Whiskey Tasting Menu: Success!

avibug

I hosted 10 guys for a whiskey tasting this past Sunday, and the Egg stole the show.  Thought I would share the menu and some recipes here. 

Main course was a smoked brisket chili.  Brisket was just under 12 lbs, and took about 12 hours to cook (spice rub from local shop + mustard in a pan with beer + BBQ sauce, over mesquite smoke).  Brisket came out great, and I used about half for chili and had half for the family to eat.  The only pic I got was of the brisket, before it became chili.  

This was the chili recipe I worked from, though I toned down the spiciness significantly and added more sugar so it wouldn't be too hot to serve while tasting whiskey:  http://www.westernhorseman.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=581:smoked-brisket-chili.html  

The chili got rave reviews.  

For appetizers, I made Moroccan chicken skewers using chicken thighs and this recipe (for which I also toned down the heat in deference to the booze): http://www.closetcooking.com/2013/07/moroccan-grilled-chicken-kabobs.html?m=1  

Came out great.  

For sides, I grilled corn and made a corn / mango salsa:  http://damndelicious.net/2013/07/31/grilled-corn-mango-salsa/ 

This is a nice refreshing side, especially if the proteins are spicy.  Next time, I might grill the onions too. 

I charred a couple of eggplant to make baba ghanoush, and served with some grilled pita bread.  Also did some veggie kabobs and grilled some teriyaki-marinaded tofu on skewers (there was one vegetarian in the group).  The only thing that didn't go on the Egg was the watermelon.  

The whiskey tasting was done by a family friend who works for Heaven Hill, so it was limited to American Whiskies and focused on Heaven Hill products. It was actually a school fundraiser, so he donated his time (and the drinks, I hosted and donated the food), and the guests each purchased their spots through a donation to the school.   

Here is what we tasted: 

Mellow Corn

Bernheim Wheat Whiskey

Larceny Bourbon

Elijah Craig 12 year old bourbon

Evan Williams Single Barrel

Rittenhouse Rye

Hotch

Nicly done.

SmokeyPitt

It all sounds great!  I'm sure everyone appreciated all the work you put into it.  The chicken skewers in the recipe look great...bookmarked the recipe- thanks!