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Recipe Pairing

Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Tender Cornish game hens glazed with a sweet and smoky bourbon-maple sauce, served alongside a fresh summer herb salad for a perfect grilled summer meal.

Best Pairing Answer

The best bourbon pairing for Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad is Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year. Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

The Recipe

Ingredients & Instructions

Everything you need to make this dish at home.

Ingredients

  • 2 Cornish game hens, halved
  • 1/3 cup bourbon
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups mixed summer herbs (basil, mint, parsley, chives)
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon honey

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, whisk together bourbon, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, smoked paprika, olive oil, salt, and pepper to make the glaze.
  2. Place the halved Cornish game hens in a shallow dish and pour half of the bourbon-maple glaze over them. Marinate for 15-20 minutes.
  3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
  4. Remove hens from marinade, reserving the marinade. Grill hens skin-side down for 8-10 minutes.
  5. Flip hens, baste with reserved glaze, and grill for another 10-12 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  6. While hens cook, toss the mixed herbs and cherry tomatoes with lemon juice, honey, a pinch of salt, and a drizzle of olive oil to create the summer herb salad.
  7. Remove hens from grill, let rest for 5 minutes.
  8. Serve the grilled bourbon-maple glazed game hens alongside the fresh summer herb salad.

Top Matches

Best Bourbon Pairings for Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Ranked bourbon recommendations for this recipe.

featured
89%

Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year

Wheated Bourbon 53.50% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Caramel, Oak, Vanilla Leather, Dark Fruit, Tobacco
Pairing Score 89%
featured
88%

George T. Stagg Standard

Barrel Proof Bourbon 62.50% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

George T. Stagg Standard complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Dark Cherry, Oak, Vanilla Tobacco, Cocoa, Spice
Pairing Score 88%
featured
86%

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

Barrel Proof Bourbon 65.00% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Oak, Caramel, Dark Chocolate Clove, Cherry, Leather
Pairing Score 86%
featured
86%

Henry McKenna Single Barrel

Single Barrel Bourbon 50.00% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Henry McKenna Single Barrel complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Caramel, Honey, Oak Baking Spice, Orange, Leather
Pairing Score 86%
featured
86%

Stagg Jr. Standard

Barrel Proof Bourbon 65.50% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Stagg Jr. Standard complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Dark Cherry, Oak, Caramel Cocoa, Leather, Clove
Pairing Score 86%
strong
85%

Eagle Rare Standard

Bourbon 45.00% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Eagle Rare Standard complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Caramel, Vanilla, Oak Leather, Orange Zest, Cocoa
Pairing Score 85%
strong
84%

Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond

Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon 50.00% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Caramel, Vanilla, Oak Peanut Brittle, Spice, Citrus
Pairing Score 84%
strong
84%

Knob Creek Single Barrel

Single Barrel Bourbon 60.00% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Knob Creek Single Barrel complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Caramel, Oak, Vanilla Toffee, Spice, Peanut
Pairing Score 84%
strong
84%

Knob Creek Standard

Bourbon 50.00% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Knob Creek Standard complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Oak, Vanilla, Caramel Peanut, Maple, Spice
Pairing Score 84%
strong
84%

Wild Turkey 101

Bourbon 50.50% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Wild Turkey 101 complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Spice, Caramel, Oak Vanilla, Orange Peel, Nutty
Pairing Score 84%
strong
84%

Wild Turkey Longbranch

Bourbon 43.00% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Wild Turkey Longbranch complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Vanilla, Oak, Smoke Honey, Citrus, Herbal
Pairing Score 84%
strong
84%

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Barrel Proof Bourbon 58.40% ABV For Grilled Bourbon-Maple Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Summer Herb Salad

Wild Turkey Rare Breed complements this poultry dish and its grilling profile. It has oak and smoke reinforce charred flavors.

Spice, Vanilla, Caramel Roasted Nuts, Orange Peel, Oak
Pairing Score 84%