Smoked Crispy Chicken Drums with Maple Butter Hot Sauce

 Smoked Crispy Chicken Drums with Maple Butter Hot Sauce
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INGREDIENTS

½ cup kosher salt

½ cup sugar

2 qts water

8 chicken drumsticks

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 Tbsp cornstarch

½ stick salted butter

¼ cup hot sauce

¼ cup maple syrup

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix together the salt, sugar and water in a large bowl until dissolved. Submerge the chicken in the brine and place in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours.

2. Remove the chicken from the brine, pat dry with paper towels and brush with 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil.

3. Set up a grill with a smoker box filled with wood chips and preheat one side of the grill to high. Once smoking, lower the temperature to medium and place the chicken on the cooler side of the grill. Cover the grill and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, turning each drumstick a few times. Cook until the internal temperature registers 165ºF on an instant-read thermometer. Remove the chicken from the grill.

4. Mix together the cornstarch and remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil until dissolved. Brush the exterior of the chicken with the mixture.

5. Place the chicken back on the hot side of the grill and cook, turning, until the skin is crispy on all sides.

6. Melt the butter, hot sauce and maple syrup in a small pot over low heat (or in the microwave). Whisk until fully blended, and then pour over the chicken before serving