This morning at 7:15 AM PT I started my first shoulder in what I am calling my first official smoke. I have a 6.3 lb butt that I trimmed most of the fat from, tied, rinsed then coated with vegetable oil and then applied my rub. The butt hit the slightly modded ECB at 7:15. I'm burning Cowboy lump charcoal with some hickory splits having built my fire using the Minion Method. I'm adding more hickory every 30 mins for the first two hours, and then we'll see how this goes. At the 4 hour mark I'll insert the meat probe.
So far things are going "ok". My ECB is all over the place from a temperature perspective. I've had spikes of up to 400 on the grill surface when I rake coals and add hickory. The temp seems to stabilize near 270 before it is time to add more hickory. If shoulder is as forgiving as people say, and heaven knows I'm counting on it, then hopefully this won't cook too quickly.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed though!
Here's a shot of the butt post rub.
So far things are going "ok". My ECB is all over the place from a temperature perspective. I've had spikes of up to 400 on the grill surface when I rake coals and add hickory. The temp seems to stabilize near 270 before it is time to add more hickory. If shoulder is as forgiving as people say, and heaven knows I'm counting on it, then hopefully this won't cook too quickly.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed though!
Here's a shot of the butt post rub.