Peppered Wings with Caramelized Soy and Blackberry Glaze

Have you ever been flipping through your favorite cook book and find a recipe that makes you think, "How have I not tried this one yet?!?"

This was one of those.  Peppered Wings with Caramelized Soy and Blackberry Glaze -

Crispy, peppery chicken wings with a unique sweet sauce.

Chris Lilly's Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book spends more time off the book shelf than on it.  It my most used BBQ book.  Despite the heavy use and all of those tabs, his recipe for these wings has escaped my attention...until now.

We eat a lot of wings at our house and my favorites have been on the spicy side.  But these are delightfully sweet balanced by the sultry taste of the caramelized soy sauce and the peppery wings.  And it wasn't just me, these wings captured the attention of my whole family as something special.  

I'm not going to post the recipe, even though Chris has graciously given me permission to repost several of the recipes in his book.  If you have the book, definitely try these.  If you don't, go buy it!  

The wings start off with a generous application of a rub (salt, brown sugar, paprika, garlic, and then black, red, and white pepper).

The cook indirect on your grill for 30 minutes at 450f, much faster than I normally do my wings on my Egg.

The sauce is a reduction of mirin, soy sauce, sugar, and seedless blackberry jam.  

It doesn't go on until the wings come off of the grill.  Also different how I normally do my wings.

Simple but really effective and a surprising combination of flavor.  I did a batch with sriracha added to the sauce and I preferred those but the rest of the family preferred the sweeter ones without sriracha.  

Decatur Alabama Riverfest 

Next weekend I am joining Clint Cantwell (Grilling.com editor) to cook with his Smoke In Da Eye team in the BBQ competition at the 18th annual Decatur Jaycees Riverfest.   After the smoke settles, I'll also be getting to hang out with the folks from Kingsford, several of my favorite BBQ bloggers, and BBQ friends.  Of course a meal at Big Bob Gibson's BBQ restaurant is obligatory!!!

If you're in the area, check out the event and be sure to stop by our spot.  We'll be next to the Kingsford section.  In addition to the bbq competition, there will be live music, family activities, and food vendors.  All proceeds will be used by the Jaycees to benefit local charities.