Good smoked food with Bourbon?

STLBBQer

STLBBQer

is one Smokin' Farker
Joined
Jan 28, 2014
Location
Apex, NC
Brethren, I need your help!

Hosting a little impromptu bourbon tasting of sorts for a good buddy of mine and my wife's who we haven't seen in six months. Hes in town on business and I want to treat him to a good dinner with bourbon for his first time meeting our new baby boy.

Here's the lineup:

-Elijah Craig 12 year

-Evan Williams Single Barrel 2004

-Buffalo Trace

-Four Roses Small Batch

Looking for smoked dinner suggestions that pair well with these bourbons AND are relatively healthy. My first idea is smoked chicken wings with bbq seasoned roasted potato wedges.

Would love to hear other suggestions! Thanks!
 
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First Course: cold Smoked Salmon and smoked cheese
Second Course:grilled radicchio salad
Third Course: smoked beef of choice
Fourth Course: bread pudding
 
I hope it is the buddy you have not seen in six months. If it is the wife, Buddy has to wait a day!

I have been liking Wellers, Made by Buffalo Trace and is supposed to be the same recipie as Pappy's? It is good and is getting harder to find.

Good choices on food but a hot and fast seared Steat (rib steak) is a great main course.

Have fun!
 
Smoke Dawg said:
I hope it is the buddy you have not seen in six months. If it is the wife, Buddy has to wait a day!

I have been liking Wellers, Made by Buffalo Trace and is supposed to be the same recipie as Pappy's? It is good and is getting harder to find.

Good choices on food but a hot and fast seared Steat (rib steak) is a great main course.

Have fun!
Click to expand...

Ha! Edited for clarity. :oops:
 
I like beef with bourbon. A good steak like dawg suggested is always a winner. A chuckie smoked to probe tender and sliced is so full of beef flavor it's crazy. Beef shorties are another one.. Yum.
 
I know you said healthy but steakhouse style bacon goes so well with bourbon. Btw I really like the Evan Williams single. Sounds like a great idea definitley post pics of whatever you decide to serve.
 
First of all, since you're a St. Louie Home Boy too, I highly recommend Square One's "J.J. Neukomm". It's not a proper bourbon, per se, but it is an amazing Missouri Malt Whiskey that has a fantastic sweet, smokey overtone and subtle fruity back-side that is incredibly drinkable. Square One is on Park in the Lafayette Square neighborhood downtown.

As for food pairings - especially on the healthy side - i'd go with grilled beef sirloin (lean but very flavorful and tender enough to pass muster with just about anyone who actually has teeth) seasoned with a good, slightly spicy rub, grilled asparagus and a grilled, cauliflower mash seasoned with the same seasonings you use on the steak.
 
Awesome suggestions guys! Looks like the weather may be conspiring against me! Rain today through Wednesday. ��

Might be pulling out the cast iron and doing some stovetop steaks.
 
Buffalo is very lean and I think would pair quite well with the bourbon. A nice thick cut reverse seared with oak. Maybe some Radicchio and roasted beats with a wee bit of goat cheese and some artisan bread.
 
On the drinking end of things, Kentucky Tea can be very good with grilled foods. I often like my bourbon neat or with a little splash of water, but that is when I am just bourbon tasting. When food comes in I like to go with 1 part bourbon and about 3 or four parts water over ice (Kentucky Tea). You still get some nice bourbon flavor but it will not overpower the food like a 90 proof spirit will. By the way, you have a nice selection of bourbon for tasting. I am sure you will have a great time regardless of what you cook.
 
Thanks again for all the suggestions. Have decided to go with:

Smoked pork tenderloin w/bourbon bbq glaze
Roasted potatoes
BBQ beans

Yeah, not a diet meal, but not horrendous either. Besides, it's a splurge anyway.

Also changed up the bourbon a bit after the Knob Creek suggestion:

-Evan Williams Single Barrel 2004
-Knob Creek Smoked Maple
-Buffalo Trace
-Four Roses Small Batch

Should be good!
 
Sounds great and the tenderloin is lean - good selection
 
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