It's funny, I lived in Mississippi for a long time very close to Alabama and I never had this while I was there. It just figures that I would wait years to taste this deliciously different barbecue, which is creamy, tangy, and nicely smoky. The sauce will be thinner than what you normally expect with a tomato based sauce but it has just enough umph to make this chicken special. Now that my family has tried this, they wonder where it has been all their life!!!
Refrigerate chicken in marinade 6-24 hours, turning occasionally.
04Allow chicken to come to room temp before cooking.
05Drain chicken marinade and bring to a boil for 2-3 minutes in a small saucepan, then allow to cool (you will be using this as a baste during cooking).
06Set up outdoor grill for cooking with indirect heat, using a drip pan to which you can add some apple juice or other liquid, if desired.
07Sprinkle a small amount of drained soaked wood chips over coals just before adding chicken to the grill, and allow to smolder for the smoke to flavor the food.
08You may add more chips to the coals occasionally as you baste, when the chips are gone and you need more.
09When grill temp gets to 250-275F, grill chicken over the drip pan (not over the coals) for 90-100 minutes, basting occasionally, or until cooked through (about 180F), tender and golden, maintaining proper grill temperature throughout.
10While chicken is cooking, whisk together sauce in a large enough bowl to hold the sauce and chicken (the sauce may appear thin).
11When the chicken is cooked through, toss the chicken in the sauce and serve.
12Don't sauce the chicken on the grill, as the sauce will tend to break down if you do that.