I keep my smoker at 180 - 200.
I like Oak and or Hickory.
I like to rub my stuff down and let it blend for at least overnight.
Bigger cuts I let blend for up to a couple days to a week.
My barrel can do about 70-90 lbs. at a time.
The upright can do about 50 Lbs.
The Bullet water smoker does about 30 Lbs.
I don't smoke anything but fish and poultry or small stuff for a short time in my bullet.
I have several smokers,each does a specific job.
All I use are stick burners.
I think smoking stuff using other than wood is the SET IT AND FORGET IT type thing.
Might as well use Liquid smoke in a low oven...
Â
Mesquite is,IN My opinion only good for grilling or whatever-grilling stuff.
My rubs , bastes and mops are possitively geared to a Mexican taste.
I use Sweet to supers in my rubs,bastes and mops.
Depends on my needs at the time.
Who is going to eat my stuff.
Â
I LOVE Pastrami !
Especially when cold smoked with oak after a few days sucking up the FEW spices I THINK make GREAT stuff.
I think my Patsrami MIGHT come SEMI close to the Greatest stuff I've ever eaten in New York Deli's.
They use Brisket,that is corned,steamed,then sometimes Hot smoked.
Not smoked HOT often though.
They know their stuff.
Best stuff I like is smoked lightly though.
A couple REALLY good places to get good to great Pastrami is on Route 66,here in So. Ca.
Several Mom and Pop shops doing their thing.
A LOT of Mex. stores and eateries have a Barbacoa (SP?) day that they sell all kinds of slow smoked OR grilled eats THAT ARE Â XLNT!
Even for a Gringo.
Â
I've used Apple,not Peach before.
Â
My opinion probably isn't of much help to you.
Just what I do.