Sweet Bourbon Ham

4.9
(42)
34 Reviews
11 Photos

My dad made this ham for Christmas about 15 years ago, and we loved it. I haven't made a different ham since and haven't loved one as much.

Submitted by AMYDANIELLE1
Updated on February 8, 2023
Tested by
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Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
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high angle looking at bourbon ham on a cutting board with a few slices cut
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Prep Time:
35 mins
Cook Time:
2 hrs 45 mins
Additional Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs 35 mins
Servings:
14
Yield:
1 ham
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 14 servings

  • 1 (8 1/2 pound) cooked bone-in ham (shank end)

  • 40 whole cloves

  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

  • ¼ cup bourbon whiskey

  • 1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

  2. Remove skin and excess fat from ham, leaving a fat layer about 1/4-inch thick. Score ham in a diamond pattern with a sharp knife. Push cloves into the center of the scored diamond shapes. Place ham with cut side down into a roasting pan.

    Skin and excess fat removed from ham, score ham in a diamond pattern with sharp knife.

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    Push cloves into center of the scored diamond shapes.

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  3. Bake ham in the preheated oven until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat, not touching bone, reads 125 degrees F (52 degrees C), about 2 hours.

    Ham baked in oven until thermometer reads 125 degrees.

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  4. Combine brown sugar, whiskey, and black pepper in a bowl until glaze is smooth.

    Combine brown sugar, whiskey and black pepper in a bowl until glaze is smooth.

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  5. Raise oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

  6. Baste ham with 1/3 the whiskey glaze. Return to oven and bake until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F (60 degrees C), basting ham with whiskey glaze every 10 minutes. Cover ham loosely with a tent of aluminum foil if ham browns too quickly.

    Baste ham with the whiskey glaze, return to oven.

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  7. Let ham rest for 15 minutes before carving.

    Let ham rest for 15 minutes before carving.

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Close up on a sweet bourbon ham with a few slices resting on the cutting board.

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78 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

758 Calories
51g Fat
17g Carbs
51g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 14
Calories 758
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 51g 66%
Saturated Fat 18g 91%
Cholesterol 154mg 51%
Sodium 3551mg 154%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 51g 102%
Vitamin C 96mg 107%
Calcium 51mg 4%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 878mg 19%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.