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5 from 3 votes
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Smoked Maple Bourbon Turkey
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 hrs
 

A maple bourbon brine that makes for the juiciest turkey!

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best, Bourbon, Brine, Easy, Maple, Pellet Grill, Recipe, smoked, Smoker Recipes, Thanksgiving, TikTok, Traeger, Turkey
Servings: 8
Calories: 355 kcal
Author: Cheri Renee
Ingredients
For the Turkey Brine
  • 1 1/2 gallons water
  • 1 1/2 cups kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup real maple syrup
  • 3/4 cup bourbon
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 12 black peppercorns
  • 2 springs fresh rosemary
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme
  • 14-16 pound whole turkey
Smoking the Turkey
  • 1 apple cut into wedges
  • 1 lemon cut into wedges
  • 1 orange cut into wedges
  • 1 onion cut into wedges
  • 2 springs fresh rosemary
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme
  • 3 Tbsps melted butter
Instructions
For the Turkey Brine

  1. In a very large pot (big enough for the turkey to fit into) combine the water, salt, maple syrup, bourbon, brown sugar, peppercorn, rosemary and thyme. Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute and let the brine come to room temperature.

  2. Once the brine is at room temp add the turkey, breast side down. Refrigerate at least 24 hours.

Smoking the Turkey

  1. Remove the turkey from the brine and pat dry with paper towels. 

  2. Stuff the turkey with the wedges of apples, oranges, lemons, and onions and the fresh thyme and rosemary.

  3. Brush the melted butter over all sides of the turkey.

  4. Place the turkey in a smoker set to 225 to 250 degrees. Smoke the turkey for 30 minutes per pound (approx. 7 to 9 hours for a 14 to 16 pound turkey) or until internal temperature is 175 degrees in the dark meat.