Grilling24x7 Sweet Whiskey BBQ Sauce Recipe
Looking for a delicious BBQ sauce? I’ve been making this Sweet Whiskey BBQ Sauce for a few years now. It’s a sweet BBQ sauce with a nice whiskey kick. If you are a fan of a certain whiskey, the flavor of that whiskey will shine through in this whiskey BBQ sauce recipe. I think that’s pretty cool.

Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons dried onion flakes
- ½ Teaspoons corn starch or all purpose flour
- 3 Tablespoons molasses
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 1 and ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 cup of Jack Daniels Whiskey (or any whiskey you like, below I used Maker’s Mark)
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1-2 Tablespoons hot sauce
- ½ Teaspoons black pepper

There is no order to the addition of the ingredients. Just mix them all in a medium sized saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil while constantly stirring.
Be very careful here as it can bubble, pop and burn to the pan. So stir often.

You’ll see the dry onion flakes floating around in the sauce, but don’t worry. You will strain this out during the last step. The reason for using these dry onion flakes is to avoid the need to finely shred an onion.
Shredding an onion with a cheese grater, in my opinion, is one of the most painful chores I can think of. So, I substituted dry onion flakes followed by straining. The onion flavor is still there with none of the fuss.

Country Sweet BBQ Sauce
After the sauce has come to a boil reduce the heat to a brisk simmer for about 20 min. Keep stirring the sauce often.
If your sauce looks a little runny don’t worry it will thicken as it sits. I recommend making this sauce at least a couple of hours before you want to use it. It will taste the best if you make it a day before.
After the sauce has cooled, strain it into a container, leaving the onion flakes behind.

Tips for Making Sweet Whiskey BBQ Sauce
Do you love the taste of barbecue sauce and all it goes with? If so, then this is a recipe for you. There are many recipes out there, but few like this one that really allow you to experiment.
- Try using different types of whiskey in varying quantities to create your own perfect sauce. Whether you prefer bourbons or scotches, the taste will be unique and delicious.
- This recipe can go with pulled pork, chicken or even ribs. The choice is yours to make once you’ve tried it on anything you want.
- You may also add some cayenne pepper or chili powder if you like that bit of spice in your sauce. If you want to keep it mild for kids or those who don’t like spice, then leave that out.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and take this sauce in whatever direction you desire. There’s no right or wrong way to make this so enjoy the ride and let your taste buds be your guide along the way.

FAQs for Making BBQ Sauce with Whiskey
Note: This Sweet Whiskey BBQ Sauce Recipe was originally written in 2011. I have kept the recipe the same but totally overhauled a few of the above photos.
Sweet Whiskey BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons dried onion flakes
- ½ Teaspoons corn starch or all purpose flour
- 3 Tablespoons molasses
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 1 and ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 cup of Jack Daniels Whiskey or any whiskey [whisky] you like, below I used Maker’s Mark
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1-2 Tablespoons hot sauce
- ½ Teaspoons black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and let simmer until sauce has thickened (about 20-30 min).
- Strain dried onion flakes and put sauce in a container.
Joshua Smith
Can I substitute molasses for maple syrup?
John
Sure give it a shot!
Joshua Smith
This is the first BBQ sauce recipe I am excited to try out. Just a quick suggestion. Add a touch of liquid smoke to it. Just enough to enhance the flavor as it will give people the impression they spent hours smoking a good piece of meat. Great recipe can’t wait to try it out.
Kovert
I like the recipe, a bit interesting twist i used is peach crown royal for the whiskey, Added a bit of liquid smoke. I like this recipe for how simple it is. I reduced the brown sugar because of the sweetness from the crown as well for anyone else looking to try it.
Frank Campanella
Peach is a great addition. Sounds tasty!!