Place onions, butter, and sugar in a medium-sized fry pan on low heat. Stir occasionally. (Tip: If you hear the onions begin to sizzle, turn the heat down.) Cook until soft and translucent in color (approx. 30 minutes).

Meanwhile, place the ground beef, minced garlic, diced jalapeno, egg, and crumbled saltine crackers in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Gently stir ingredients until incorporated. Divide the hamburger mixture into 4 equal-sized portions. Using two hands, gently flatten one portion and then top with 1½ ounces smoked Gouda (about 3-4 small cubes). Carefully shape the mixture into a patty about ¾-1” thick.

Repeat with remaining portions of hamburger mixture. (Tip: One of the keys to a delicious burger is to work the meat as little as possible when making the burgers. The more you handle the meat, the tougher your burger will be.)

Using your thumb, make a small indention in the middle of each burger. This will yield a perfectly-shaped burger as it grills.

Place the burgers on a grill over medium heat. Cook 3-5 minutes per side, depending on your preference. (Tip: Flip the burgers only once, and resist the urge to use your grill spatula as a press!)

Once the burgers are almost done, transfer the onions from the fry pan into a small bowl. Add the whiskey and stir to incorporate.

Build the burgers, topping with BBQ sauce, whiskey onions, and bacon.