Fourth of July Grilled Chicken Drumsticks with Bourbon-Cherry BBQ Sauce

Our nation's birthday is approaching, and even though you can't beat the large scale fireworks show the city puts on, ditching the crowds and sub-par carnival food for your own grilling masterpiece might be the better course. Whatever your family traditions are, Fourth of July Grilled Chicken Drumsticks with Bourbon-Cherry BBQ Sauce is a tasty way to change up the menu. These drumsticks are covered in a fruity and boozy sauce and come off the grill lusciously red, sticky, and flavorful.  

Begin making the sauce by creating a cherry puree in a food processor from sour cherries.  Bring the mixture to a boil with sugar and water, then reduce it and strain it through a fine-mesh.  Combine cherry liquid, honey, unsalted ketchup, tomato paste, rice vinegar, bourbon, salt, pepper, onion powder, dry mustard, and red pepper in a saucepan until thickened.  Grill drumsticks over medium-high heat for 8 minutes, then reduce heat and finish cooking, continuously brushing with sauce for beautiful color and caramelization.  Serve with remaining sauce for a tantalizing savor of tangy vinegar and fruity sweetness. These drumsticks will get all over the face, so a box of wipes is probably a good idea. So ditch the mayhem of the city park this Independence Day, and enjoy better food in the comforts of your backyard with friends and family.

Serves 8

Fourth of July Grilled Chicken Drumsticks with Bourbon-Cherry BBQ Sauce Ingredients

  • 3 cups fresh or frozen sour cherries, pitted and thawed (about 20 oz.)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup unsalted ketchup
  • 1/4 cup unsalted tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons bourbon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • 4 pounds chicken drumsticks, skinned (about 16)
  • Cooking spray

Fourth of July Grilled Chicken Drumsticks with Bourbon-Cherry BBQ Sauce Directions

  1. Place cherries in a food processor; pulse until almost smooth. Bring cherry puree, 1/4 cup water, and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl to yield about 1 cup liquid; discard remaining solids.
  2. Add cherry liquid to pan; bring to a boil. Stir in honey and next 9 ingredients (through ground red pepper). Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 10 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Cool. Place 1 cup sauce in a bowl; reserve.
  3. Preheat grill to medium-high (about 450°F).
  4. Coat grill grate and drumsticks with cooking spray. Arrange drumsticks on grill; cover and cook 8 minutes, turning occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Brush drumsticks with remaining sauce; cook 12 minutes or until done, turning and brushing every 3 minutes. Serve with reserved 1 cup sauce.

Taken from cookinglight.com
https://www.cookinglight.com/recipes/grilled-chicken-drumsticks-bourbon-cherry-bbq-sauce