A sweet, sticky, smoky whiskey glaze that tastes just like the TGI Friday's original. Perfect on wings, ribs, chicken, salmon, burgers, and meatballs — or as a dipping sauce for everything.
Ingredients
1headgarlic, or 1 tbsp jarred roasted/minced garlic
1tspolive oil, for roasting garlic
1cupwater
1cuppineapple juice
¼cupteriyaki sauce
1tbspsoy sauce
1cuppacked dark brown sugar
3tbspfresh lemon juice
3tbspwhite onion, finely minced
¼cupJack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey
2tbspcrushed pineapple
¼tspcayenne pepper
Instructions
Roast the garlic (optional): Cut the top off the garlic head, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast at 325°F for 1 hour until soft. Squeeze out about 2 tsp of roasted garlic.
Build the base: In a medium saucepan, combine the water, pineapple juice, teriyaki, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Add the rest: Reduce to a simmer and stir in the roasted garlic, minced onion, lemon juice, Jack Daniel's, crushed pineapple, and cayenne.
Reduce: Simmer gently for 35–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces by about half and turns thick and syrupy. Watch closely near the end so it doesn't boil over.
Cool and store: Remove from heat and let cool — it thickens as it sits. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate.
Equipment
Saucepan
Whisk
Notes
BBQ version: For pulled pork, build on 1 cup ketchup, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire, 1 tbsp Dijon, and ⅓ cup Jack Daniel's; simmer 10–12 minutes.
Make ahead: Flavor deepens overnight. Keeps 2–3 weeks refrigerated or 3 months frozen.
Grilling tip: Brush on during the last few minutes of cooking — the sugar burns quickly over direct heat.
Smoother sauce: Blend with an immersion blender after cooking.