Honey Soy Glazed Turkey

Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey. Save for another use or discard. Rinse the turkey well inside and out.

Combine 6 cups of water with the salt and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the salt. Stir in 2 cups honey, 1 cup tamari, the molasses, orange wedges, sage, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and peppercorns. Add the ice and stir until it melts. Pour the mixture into a pot or bucket large enough to hold the turkey. Place the turkey to the liquid, breast side down, and add enough cold water so that the turkey is fully covered with the mixture, stirring the water in to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 12 hours. Remove the turkey from the brine, discard the brine, and rinse the turkey with cold water. Dry the skin and cavities well, and let the turkey sit at room temperature for 1 hour before roasting.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Rub the butter generously all over the turkey. Sprinkle with pepper. Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan and tie the legs together with kitchen string. You can also tuck the wings under the bird, if desired. 

Roast for 1 hour then cover the turkey with a piece of foil sprayed with cooking spray to keep the turkey from getting too dark. Roast for another 45 minutes then start checking the internal temperature of the turkey with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh. You want the temperature to reach 165 degrees, this will take about 2-2½ hours total. 

While the turkey is roasting, make a glaze by combining the remaining ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup tamari, and balsamic vinegar in a small but deep saucepan. Bring to a boil and continue boiling until it becomes as thick as molasses, about 5 minutes. The glaze needs to be thick or it will not adhere to the turkey.

Once the turkey reaches 165 degrees, remove from the oven and increase the temperature to 450 degrees. Brush the turkey with about ⅓ of the glaze and return to the oven. Cook for 2 minutes, then glaze again with half the remaining glaze. Cook for another 3 minutes. Remove the turkey from the oven, place it on a cutting board or serving platter, give it a final brush with the glaze, tent with foil and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.