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Whiskey-Glazed BBQ Ribs Recipe Easy Perfect Cherry Wood Smoke Flavor

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These whiskey-glazed BBQ ribs with cherry wood smoke offer a smoky, sweet flavor with a warm kick from whiskey, delivering tender, melt-in-your-mouth ribs perfect for backyard gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 racks of baby back ribs (about 3 to 4 pounds total)
  • 2 cups cherry wood chips, soaked in water for 30 minutes
  • ½ cup whiskey (recommend bourbon like Maker’s Mark)
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prepare the ribs (15 minutes): Remove the silver skin membrane from the back of the ribs using a butter knife and paper towel.
  2. Season the ribs (10 minutes): Rub ribs evenly with olive oil, then sprinkle salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder on both sides. Press seasoning in with hands.
  3. Preheat the smoker or grill (20 minutes): Set to 225°F (about 107°C). Add soaked cherry wood chips to smoker box or coals.
  4. Smoke the ribs (2.5 to 3 hours): Place ribs bone-side down on grill grate. Close lid and smoke low and slow, adding soaked cherry wood chips every 45 minutes.
  5. Make the whiskey glaze (while ribs smoke, 10 minutes): Whisk together whiskey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar until smooth.
  6. Apply the whiskey glaze (last 30 minutes of cooking): Brush glaze onto ribs every 10 minutes during last half hour of smoking.
  7. Check for doneness (5 minutes): Ribs are done at internal temperature of about 195°F (90°C) and meat pulls back from bones or bends easily with slight crack.
  8. Rest the ribs (15 minutes): Remove ribs from smoker, tent loosely with foil, and let rest to keep juicy and set glaze.

Notes

Remove silver skin membrane for tenderness. Maintain consistent heat at 225°F. Soak wood chips for 30 minutes to prevent burning. Brush glaze thinly and frequently to avoid burning sugar. The recipe is forgiving; keep an eye on temperature and add wood chips as needed. Glaze can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated. For oven method, bake ribs at 275°F for 2.5 to 3 hours and broil with glaze for caramelization.

Nutrition

Keywords: whiskey-glazed ribs, BBQ ribs, cherry wood smoke, smoked ribs, bourbon glaze, backyard BBQ, easy ribs recipe

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/whiskey-glazed-bbq-ribs-recipe-easy-perfect-cherry-wood-smoke-flavor/