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Bourbon Bacon BBQ Chicken Skewers

There has to be some sort of Barbecue chicken at your super bowl party, or it’s really not a super bowl party. Instead of going the traditional route of chicken wings, try these Bourbon Bacon Barbecue Chicken Skewers instead. Your guest will really enjoy the mess free convenience of these Barbecue chicken skewers.

What you’ll need

8 ounces of Barbecue Sauce – We use Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce!

1/8 cup of bourbon

2 pounds of chicken breast

6 Slices of uncooked bacon

½ teaspoon garlic Powder

½ teaspoon onion powder

2 Tablespoons smoked paprika

3 Tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons of salt & 1 teaspoon of pepper

What you’ll do

Heat your grill to medium-high.

In a small bowl, combine the BBQ sauce and bourbon and mix well.

In a food processor, combine your salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, and bacon. Pulse until completely smooth, forming a paste.

Put the pieces of chicken in a bowl and rub with the paste. Once well coated, thread the chicken pieces onto skewers.

Place on the preheated grill, and cook for about 5 minutes per side or until cooked through.

Brush with the bourbon BBQ sauce mixture and cook for an additional minute on each side.

Pairing

We think you can go in 2 directions with a beer pairing with this one. Something crisp but also a bit smoky can complement the BBQ tastes of this dish like schwarzbiers, rachbiers, etc. You can also go with a smooth, slightly creamy, more delicate IPA that won’t overpower the great flavors of this dish. Try Fox Farm Brewery’s “The Camp” Smoked Lager or New Park Brewery’s “Cloudscape” IPA.

For wine, try Hawk Ridge Winery’s Mad Hawk Spanish style blend – Bold, bright fruit and smooth tannins make this Spanish style wine a delicious accompaniment to BBQ! The fruitiness of the wine will compliment the sweet flavors in the BBQ and the smoother tannins will not over power the chicken. A very fun new wine to try.

Aged Eggnog Recipe

One of the best parts of this time of year is the eggnog.

Sure, maybe not everyone is the biggest fan. But if you do find yourself craving a cold, frosty glass of perfectly spiced nog as you watch the first snowfall of the season, then read on to learn about this tried and true recipe!

And don’t forget that eggnog can make fantastic holiday presents for friends, family, and co-workers! If you make a batch you’re proud of, you can always drop by Musto Wine Grape while our bottles are still 10% off!

Two quick notes:

  1. Yes, this is very boozy. Definitely an adults-only drink.
  2. Yes, this is aged. But if you’d rather not, that’s fine too. (But pssst, it’s better when it’s aged a bit!)

What you’ll need

  • 4 eggs, separated
  • 10 oz half and half
  • 10 oz heavy cream
  • 1 T vanilla extract
  • 1 T cinnamon
  • 4.5 T white sugar
  • 1.5 oz bourbon
  • 1.5 oz rum
  • 1 oz brandy
  • 1 oz Allspice dram
  • 1 oz Cardamaro
  • .5oz Amontillado sherry
  • Nutmeg, cinnamon stick, star anise garnish

Directions

  1. Whisk yolks with stand mixer and then slowly add in the sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon.
  2. One well mixed, turn mixer to slow setting and gently pour in the spirits and half and half.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until they form soft peaks.
  4. Gently fold egg whites into yolk/spirit/sugar mixture.
  5. In its own bowl, whisk heavy cream into whipped cream.
  6. Gently mix the whipped cream into the mixture, so that everything is in one vessel now.
  7. Age in fridge for desired amount of time (30-45 days minimum recommendation for a noticeable change in flavor incorporation and softening of the booze)
  8. When serving, garnish with one star anise, one cinnamon stick, and a dash of nutmeg

You can drink this immediately if you want to, but we recommend aging at least 30 days. There is a distinct difference between just-made eggnog and one that has aged for a month or more, which allows it to develop a much smoother, softer flavor and mouthfeel. You’ll really be blown away by the difference!

Just remember it must be in a clean, sanitary jar. Keep it tightly sealed until you’re ready to drink it.