New Year's Eve watching Texas vs. Michigan smoking a United Gold Star Robusto and drinking a Rum and Coke with Key West 1st Legal Rum Distillery Spiced Rum.
Smoker:
Landmann Smoke Master Series Heavy Duty Barrel Smoker (COS) - With mods including 2 level rack system with pull-out grates
Masterbuilt ThermoTemp XL 40" Vertical Propane Smoker
Weber Smokey Joe with mini-WSM Tamale Pot modification
The Good One Marshall
Gas Grill:
BBQPro (cheap big box store model) Stainless steel 4 burnerswith aftermarket rotisserie.
Brook King Regal S490 Pro
Charcoal Grill:
Weber Smokey Joe Charcoal Grill 14"
Thermometer:
2 x Fireboard 2 with Drive cable and 20 CFM fan and Competition Probe Package
ThermoWorks Mini Instant Read
Lavaworks Thermowand Instant Read
ThermoWorks IR-GUN-S Industrial Infrared Thermometer
ThermoWorks ThermaPen Mk4 x 2
ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE
Govee Bluetooth Thermometer with 6 probes
Miscellaneous:
Anova Sous Vide Immersion Circulator - 1st generation
Anova Sous Vide Immersion Circulator - wifi/bluetooth connected
Favorite Beer:
Anything to the dark side and malty rather than hoppy. Currently liking Yuengling Porter and Newcastle Brown Ale. In a bar or pub I will often default to Guiness
Favorite Spirit:
Bourbon - Eagle Rare for "every day"; Angel's Envy for special occasions, Basil Hayden's, Larceny
Favorite Wine:
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Super Tuscan Sangiovese (Including Chianti Classico Riserva) Brunello di Montalcino
Favorite Meat(s):
Pork - especially the darker meat. I love spare ribs and anything made from shoulder/butt meat
Chicken - Mainly the dark meat and wings
Beef Ribeye steak
Favorite Cuisine to Cook:
Can't list just one: Indian, Chinese, Thai, West Indian/Carribean, Hispanic/Latin American, Ethiopian, Italian, BBQ
Favorite Cuisine to Eat:
Indian, followed closely by BBQ.
SheilaAnn , It's my mother-in-law's word finding games, which she uses to help fight off her growing dementia. We were celebrating at her house with her last night and it was all we could find to protect her coffee table.
Retired, living in Western Mass. Enjoy music, cooking and my family.
Current cookers Weber Spirit 3 burner with a full insert griddle added. A 22" Kettle with vortex, SnS and a Smokey Joe. The most recent addition is a Pit Barrel Jr with bird hanger, 4 hooks and cover. ThermoWorks Smoke 2 probe, DOT, 2 ThermoPops and a Thermapen MK4. A Thermoworks RFX Gateway 2 probe meat thermometer.
As I've said previously, I've given up whiskey. My love was burbon. I've found the Free Spirits brand. They recently altered the ingredients and I must say an improvement. More smokey and and more of a bite. With all that said, I receive drink recipes from them. This one. Maple Bourbon Old Fashion. I made it this evening and it's good. The sweetness from the Maple syrup is unique. I didn't have cherry or orange peel on hand. I'm going for the protein I need for the chili tomorrow I'll scoop that up too. So if you're a Bourbon fan you might want to try this.
The Maple-Bourbon Old Fashion
Ingredients
3 oz The Spirit of Bourbon
½ tsp maple syrup (preferably bourbon barrel aged)
A couple dashes of All The Bitter Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters (or Angostura)
Orange Peel and a cherry for garnish
Method
Refrigerate The Spirit of Bourbon to get it very cold* (but do not freeze)
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and half fill with ice
Stir until chilled, then strain into a rocks glass with one large cube
Express oil of orange peel over the drink and drop in a cherry
Third day of enjoying a few glasses of wine this month. My dry January is now a damp January. Fidelitas, Estate, 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon with an Olivia Serie V cigar. Banished to the garage since I am smoking where I am watching Fallout on my old Pioneer Pro 141 plasma.
RIIP-Riipin Greens, West Coast IPA. They're a local brewer in Sunset Beach. They also serve some of the best pizza in the area. If you're ever in the Sunset Beach/Huntinvton Beach area, give them a try, you won't be disappointed.
This is an absolute banger! Continuing my quest to branch out my cocktail menu, I’m focusing on various amaros to change flavor profiles. That said this Spicy Ginger is special and really balances the smokiness of the Mezcal.
Skinsfan1311 That’s cool! I grew up in Europe during the 70s too. Went to an International school. We played the US military schools - Shape, Bonn, Berlin, Baumholder etc. Did you go to one of those military schools in Italy?
JCBBQ Navy Brat here. I attended Forest Sherman High School in In Naples on Via Manzoni from '77 - '81. It was a DOD school. I was in the next to the last class to attend there because they moved the high school closer to the base and renamed it Naples American High School. Living in Europe gave us the experience of a lifetime....
Last edited by Skinsfan1311; January 28, 2026, 01:51 PM.
That’s Amaro!! Yes, loving my amaro-centric cocktail quest. This is outstanding! A Prime Inspector- unlike my Instagram muse, I went with Calvados instead of apple brandy.
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