This easy steak marinade combines whiskey, garlic, lemon, Worcestershire, and seasonings to bring out bold flavors in your juicy steaks. Your friends will rave about your steaks!
Our Special Occasion Whiskey Steak Marinade
A great steak is always a fantastic choice for special occasions, such as Father’s Day, a friend’s birthday, or a family BBQ. To make the occasion extra flavorful, we like to marinade a great cut of steak in my whiskey marinade.
Whiskey, with its complex flavors and rich aroma, is an excellent base for a steak marinade. The alcohol helps to tenderize the meat, while the sugars in the whiskey caramelize during cooking, creating a delicious crust. Additionally, the depth of flavor in whiskey complements the robust taste of steak, making for a mouthwatering combination.
We like to marinate T-bone steaks, New York strip steaks, sirloin, and flank steaks on our outdoor grill. The marinade adds tenderness to these great cuts.
If you are an inspiring grill master, then you will definitely want to check out my other cookout-style recipes. Add my BBQ Coffee Dry Rub Recipe, Maple BBQ Dry Rub, and Texas BBQ Rub to your spice box. If you want to grill some poultry, then try my Lemon Pepper Marinade or Poultry Dry Rub Recipe
What You Need to Make Marinade for Steak
Simple ingredients simmered together will elevate your steaks to a new level of flavor. Here are the ingredients you will need for your whiskey steak marinade.
- whiskey: choose your favorite brand. I have given you some whiskey flavor profiles further down in the post.
- brown sugar: add sweetness and caramelization to the meat during cooking
- soy sauce: if you prefer, you could use coconut aminos. If you are watching your salt intake then use low-sodium soy sauce
- worcestershire sauce: your favorite brand
- lemon juice: don’t use the green bottle of lemon juice, freshly squeezed is best
- lemon zest: wash your lemon well before you grate the rind
- minced garlic: do not use the already minced garlic in a jar. Fresh minced garlic cloves are best
- black pepper: I like to use fresh coarse ground black pepper with steaks
- red pepper flakes: These are optional. If you like the taste of spicy heat, add the red pepper chili flakes
How-To Make Whiskey Steak Marinade
Zest and Juice Leomon
- Wash the lemon and then zest with a fine grater.
- Juice the lemon. I do this after I zest the lemon.
Mince Fresh Garlic
Peel garlic and finely mince. I like to use my small garlic mincer.
Combine Ingredients
- Pour whiskey, soy sauce, Worcestershire, and lemon juice into a saucepan. Add garlic, lemon zest, pepper, and brown sugar.
Heat Marinade
- Bring marinade to a simmer over medium-high heat. Stirring continually to help dissolve the brown sugar, simmer until the alcohol has largely evaporated, about 3 minutes. This will create a mellow flavor in your marinade.
- Allow the marinade to cool to room temperature.
Marinade Steak
- Place the marinade and meat in a ziplock bag. Marinate the beef for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours in the refrigerator.
- Remove meat from the marinade and pat dry with a paper towel before grilling. Discard marinade.
- Grill or cook the steak in a cast iron skillet.
Tips for Perfect Whiskey Steak Marinade
- Time: Marinate for at least 2 hours, but not more than 24 hours to avoid breaking down the meat too much.
- Temperature: Always marinate in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial growth.
- Container: Use a non-reactive container such as glass, stainless steel, or food-grade plastic.
- Prep Meat: To infuse the most flavor into a piece of meat, pierce the steak thoroughly with a skewer or score it with shallow cuts. This will help the flavors of your marinade penetrate the meat.
- Before Cooking Steak: After marinating, be sure to wipe the steak dry before grilling by patting it with a piece of dry paper towel. This will ensure the steak browns properly, forming a crust outside and sealing the flavors into the meat.
How long should I marinate a steak?
It is best to marinate steaks in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours. You can marinate steak too long. If you leave the steak in the whisky marinade longer it will start breaking down the proteins in your meat.
How much marinade per pound of steak?
As a general rule, a marinade-to-meat ratio is one-half cup of marinade per pound of meat. This amount will vary depending on the variety, cut, and size of the meat.
Can I reuse marinade?
No, it’s not safe to reuse marinade that has been in contact with raw meat.
What type of whiskey is good for marinating meat?
You can use any brand of whiskey in this marinade recipe; however, not all whiskeys are created equal when it comes to marinade flavors. Opt for a mid-range whiskey that you enjoy drinking, as its flavors will impart to the meat.
- Jack Daniels Marinade: If you are a Jack person, then, by all means, use it to infuse your marinade’s flavor into your meats. Just for fun, why not try two marinade batches, one with Jack and one with a good bourbon? See if your guest can tell the difference.
- Bourbon: Slightly sweet with notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak.
Why It Works: The sweetness and richness of bourbon add depth to the marinade and balance savory and spicy ingredients well. - Tennessee Whiskey: Smooth with hints of charcoal and maple.
Why It Works: The smoothness and subtle smoky notes of Tennessee whiskey, like Jack Daniel’s, add complexity without overpowering the meat. - Rye Whiskey: Spicy and robust with hints of pepper and oak.
Why It Works: Rye whiskey’s spiciness can add an extra kick to the marinade, making it great for those who enjoy bolder flavors. - Irish Whiskey: Light and smooth with notes of fruit and honey.
Why It Works: Irish whiskey’s lighter profile is ideal for those who prefer a more subtle infusion of flavor in their meat. - Scotch Whisky: Varies widely, from light and floral to rich and smoky.
Why It Works: Scotch can be used for a more complex and sophisticated marinade, especially those with a smoky flavor, like an Islay whisky. - Canadian Whisky: Smooth and versatile with a blend of spice and sweetness.
Why It Works: Canadian whisky’s balanced flavor makes it a versatile choice for various marinades, suitable for both beef and pork.
My Favorite Equipment For Marinading
You want to be sure all your meat is covered in the marinade, so I like to use Ziploc Marinade Bags. They are large enough for several pounds of meat, and I am able to shake the bag easily throughout the marinade time.
How to Store Leftover Marinade
Do not keep the marinade that has been used. However, if you don’t use all of this recipe, you can save the leftover marinade for another time.
- Freeze: Store in an airtight container or freezer bag. It will remain fresh for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator when you are ready to use it.
- Refrigerate: If not used for raw meat, store it in the fridge in a jar with a tight-fitting lid for up to 3 days.
⚖️ Need a big batch to feed a crowd? You can easily change the number of servings in the recipe card below by tapping 2x or 3x. The ingredient measurements will automatically double or triple. You can then tap print and there you have it, a recipe for a crowd.
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Best Whiskey Steak Marinade Recipe | Juicy & Flavorful
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced – about one tablespoon
- 1/3 cup whiskey, your favorite brand
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/3 cup worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, fresh ground
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes, optional; add more if you like it really spicy
- 3 pounds steak, your favorite steaks such as T-bone steaks, New York strip steaks, sirloin, and flank steaks
Instructions
- Wash the lemon and then zest with a fine grater.1 teaspoon lemon zest
- Juice the lemon. I do this after I zest the lemon.2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Peel garlic and finely mince garlic2 cloves garlic
- Pour whiskey, soy sauce, Worcestershire, and lemon juice into a sauce saucepan. Add garlic, lemon zest, black pepper, red chili flakes, and brown sugar.1/3 cup whiskey, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1/3 cup worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
- Bring the marinade to a slight boil over medium-high heat. Stir continually to help dissolve the brown sugar. Turn down the heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Allow the marinade to cool to room temperature.
- Pierce the steak your plan to marinate thoroughly with a skewer or score it with shallow cuts using a sharp knife.3 pounds steak
- Place marinade and meat into a ziplock bag. Marinate beef for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- Remove meat from marinade and pat dry with a paper towel before grilling. Discard marinade.
Notes
- Time: Marinate for at least 2 hours, but not more than 24 hours to avoid breaking down the meat too much.
- Temperature: Always marinate in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial growth.
- Container: Use a non-reactive container such as glass, stainless steel, or food-grade plastic.
- Prep Meat: To infuse the most flavor into a piece of meat, pierce the steak thoroughly with a skewer or score it with shallow cuts. This will help the flavors of your marinade penetrate the meat.
- Before Cooking Steak: After marinating, be sure to wipe the steak dry before grilling by patting it with a piece of dry paper towel. This will ensure the steak browns properly, forming a crust outside and sealing the flavors into the meat.
How long do you marinade the steak?
Melissa, I usually marinate around 3 hours per 1/2 inch thickness of the meat. So If I have an 1 inch thick steak I will marinate in fridge for 6 hours. Thicker than that I just do it over night.
Gina
I made a whiskey marinade once with 1 cup of whiskey and the whiskey flavor ended up being way over powering and ruined my dinner. How strong is the whiskey flavor using only one cup?
For this recipe I only put in 1/3 cup. I think the brown sugar offsets the sharp flavor of the whiskey and you get a more mellow flavor in your meat. This is also very good with salmon on the grill. I just sprinkle a little of my coffee dry rub on top before cooking.
BBQ Coffee Dry Rub Recipe
When using this marinade how do you cook the steak?
I grill them in the summer and also use Elaton Browns method which I love. Give it a try, you will be amazed. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/pan-seared-rib-eye-recipe
Can this marinade be made ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for a period of time before using it?
Absolutely it can be made ahead of time. As you said, be sure to store it in the fridge. It should remain true to its flavor for a week or so.
Great marinades
Can I put this in the oven? If so, for how long do I cook it?
You could oven cook your steaks but I suggest to marinate the steaks and remove them from the excess marinade before cooking. My favorite way to cook a perfect steak without using a bbq grill is the Elton Brown Perfect Pan Seared Method. So good, everytime.