5 High-Value Bourbons to Bring to Your Next BBQ
In the barbecue world, one of the most popular spirits to pair with smoked meats is bourbon. For example, several consumer-facing barbecue festivals feature the ability to try bourbon samples and at competition barbecue events, it’s not uncommon for teams to drink bourbon together and share good pours with other teams.
Once you start spending time in the bourbon world (of which I spent more time in during the pandemic), the sheer amount of styles and price points can be a little daunting. I thankfully had a little help navigating and getting recommendations from Facebook groups like Smoke + Mash and YouTube channels like Bourbon Junkies and ADHD Whiskey.
Now that I’ve spent a lot more time with bourbon and have a reasonable collection, it makes sense to share a few bourbon picks that pair well with barbecue. Here are five great high-value bottles of bourbon (and one bonus rye) to drink at your next barbecue party.
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is aged in charred barrels, giving it a rich, smoky flavor. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Elijah Craig Small Batch is one of the most popular and easy-to-find bourbons out there. If you like Small Batch but want to up the intensity and flavor, you need to check out Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel. This is a 94-proof bourbon that finishes the aging process in a flash-charred barrel, so it is both smoky and sweet. It has rich notes of marshmallow, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and baking spices. It can pair well with just about any smoky (or non-smoky) barbecue that you’re eating.
Knob Creek’s 12-year-old aged bourbon has a deep flavor profile with lots of oak. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Knob Creek 12 Year
Knob Creek is another popular bourbon that a lot of people have tried, but the 12 Year expression of the brand takes it to another level. It has a lot of complex flavors and is completely worth the $60 price tag. It has strong notes of oak, cinnamon, and brown sugar, which pairs well with a lot of barbecue. Knob Creek 12 Year is one of my favorite recent additions to my collection, and I think you’ll enjoy it too.
Henry McKenna 10 offers a light-but-still tasty profile. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Henry McKenna 10 Year
Ever since Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Years Old won “Best Whiskey of the Year” at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition in 2019, it has become much more expensive. But if you find a good price on it (under $60), it’s worth it. McKenna 10 Year is a 100-proof bourbon with notes of caramel, wood, and honey and it’s surprisingly light while still flavorful. If you prefer your bourbon to not overwhelm you, this is a good pick.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded offers surprising value and a lighter profile that pairs well with lots of meats. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
While it’s not the most sought-after bourbon, Old Grand-Dad Bonded can pair well with a lot of barbecue items (especially beef items like burgers and brisket) because it’s smooth and does not overwhelm the palate. This bourbon has notes of caramel, oak, cinnamon, and dark fruits throughout. And at less than $25 a bottle, this is one of the highest-value bottles of bourbon you’ll find on the shelf.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed may be the most balanced pick on this. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
One bottle I recommend that every bourbon enthusiast includes on their shelf is Wild Turkey Rare Breed. Commonly priced around $50, it punches way above its weight and could easily go toe-to-toe with $100 bottles. The 116.8-proof Rare Breed has hints of vanilla, apples, burnt wood, tobacco, and a little bit of citrus. Despite this being “barrel proof,” it drinks more smoothly than you’d expect. Next time you’re looking to class up your barbecue, buy a bottle of Rare Breed.
Old Forester Rye is a high-value bonus pick to pair with your BBQ. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Bonus Pick: Old Forester Rye
While I don’t drink as much rye whiskey as I do bourbon, Old Forester Rye is another great pick for drinking with barbecue. Old Forester Rye has hints of burnt bread, banana, brown sugar, vanilla, and baking spices. The spirit has a unique mashbill of 65% rye, 20% malted barley, and 15% corn, and it offers a tremendously high value, retailing for less than $25 in most stores throughout the country. You will simply not find a better rye option at the store in this low of a price range.
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These are just a handful of my favorite bourbons to sip alongside barbecue, but please us know on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook what your top picks are!
Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet
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—Tyler Harp of Harp Barbecue in Kansas City is hosting a new-school barbecue festival in mid-July.—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Tyler Harp of Harp Barbecue has done a lot to help lead a new generation of pitmasters in KC since bursting onto the scene in 2019. He’s quickly become one of the top names in Kansas City barbecue. Now, he’s hosting his own festival on Saturday, July 17, at the Uptown Pavilion in Independence, Missouri not far from where he grew up. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, June 23 at harpbarbecue.com and will sell out fast, so don’t delay purchasing if you live in KC. The event will raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and also feature other up-and-coming names in Kansas City and Texas barbecue. READ HERE.
A lot of news came out of the Houston barbecue scene this past week, so let’s round up those items for a minute:
J.C. Reid, barbecue columnist for the Houston Chronicle, and co-founder of the Houston Barbecue Festival, has launched a new website that serves as a comprehensive guide to BBQ joints in Houston. The site offers a “non-ranked database chosen by editors that allows users to search by styles of barbecue, neighborhood, types of pit and wood, and days open” and has more than 25 area barbecue joints to learn about. READ HERE.
Reid also penned a column about a growing number of Houston barbecue joints that have signed up to ship meats all over the country via Goldbelly. Joints including Fainmous BBQ and Roegels Barbecue Co. are now sending their smoked meats frozen to places including California, Missouri, Washington, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey. READ HERE.
Patrick Feges and Erin Smith, the couple behind Feges BBQ, have opened the second location of Feges BBQ this past Sunday in the Houston neighborhood of Spring Branch. The original Feges location, still open in the Greenway Plaza food court, struggled as office workers stayed home during the pandemic but it has come back strong. The new restaurant will offer counter-service lunch and dinner with a menu of “brisket, sausage, pork ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, whole hog, and plenty more.” READ HERE.
ADDITIONAL READS
Sean Welch of the Dallas Observer strongly suggests that barbecue lovers need to stop by Smoak Town BBQ in Royce City.
Thrillist writes that Austin pitmaster Damien Brockway is infusing classic Texas barbecue items with African-American culinary history.
Jed Blackwell and Michael Burns of the Herald-Journal wrote about 10 South Carolina BBQ restaurants you must try this summer.
Third-generation pitmaster Sam Jones has been spreading the gospel of North Carolina barbecue for years and still has more to do writes the North State Journal.
Washington Post reporter Kent Babb wrote about reconnecting with friends after being vaccinated and taking a road trip for Texas BBQ.
The Barbecue Bros stopped by Log Cabin BBQ in Albemarle, NC and awarded the joint 3.5 out of 5 Hogs.
On a final fun note, The Smoke Sheet co-founder Sean Ludwig is getting married at NYC BBQ joint Pig Beach this weekend. Wish him good luck!
Get your BBQ right every time with the ChefsTemp Finaltouch X10 digital meat thermometer. Click here to learn more.
—Sabin Lomac hosts the great new show Grill of Victory, which debuted this week on the Food Network.—
WATCH
It's Not the Destination, It's the Journey — Grill of Victory
Food truck franchise owner Sabin Lomac hosts a thrilling competition that brings America's best backyard grillers to Food Network's ultimate backyard grilling arena in the wilds of Tennessee for three rounds of intense cooking battles. In the series premiere, Lomac challenges three of America's best backyard grillers to create three regionally inspired dishes. The competitors take on Southern chicken and coastal cuisine, keeping judges Susie Bulloch and Tregaye Fraser on the edges of their seats with mouths watering through every round. In the end, one home cook will take home the ultimate culinary prize — a customized, HGTV-style outdoor kitchen and entertaining space of their dreams. WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
Shawn Walchef of Cali Comfort BBQ — Smoking Hot Confessions
Host of the Smoking Hot Confessions podcast Ben Arnot is joined by Shawn Walchef, founder of iconic California BBQ joint Cali Comfort BBQ and host of the Digital Hospitality podcast. The two discuss the possibility of “Ghost Kitchens” being the future of BBQ and Walchef shares tips on how to set up a Ghost Kitchen. They also talk about digital media as well as how to give a business pitch. LISTEN HERE.
READ
Bacon Everything: Bacon Makes Everything Better! — Brooke Michael Bell
Everything is better with bacon, and this all-bacon book is out to prove it! Bacon Everything features appetizers, sides, main dishes, and even desserts; this is a mouthwatering collection of recipes you’ll turn to again and again. Embrace your love of all things bacon with more than 50 indulgent recipes in this cookbook. From cheesy bacon-topped casseroles and hearty roasts to bacon-filled breads, flavorful sides, and even desserts, Bacon Everything is for the bacon fan in all of us. ORDER HERE.
Thank you to our sponsor Raikes Beef, which offers 100% Nebraska born and raised American Wagyu and Angus beef. Learn more about Raikes Beef Co. here.
—Try adding some of your favorite bourbon as an ingredient during your next backyard barbecue cook. (Photo by Wai Chan)—
Smokey Mountain Peach Bourbon Beans
By BBQ Tourist
The Smoke Sheet’s very own Ryan Cooper (aka BBQ Tourist) adds some bourbon flavor to this week’s Recipe of the Week. For his Smokey Mountain Peach Bourbon Beans recipe, he first uses a cast-iron skillet to cook a generous portion of bacon on the grill, then uses that same skillet to cook peaches, onion, garlic, and peppers. He then adds brown sugar and a touch of one of his favorite bourbons to the mix before combining with beans and Blues Hog Smokey Mountain barbecue sauce and a few other simple ingredients in a cast-iron pot. These sweet, smoked-flavored beans are a crowd favorite at backyard gatherings.
Thank you to our sponsor DennyMike's, which offers outstanding seasonings and rubs for every situation. Learn more about DennyMike's here.
—Lots of must-attend barbecue events are scheduled for 2021.—
July 9-11, 2021: Kansas City BBQ Festival — Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City is about to get a big new barbecue festival with the “KCQ,” a non-competition barbecue event that celebrates barbecue from Kansas City and many other barbecue towns. It will take place in the parking lot of Arrowhead Stadium and feature barbecue from KC-based mainstays Joe’s Kansas City, Jones Bar-B-Q, and Plowboys BBQ. Out-of-towners will also be there, including 2M Smokehouse, Black’s BBQ, Central City BBQ, and Sugarfire Smokehouse. MORE INFO HERE.
July 9-11, 2021: Windy City Smokeout BBQ & Country Music Festival — Chicago, Illinois
Get ready for beer, BBQ, and country tunes, because the Windy City Smokeout BBQ & Country Music Festival is returning to Chicago. The Windy City Smokeout is one of the largest barbecue festivals in the U.S. and typically features the world’s best pitmasters and more than 15 musical acts. Read our to learn about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.
July 16-17, 2021: Golden Days Championship — Fairbanks, Alaska
The northernmost barbecue competition (maybe in the world?) is taking place in Fairbanks, Alaska, which is also the birthplace of the Alaska BBQ Association. This competition follows the KCBS sanctioned rules as the Grand Champion receives an invitation to the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational. It’s also notable in that the sun basically doesn’t go down the entire time the comp is happening. MORE INFO HERE.
July 31 & August 1, 2021: Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival — Brooklyn, New York
NYC’s Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival is back and better than ever! Get ready to enjoy all those pleasures that true Southerners live by – Beer, Bourbon, Barbecue, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass, and Smoked Beasts. It’s a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’, and barbecue eatin’. One admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an all-you-care-to-taste sampling of beer and bourbon. MORE INFO HERE.
August 21-22, 2021: Meatstock Music and Barbecue Festival (Sydney edition) — Sydney, Australia
Meatstock returns with a typically stacked line-up of barbecue enthusiasts and bands. The sell-out, two-day event brings big-name American pitmasters Down Under; sees comp teams from across Sydney go head-to-head over the coals to be crowned the city’s best barbequers; and features live music, food trucks and pop-up bars. MORE INFO HERE.
September 3-5, 2021: Pinehurst Barbecue Festival — Pinehurst, North Carolina
Debuting Labor Day Weekend 2021, The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival celebrates “All Things Barbecue” in North Carolina. From Eastern North Carolina vinegar to Western North Carolina tomato, they will have all of your favorites. The Pinehurst Barbeque Festival is a “Celebration of Taste and Tradition” featuring award-winning pitmasters in one of the most picturesque settings in all of North Carolina — the historic Village of Pinehurst. Choose to experience the entire three-day festival, or attend just one signature event. A multi-ticket VIP package, as well as individual tickets for each event are available. MORE INFO HERE.
September 10-11, 2021: Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival (Cary) — Cary, North Carolina
Cary’s Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival is back and better than ever. Get ready to enjoy all those pleasures that true Southerners live by – Beer, Bourbon, Barbecue, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass, and Smoked Beasts. It’s a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’, and barbecue eatin’. One admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an all-you-care-to-taste sampling of beer and bourbon. MORE INFO HERE.
September 11, 2021: Pig Island NYC — New York, New York
For those that love all things pork and barbecue, the annual Pig Island NYC event is a can’t-miss affair. Many chefs and pitmasters from around the country show up and serve their best pork creations. Held outdoors, this all-inclusive event will also feature a ton of great food, beer, cider, and liquor. MORE INFO HERE.
September 16-19, 2021: American Royal World Series of Barbecue — Kansas City, Kansas
The American Royal World Series of barbecue is the largest BBQ competition in the country. On top of a massive KCBS competition with roughly 500 teams from around the country, this signature Kansas City event includes public-facing activities, including live music, delicious BBQ and local food, a full line up of kids activities, and a vendor fair authentic to Kansas City and BBQ enthusiasts. Read our to learn more about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.
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