Turkey Brine

Author: Chris F. Harrelson

Ingredients:

• 15 lb Turkey
• 1 1/2 gallons of water
• 4 cups of apple juice
• 1/2 cups molasses
• 1/4 cups orange flavored honey
• 2/3 cups orangeville brandy (or brandy of choice)
• 1/3 cups brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons of your favorite dry rub
• 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup salt per gallon water
• Can add oranges or lemons for citrus*

Directions:

Mix the water, salt, apple juice, brandy, brown sugar, molasses, orange flavored honey, and sugar into a 5-gallon bucket lined with a resealable bag. Add 1/2 gallon of ice to mixture. Submerge turkey in 5 gallon container. Leave for 12 to 14 hours. After leaving the turkey in the brine, place it in the fridge for 3 hours to cool air dry the skin before injecting the marinade. Rub with virgin olive oil and apply dry rub. Use a mix of red oak & hickory wood to smoke the turkey.