Need a fun, unique holiday ham? Look no further! My Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham Recipe is the epitome of holiday bliss..with a BBQ twist. My best-selling Sweet BBQ Rub brings out the natural flavors of the pork and adds a picture-perfect crust. Top this ham with my maple bourbon glaze; you have a winning dish fit for a king.
This recipe would be a fabulous Easter or Christmas Ham. Don’t be surprised when friends and family ask you to cover the main course each year! With a meal this tasty, who can blame them?
Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham Recipe | Heath Riles BBQ
This ham may look gourmet, but it’s easy to put together. If you’ve never had homemade glaze, you’re in for a treat! This festive meal is savory and sweet, with a hint of cheery citrus on the back end. Maple and bourbon is a classic combination that’s withstood the test of time. Real maple syrup gives this recipe an authentic taste you’ll never forget.
The Ingredient
My Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham Recipe uses simple ingredients to create a festive meal. In fact, you’ll need less than 10 ingredients! Here’s what you need to add to your shopping cart.
Spiral-cut ham. I purchased my spiral-cut ham from Cheshire Pork. I love this company because their meat is consistently high-quality. Everything I’ve made has come out delicious! Spiral-cut ham is excellent because every bit of the meat gets drenched in the glaze.
Dijon mustard. Mustard is my favorite binder because it adds a little twang to the meat. It’s an attractive companion for pork, helping the seasoning stick without falling off. I recommend using a smooth mustard, as grainy varieties don’t work as well.
Heath Riles BBQ Sweet BBQ Rub. This wonderful BBQ Rub is the first ingredient I ever perfected. It includes pepper, salt, brown sugar, and other wonderful, warm spices. I use it on pork, beef, chicken, and even Bloody Marys.
Maple syrup. Pure maple syrup is the key ingredient to my Maple Bourbon Glaze. It helps the glaze caramelize and gives it an authentic maple flavor. Maple syrup has a rich depth that adds so much to the pork. Plus, it makes your house smell amazing.
Blue Note Bourbon. This ingredient takes our glaze from good to great. It gives it a little bite and rich smokiness. I used Blue Note Bourbon, but you can substitute whatever brand you have on hand.
Brown sugar. I wanted a sweetener that paired well with maple syrup, so I went with brown sugar. Brown sugar is a must-have for any ham; it brings out the natural sweetness without overpowering any natural goodness.
Butter. This ingredient adds the perfect amount of salt to our glaze and makes it silky smooth. When placed in the pit, the butter browns and develops a robust flavor that you can’t beat.
Orange juice. I love adding a little citrus to my glazes. This unexpected bright note keeps our flavor profile interesting but on point. The citrus adds to the overall flavor experience, creating a scent better than any candle.
The Smoker Setup
Here’s the main equipment I used for this cook. For more of my favorite grilling accessories, check out this post's equipment and tools section.
- Grill/Smoker. I used the PK Grill for this cook. This setup grills and smokes with ease. This grill is cast aluminum, making it durable and able to hold its heat. I love the adjustable airflow, which makes it easy to craft the perfect steak, ham, or chicken wings.
- Charcoal. I stoked the PK with Royal Oak Charcoal and Tumbleweeds. This combination burns hot and fast. Royal Oak Charcoal is an excellent brand for those looking for a clean smoke without any fillers. I also added a few Bourbon smoking chips to give the ham another dimension of bourbon flavor.
The Process for Making Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham
You can find a detailed demonstration of this recipe in the video and recipe card at the bottom of this post. For now, here’s a quick rundown of how I crafted this delicious ham.
- Fire up the grill. I stoked the PK Grill with charcoal and tumbleweeds, then fired it up to about 300℉, creating a two-zone fire.
- Season the ham. I took the ham out of its packaging and patted it off. I put the ham on a baking rack, then I drizzled it with mustard and rubbed it in. I sprinkled the ham with Sweet BBQ Rub. I let it sweat in for 10-15 minutes to solidify the crust.
- Grill the ham. I placed a pan underneath my grilling rack to catch the glaze. This keeps your pit looking nice and shiny. I set my Chef’sAlarm to 125℉, then placed my ham on one side of the grill. I inserted my probe, avoiding the bone, and let it go for about 1 hour. Then, I spun the ham and let it go until it hit 125℉.
- Make the glaze. I placed the maple syrup, bourbon, brown sugar, butter, and orange juice in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. I brought it to a simmer and cooked until it reduced to a syrup-like consistency.
- Glaze the ham. Using a plastic bottle, I squirted glaze all over the ham, then brushed it into the crevices. I let the glaze caramelize until the ham reached 140℉ internally. The only thing left was to dig in!
The Results
The ham had a total cook time of about 2 ½ hours. It came off the grill with a gorgeous golden crust. Every bite of this Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham was covered in sticky, sweet syrup. The smoke, savoriness, and spice of this ham were out of this world delicious.
Serving Suggestions for Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham
This ham is fabulous on its own, but if you’re cooking it for the holidays, you’ll need a few more additions. Try one of these tasty sides.
- Blue Cheese Rosemary Mashed Potatoes. These mashed potatoes have a rich, smoky flavor that pairs well with ham. You can find this recipe in my Holiday Prime Rib roundup.
- Green Bean Casserole. Add some rolls and green bean casserole to the menu. My favorite green bean casserole recipe is in my Thanksgiving roundup.
- Sweet Potato Pie. This one-of-a-kind pie is cooked on the Traeger. It is absolutely decadent and has a hint of smoke. It’s the perfect way to finish off a fantastic meal. From-scratch pies are the best, and this recipe is so easy to follow.
- Cocktails. Add a shot of Blue Note Bourbon for good measure. Another great option would be my Mississippi Sunrise, which includes more citrus notes and tequila. Bonus: The Mississippi Sunrise is beautiful.
Storing Leftover Maple Bourbon Glazed Ham
If you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can freeze leftovers for up to 6 months.
To reheat frozen leftovers, thaw them in the fridge, then warm them at 350℉ for 20 minutes, watching to ensure it doesn’t dry out. You can also cover the ham before reheating it, so the top doesn’t cook too fast.
Equipment and Tools
PK Grill, Royal Oak Charcoal, Royal Oak Tumbleweeds, ChefAlarm, paper towels, cutting board, Thermoworks Silicone Tools
