Tangy Bourbon BBQ Chicken

Ingredients

• 6 servings pepper black freshly ground
• 0.3 cup bourbon 
• 3 pounds chicken pieces boneless bone-in skinless
• 2 teaspoons chili powder 
• 0.3 cup apple cider vinegar 
• 0.3 cup t brown sugar dark packed
• 2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses dark (not blackstrap)
• 0.3 cup catsup 
• 6 servings kosher salt 
• 0.8 cup tomato sauce 
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce 

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• paper towels
• sauce pan
• whisk
• grill
• kitchen thermometer

Directions

1. Place the tomato sauce, bourbon, vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, Worcestershire, and chili powder in a small saucepan and whisk to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded and the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 25 to 30 minutes. Equally divide the sauce between 2 small bowls and set it aside to cool to room temperature. Reserve 1 bowl of sauce for serving and the other for brushing onto the chicken while it cooks on the grill.
2. Heat a gas or charcoal grill to medium (about 350°F to 450°F). Meanwhile, if you’re using chicken breasts (either boneless or bone-in), cut them in half crosswise. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels and place on a baking sheet. Coat them all over with the oil and season with salt and pepper.When the grill is ready, place the chicken on it (skin-side down if using skin-on), cover the grill, and cook until grill marks appear on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip the chicken pieces over, cover the grill, and cook until grill marks appear on the second side, about 5 minutes more.Flip the chicken again and generously brush the pieces using the bowl of sauce set aside for that purpose. Cover the grill and cook for 5 minutes. Flip and brush the chicken, and continue to flip and brush every 5 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest piece reads 160°F to 165°F and the meat near the bone is no longer pink, about 10 to 15 minutes more (about 25 to 30 minutes total cooking time).
3. Remove the chicken to a clean serving platter and pass the remaining bowl of barbecue sauce on the side.