Place the nuts in a sealable jar. Pour 6 tablespoons of the Kentucky bourbon in the jar over the nuts. Seal, shake, and allow to soak overnight.
Cream together the butter, sugar, & remaining 1 tablespoon of Kentucky bourbon. Fold it into the bourbon nut mixture. Form into 3/4” balls. If the mixture is too soft to form into balls, refrigerate for a bit and then roll them. Freeze overnight.
Line a tray with waxed paper. Melt the chocolate & vegetable shortening in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Working quickly, roll the frozen balls in the melted chocolate to coat & place on the prepared tray. Store in the refrigerator.
You can garnish with a pecan half to the top of each bourbon ball, right after coating in the chocolate.
