For the Bourbon BBQ Sauce:

1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the onion and garlic and saute for 5-7 minutes or until soft and translucent.
3. Carefully pour in the bourbon and bring to a simmer. Cook until the bourbon is reduced by half.
4. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine.
5. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook over low heat for 20-30 minutes (if you have more time, you can simmer it for up to an hour. The flavors will develop more. That said, 30 minutes works!).
6. Pour the sauce into a blender and carefully blend in 20-second increments, stopping to vent the steam from the blender every now and then, until the sauce is smooth.
7. Taste and adjust the seasoning, as needed, once the sauce is blended. Sometimes I need to add a touch more salt and pepper, and sometimes it’s an extra drizzle of hot sauce. Taste as you go and make the sauce yours!
8. The sauce can be stored in an airtight container (I love a mason jar for this) in the fridge for up to two weeks.

For the Burgers:

1. Preheat the grill or a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
2. If using a skillet, add a drizzle of oil.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, BBQ sauce, BBQ seasoning, and salt and pepper. Mix well to incorporate everything and then form the mixture into four patties.
4. Add the burger patties to the hot pan or grill and cook for 5 minutes per side (for a medium/medium-well burger). During the last minute of cooking time, add the slices of cheese to the tops of the burgers and cover the pan or grill so the steam can melt the cheese.
5. Remove from the heat and serve.

To Serve:

Burgers are obviously something you can customize, but this is my favorite combination of ingredients for this particular recipe: a toasted burger bun slathered with mayo and some more of the bourbon BBQ sauce, microgreens, and pickles. Serve immediately.