Smoked Pork Loin with a Cherry Bourbon Molasses Sauce

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Y’all I have found myself stalking the butcher and the Restaurant Depot for specials on meat for my smoker.  I am loading my freezer up with any great sales I find on ribs and loins.  In fact tonight I got a great pork loin with just the right amount of fat to render down during the smoking process.  So of course I fired up the smoker (plugged it in…LOL) and got to work.

Now for this recipe I used my same rub from my Smoked Pork Shoulder minus the mustard coating.  I had it left over from last weeks smoking.  I just used a little olive oil on the loin and then generously applied the rub.  The big change tonight was that I made a sauce to pour over it for serving and it couldn’t be easier to do.  I would normally start from scratch, but I thought I’d try utilizing some Cherry Preserves that I had.  Well not only did this shortcut save me time, but they worked out marvelous.  Sometimes utilizing something already put together for you works out just as well as starting from scratch.  Let me tell you what.  That sauce was the perfect thing to mix with the smokiness of the pork.

So here’s the recipe and how I did it.  Let me know what y’all think……

• 1 small-medium pork loin (1 1/2 pound)
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup pork rub (see below)

1. Combine all ingredients in a large zip lock bag and mix well
2. Add the pork loin and zip closed
3. Put in refrigerator and marinate at least 2 hours to overnight
4. Preheat smoker to 225°
5. Remove loin from bag and place on rack in smoker
6. Smoke for 2.5-3 hours to internal temperature of 145° for medium rare ( I prefer), or to 165 if you like more done.
7. Remove from smoker and cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
8. Slice and pour the Bourbon Cherry Sauce over it.  Serve additional sauce in sauce cup…they are going to want more of it.

Rub:

• 1/2 cup paprika
• 1/4 cup garlic powder
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons black pepper
• 2 tablespoons  chili powder
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon  allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger

Mix all ingredients together and keep in an airtight container/jar till used.

Cherry Bourbon Molasses Sauce

• 1 cup cherry preserves
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 3 tablespoons molasses
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme

Bring all ingredients to a boil, lower temperature and simmer 5-10 minutes till it thickens to consistency you like.

Pour over Pork or eat off the spoon like I did.  Totally for quality control of course