Rub for Smoked Hot Wings

[UWFSAE]

This rub I'm posting is designed to pair with the Brine for Smoked Hot Wings that I posted; the flavors should be complimentary and will help promote a nice crust during a two hour smoke over apple wood.  After that (weather permitting) they'll be finished on a hot grill after a toss in my Hot & Sticky Wing Sauce; if it rains, they'll take a quick trip under the broiler.

HOT WING RUB
1/2 Cup smoked paprika
1/2 Cup dark brown sugar
1/4 Cup ancho chili powder
1/4 Cup garlic powder
2 Tbsp onion powder
1 Tbsp celery salt
2 Tsp dried mustard
2 Tsp cayenne pepper

- Apply rub of 2 parts molasses and 1 part hot sauce as a binding agent.  Sprinkle wings liberally with rub.
- Smoke at 250 for two hours using 2-3 oz. of apple wood (peach or cherry may substitute).
- Finish on grill or under broiler to crisp the skin.  Can be tossed in a hot wing sauce before or after finishing.

 

[Spresso]

this is right up my alley....

can I add a bit of cayenne as well? 

 

[UWFSAE]

I eased up on the cayenne because of the copious amounts of hot sauce in both the brine and the finishing sauce; Crystal has a nice mellow heat so I think you could bump it up if you aren't the type to mind a case of the "meat sweats". 

 

[Spresso]

Crystal sauce is stg I might have to substitute as I have not seen it before....
would Franks Hot sauce or Sriracha do??

And yeah,  I got a few crazy relatives that tolerate MAJOR pain...
for others I'll make a home made honey garlic sauce.....

 

[UWFSAE]

I absolutely LOVE me some Sriracha ... but it's a very different flavor and texture from traditional hot sauce.  If no Crystal then Frank's Red Hot or Louisiana Hot Sauce are good alternatives, but if you don't mind a bit extra cost then I'd go with Tabasco Chipotle Sauce.

 

[Spresso]

Ahh!  Tabasco Chipotle hot sauce.  I always have that in my fridge....
sounds good, !!

I'll reserve the sriracha for a hot Asian type flavor then!