So I had some friends over for a BBQ the other weekend and I thought I would have a second try at ribs with apple and bourbon sauce. I would say the ribs were better than the first attempt as I trimmed more fat off and cooked them for a little longer. The sauce was maybe not as good as the first time but still very good.
Apple Bourbon BBQ Sauce (Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book) 2 Tablespoons Butter 1/4 Cup diced sweet onion 3/4 cup course grated peeled apple (sweet) 3 Tablespoons bourbon 1/2 Tablespoons salt 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cumin 2 Cups ketchup (I found this worked better with 3/4 Cup ish) 1/2 Distilled White Wine Vinegar (I use cider) 1/2 Cola 1/2 Brown Sugar 6 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup 1 Tablespoon Molasses 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce 2 1/2 Teaspoons Liquid Smoke
Melt butter over a medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 4 minutes. Add grated apple, bourbon, salt, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and cumin, and sauté for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large non reactive sauce pan, add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Simmer over a medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the apple mixture and stir well. Simmer for 2 additional minutes and remove from heat. After cooling transfer to a tightly covered jar or plastic container and store refrigerated for up to 2 weeks
