If you are looking for a great appetizer idea, then Kentucky Bourbon Chicken Wings is what you need. The chicken wings are sticky and sweet due to its dipping sauce based on bourbon, flavorful seasonings, and brown sugar.

There are plenty of appetizer recipes out there; here is one that will make your taste buds sing! Kentucky Bourbon Chicken Wings is packed with delicious flavors that start off from the incredible dry rub combination and explodes thanks to the sweet and sticky bourbon-rich topping that is mouth-watering and works perfectly together.

Kentucky Bourbon Chicken Wings Recipe – Grill All Year Long

I live in a house divided. Some members of my family love to eat wings that have just dry rub on them while others prefer the saucier alternative. Me? I love to have my finger dripping with delicious goodness. The wetter the better, but the meat needs to be seared and crispy.

That’s why it’s important to get the grill out when preparing your chicken wings recipe. Sure you can bake them and I have on many occasions! Don’t get me wrong. My husband doesn’t always want to clean our BBQ.

But when you put in the work, you get to reap the rewards, right? This chicken wings recipe serves about 4 people (makes about 14-16 wings).

Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 35 min

Ingredients:

4 pounds of fresh chicken wings (approximately 14–16 wings)
1/3 cup dry rub for Chicken ( see below )
1 cup Bourbon Barbecue Sauce ( see below )

Dry Rub

¼ C brown sugar
1/8 C paprika
2 tsp coriander
1 Tbsp coarse salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp cayenne
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp basil
1 tsp celery salt

Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Sauce

1 cup Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 ½ cups ketchup
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
4 Tbsp molasses
1/8 cup Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp liquid smoke

How To Make Bourbon Chicken Wings

Place wing pieces into a large bowl. Combine all of the ingredients listed for the dry rub in a medium bowl and then stir to combine. Next, store in an airtight container.

Pour the Spice Rub over the chicken wings. Then, toss to coat and place the chicken wings into a gallon zip lock bag. Place in your refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

Now, it is time to prepare your wet ingredients for the bourbon bbq wing sauce. As a reminder, these crispy wings do not have a hot sauce coating. The delicious glaze has more of a sweetness to it. In a medium saucepan, bring the bourbon to a boil. Simmer for about five to ten minutes.

Add the water and all of the other ingredients, stir to combine. Then, simmer for 10-15 minutes, until you reach a thick and smooth consistency. Turn off your heat and allow the bourbon wing sauce to cool at room temperature. Store in an airtight container.

Heat your grill to medium heat to medium-high heat. Then, transfer wings onto a single layer over the heat and cook 8 to 10 minutes per side with the grill lid closed.

Once fully cooked, remove wings from the grill and place in a large bowl. At this point, add one cup of Bourbon Barbecue Sauce to the cooked wings and toss to coat. Transfer chicken wings back on the grill and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Serve these bone wings immediately and enjoy!

What Type Of Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Should I Use?

There are several brands for you to choose from. Here are just a few wing tips to consider when making these Barbeque-Bourbon Chicken Wings:

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon
Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Maker’s 46
Booker’s Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon

What Makes A Whiskey A Bourbon?

For a whiskey to call itself bourbon, its mash must contain at least 51% corn. The distillate must also be aged in a new charred oak barrel.

Side Dishes To Try With Bourbon BBQ Wing Sauce

There are plenty of side dishes that would go with the sauce ingredients. In fact, wings in sauce go with anything that a traditional hamburger does. So, think about what you would serve at a BBQ and stay in that same lane. Bourbon BBQ wings would work best with:

Chicken Wings Dry and Wet Rub Made with Bourbon

Kentucky Bourbon Chicken Wings Recipe

Yield: 15

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS:
4 pds fresh chicken wings (approximately 14–16 wings)
1/3 cup dry rub for Chicken ( see below )
1 cup Bourbon Barbecue Sauce ( see below )
DRY RUB
¼ C brown sugar
1/8 C paprika
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp coriander
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
½ tsp cayenne
1 tsp basil
1 tsp celery salt
KENTUCKY BOURBON SAUCE
1 cup Kentucky bourbon whiskey
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 ½ cups ketchup
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
4 Tbsp molasses
1/8 cup Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp liquid smoke

Instructions

Place wing pieces into a large bowl.. Combine all of the ingredients listed for the dry rub in a medium bowl and then stir to combine. Store in an airtight container.

Pour the Spice Rub over the chicken wings. Toss to coat and place the chicken wings into a gallon zip lock bag. Place in your refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

Now, it is time to prepare your Kentucky Bourbon Barbecue Sauce. In a medium saucepan, bring the bourbon to a boil. Simmer for about five to ten minutes.

Add the water and all of the other ingredients, stir to combine. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, until you reach a thick and smooth consistency. Turn off your heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container.

Heat your grill to medium-high heat. Place the chicken wings in a single layer over the heat. Cook 8 to 10 minutes per side with the grill lid closed.

Once fully cooked, remove wings from the grill and place in a large bowl. Add one cup of Bourbon Barbecue Sauce to the cooked wings and toss to coat. Place the wings back on the grill and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 179Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 852mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 4g