Coca-Cola Brined Fried Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 l (5 cups) Coca-Cola
• 15 g (1 tablespoon) salt
• 10 sprigs fresh thyme
• 4 cloves garlic, sliced
• 20 g (4 teaspoons) Crystal Hot Sauce
• 8 small chicken thighs, preferably free-range (about 113 g / 4 ounces each)
• 18 g (3 teaspoons) salt
• 6 g (2 teaspoons) smoked hot paprika
• 3 g (1 teaspoon) cayenne
• 1 1/2 g (1 1/2 teaspoons) ground dried sage
• 1/2 g (teaspoon) ground dried rosemary
• 3 g (1 teaspoon) onion powder
• 3 g (1 teaspoon) garlic powder
• 272 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
• 15 g (3 teaspoons) baking soda
• 24 g (4 teaspoons) salt
• 6 g (2 teaspoons) freshly ground black pepper
• 7 1/2 g (2 1/2 teaspoons) cayenne
• 4 1/2 g (1 1/2 teaspoons) onion powder
• 4 1/2 g (1 1/2 teaspoons) garlic powder
• 117 g (3/4 cup) water
• 162 g (3/4 cup) peanut oil or vegetable oil
• 1.7 l (8 cups) peanut oil
• 410 g (2 cups) lard