I’ve already mentioned John over at from the Bartolini kitchens. His stories bring back great memories for me. Such as this one, when at the age of 4 or 5 he found a live goat in his basement just before Easter! Did I mention John is Italian?! And from this same post, I made his Bourbon & Cola Sauced Ham. Bourbon & Cola & Ham! Need I say more?
For more in-depth details of this recipe and other mouth-watering dishes, you can check it out here.
Ingredients
8 lb./3.5 kg smoked ham, fully cooked
1 cup/236 ml cola
1 1/4 cup/296 ml bourbon
1/2 cup/100 g light brown or dark sugar
1/4 cup/60 ml mustard
fresh thyme leaves
whole cloves
Seeing as my ham was slightly bigger, around 10 lb./4.3 kg, I upped the ingredients just a tad. How could you go wrong with bourbon & cola? I used Dijon mustard. John has tried various mustards and they all work great.
Begin by leaving the ham on your kitchen counter for an hour prior to baking. After an hour, score the ham in a diamond-shaped pattern. Place a whole clove at some of the intersections.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F/160 C. Add 1 cup of bourbon, the cola, brown sugar, mustard and thyme in a medium saucepan. Place over medium-low heat and reduce it until slightly thickened. In a roasting pan, add 1 cup of water and the remaining 1/4 cup of bourbon. Place the ham in the pan and brush it with the bourbon-cola glaze.
Place the ham in the oven, basting it every 20 to 30 minutes with the glaze. The ham will be ready when its internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F/60 C. My 10 lb./4.3 kg ham took about 3 hours. Remove the ham from the oven and transfer to a platter. Tent with foil and let it rest as you proceed with the remainder of your dinner.
Pour the remaining glaze and pan juices into a small saucepan. Over medium heat, reduce until slightly thickened. Pour into a fat separator. Slice up the ham and serve with some of the delicious bourbon-cola sauce poured over the top. According to P, you can’t have ham without scalloped potatoes. I say you most definitely can, but I complied to his request and served some scalloped potatoes alongside this oh! so yummy ham with bourbon-cola sauce!
ohlidia 
Did you find a goat in the basement during childhood as well? That was a great story — I enjoy john’s posts also. Looks like you did a lovely job of making this ham. I agree — how can you go wrong with bourbon and cola????
Years before I was born, my brother tells me that they did in fact keep a goat in one of the back rooms a couple of days before Easter. I only remember driving out to the farm the week-end before Easter, choosing a lamb, and then having it slaughtered. I don’t know how I still enjoy lamb, but I do!
Great post..I always cook/bake my Ham in Coke..will make sure to add the Bourbon next time 😉
I know that Nigella bakes her ham with Coke as well, but the addition of Bourbon just takes it over the top. You could also use Jack Daniels. It is a little sweeter, but for a ham glaze, it would work just as well.
Now that’s a ham! Great job Lidia.
That is indeed a ham, of which I have many left-overs. Ham sanguich B?
Lidia, your ham looks delicious, those pictures are making me hungry again! 😉 bourbon cola sauce for your ham sounds very good! guess you can’t go wrong with this combo! (I have to read this story about a live goat in the basement) 🙂
I know, right? It really was quite delicious! And you should have a look at John’s very cute story of finding a goat in his basement.
Wow! Your ham looks great, Lidia! I’m thrilled that you tried and enjoyed this recipe. I must admit, though, that I envy you. By now you’re enjoying ham sandwiches, a personal favorite and, frankly, the only reason I bake a ham. Well, for the sandwiches and spilt pea soup. That’s this weekend’s project. And thank you so much for your kind words and references to my blog.
How could I not try this recipe? Bourbon & Coke glazed over a ham!! I actually have too much ham and if Chicago weren’t so far away, I would definitely send over some ham sandwiches.
Oh man! That is quite possibly the tastiest looking ham I have ever seen and my scalloped potatoes have never looked like that!!! It’s 7:30 in the morning here and I could seriously eat a big ham right now!
As I was making the girls ham sandwiches for their lunch this morning, it went something like this: 1 slice for the sandwich, 1 slice for me… 1 for you, 1 for me!
looks SO good!
Thank you!
Wow, this is beautiful!
A goat in the basement, LOL. When I was a teenager, I found a goat head in the freezer. I don’t know what my dad was planning on cooking. But he does cook goat very well. Would love to cook this ham one day. Ready to eat honey-baked ham doesn’t cut it when you have had some great homemade ham. Bourbon and coke glaze must be so good. 🙂
Samantha, trust me on this one! It is delicious!!
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