This BBQ Sauce Blew Us Away in a Taste Test

Posted by

on September 1, 2011 at 4:36 PM

bbq sauce taste test Labor Day may signal the inevitable end of summer, but we've still got a few good months of grilling and cookouts left to go. We're here to make sure you don't waste them by slathering bad BBQ sauce on perfectly good meat. That's why we embarked on a blind taste test of eight different supermarket BBQ sauces to see which one is the most flavorful and deserving of your ribs, chicken, and pork. As it turns out, there was one sauce in particular that completely blew all the other competitors away.

Any idea which one it could be?

Before we reveal the winner, here's the list of sauces we sampled on grilled chicken (in random order):

Bull's-Eye Original BBQ
Hunt's Original BBQ
Jack Daniel's Original BBQ
KC Masterpiece Original
Kraft Original BBQ
Open Pit Original BBQ
Stubb's Original BBQ
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ

Typically in our office taste tests, more than one brand comes out at the top; but in the BBQ sauce taste test, nearly everyone agreed on a clear winner.

And, now, here's what you've been waiting for ... the favorite, hands-down, in our BBQ sauce blind taste test was: Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ. Our tasters used the following phrases to describe it: "Sweet and spicy, "Great intense flavor," "Enjoyable smokiness, "I would totally use this as my everyday choice," "Great balance of smoke, sweetness, and spice," "Familiar and delicious," and "Has a good kick."

If for some reason, you can't find Sweet Baby Ray's, we should mention that Kraft Original BBQ was a (distant) second. Tasters described this one as: "Perfect mix of smoky, sweet, and sour," "Good tangy balance," "So good!" and "Tastes expensive!" In other words, we really liked this one, too -- just not as much as our No. 1 fave.

Which BBQ sauce are you cooking with this weekend?

Image via Emily Abbate

Filed Under: barbecue, food, grilling, holidays

Comments (49)

cocobeannns

on Sep 1, 2011 at 4:41 PM

We have used Sweet Baby Ray's this summer too, and it was very good. I'm from KC so, obviously I use KC Masterpiece alot! I like the HIckory Brown Sugar (I use it in baked beans too).

Report this comment

Melissa042807

on Sep 1, 2011 at 4:46 PM

We looooove Sweet Baby Ray's! :-) Have used it for years.

dirtiekittie

on Sep 1, 2011 at 4:49 PM

the best sauce doesn't come at the store - but hands down for me it's the sauce at Green Mesquite in Austin, TX. you can buy their sauce by the bottles and it is SOOOOOOOOO good. and yes, it warrants that many O's!!! lol i have family there and i ask them to send me a bottle whenever they can... speaking of, i think i have a phone call to make now... LOL

mommythree0508

on Sep 1, 2011 at 5:08 PM

Sweet baby rays is really good.

Nonmember comment from Tonya

on Sep 1, 2011 at 5:36 PM

Sweet Baby Ray's is good but they put preservatives in it! We use the Kraft original because there are no preservatives, and add diced peppers, onion and garlic - it takes alot more like baby rays after that :)

banana-bear

on Sep 1, 2011 at 6:01 PM

I use Stubbs since they use REAL ingredients and taste phenomenal. Check your labels ladies; you're guzzling down high fructose corn syrup. Yum!

PonyChaser

on Sep 1, 2011 at 6:20 PM

I'm a fan of Bulls-eye for the smokey flavor, although I'm going to have to quit it (sniff) for exactly the reason that Banana-Bear gave. High Fructose Corn Syrup. We'll finish what we have, and while it's here, we'll be doing our best to duplicate it.... we like making our own, too.