorporated. Reduce heat to low. Add bacon, taking care not to over-crowd the pan. Allow bacon to sit in the glaze for 2 minutes. Remove and place upon the sheet pan, wiped free of excess bacon fat and sprayed with food release. Do not allow the bacon slices to touch each other! Pepper, to taste. Allow to set for at least 3 minutes prior to serving.

Article written and recipe created by BourbonBlog.com’s Beverage Consultant Chef/Mixologist Stephen Dennison.

 
 

Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Margarita Shrimp Cocktail

Basil Hayden's Bourbon photoThe beauty of this dish is after you eat the shrimp, you truly can turn back the Margarita and finish it off as a drink.
Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Margarita Shrimp Cocktail with coriander dusted grilled shrimp, avocado and jalapenos
Serves 4

Ingredients:
16 Large Shrimp, peeled, de-veined, tail off
1 Red Bell Pepper, diced
2 Scallions, sliced
2 Fresh Jalapenos, minced
Juice of 1 Lime
1 Avocado, diced
3 tbsp Clinatro, chopped
2 tbsp Coriander, freshly ground

For the Margarita:

5 ounces Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
3 and 3/4 ounces Grand Marnier
3 and 3/4 ounces Rose’s Lime
5 ounces Sour Mix

Mix Margarita ingredients together and chill

Dust shrimp with coriander. Grill until cooked through, turning once (about a minute per side). Set 4 shrimp aside and dice the rest of the shrimp. Toss the diced shrimp with remaining ingredients and marinate in the Bail Hayden’s Margarita for 2 to 4 hours.

Fill 4 glasses with the marinated shrimp cocktail and garnish with the 4 reserved grilled shrimp. Salted rim optional.

Recipe from Jim Beam’s Culinary Art 2009 Bourbon Style Cooking School with Chef Tom Yates. Watch our episode from the event where we first enjoy the Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Margarita Shrimp Cocktail  below

Whiskey Professors Steve Cole, Bernie Lubbers, and David Mays along with deSha’s Chef Tom Yates give us a taste of  cooking with Jim Beam bourbons at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2009