KENTUCKY BOURBON FLAVORED BBQ CHICKEN

This barbecue sauce gets its kick from hot sauce and its smokey smoothness from Kentucky bourbon. I find it more economical to buy a whole chicken and cut it into 10 pieces (breasts cut in half, crosswise).

I save the chicken back in a plastic baggie and freeze it for making chicken stock later. 

BBQ Sauce
1 T avocado oil

1 yellow onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 ½ cups ketchup
¼ cup honey

¼ cup unsulphured molasses

½ cup apple cider vinegar

¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

¼ cup unsalted butter

¼ cup brown sugar
1 t dry mustard

1 t chili powder
2 T hot sauce, optional

¼ t hickory liquid smoke

¼ cup Kentucky Bourbon

6 chicken thighs

4 drumsticks

Trim the thighs to make them more uniform.

Use a needle tenderizer to perforate the skin to aid in biting through the skin

Season chicken with a BBQ rub on both sides and set aside in the refrigerator while making the sauce.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the oil and sauté the onion until soft, about 5 minutes.

Add the garlic and sauté another minute.

Stir in the ketchup, honey, molasses, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, butter, brown sugar, mustard, hot sauce (if using), hickory smoke, and bourbon.

Bring to a low boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Remove from heat and set aside.

Place the chicken pieces, skin side down, in the center of the grill.

Cover and grill for about 40 minutes, turning the pieces over after 20 minutes.

After chicken has been grilling for 40 minutes, generously brush the chicken pieces with the sauce and grill another 5 minutes.

Turn over the pieces and brush again with sauce and grill another 5 minutes.

Serves 4 - with extra BBQ sauce for another meal