Custom Assassin 28 Smoker Delivered - It's Bad A$$!

[markrvp]

I'm looking forward to seeing which of your three smokers (YS640, Assasin, Lang) you prefer the smoke flavor. I have three smokers on my wish list and they are the Yoder YS640, Assasin 28, and Jambo Backyard. Three very different smokers for sure.

[unixadm]

Originally Posted by markrvp

I'm looking forward to seeing which of your three smokers (YS640, Assasin, Lang) you prefer the smoke flavor. I have three smokers on my wish list and they are the Yoder YS640, Assasin 28, and Jambo Backyard. Three very different smokers for sure.

I used to have a YS640 and of all the pellet cookers I've owned, it produced the best BBQ IMO. However it was an earlier model, single fan that didn't have as good of temperature control as the later units. I did not get the same results with the YS1500 as I did with the YS640 out of the gate. With the YS1500, I had to switch to 100% Hickory pellets. With them, the smoke flavor is MUCH better on the YS1500.

The best BBQ I've ever made has come off of my little 18.5 WSM. I have to tell you that the sweet smell of cherry wood smoking really makes me enjoy BBQ and that's not something you get with a pellet cooker. However a pellet cooker gives you flexibility, such as grilling or changing temperatures fairly easily. Turn it on, you have fire. Turn it off, it goes away quickly. Easy to refuel as well. If I sell my YS1500 some day, I will have a pellet cooker of some sort. They are simply very convenient and consistent.

I was looking at the Jambo Backyard as well. They build an outstanding product and I would have zero hesitation going with one. For me, a stick burner is never going to be my everyday cooker. I have too much going on half the time to tend a fire. However I know I'm missing out on a big part of what makes BBQ special and for that reason I have bought a stick burner as well, though on the small side. Fine by me.

The Assassin will probably become my goto smoker. It's fuel efficient, seemingly easy to run and I can add as much smoke into the meat as I want by simply adding more chunks into the ash pan. I did make a mistake in adding the wood in there at the start, because I have a hell of a nice bed of coals in there now. Any wood I put in there gets vaporized quickly. Next time I'll let it settle into it's temperature and then quickly toss in my smoking wood at the edges of the ash pan.

I will post up frequently between my cooks on the YS1500, Assassin 28 and Lang 36. I'll probably spend more time with the Lang during the next couple of months because it's going to be completely new to me.

[peeps]

That's a nice looking rig! You are gonna love it!

[Firefighter]

You're gonna love it. I got one the first week in November it's the easiest smoker I have ever cooked on. Used it New Year's Day it was 15 below zero and it ran like a champ. They are awesome smokers made and sold by awesome people!

[bbqwilly]

Very nice. Enjoy

[Happy Hapgood]

That Sir is one Mighty Fine Rig! Congratulations!

[BBQDaddio]

Congrats on the new precision weapon.

[unixadm]

Thanks guys. So far, so good. Tasty bacon and good performance.



A little corn which I wrapped in foil with butter and some rub....



And my messy and not picture friendly BLCM's. They were good, but I was more interested in eating than taking pictures. :)



I shut her down for tonight. Tomorrow I go to U-Haul to rent a trailer and pick up the Lang 36 about 100 miles away. Fun stuff.

[unixadm]

I had choked it off last night and this shows the ramp down. The ball valve and smoke stack are closed. I will check later to see if there is anything left in terms of lump.

[oifmarine2003]

Nice cooker! I want one!

[Shoes]

Show off....things nice and I'm jealous.

[unixadm]

Working on the first real cook on the Assassin 28, a lone 7lb bone in butt. Trimmed of excess fat, rinsed, injected with ACV + Apple Juice + SM Sweet Seduction Rub. I then rubbed it liberally with SM Sweet Seduction and left it in a half steam pan which I will use for duration of the cook. Will foil at 165 which won't be too much longer as the butt is at 146 degrees right now.

Rubbed and injected:



Onto the Smoker (Apple/Pecan/Oak mix):



Sweet TBS:



~2.5 hours into the cook:



The Geeky Stuff:

[unixadm]

Done. Total time of six hours at 250 degrees. Nice smoke ring and good flavor. I did not use a lot of smoking wood - I need to experiment with this aspect of the cooker. It has a nice clean smoke flavor that is not over powering.



Started at ~9:15 AM and pulled at ~3:15 PM at a temp of 201 degrees:




Sauced with some Blues Hog red:



The Assassin 28 and Stoker performed flawlessly. It doesn't get any easier than this.

[R2Egg2Q]

Nice pron and very nice looking new toy you have there!

[ColoradoSmoke]

Congrats - that thing is a piece of art!