Used CS55s are in demand.

First mistake in upgrading to the new AmeriQue. Don't put your CS 50/55 up for sale until you order the new smoker. I put up a FOR SALE sign on the 55 which was sitting on my front porch. In less than twenty-five minutes a friend that had eaten brisket and ribs from our Cookshack drove away with the smoker in his van. Being a friend the price was cut $50.00 from what I was going to sell it for and I threw in an extra grill, a cold smoke kit (never used), cover, wood and he took a brisket from the freezer saying he needed something to learn on. Boy!

The next order of business was to contact Cookshack and order the AmeriQue. Now the advertisement on the Cookshack web site says "Order today and you can be smoking like a pitmaster in just a few days." The order for the AmeriQue was placed on back order and delivery may be in two weeks. I guess you can stretch the meaning of fourteen being a few. I think I was eight in line, but I blame myself for selling the CS55 before unpacking the AmeriQue.

Now back to my friend - he and his wife are leaving for North Carolina tomorrow for six weeks, taking the CS55 with them. Laughing at my absents of a smoker, he said no way he would leave it with me, but did invite me to North Carolina to have a brisket dinner off of his new smoker. Did I do wrong in telling him to use hemlock to smoke his first brisket?

Back to the old ceramic grill to cook for the kids visiting over the holiday - I think we need charcoal and natural charcoal is hard to find at the spur of the moment. I should have kept the 55 for a backup.

Smokemullet