If you’re chasing bold flavor beyond table salt and black pepper, my Maple Bourbon BBQ Rub delivers. This spice mix brings the heat and the sweet in the best way possible. First, real maple sugar delivers a smooth, sweet punch. Then, smoked paprika and a pinch of cayenne are balanced perfectly with vanilla, caramel and bourbon-inspired warmth to tie it all together. This barbecue rub is bold, balanced, and built for serious backyard grilling action.

Close up of Maple Bourbon Seasoning Bottle. Learn how to use this Bourbon BBQ Rub in this article!

Undoubtedly, whether you’re cooking a rack of ribs, beef brisket, pork shoulder roast, or even sweet potatoes, the Maple Bourbon Rub delivers epic flavor. It’s bold, balanced, and built for the flame with layers of flavor. Use it on baby back ribs, pork belly, chicken wings—even smoked salmon. It’s a good dry rub that plays well with classic BBQ flavors and beyond. However, it also brings something extra that you’ve likely never tasted before.

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Why You’ll Love the Maple Bourbon Spice Mix

What started as a homemade maple bourbon BBQ rub turned into a Spiceology signature blend that I use on just about everything. While it nods to Memphis-style ribs, the Maple Bourbon Rub leans into sweet heat with a smoky twist. It’s made for large cuts like pork chops, turkey, and pork ribs.

Even better? It comes in two sizes. A 4.2 ounce shaker jar for your spice cabinet and a 22 ounce food service size, perfect for having right next to your grill when you’re making large batches of ribs.

Maple Bourbon BBQ Rub sitting with raw ribs about to be seasoned.

So, what’s inside? This BBQ rub blends cane sugar, sea salt, and then some real maple sugar with savory notes of onion, garlic, black pepper, and also some paprika. Then come the layers—chili pepper, cayenne, and a touch of mesquite smoke for heat and depth.

Bottom line: when it comes to unique spice blends, this rub belongs by your grill. Because it’s versatile, flavor-packed, and ready for whatever protein you throw at it. To prove it, the recipes below show how to use Maple Bourbon BBQ rub.

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Looking for more ways to cook with your favorite bourbon? Check out Bourbon Marinated Ribeyes, Bourbon Bacon Pecan Salmon, Sriracha Bourbon Pork Belly, and then my Teriyaki Bourbon Steak Skewers.

The Best BBQ Rub Recipes Round-Up

Maple Bacon Wrapped Salmon Bites

Maple Bacon Bourbon Salmon Bites

If you’re a fan of sweet heat and bite-sized snacks, this one’s for you. These salmon bites get wrapped in crispy bacon, seasoned with Maple Bourbon rub, then glazed with a maple bourbon BBQ sauce for that caramelized finish. Smoke them up until the edges are crispy, and watch them disappear faster than you can say “another round.”
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One more shot of the finalized and served dish.

Pork Belly Burnt Ends With Maple And Bourbon

This is pork belly at its peak. We cube it up, hit it with the Maple Bourbon BBQ Rub, smoke it until that bark sets, then glaze with butter, brown sugar, bourbon, and maple syrup. They’re sweet, sticky, smoky, and basically candy with a meat addiction.
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Bourbon Bacon Chicken Wings

Bourbon Bacon Chicken Wings

You already know I love wrapping things in bacon, but these wings take it further. The wings get a solid layer of Maple Bourbon rub, then we wrap them in bacon, smoke them up, and baste with a sticky-sweet bourbon glaze that keeps you licking your fingers between bites.
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Honey fire party ribs in the crutch on the smoker.

Honey Fire Party Ribs

This is a ribs recipe that bites back—in a good way. Maple Bourbon brings out the caramel notes, while a honey hot sauce glaze dials up the fire. These are crowd-pleasers for backyard parties, game days, or any day ending in “y.”
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Whisky Brined Chicken Wings

These wings start off in a smoky whisky brine, then get dried, seasoned with Maple Bourbon rub, and hit the grill until crispy. That brine gives them depth, and the rub brings everything into balance. Pair with a cold drink and call it a day.
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The epic Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich.

Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich

Classic pulled pork, elevated. The Maple Bourbon seasoning layers right into the bark while the pork smokes low and slow. Pile it high on a toasted bun with slaw and pickles, and you’ve got a sandwich that’s smoky, sweet, and built for summer.
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Pork Belly Cinnamon Rolls getting iced before serving.

Pork Belly Cinnamon Rolls

Yes, you read that right. We took soft cinnamon rolls and wrapped them in pork belly seasoned with—you guessed it—Maple Bourbon. Basted with glaze and smoked until golden, these are the wildest breakfast-dessert-dinner crossover you never knew you needed. They went viral for a reason!
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Maple Bourbon Spatchcock Turkey Recipe

Spatchcock Turkey

This bird means business. We spatchcock the turkey for even cooking, coat it in Maple Bourbon BBQ Rub, and smoke it until the skin crisps up and the meat is juicy as hell. Perfect for the holidays or any big gathering where you want to show off a little.
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Double Smoked Spiral Ham

Double Smoked Ham

Take your store-bought spiral ham, coat it with Maple Bourbon seasoning, and throw it back on the smoker with a bourbon-maple glaze. The result? Sticky, crispy edges and juicy ham that tastes like it’s been cooked by fire gods.
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maple bourbon smoked salmon

Smoked Salmon

For this one, we go traditional. A salmon fillet gets a dry brine, then we coat it in Maple Bourbon BBQ rub seasoning and smoke it until it’s flaky and rich. Great on crackers, sandwiches, or just forked right off the board.
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BBQ Maple

BBQ Maple Bourbon Ribs

These ribs are the real deal—slow-smoked with a heavy coat of Maple Bourbon seasoning, then glazed with a sticky mix of BBQ sauce, maple syrup, and a splash of bourbon. The bark sets up beautifully, the glaze caramelizes just right, and every bite pulls clean off the bone with smoky, sweet perfection.
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Maple Gochujang Rotisserie Ribs Recipe

Maple Gochujang Rotisserie Ribs

Maple Gochujang Rotisserie Ribs for your next grilling night!
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Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Skewers ready to serve.

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Skewers

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Skewers are deliciousness, wrapped in bacon… Bacon wrapped deliciousness!
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Donut Breakfast Sandwich

Donut Breakfast Sandwich

This Donut Breakfast Sandwich is the triple threat of all breakfast meals: sweet, salty and savory!
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Pulled Pork BBQ Nacho Table

Pulled Pork BBQ Nacho Table

Pulled Pork BBQ Nacho Table to make all your nacho dreams come true. Smoked two pork shoulders and shredded them a table full of delicious nachos.
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Spicy Maple Bourbon Candied Bacon

Candied Bacon

Candied Bacon with a maple bourbon glaze is a tasty treat that is super easy to make in the Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Offset Smoker.
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FAQs for How to Use Maple Bourbon BBQ Rub

How should I store the Maple Bourbon BBQ Rub?

To preserve the flavor and shelf life of your maple bourbon rub, store it in a dark, cool, dry place—your spice cabinet is ideal. Keep it away from heat and moisture to protect the dry ingredients and maintain the integrity of this homemade BBQ rub recipe.

How spicy is the Maple Bourbon BBQ rub?

It delivers a mild kick, thanks to ingredients like chili powder, black pepper, and a small tsp of cayenne pepper. The sugar content from real maple sugar and dark brown sugar helps balance the heat, making it approachable for most palates. If you’re used to classic BBQ flavors, expect a little extra excitement—but nothing overpowering.

Why do maple and bourbon taste so good together?

Unlike white sugar, maple sugar, as a main ingredient, brings a caramel-like sweetness with more depth and complexity. Bourbon, with its warm, smoky notes, adds a richness that enhances both sweet and savory dishes. Together, they create a flavor profile that’s bold, balanced, and perfect for grilling, smoking, or high-heat roasting.

This BBQ rub complements everything from rack of ribs to pork shoulder roast, delivering a full-bodied taste that takes your dishes a long way.

More rubs By Derek Wolf

Beer Rub Recipes

My Beer Rub Recipes post highlights some of the very best ways to use my 10 beer rubs created with Spiceology to level up all your foods.

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Derek Wolf

Derek is the driving force behind Over the Fire Cooking. He started cooking with live fire in 2016 and decided to start a social media page so his friends and family could follow the journey. Fast forward to today and Over the Fire Cooking has spread across multiple platforms with millions now following Derek's fire cooking journey. He's a southern fellow who enjoys everything from classic BBQ to Central and South American inspired dishes. Whatever he's cooking up, it's guaranteed to be so freakin' delicious!

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Comments

  1. I’ve realy enjoyed reading this post, is it possible to purchase this product ? I live in New Zealand 🇳🇿 cheers Jon Harris.

    Reply