Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

My mother always made beautiful candy plates to give to friends for Christmas presents. Most of the candy required use of a thermometer and boiling it to a certain temperature, which meant it was highly subject to the humidity of the Lowcountry. One year, about the time Mother got out of school for Christmas break and was about to begin her candy making, rain set in for several days—not just rain, but a veritable monsoon.

This recipe, which is officially named after a famous horse r