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posted August 01, 2023

Maple Bourbon Smoked Ribs

Maple bourbon smoked ribs are simply bursting with flavor. They’re slow-smoked, braised with a maple bourbon marinade, and then glazed with a sinful maple bourbon glaze.

Stack of maple bourbon ribs on a wooden cutting board with text overlay - Maple Bourbon Smoked Ribs.

Maple Bourbon Ribs

These maple bourbon ribs are completely and utterly irresistible. Don’t get me wrong, I like good, classic baby back ribs with a traditional BBQ sauce as much as the next person, but these ribs take everything to the next level. The secret to these ribs is the cooking process. Each step adds a new layer of flavor so by the time your ribs are ready to eat, you get to enjoy notes of smoke that are perfectly paired with sweetness and punch from the foiling liquid and glaze.

I love tightly wrapping these ribs with liquid, sugar, and fat to push those flavor profiles deep into the meat. Braising this way creates an amazingly tender rib with notes of bourbon and maple in each bite.

Rack of ribs being seasoned with Hey Grill Hey Sweet Rub.

Ingredients for Maple Bourbon Ribs

Ready to make yourself some of these delectable ribs? Here’s what you’ll need to make these ribs.

The foiling liquid contains the following 4 ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup bourbon
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 8 Tablespoons butter

Liquid being added to a foil boat with baby back ribs.

Sweet Rub, Rib Rub, and Maple Bourbon Grilling Glaze can all be purchased from the Hey Grill Hey Store. If you don’t have any of these on hand, you can make them from scratch using the following recipes on my website:

 

Baby back ribs being drizzled with maple bourbon glaze.

How to Smoke Maple Bourbon Ribs

These maple ribs aren’t hard to make, they just take a little time and a little bit of love. Follow the steps below, and you’ll be enjoying these sweet, scrumptious ribs soon.

  1. Get your smoker running. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F with your favorite wood. I like using fruit woods with my ribs.
  2. Season your ribs. Once you remove the membrane from your baby back ribs, season them with some of my delicious Sweet Rub. Rib Rub is also amazing on these ribs, so feel free to try them both and choose your favorite!
  3. Get smoking! Put your seasoned ribs on the smoker and smoke them for 3 hours.
  4. Wrap in foil. Lay out two sheets of heavy-duty foil. Put butter and brown sugar on each sheet of foil. Remove the ribs from the smoker, and lay one rack, meat side down, on each sheet of foil. Fold up all 4 sides to create a bowl.
  5. Add some flavor! Add maple syrup, bourbon, and more butter to the ribs. Bring up the long sides of the foil, so the ends meet over the food. Double-fold the ends and then roll until the foil is tight against the ribs. Double-fold the two short ends to completely seal the ribs in the foil.
  6. Smoke again. Place the ribs back on the smoker and smoke for an additional 2 hours.
  7. Glaze. Remove ribs from the foil, and baste with the maple bourbon glaze.
  8. Finish up. Close the lid on your smoker and smoke for an additional 30-60 minutes or until the sauce is set and the ribs are tender. Remove from the smoker, rest for 5 minutes, and enjoy.

Maple bourbon ribs on a serving platter.

More Smoked Ribs Recipes

Are you a rib fanatic? Do you like your ribs to be unique and packed with flavor? If so, check out more of my delicious smoked ribs recipes below:

Maple Bourbon Smoked Ribs Recipe

This recipe was created to make your life easier, backyard griller! Here at Hey Grill Hey, we’re in the business of helping you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero. You can find more of my smoking and grilling recipes here on my website (browse the Homepage for inspiration) on InstagramYouTube, or our Facebook Page.

This post was originally published in July 2019. We recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. The recipe remains the same.

Stack of maple bourbon ribs on a wooden cutting board.

Maple Bourbon Smoked Ribs

Susie Bulloch (heygrillhey.com)
Maple Bourbon Smoked Ribs are a delectable dinner that are simply bursting with flavor. They're slow smoked, wrapped in Reynolds Wrap Foil, braised with a maple bourbon marinade, and glazed with a sinful maple bourbon glaze.
5 from 8 votes
Prep Time : 10 mins
Cook Time : 6 hrs
Total Time : 6 hrs 10 mins
Servings : 4
Calories : 875kcal

Ingredients
 

Foiling Liquid

  • ½ cup bourbon
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 8 Tablespoons butter

Instructions

  • Preheat. Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees F.
  • Prep and season. Remove the membrane from the ribs and season on both sides with Hey Grill Hey Sweet Rub (you can buy this from the Hey Grill Hey Store, or make your own using the recipe linked in the notes section below).
  • Smoke. Place the seasoned ribs on the smoker and close the lid. Smoke the ribs for 3 hours.
  • Prepare the braise. Lay out two sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil side by side on a large work surface. Put 2 Tablespoons of butter on each sheet of foil. Sprinkle each with 1 Tablespoon of brown sugar.
  • Make the braise. Remove the ribs from the smoker, and place them meat side down onto the butter and brown sugar. Fold up all 4 sides of the foil without crimping to create a bowl (this is going to hold in the foiling liquid). Pour the maple syrup, bourbon, and remaining butter onto the ribs.
  • Seal and continue smoking. Bring together the long sides of the foil so the ends meet over the food. Fold the foil together and then roll until the foil is tight against the ribs. Double-fold the two short ends to completely seal the ribs in the foil. Place them back on the smoker and continue to smoke for 2 more hours.
  • Glaze. Remove the ribs from the foil. Return them to the smoker and baste them with the Maple Bourbon Grilling Glaze. Close the lid and smoke for additional 30-60 minutes or until the sauce is set and the ribs are tender.
  • Rest and serve. Remove the ribs from the smoker and rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Sweet Rub

Rib Rub

Maple Bourbon Grilling Glaze

Nutrition

Calories: 875kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 325mg | Potassium: 760mg | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 2.4mg
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