Victoria Day Holiday Wings

[MrHoss]

It is a national holiday in Canada today and I had pretty good weather. Got some whole wings yesterday and this morning put them in a brine. I used 4 times this portion and let it sit for 8 hours in the fridge:

1 cup water
2 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp large garlic chunks

I don't drain my wings. Just put them on a rack and dust each side with some seasoning...in this case some Montreal Poultry Spice and some stuff supplied by MacEggs.

I used the 18's as charcoal stations and the 22's to first high heat smoke the wings then grill them:



Okay. I am a little light on pictures. When the wings got close I push my firebricks back and compressed the aluminum foil under the wings to allow me to spread out the charcoal. That way when I went to grill the wings it wasn't scorching hot. I also shut the bottom vents right down. Worked like a charm:



Took some to the neighbour and AcrossFromHoss. The bones popped right out of the flats...juicy meat and the smoke flavour integrated well with the molasses and spice dusting.

[1911Ron]

Looking good Mr Hoss!

[addicted-to-smoke]

...and the 22's to first high heat smoke the wings then grill them ...

Trying to grok a good way to do wings. So, smoke at like 275 for a while and then grill for like 400 for a while to finish?

[MrHoss]

So, smoke at like 275 for a while and then grill for like 400 for a while to finish?

Actually I was high heat smoking....real high....like about 350-400 grate temp. I measure at the vent at it was 400-450f on each Kettle. I figure I render the fat better this way. Time over the coals at the end is really not that long....3-6 minutes depending on how well I have rendered the fat at the start.

[austin87]

The brine sounds great. I need to cook whole wings more often. I usually split them but if they are cooked right they fall apart anyway and save the upfront work.

[MacEggs]

Great looking wings, Hoss!  I gotta start doing more of the whole wings instead of the cut-up stuff.

Glad to see you enjoyed the holiday.  All I did was some store-bought frozen burgers … Cooked over charcoal, so they were not that bad. 

[WNC]

Wings look great!
And I love that copper kettle, I like to keep my wings whole too, I don't even cut off the little wing on the end, just makes it easier
Also, it was nice of you to share with AFH!

[Nate]

I'll have to give your brine a shot. Looks great!