Peach Bourbon BBQ Sauce #BourbonBBQ

Summer... it's here!!  And that means grilling season is upon us.  Well, here in San Diego grilling season is pretty much an all year round affair, but with May deemed National BBQ Month we are right now all about food over the open fire.  When grilling, whether it be chicken, salmon, vegetables or even pizza (yes, we grill our pizza!), condiments become a key ingredient to success.

And what's speaks more to grilling or BBQing than a good, sweet and tangy BBQ Sauce?  Different parts of the country will have very strong opinions as to what a "good" and "proper" BBQ Sauce is.  For example... dining in Memphis?  The sauce served will most likely be a thinner, tomato based sauce with a heavy tang of vinegar.  Or how about the Carolina's?  Here BBQ means pork, and only pork, and usually a mustard based sauce often with some sort of slaw on the side.  Kansas City?  Perhaps the most recognizable BBQ Sauce type, this sauce tends to be sweeter, heavy on the tomato and with only a slight vinegar tang and perhaps a trace of smoke.

But what about California?  Here just about anything goes, and today we bring you a sweet yet tangy Peach Bourbon BBQ Sauce.  Inspired by Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, this sauce includes caramelized sauteed onions enhanced with the rich bourbon flavors and then combined with sweet, fresh peaches.  Going  California style, our sauce is perfect with grilled salmon or chicken, but also a wonderful addition to pulled pork.

Having spent three years of my life living in Louisville, Kentucky, bourbon has a special place in my heart.  To be a true Bourbon, the product must be distilled only in the US.  While it may be distilled anywhere in the US, you will find most Bourbons are distilled in Kentucky.  Bourbons must be aged in new, charred oak barrels and must be distilled from at least 51% corn.  Different distillers use varying combinations of other grains including rye, barley, and wheat, but the corn must stay at 51%.

When bottled, all Bourbons must be at least 80 proof, though many will exceed this requirement.  However unlike many other distilled spirits, Bourbon may not contain any artificial colorings or additives, hence, the caramel color of bourbon comes only from the barrel it was aged in.

Four Roses, like most other bourbons, hails from Kentucky with its distillery located in Lawrenceburg.  It's said that Four Roses founder, Paul Jones Jr. became smitten by the beauty of a southern belle.  After proposing to the belle, she replied that if the answer was "Yes", she would wear a corsage of roses to the upcoming grand ball.  Arriving in a beautiful gown also she wore a corsage of 4 red roses, and Mr. Jones named his Bourbon "Four Roses" as a symbol of his passion for his lovely belle.

Thank you to Four Roses for sending us samples of their single barrel bourbon whiskey and for bringing a little bit of Kentucky to our California home.  Whether you live in the East, South, North or West, Peach Bourbon BBQ Sauce is sure to enhance your meal for National BBQ Month.  #BourbonBBQ  Definitely a reason to get outside and grill!

Peach Bourbon BBQ  Sauce
Bourbon in sauces brings a rich, caramelized flavor that gives your sauce a fabulous depth.  Note that the alcohol will cook off, leaving just the fabulous barrel aged flavors behind.  Sweet with peach and tangy with vinegar, this sauce is a perfect match for chicken, salmon and pork.  Once you've made your own sauce you'll never be able to go back to that store bought bottle!
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1-2 Tbs oil (we used avocado oil)
1 cup chopped onion
1 Tbs finely chopped garlic
1 tsp chili powder
1/3 cup Four Roses bourbon
1 Tbs prepared mustard
1 cup peaches, peeled, cored and chopped
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
3 Tbs cider vinegar
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
hot sauce to taste - optional

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add onion and reduce heat to medium low.  Sautee slowly for about 15 minutes until onion softens and begins to brown.  Increase heat to medium and add garlic.  Stir and sautee for another two minutes or so.  Add chili powder and mustard and stir to combine.

Add the bourbon and peaches along with the next 3 ingredients (through the cider vinegar) and stir.  Simmer until peaches are very soft (about 30 min) and add freshly ground pepper.  If you prefer a spicy sauce, add hot sauce to taste.

If you prefer a chunky sauce, cool and place in a jar.  If you prefer a smoother sauce, cool, then place sauce into a blender and blend until desired consistency.

Place in a covered jar and refrigerate for up to 10 days.

*Liv Life received samples of Four Roses Bourbon as inspiration for this post, however the recipe, photos and thoughts are all my own.