Combine the brown sugar, butter and whiskey in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil until it is thick which should take 4-6 minutes.
Stir or whisk to keep it from burning.
Turn off the heat and let it cool completely before storing. It will thicken slightly as it cools.
Notes
Storage: 7-10 days. Store in an airtight container or Mason jar. The nice thing about making bbq sauce with bourbon is that it will keep quite a while in the refrigerator. Plan to use it within 7-10 days or freeze it instead. Freezer Friendly: Make sure the bourbon brown sugar bbq sauce is completely cooled, place it in an airtight container, and keep it for up to three months in your freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and mix well before using.Whiskey Choices: Any good whiskey will work. Don't use cheap whiskey, because this sauce has a full cup of the stuff in it and the flavor definitely comes through in the finish. Try the Small Batch 1792, Jim Beam, Pikesville Straight Rye, High West Double Rye whiskey, or go fruity with an apple bourbon or maple bourbon. As long as you don't go super cheap, you really can't go wrong.Additions and Suggestions:
Use maple whiskey and maple syrup in place of some of the brown sugar.
A couple of tablespoons of bacon jam or candied bacon would be a nice addition to the sauce and add some variety if you are using the sauce more than once in a week.
For another option and different flavor twist, add onions and garlic. Sauté the onions and garlic and then add the remaining ingredients and bring it to a boil. Puree it with a stick blender and cook until it thickens.
Make it a whiskey peach bbq sauce by replacing half the brown sugar with peach preserves, adding 3/4 cup of ketchup and an eight cup or so of apple cider vinegar.
This is a buttery bourbon barbecue sauce without any tomatoes. You can give it that tomato flavor by adding tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, onions, garlic, salt, and pepper. Liquid smoke, hot sauce, and ketchup add depth to this completely different but enjoyable sauce.
Enhance the bourbon flavor even more when you use bourbon barrel smoking wood in your smoker or grill!