Thanksgiving Turkey

This has been a 3 year learning cook. Every year i try and make it a little better and i have had requests to make a Christmas Turkey as well so ill save you all some time and give you the most up to date recipe.

Make a brine and soak the bird for two or three days:

1 gallon of water
2 cups of bourbon
1 cup salt
3/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoon of vanilla
1 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
Thyme sprigs

Combine all this in a large pot, let it cook until its mixed together well. Remove from the heat and cool it off with a gallon worth of ice. Once cooled, throw in the bird and let it sit in the refrigerator for two or three days.

The day of the smoke, remove the brine and use your favorite poultry rub UNDERNEATH and on top of the skin on the breasts and then inject with 1:1 butter and maple syrup. Cut and onion in half and a garlic bloom in half and put those in the body cavity of the turkey. Smoke in a pan, breast down on 225. Itll take about 20 – 30 minutes per pound.