Reverse Seared Tomahawk Steak with Cowboy Butter & Bourbon Infused Salt

Reverse Seared Tomahawk Steak with Cowboy Butter & Bourbon Infused Salt

Servings: 2 Total Time: 25 hrs 45 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Party Pleaser Party Pleaser Show Stopper Show Stopper Smoke & Sear Fav. Smoke & Sear Fav.
The Ultimate BBQ Steak Experience

Get ready to impress with this mouth-watering Reverse Seared Tomahawk Steak recipe! We’re talking about a massive cut of beef, cooked to perfection on the Kamado Joe Classic 3. This juicy steak is taken to the next level with a decadent cowboy butter and a sprinkle of bourbon-infused salt. Perfect for a weekend BBQ, this recipe will make you the hero of any backyard gathering.

Reverse Seared Tomahawk Steak with Cowboy Butter & Bourbon Infused Salt

Prep Time 24 hrs Cook Time 1.5 hr Rest Time 15 mins Total Time 25 hrs 45 mins
Difficulty: Intermediate Cooking Temp: 120  C Servings: 2 Estimated Cost: £ 40 Calories: Approximately 950 per serving Best Season: Summer

Steak:

Cowboy Butter:

Bourbon Infused Salt:

Instructions

  1. Dry Brining

    • Prep the Steak: Remove the tomahawk steak from its packaging and pat dry with kitchen towel.
    • Season: Generously season all sides with quality salt.
    • Refrigerate: Place the steak in the fridge for 24 hours to allow the salt to penetrate and season the meat evenly.
  2. Smoking

    1. Set Up Smoker: Preheat your Kamado Joe Classic 3 to 120°C (250°F) for indirect cooking. Add a block of bourbon-infused oak wood for smoke.
    2. Monitor Temp: Insert a temperature probe into the steak and close the lid.
    3. Smoke the Steak: Cook until the steak reaches the desired internal temperature (see table below).
    Steak Doneness Temp to Remove from Smoking (°C/°F) Temp to Remove from Searing (°C/°F) Final Internal Temp (°C/°F)
    Rare 45°C / 113°F 49°C / 120°F 51°C / 125°F
    Medium Rare 49°C / 120°F 53°C / 127°F 54°C / 130°F
    Medium 55°C / 131°F 58°C / 136°F 60°C / 140°F
    Medium Well 60°C / 140°F 63°C / 145°F 65°C / 150°F
    Well Done 65°C / 149°F 71°C / 160°F 74°C / 165°F
  3. Cowboy Butter

    • Soften Butter: Let the butter soften at room temperature.
    • Mix Ingredients: Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
    • Shape and Chill: Place the mixture on cling film, shape into a cylinder, and refrigerate until hardened.
  4. Bourbon Infused Salt

    • Reduce Bourbon: Simmer bourbon over low heat until it becomes syrupy.
    • Combine with Salt: Mix the syrupy bourbon with coarse salt.
    • Dehydrate: Spread the mixture on a tray and dehydrate in a Ninja Foodi MAX Pro Health Grill or oven on the lowest setting for 1.5 hours.
  5. Searing

    • Prep Grill: Increase grill heat to around 290°C (550°F) by opening all vents.
    • Remove Probe: Take out the temperature probe before searing.
    • Sear Steak: Hold the bone with heatproof gloves and sear the steak directly over the fire for about a minute on each side, including the edges.
    • Monitor Temp: Use a Thermapen ONE to check internal temperatures. Remove the steak once it reaches the second temperature target for desired doneness.
  6. Resting and Serving

    • Add Cowboy Butter: Place a slice of cowboy butter on top of the steak as it rests.
    • Rest: Let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes, allowing the butter to melt and flavours to infuse.
    • Slice and Serve: Cut the steak off the bone, slice against the grain, and sprinkle with bourbon-infused salt before serving.

Equipment

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Note

  • Extra Flavour: For an extra smoky flavour, use bourbon-infused oak wood chunks during the smoking stage.
  • Holding Temperature: You can hold the steak in a low oven if you need to delay serving.
Keywords: Reverse seared steak, tomahawk steak, cowboy butter, bourbon salt, Kamado Joe, BBQ recipes
For the past few days I’ve been glued to the forecast like some obsessed weather nerd . . . 

Low cloud.
Wind.
Rain.
Cancelled. Cancelled. Cancelled.

But today . . . blue skies 😎

Being half term, I grabbed my two youngest and headed straight for the fence line with cautious optimism . . . 

And boom 💥

First display @raf_typhoondisplayteam practice of the season, and it did NOT disappoint.

Huge moment seeing DRAGON01 tear up the Lincolnshire sky 🔥

Flight Lieutenant Tom Nation absolutely sending it.

Some things are just worth the wait.

✈️🇬🇧

#TyphoonDisplayTeam #RAF #DRAGON01 #HalfTermWin
47 today . . . Perfect excuse to chuck a rack of ribs on and get stuck in for a cheeky little birthday treat.

Back in 2024 Ninja flew me out to Nashville for the US launch of the FlexFlame, and it’s only just properly landed here in the UK. So today wasn’t about polished content — it was about getting familiar with it again and making sure everything’s running sweet.

After all . . . I did build it myself 😅

Meaty spare ribs from @thecateringbutcher coated in @harry_js_bbq Smoky Cola rub. Couple of hours in the smoke, wrapped in butter, sugar and honey, then finished off with a sticky glaze.

All while standing out there in the snow of all things ❄️🔥

Disclaimer:  The FlexFlame was sent to me by @ninjakitchenuk and I’ll be creating some official content with it very soon.
🔥 The 2026 UK BBQ Events Calendar is Heating Up! 🔥

The calendar’s been live for a few weeks now – but I’ve just dropped a bunch of cracking new events in there… and let me tell ya, BBQ season is looking like it’s kicking off with a bang in March! 💥🔥

From epic meat-ups to demo days and smoke-filled festivals – there’s already a solid lineup to get your tongs twitching.

🗓️ Free interactive calendar
📱 Subscribe straight to your phone
📍 Find it in The Smoke & Sear HUB
💡 Maps, tickets, details, it’s all there

I’m adding events as fast as they’re announced – or when you lot shout about ’em. So let me know what you’re buzzing for… or tag someone running an event I’ve missed.

👇 Which BBQ event are YOU most hyped for this year?
🔥 Drop it in the comments
♻️ Repost to help this reach more of the BBQ fam
📬 Let’s make this the go-to calendar for UK BBQ in 2026

Let’s grow the scene together. More smoke, more fire, more community. 🔥🇬🇧

👉 [Link in bio]
You’ll have seen @fourge.bbq pop up yesterday.

I wanted to take a moment to explain what that means for me — and for Smoke & Sear.

Smoke & Sear didn’t start as a plan or a brand. It started when I invested in my first smoker and fell headfirst into outdoor cooking. Along the way, I discovered a growing, supportive BBQ community on Instagram — people sharing knowledge, encouraging each other, and genuinely wanting to see the UK BBQ scene grow.

I loved it.

From that point on, Smoke & Sear became my way of giving something back. Sharing what I was learning, being honest about the wins and the mistakes, testing gear, highlighting good people, and doing my small bit to help grow UK BBQ in a positive way.

That’s never changed.

Smoke & Sear is still me. Still community-first. Still about learning, sharing, and supporting where I can.

But being one person, there’s only so much reach you can have on your own.

Being part of @fourge.bbq opens that up.

FOURGE is a separate venture built with three mates — bigger in scope, broader in ambition, and built to do things I simply couldn’t do solo. Cooking at events, building products, creating experiences, and pushing UK BBQ forward in a different way.

What matters most to me is that the values stay the same.
Supporting the community. Sharing knowledge. Bringing people together over fire and food.

Smoke & Sear continues exactly as it is.

FOURGE is the next chapter alongside it.

I’m genuinely excited about what’s coming — and if you’ve ever backed what I’ve been building here, I’d love your support over at @fourge.bbq too.

Let’s see how far we can take this 🔥