Using half-strength liquor for cooking?

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bluewhisper

Master of the Pit
Original poster
OTBS Member
Apr 1, 2014
3,587
455
Columbus Ohio
Sometimes I like to flavor foods with booze. Last night it was roasted sweet potato wedges slathered with a slurry of bourbon and brown sugar.

This time I used the 42-proof bourbon. (In Ohio, full-strength booze is available only at licensed agencies, but 42-proof can be bought in ordinary groceries.)

My question is, Is it better to use half-strength booze? I'm assuming that the alcohol cooks off in the heat anyway so that shouldn't make any difference. If the half-strength version has less alcohol, then am I getting more bourbon-ness flavor to replace the alcohol? Or is it just watered down and I'm buying water instead of alcohol? The half-strength version is much cheaper than the full-strength version of the same brand.

Yeah, sweet potato cut into 1/4 wedges, scored in a cross-hatch pattern and brushed with bourbon and brown sugar. Baked alongside a little pork loin roast rubbed with homegrown sage and rosemary, salt and pepper, and fresh garlic pounded in to make the powder into a paste to slather onto the roast.

Winter is oven weather.
 
I think the only way you'll really if there's a difference in taste is to grab a sip of each with some time and a palate cleanser in between.

As for winter and ovens...I still smoke in sub-zero temps, but I do use some indoor cookers at times to finish, or, when making a complete meal. Warmer weather, well, I pretty much stick to my smokers and grills while I explore the possibilities. I'll be smoking a couple slabs of BBRs in my WSM next Saturday to hold/finish in a large crock-pot for transport out of town to my daughter's place for dinner...thinking about whipping up some no-boil smoked mac n cheese for that meal, as well. Just some teasers for you to ponder...
biggrin.gif


Eric
 
The forecast here is for 5F tonight. I'm staying inside, but if I were smoking I'd use a lot of fuel just to get the offset up to temp.

The neighbors tease me with the smells of wood smoke from their fireplaces.
 
Another argment
 
The forecast here is for 5F tonight. I'm staying inside, but if I were smoking I'd use a lot of fuel just to get the offset up to temp.

The neighbors tease me with the smells of wood smoke from their fireplaces.
Another good argument for an insulated cabinet!!!!!!
 
 
The forecast here is for 5F tonight. I'm staying inside, but if I were smoking I'd use a lot of fuel just to get the offset up to temp.

The neighbors tease me with the smells of wood smoke from their fireplaces.
Yeah, I'll be pushing it at a bit lower temps than that. Low of -21* and snow Friday night, high of -2 and a bit of wind on smoke day - Saturday.
 
Another argment
 
The forecast here is for 5F tonight. I'm staying inside, but if I were smoking I'd use a lot of fuel just to get the offset up to temp.

The neighbors tease me with the smells of wood smoke from their fireplaces.
Another good argument for an insulated cabinet!!!!!!
Yeah, I won't argue with you on that point.

Eric
 
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