Favorite Flavor

16Adams

16Adams

somebody shut me the fark up.

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I’ve had and have currently quite a variety of cookers. More than 30 cookers since 2008 have visited and departed
But even now with my current lineup I have to say that the flavor and aroma that emits from a barrel has to be my favorite. It just hits the difference between smoked and grilled that I enjoy. All my Cookers serve a purpose. Some are sentimental, some are better cookers, some are easier in current atmospheric conditions. Sometimes I just flip a coin.

But that barrel flavor never disappoints
 
In 2005 Danny Gaulden wrote a review that contained these thoughts, I pulled the trigger....

"The smell was absolutely what I look for in a first class cooker and NEVER have I achieved this quality for the price and cooking capacity. I call it that ol' time "Grandpaw smell"... when many years ago men cooked meat over hardwood coals and the smoke from the wood and the drippings from the meat fell down into the fire, creating an aroma that was unforgettable."


hzeptd1.jpg
 
Offset, kettle, drum, in that order for most things. But there are exceptions to that. Whole chicken- drum, Fish- Kettle. But for bigger cuts (butts, brisket, whole shoulder, beef ribs, even St. Louis spares) the offset wins for me. The overall flavor of the offset is what I like. For some cooks I really enjoy cooking indirect in the kettle then a nice reverse sear. That is what I do most often. I love the drum for the simplicity and the easy of use of course. And I recommend them to all my buddies that want to get into smoking. But the flavor of the drippings from the direct heat coming from below is not my favorite thing. I’ve never owned a pellet grill so I won’t weigh in on that at all. I once had a cheap vertical water smoker but let’s not bring that pain back up again. Haha!
 
Big Andy said:
I agree. My favorite is cinderblock pit with burned down oak and hickory coaks. The drum is as close as I have found to that.
Click to expand...

This right here. Since I can't have a whole hog pit in my backyard, I simulate with burning coals on my WSM (same as you can with a drum). When I want that "North Carolina flavor", I don't use the minion method & opt to only add fully lit coals during the cook...with no pan or diffuser in place. There's nothing quite like direct heat.
 
I've had a ton off a UDS and I do like that "flashback fog" / pit taste that it gives the meat.
A good hot wood fired grill comes in a tight second, though.
 
I love my drums for convenience too! Pretty much set it and forget it cookers. :grin:
As for flavor, my favorite would be..
underground pit
horizontal wood burner
cinderblock pit
drums
pellet cooker
I don't consider my grills as smokers. They are direct or indirect grills.

Like Josh mentioned, it depends on what I'm cookin' too. :thumb:
 
BMvJtCbl.jpg

This shot is from a benefit for a co-worker, it has 80# of pork butt and other than knocking the side to knock some Ash off I never touched it, while the the other two guys were using propane smokers and had to add water and wood chips every so often :crazy: they also had about 80# each in theirs.
 
If i had to choose a favorite flavor it would have to be Pellet grill for one simple reason, it works for everything. You can go low and slow for a more smokey flavor, or you can go hot and fast for a more clean slightly wood fired flavor. I haven't tried it, but i bet i could make an amazing apple pie in my pellet grill.
 
I have offset Franklinstein and uds and had the Yoder. Default is uds. Yoder could not replicate. Franklinstein is not set and forget. High maintenance but good flavor. I keep going back to the drum. I simply wish that there were something 3 sizes of the drum with the same flavor but there isn’t. I guess I need a hunsaker and gateway to complete the picture so I can offer 3 way reviews and figure out the best flavor which will most likely be the uds because it was the cheapest. You do you adams! We all love it!
 
Clay-b-que said:
I have offset Franklinstein and uds and had the Yoder. Default is uds. Yoder could not replicate. Franklinstein is not set and forget. High maintenance but good flavor. I keep going back to the drum. I simply wish that there were something 3 sizes of the drum with the same flavor but there isn’t. I guess I need a hunsaker and gateway to complete the picture so I can offer 3 way reviews and figure out the best flavor which will most likely be the uds because it was the cheapest. You do you adams! We all love it!
Click to expand...

Those words of wisdom,”be yourself-the world will adjust”
 
For me personally, it’s pellets. I have been able to turn out delish food burning sticks and charcoal… but the one flavor that never grows old to me… or perhaps I should say never burns me out, is pellets. The super clean smoke and ability to truly taste the flavors of the meat/seasoning (including smoke seasoning as I call it) has won me over. Taste is definitely a subjective thing. Choices are good… and to each their own :)
 
rwalters said:
For me personally, it’s pellets. I have been able to turn out delish food burning sticks and charcoal… but the one flavor that never grows old to me… or perhaps I should say never burns me out, is pellets. The super clean smoke and ability to truly taste the flavors of the meat/seasoning (including smoke seasoning as I call it) has won me over. Taste is definitely a subjective thing. Choices are good… and to each their own :)
Click to expand...


I know you are the MAK mascott on this site. Have you considered getting a heavy D stick burner diffuser for it. I am just curious how well it works for a MAK.
 
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