Main Course · American · Dinner ·

Smoky American BBQ Brisket with Bourbon Glaze

Name: Smoky American BBQ Brisket with Bourbon Glaze
Prep time: 130 min
Cook time: 390 min
Total time: 520 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 4 lbs beef brisket, trimmed; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt; 2 teaspoons black pepper; 2 tablespoons smoked paprika; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 cup bourbon whiskey; 1 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar; 1/2 cup ketchup; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 4 cups hickory wood chips, soaked in water for 1 hour

Enjoy a rich, smoky brisket finished with a sweet and tangy bourbon glaze that's sure to be the star of your cookout.

4.9(472 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 23, 2025

Smoky American BBQ Brisket with Bourbon Glaze — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

2 h 10 min

Cook

6 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Brisket

For the Spice Rub

For the Bourbon Glaze

For the Smoking

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 811 kcal
Protein: 50.9 g
Carbs: 34.3 g
Fat: 43.6 g
Fiber: 1.3 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 6485 kcal
Protein: 407.2 g
Carbs: 274.2 g
Fat: 349 g
Fiber: 10.5 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
4 lbs beef brisket trimmed	4640	400	0	320	0
2 tablespoons olive oil	238	0	0	27	0
1 tablespoon coarse sea salt	0	0	0	0	0
2 teaspoons black pepper	12	0.5	3	0.2	1.2
2 tablespoons smoked paprika	40	2	9	2	6
1 tablespoon garlic powder	30	2	7	0.1	0.5
1 tablespoon onion powder	24	1	6	0.1	0.6
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper	6	0.3	1	0.3	0.6
1 teaspoon dried thyme	3	0.2	0.7	0.1	0.5
1 cup bourbon whiskey	520	0	0	0	0
1 cup brown sugar	829	0	213	0	0
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar	14	0	0.5	0	0
1/2 cup ketchup	110	1.5	30	0.1	0.3
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce	13	0.2	3	0	0
1 teaspoon chili powder	6	0.3	1	0.2	0.8
4 cups hickory wood chips soaked in water for 1 hour	0	0	0	0	0

These values are estimates and not intended as dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Brisket

1
Make the spice rub
Mix together the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and dried thyme.
2
Oil the brisket
Rub the brisket with olive oil, ensuring an even coating.
3
Apply rub and chill
Generously apply the spice rub on all sides of the brisket. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results.

Preparing the Bourbon Glaze

1
Combine ingredients
In a saucepan, combine bourbon, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and chili powder.
2
Simmer the glaze
Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
3
Thicken and cool
Reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes until thickened. Let cool.
Tip: Do not skip the soaking of wood chips to prevent them from burning too quickly. For a deeper flavor, use a mix of hickory and apple wood chips.

How to Make Smoky American BBQ Brisket with Bourbon Glaze

Total time: 8 h 40 min · Yields 8 servings

1
Smoking the Brisket
Preheat your smoker to 225°F. Place the brisket fat-side up on the grill grates and smoke for 5-6 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 195°F.
2
Applying the Glaze
Brush the bourbon glaze generously onto the brisket during the last 30 minutes of smoking.
3
Resting the Brisket
Remove from smoker and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing.