Pellets Bourbon pellets are a TOTAL sham and you should not buy them for "flavor"

[DJDDay]

Now that I got your attention with an admittedly click-baity title... I recently caught this video from Jeremy @ Mad Scientist BBQ from last summer, and I'm curious as to what your thoughts are. I was considering picking up a bag of bourbon barrel pellets, but if he couldn't get any flavor from a literal whiskey barrel that was fresh, burning on an offset, then I don't see any chance of pellet grills imparting any sort of bourbon into your smokes.

So, have any of you tried bourbon pellets? If so, are you convinced that you did taste some "flavor"? Just curious!

Original video below:

 

[GrillMeister]

The only time I get bourbon flavor when smoking a brisket is when I have 3 fingers of this in a high ball glass with a giant ice cube.

 

[DJDDay]

The only time I get bourbon flavor when smoking a brisket is when I have 3 fingers of this in a high ball glass with a giant ice cube.

View attachment 8108

Hahahaha - SAME! Though I tend to prefer Woodford Reserve or Angel's Envy.

 

[GrillMeister]

Any good bourbon is good!

 

[YYCRed]

I buy a whiskey oak pellet, but only because they are usually a lower price than the basic oak. I can't tell any difference in flavor over the plain oak ones.

 

[HotSpringsBBQ]

Inject your meat with bourbon, then smoke it ! You will get a definite bourbon smoked flavor.

 

[Murphy's Law]

Inject your meat with bourbon, then smoke it ! You will get a definite bourbon smoked flavor.

I’d rather “inject my throat” with Bourbon! Best way to get bourbon flavor!!

 

[YYCRed]

Now you're talking!

 

[Hogan]

Inject your meat with bourbon, then smoke it ! You will get a definite bourbon smoked flavor.

Finally! Some logic to the discussion. (LOL)

 

[Like Smoke]

My 2 cents, Shine is placed in a charred oak barrel to age and extract flavor. After the aging process the whiskey (whisky), is bottled for use. Some of the bourbon is absorbed into the barrel depending on how long it is aged. I don't think grinding and compressing the barrel into pellets would provide that big of a difference from plain aged oak. I will side with DJDDay an GrillMeister, a favorite bourbon and a big ice cube.

 

[RayClem]

The "best" use of old bourbon barrels is aging Scotch whisky. Bourbon is required by law to be aged in new oak barrels. Once the aging is completed, the barrels are taken apart. If they are in good condition, they are shipped to Scotland, reassembled and filled with distillate.

If the barrels are damaged after Bourbon is removed, the barrel oak can be turned into pellets. It is better than sending the wood to landfill. I like using bourbon barrel pellets, but the pellets impart no more than a subtle aroma. If you want more bourbon flavor, make a sauce or marinade from Kentucky bourbon or Tennessee whiskey. Jack Daniels is a common whiskey used for such sauces. Do not use your best sipping spirit for this purpose.