Trim all visible fat from the beef and place in freezer for an hour or two to partially freeze.
While the meat is in the freezer, combine the bourbon, liquid smoke, Prague Powder #1, molasses, brown sugar, black pepper, soy sauce, & worcestershire sauce in a blender. Mix well.
Remove the meat from the freezer and slice ¼" strips with the grain and tenderize with a meat mallet. Cut against the grain for an easier chew. Or skip the freezing phase and use a Jerky Slicer for evenly sliced strips.
Add sliced beef to the mixture and marinate for 6-24 hours in the refrigerator.
After the meat has finished marinating, remove from refrigerator and strain excess marinade.
Dry with either a dehydrator, oven, or smoker. A dehydrator was used with this recipe and dried for 6 hours at 160 degrees.
The jerky is finished when it bends and cracks, but does not break in half.
Notes
Slice the meat at ¼" thickness for best results. Partially freeze the meat before slicing.
Use a Jerky Slicer if you are making a lot of beef jerky.
Pork can also be used when making this jerky recipe. Use pork loin or tenderloin