BBQ 101 - Sauces

This is a topic I have been avoiding. It is very personal and can be very divisive as we have seen in NC. The state is split into two camps, Eastern Carolina Sauce and Western Carolina Sauce, and woe be unto you if you choose either or neither when asked. I will be trying to avoid choosing one over the other but just sharing the differences of our great country's sauces with you.

I know we can get into specifics for each region on flavors and profiles, thickness and consistency but I'm going to write using broad strokes to help those who are just starting out or want to find out about the general differences in sauces around the country are. There are many and I like many of them for various reasons. But for this post I will focus on the five main categories.

Review - RockyTop Swine Shine and Carolina Q Rub

Company: Rocky Top BBQ Co. LLC
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
WebSite: http://www.rockytopsmokies.com/
Carolina Swine Shine: $6.25 + Shipping and Handeling
Carolina Q Rub: $7.95 + Shipping and Handling


It's been a while since my last post. Life and work have been busy, but I haven't stopped cooking, tasting and testing. You might recognize the name Rocky Top BBQ Co. from BBQ Pitmasters or the interview I did with them (you can read it here).

Jonathan and his crew have added a few more trophies and catered a few more events and come out with a rub and sauce they use on their divine swine. I have tried both and both are good. Their sauce has become my go to Carolina sauce. It's that good.

Review - Triple Whammy Sauces

Name: Triple Whammy Sauces
Location: Charlotte, NC
Price: $8
Link: http://www.triplewhammysauces.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Triple-Whammy-Sauces
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TriWhammySauce
Instagram: http://instagram.com/triplewhammysauces

At the 2014 Q City BBQ Championship I came across Triple Whammy Sauces selling their sauces. The samples they had were good so I got a bottle of each.

The sauces were created in 2007 by Tyler Fraiser. He started with a honey mustard sauce, then created an all purpose sauce for other foods. Each sauce has a unique flavor and works well on a variety of foods. Each one has a little sweet, a little savory and a little heat giving you the Triple Whammy.

Wine Tasting and BBQ

I love food. I enjoy cooking for myself, for friends and for family. My favorite food is BBQ. In my search for great Q I have had side adventures with grilling, cooking and trying new things. About two years ago my wife and I, along with some friends, did an online wine tasting course. It changed the way I look at foods and drinks.

Review: BBQ & Bowling at 10 Park Lanes

10 Park Lanes

Name: 10 Park Lanes
Location: Charlotte, NC 
Price: $$
Link: rollten.com

BBQ and bowling makes for a fun evening and in Charlotte you can do just that. 10 Park Lanes is a full bowling alley with a restaurant and bar. They are smoking up the Q and serving up wings, burgers, BBQ and fun.

The building has a cool retro 50's feel to it but inside is up to date. There are two bars, an eating area, outside seating and a number of bowling lanes. On a Saturday night it gets busy and loud.

Review: Proud Piggy BBQ Sauce - Sauce shots anyone?

Creator: Southern Staple Foods
Location: Waxhaw, NC
Cost: $3.75 (15oz. Bottle)
Link: Proud Piggy BBQ Sauce

Every year Fort Mill has a Strawberry Festival. This year one of the vendors was Proud Piggy BBQ sauce, and I have to say any pig would be proud to swim in this. I was lucky enough to win a bottle due to an twitter contest Big Wayner was running with them. I'm glad I won it.

Review: Doomer's Q Dark - Chocolate makes everything better

Creator: Doomer's LLC
Location: Parkville, MD
Cost: $14
Link: Doomer's "Q" Sauce


I entered a drawing for Doomer's Q sauce around the Super Bowl and won their three sauce. I reviewed their original one and loved it. The Dark sauce is reminiscent of a molé sauce and works really well with grilled and BBQed meats.

Review: Meyer's Original BarBecue Sauce

Creator: Meyers’ Elgin Sausage

Location: Cuetopia, TX - Home of the Fighting Sausage Heads  

Cost: $4.95 + shipping and handling

Link:  Spicy BarBecue Sauce

Meyer's Elgin Smokehouse makes a variety of rubs, sauces and other delectible delights that I have had the privalige of reviewing. The Original BBQ sauce is no exception. From its sweet and tangy scent to its mouth filling flavor this sauce is a delight.

Review: Doomer's "Q" Sauce Original - Something a little different

Creator: Doomer's LLC
Location: Parkville, MD
Cost: $14
Link: Doomer's "Q" Sauce

Back in January I entered a contest to win a pack of Doomer's "Q" sauce. I was lucky and won. At my house we have our staple sauces that I make so don't buy commercial sauces on a regular basis. Since I have started up this blog I have had a couple sauces come in for reviews but always have a hard time opening a new bottle unless another bottle of sauce is gone. I finally decided it was time to try Doomer's "Q" Sauce Original. I'm glad I did.

Catering for my Cousin

About two months ago my cousin contacted me and asked if I would cook BBQ and baked beans for her wedding. I agreed. She said she would have 100 guests so that's what I planned for. Thankfully there are a couple spread sheets out there that can help calculate how much BBQ will be needed for an event depending on the size of the crowd. I also have the benefit of asking those who cater often, through the BBQ Brethren Forum, about the amount of food needed.

My two biggest worries for the wedding were; 1) not having enough BBQ, 2) not having enough sauce. I had cooked 40 butts for a church fund raiser about two years ago and ran out of sauce.

Review: A Canadian BBQ Sauce?

Creator: Horn Dawgs
Location: Oshawa, Canada
Cost: Only available in select stores in Canada (So make some friends north of the border and have them send you some.)

 A few weeks back I had the pleasure of meet Wifred Reinke of Oshawa Ogre’s Views, News & BBQ’s, also known as @oshawaogre on Twitter. He, Big Wayner and I met for lunch and enjoyed a great meal of BBQ together. After lunch Fred gave me a bottle of Horn Dawgs Sauce to try. I gladly accepted and told him I would review it.

Super Bowl Sunday

Our SUPER Super Bowl Screen

This weekend we had a Super Bowl party and I smoked a bunch of food for it. I had done some St. Louis ribs last month and had saved the trimmed tips so I used those along with some country style ribs. I also did the crowd pleasing MOINK balls, wings and Pigs on the Wing. We had a great time with lots of friends eating, talking, cheering on our teams and making fun of the half time show.

Review: Meyer's Spicy BarBecue Sauce = Spicy, Sweet Love

Creator: Meyers’ Elgin Sausage
Location: Cuetopia, TX - Home of the Fighting Sausage Heads 
Cost: $4.95 + shipping and handling
Link:  Spicy BarBecue Sauce

Meyer's Elgin Smokehouse makes a variety of rubs, sauces and other delectible delights that I have had the privalige of reviewing. I've had the Spicy BarBecue Sauce sitting on my shelf for awhile trying to find just the right thing to try it on.

Truth be told, I'm not a fan of sauces. BBQ meat must stand on its own and the sauce only enhances and brings out the flavor. In my book, if you need sauce the meat isn't seasoned right. Well, I did find something to use the spicy sauce on. In fact two something's; smoked wings and Pigs on the Wing.

Putting the "Q" in the Queen City

Name: Queen City Q
Location: Charlotte, NC
Price: $$ - $6-$14
Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-12am

Queen City Q recently opened in Uptown Charlotte, and there was much rejoicing. At least from me. Anyone who is familiar with Charlotte knows they have been lacking in places for good BBQ. Being located at the center of both Carolina's you would think there are many BBQ joints serving the classic Carolina slow smoked pork. You would be mistaken. There are a few BBQ places but finding one where you want to pay for the q is difficult. Yes the Queen city has been lacking in the "Q" department but that is changing.

Flavor and Spice and Everything Nice

Creator: Meyers’ Elgin Sausage 

Location: Cuetopia, TX - Home of the Fighting Sausage Heads
Cost: $4.95 + shipping and handling
Link:  Texas Hot Pepper & Wing Sauce

I like spicy and I like flavor. There are some hot sauces that are just spicy and that is all they bring to a dish. There are others that just bring flavoring with no spice. Texas Hot sauce is neither of these. It brings flavor and heat.