Maple Bourbon Brined Roast Turkey

Step 1

Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a large stock pot. Remove from heat and stir in the kosher salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, black peppercorns, cloves, allspice, cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Stir until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved and let it rest for 15-20 minutes. Place a sieve over a large bowl and strain the brine to remove the solids.

Step 2

Add ice to the brine and stir until the ice melts. Add an additional 4-8 cups of cool water or until you have about 4 to 4½ quarts of liquid. Stir in the bourbon.

Step 3

Remove the offal items (neck, giblets, heart and liver) from the turkey and save for gravy. Use a large food storage container, stock pot or brining bag to hold the turkey and the brine. Add the turkey to the container and pour the brine over the bird. Seal up the container and brine for 12-18 hours in the refrigerator, turning the turkey over at least once during the brining process.

Step 4

In a small bowl, combine the butter, sage, thyme, salt and pepper together with a fork until smooth and creamy.

Step 5

Set the oven rack to the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°.

Step 6

Remove turkey from brine and dry thoroughly with paper towels.

Step 7

Place one half of the granny smith apple into the "neck" cavity of the turkey and cover with the excess flap of turkey neck skin. Loosely fill turkey cavity with about half of the carrots, celery, onion, and thyme, sage and parsley. Scatter the other half in the bottom of the roasting pan. Place the turkey in the pan, resting on the vegetables. You can also use a turkey rack in the pan if you have one, but resting it on the vegetables accomplishes the same thing.

Step 8

Liberally coat the outside of the turkey with the compound butter.

Step 9

Place turkey in the oven and roast for 1 hour. After one hour of cooking, baste the turkey with chicken broth every hour or so until the broth has been used, then use the drippings for basting the turkey. Roast the turkey for about 2 to 2½ more hours or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees. Remove the turkey from the oven and tent it with aluminum foil. Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes before carving.