This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Bourbon BBQ Sauce is sweet, smoky, and ready in just 20 minutes. Once you try making your own barbecue sauce you’ll never go back to bottled sauces again!

spoon dripping bourbon bbq sauce into jar

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

I love making homemade barbecue sauces, they are so much tastier than store-bought and you can really adjust them to your individual tastes. This bourbon BB sauce recipe is a typical Kentucky BBQ sauce that has a much smokier flavor than other BBQ sauces I’ve shared like Carolina gold sauce or Alabama white sauce.

Why I love this recipe

simple, pure ingredients with no preservatives like store-bought sauces
easy to make in just about 20 minutes
you can

Ingredients

While the list is on the longer side, all the ingredients are simple kitchen staples.

bourbon – you can also use other whiskeys, substitute apple juice if you prefer to make this without alcohol
ketchup
apple cider vinegar
Worcestershire sauce – adds depth, substitute with soy sauce if needed
brown sugar – can substitute maple syrup or honey if needed
liquid smoke – this is essential for that smoky flavor
Dijon mustard
spices: garlic powder, onion powder

Step by step

Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and whisk to mix.
Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to a simmer for 10 minutes over low heat, stirring often, or until the sauce thickens. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

brushing chicken wings with bourbon bbq sauce

FAQs

You can use any bourbon you wish, but don’t waste expensive bourbon on this recipe. Jim Beam is a great choice that is affordable. You can also substitute with a whiskey like Jamison or use apple juice if you prefer not to use alcohol.

The alcohol cooks off as the sauce simmers so there is little to no alcohol in the final sauce.

The sauce still has a great depth of flavor without the liquid smoke, it just lacks that hickory flavor typical of a Kentucky bourbon BBQ sauce.

Serving suggestions

This homemade barbecue sauce is wonderful for baked BBQ chicken breasts, chicken wings, pork ribs,

Storage

Store this smoky bourbon BBQ sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!