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BOURBON BAKED BEANS
Rich, creamy and oh-so-smokey. These baked beans can be a side dish but have been known to steal the show at a BBQ.
ABOUT THIS RECIPE
Great as a barbecue side or as dinner's main feature with a warm piece of cornbread, these slow-cooked baked beans are rich and creamy with a pleasant touch of smoke. And, of course there's bourbon in them! Maker's Mark and ginger ale add a light sweetness that plays well against that tanginess. As if all that weren't enough, the beans are topped with a crisp, buttery crumble.
PREPARATION TIMES
Preparation Time: 60 minutes, or overnight
Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Ingredients
• 1 lb. dried pinto or white beans
• 1/4 lb. of bacon, cut into medium dice
• 1 white onion diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
• 3/4 cup Homemade Maker's Mark BBQ sauce
• 6 oz. (4 shots) Maker's Mark Bourbon
• 1 can of ginger ale
• 4 cups pork or chicken stock
FOR TOPPING TO FINISH:
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 3 oz. country ham, chopped
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1 | Soak beans overnight
• Soak dried beans for at least 1 hour or overnight.
STEP 2 | Preheat oven and prepare bacon
• While preheating oven to 325 degrees, brown bacon on the stove over medium heat in an oven-safe pot or Dutch oven.
STEP 3 | Add onion and garlic
• When almost crispy, add onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
STEP 4 | Mix beans in
• Drain your beans and add to the bacon mixture.
STEP 5 | Drop in the remaining ingredients
• Add Maker's Mark BBQ sauce, Maker's Mark Bourbon and ginger ale. Mix well, and then add the pork or chicken stock.
STEP 6 | Bake with lid
• Cover pot, place in oven and bake for 1 hour.
STEP 7 | Remove lid and bake
• Uncover and bake another 30 minutes or until beans are tender and a crust has begun to form on top of the dish.
FOR THE CRUMB
TOPPING:
HOW TO CRAFT
STEP 1 | Mix ingredients over heat
STEP 2 | Stir until brown
• Stir constantly until lightly brown, about 5 minutes.
STEP 3 | Add the crumble
• Remove beans from oven and top with the crumble before serving.
TIPS FOR GREAT
Bourbon Baked
Beans
TIPS, TOOLS & TECHNIQUES
Some people enjoy crispy, caramelized baked beans. Others prefer a more soupy, saucy version. If you're in the former group, try cooking them a little longer with the lid off. You might also try placing them under the broiler after adding the crumble to get a nice bubbly, crunchy char going on top. If you're the saucy type, add additional liquid like stock or water during cooking. Beans will continue to absorb flavor over time, so storing the finished product overnight will add richness and thickness. Lastly, an additional splash of Maker's Mark at the end really punches up the caramel flavor.
- SMOOTH FINISH
This one changed the way we think of bourbon, all because one man changed the way he thought about making it. Bill Samuels, Sr., simply wanted a whisky he would enjoy drinking. Never bitter or sharp, Maker's Mark is made with soft red winter wheat, instead of the usual rye, for a one-of-a-kind, full-flavored bourbon. To ensure consistency, we rotate every barrel by hand and age our bourbon to taste, not time. Each and every bottle of Maker's is still hand-dipped in our signature red wax at our distillery in Loretto, KY., just like Bill, Sr. would have wanted.
