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Whisky Brined Chicken Wings are an epic feast, perfect for any gathering such as Game Day or the Super Bowl.
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5 from 3 votes

Whisky Brined BBQ Wings

The Best Brined BBQ Wings I know of are my whisky brined chicken wings. The Pendleton whisky adds great flavor but also helps retain moisture.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time12 hours
Brining Time4 hours
Total Time16 hours 30 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Author: Derek Wolf

Ingredients

Chicken Wings:

Brine:

  • 1 Gallon Water
  • 12 oz Pendleton Whisky
  • 1/4 cup Kosher Salt
  • 1/8 cup Maple Syrup
  • 3 Garlic Cloves
  • 2 tbsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tbsp Peppercorns

Maple Whisky Sauce:

Instructions

Brine:

  • Add to a food safe bowl or bag your warm water and the rest of the brining ingredients. Stir for a couple of minutes until the sugar and salt has dissolved. Add your raw chicken wings to the brine, seal the container and place in the fridge.
  • Let brine for at least 2 hours but ideally 4 hours.

Wings:

  • Pull out the wings from the brine and completely pat dry. Discard the used brine. Slather with oil and generously season with your favorite BBQ Rub (I used my Maple Bourbon seasoning).
  • Preheat the smoker for 375F cooking indirectly. Add wood chips or wood chunks for added smoke flavor.
  • Add the chicken wings to cook for about 1.5-2 hours until 175F internal. Pull off once done.
  • Add a skillet to the fire along with all of the ingredients for the Maple Whisky Sauce and bring to a simmer. Add your wings to a bowl and toss in the sauce.
  • Serve the wings up and enjoy!

Notes

Benefits of Brining
Not sure why brining matters? Let me break it down for you (pun totally intended). Brining locks in moisture, amps up flavor, and then absolutely guarantees your meat stays juicy—even at high temps. Whether you’re grilling chicken wings or roasting a whole turkey, a solid brine gives you that perfect mix of tender and flavorful. Want to know more? Head over to my Benefits of Brining post!

Nutrition

Calories: 949kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 8259mg | Potassium: 906mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 2088IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 705mg | Iron: 23mg