Baked Ham With Bourbon And Coke Marinade

Directions and notes:

Emeril's Essence is essentially a basic spice mixture which is used as a rub on different meats. Take all of the ingredients for the Essence listed above and combine in a small mixing bowl and blend well. Store this mixture in an airtight container in the spice cabinet for up to 3 months.

Now, on the the directions for the Baked Ham with Bourbon and Coke Marinade:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. With a sharp knife puncture and score the skin of the ham making parallel 1/2 inch deep incisions. Turn the ham and score again to make a grid-like pattern.
3. In a small bow. combine the salt, essence, black pepper and cayenne pepper and mix well to combine. Rub the spice blend evenly over the entire ham. Place the ham fatty side up on a work surface. Insert 1 clove where the lines intersect on the ham. Place the ham fatty side down in a large, heavy roasting pan (measuring about 19 by 14 inches).
4. Pour 2 cups of Coca-Cola into the bottom of the roasting pan and bake for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and pour 1 cup of Cola over the ham. Return to the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and bast with 1 cup of cola. bake for an additional 30 minutes then bast with 1 cup of cola. After baking 3 hours remove the ham from the oven and carefully turn fatty side up.
5. Return the ham to the oven and bake for 1 hour.
6. While the ham is baking, in a medium saucepan, combine the bourbon and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until reduced by one-third in volume to 2 cups, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
7. Remove the ham from the oven and baste with 1 cup of cola. Return to the oven to bake for 30 minutes. Remove the ham from the oven and baste with the remaining 1 cup of cola. return to the oven and back for 30 minutes. The ham will now have cooked for 5 hours. Bake the ham for an additional 30 minutes, remove from the oven and, using a pastry brush, baste the top and sidew with the bourbon and sugar glaze. Return to the oven and cook for 30 minutes for a total cooking time of 6 to 6 1/2 hours, or when an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees to 165 degrees F.
8. Remove the ham from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes before carving.