Whiskey Ham Aka Drunken Pig |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 180 Minutes |
Ready In: 180 Minutes Servings: 16 |
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This is my all time favorite ham recipe and just may become yours also. It is quite easy and comes out quite delish! It can be cooked in the oven or on the grill. I am a Weber charcoal kettle grill purist and I always grill these. Read more . Unfortunately, due to adverse weather her in the mountains of Oregon, grilling season only lasts for the first 12 full months of the year. During winter I often find myself peeking out the window at the digital thermometer perched on top of the smoking Weber that has been long planted in deep snow. If grilling in very cold or windy conditions remember the cooking process will take a little longer so adjust your plan. With this recipe you can use the rest period as a time buffer to make the whole meal come together at once without stressing. It can rest for slightly more or less time without harm. If you need to use longer rest times, wrap the ham in foil to maintain it’s internal heat longer. IN MY OPINION IT IS IMPERITIVE THAT YOU USE YOUR (FULLY PROGRAMMABLE DIGITAL) THERMOMETER WHEN COOKING LARGE PIECES OF MEAT IF YOU WANT CONSISTANCY. See my perfect prime rib recipe for the lowdown on the programmable digi thermometer. It is one of those kitchen tools that after you have one you ask yourself “how did I survive without one”. Ingredients:
equipment |
digital thermometer |
baking pan |
basting brush |
covered grill (optional) |
hickory chips, soaked in water for 1 hour (for grilling) |
ingredients |
ham |
1 shot of whiskey (reserved) |
1 bone in smoked ham, (12-14 pounds) |
olive oil |
2 tablespoons black peppercorns, coarsely crushed (zipper bag and hammer) |
2 tablespoons mustard seed, coarsely crushed (zipper bag and hammer) |
basting |
1 cup of your favorite sour mash or bourbon whiskey (jack daniels, aka old no.7) |
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed |
1/4 cup “stone ground” or “course ground” style mustard (i use inglehoffer or beaver brand. see www.beavertonfoods.com for info) |
1/4 cup honey |
1 tablespoon molasses (that’ll teach them damn moles) |
substitutions |
you can substitute good quality gold tequila for the whiskey (jose cuervo aka liquid psychosis) |
Directions:
1. PREP: 2. Drink the reserved shot of whiskey 3. Allow ham to rest at room temp for 1 hour before cooking. Prepping can be done during this time 4. Score ham by making shallow (3/8 inch deep) diagonal cuts about an inch apart to form a diamond pattern 5. Coat with olive oil 6. Mix crushed peppercorns and crushed mustard seeds together and rub over ham. 7. Insert the thermometer probe to as close to center of ham as practical staying clear of bone and set temperature alarm to 140F 8. Ham is now ready to cook, do not baste yet 9. Combine basting ingredients together in a resalable jar or plastic container and shake well to mix. Reserve to later use 10. ON THE GRILL: 11. Setup grill for indirect cooking, and preheat. If you don’t know what indirect grilling is ask or look it up. This is extremely important if you intend to eat the results 12. Place ham in baking pan and place on covered grill 13. Grill with indirect low heat to 140F internal temperature, 3-4 hours depending on ham size and grill heat, watch your thermometer rise to get an accurately adjusted cook time 14. Add hickory chips to fire as needed for smoke for the first hour 15. Baste with prepared basting mix the last 30 minutes or so, start when the internal temp is around 115F 16. Remove from grill at 140F internal temperature and allow to rest 15 minutes before carving 17. Serve hot or room temp 18. IN THE OVEN: 19. Adjust oven rack in cold oven to place ham near center of oven 20. Preheat oven to 300F 21. Place ham in baking pan and place in oven 22. Bake to 140F internal temperature, 3-4 hours depending on ham size, watch your thermometer rise to get an accurately adjusted cook time 23. Baste with prepared basting mix the last 30 minutes or so, start when the internal temp is around 115F 24. Remove from oven at 140F internal temperature and allow to rest 15 minutes before carving 25. Serve hot or room temp |
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