Walla Walla Wine “Can” Smoked Chicken Recipe

Recipe Courtesy of Greg Vipond
Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken, 4–5 lb.

For the brine

• 2 gallons water
• 1 cup kosher salt
• 1 cup honey or brown sugar
• 1 sweet onion, cut in 8 pieces
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 pkg. poultry herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage, etc.)

For the seasoning & “can”

• Olive oil (for rubbing)
• Coarse ground sea salt
• Fresh thyme sprigs
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 4 sage leaves
• ¼ lemon peel + juice of ¼ lemon
• 1 cup Walla Walla Vintners 2020 Sagemoor Sauvignon Blanc
• (Optional: a chicken throne insert, or an empty beer can cleaned and half-filled with the wine mixture)

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Instructions

1. Brine the chicken (the day before cooking).
   • In a large container, stir together water, kosher salt, and honey/brown sugar until dissolved.
   • Add onion, crushed garlic, and poultry herbs.
   • Submerge the chicken completely in the brine. Cover and refrigerate 12–24 hours.
2. Preheat the smoker.
   • Set smoker temperature to 275°F.
3. Prepare the chicken.
   • Remove chicken from brine. Rinse well under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
   • Rub the entire chicken with olive oil.
   • Season generously with coarse sea salt and fresh thyme (you could also add cracked black pepper if desired).
4. Prepare the “can.”
   • In the chicken throne or can, add chopped garlic, thyme sprigs, sage leaves, lemon peel, lemon juice, and Sauvignon Blanc.
5. Set up the chicken.
   • Place the chicken cavity over the throne/can so it sits upright.
   • If using a foil pan, set the chicken and throne into the pan to catch drippings.
6. Smoke the chicken.
   • Transfer the setup to the smoker.
   • Smoke for about 3 hours, or until the thickest part of the thigh reaches an internal temperature of 180–185°F.
   • Rotate the pan halfway through for even cooking if your smoker has hot spots.
7. Rest the chicken.
   • Carefully remove the chicken from the smoker (use tongs and a spatula to avoid spills).
   • Let rest for 15 minutes before carving.
8. Serve.
   • Slice and enjoy with a colorful salad and a glass of Walla Walla Vintners Sauvignon Blanc. Cheers!