If you like whiskey, you’ll love this bourbon BBQ sauce. It’s perfectly sweet, a little smoky, and generously flavored with bourbon. Bonus: It takes only 25 minutes to make.
Calling all bourbon lovers — this is my go-to BBQ sauce. If you’ve never made BBQ sauce from scratch before, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is. Everything goes straight into a pot, then you let it simmer until it thickens into something rich, glossy, and full of flavor.
I use a full cup of bourbon because I love the depth it adds. The extra liquid means the sauce needs about five more minutes to cook down, but it’s absolutely worth it. The result is a bold, smoky-sweet BBQ sauce with a warm bourbon backbone that tastes far more special than anything from a bottle.
Answers to your questions
What kind of bourbon should I use? I often use Jim Beam as it’s a decent, inexpensive bourbon. Don’t waste a good bourbon in this recipe. This is the time to reach for something that tastes good but doesn’t cost a lot.
Can I make this a whiskey bbq sauce? Yes! Whiskey works just as well in this recipe. I’ve made it with Jameson’s with success.
Does bourbon BBQ sauce have alcohol? Some, but not much. Alcohol evaporates (or cooks off) as the sauce boils. The amount of alcohol that remains in food after it is cooked depends on several factors, such as how long it is cooked, the size of the pot (larger = more alcohol evaporation), and the other ingredients in the recipe.
Anecdotal evidence: we’ve eaten a lot of bourbon bbq sauce and not felt the tiniest bit ‘funny’ afterward.
How long does homemade BBQ sauce last? This BBQ sauce will last for two weeks in your fridge. For longer storage, freeze it in individual servings for up to three months.
Recipes to use this bourbon bbq sauce
Now that you have your delicious bbq sauce on hand, you’ll want to use it on everything. Here are a few of our favorite recipes that use bbq sauce:
- Baked BBQ Chicken
- BBQ Pulled Turkey Pizza with Fiery Pineapple Salsa
- BBQ Rotisserie Chicken Quesadilla
- BBQ Crockpot Beef Ribs
- BBQ Chicken Salad Bowl with Raspberry Basil Vinaigrette
Bourbon BBQ Sauce Recipe
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Ingredients
- ▢ 1 ½ cups ketchup (see notes)
- ▢ 1 cup bourbon
- ▢ ½ cup brown sugar
- ▢ ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ▢ 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ▢ 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- ▢ 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- ▢ 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder and onion powder
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a small pot over medium-high heat. Stir well then bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat so that it bubbles gently and continue to cook (with the lid off) for 15 minutes, or until the sauce reduces to about 1 ¾ cups. 1 ½ cups ketchup, 1 cup bourbon, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon liquid smoke, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder and onion powder
- Store for up to 2 weeks in your fridge or up to 3 months in your freezer.
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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Bourbon BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups ketchup , see notes
- 1 cup bourbon
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder and onion powder
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a small pot over medium-high heat. Stir well then bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat so that it bubbles gently and continue to cook (with the lid off) for 15 minutes, or until the sauce reduces to about 1 ¾ cups. 1 ½ cups ketchup, 1 cup bourbon, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon liquid smoke, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder and onion powder
- Store for up to 2 weeks in your fridge or up to 3 months in your freezer.
