BBQ and Waterloo Sparking Water are a full-flavor match-up like no other! And who’d know better how to craft a finger-licking BBQ sauce than one of our very own Flavor Development team members who also happens to be a big “BBQ Enthusiast.”
Just like his day job developing flavors for the best sparkling water brand on the planet, this guy goes all in on BBQ, traveling all across Texas with his 20-foot trailer hauling his “pit,” and regularly places top-five in BBQ competitions. So, with summer weekends heating up, we are sharing his go-to BBQ sauce to help you up your grilling game.
SmoKin’ T‘s BBQ Sauce
- 3 cups fancy ketchup
- ½ cup yellow mustard
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 teaspoon coarse black pepper
Just Two Steps
1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a pot and simmer on low for about 30 minutes. Color will darken slightly. Stir regularly to prevent burning.
2. Add water to get to the consistency you want/need. Leave thick for dipping and thin it out to sop on chicken or ribs on the grill.
SmoKin’ T‘s BBQ Sauce is perfect as a sop to flavor up and shine up smoked meats. You’ll want to glaze your meat during the last hour in the smoker – and let it really get sticky/tacky and caramelize. It’s also great as a glaze for grilling or as a dipping sauce. He perfected this sauce over the eight years he has been competing at BBQ. Rumor has it that he and his team have won several first-place medals for chicken, ribs and brisket in competitions with 40-100 other BBQ teams.
In competitions and at home, this BBQ sauce works best on chicken and pork – across all preparations and cuts. It adds an extra kick and extra color to the outside of the protein and carries smoked flavor well. Also, in the multi-sensorial way that we think about our sparkling waters, he loves the visual effects of its caramelization – making for “very aesthetically pleasing” meats, too. Super combo on taste, aroma and appearance!
Go-to Match-ups With ‘Loo
Our favorite BBQ Enthusiast also has go-to match-ups with his favorite Waterloo flavors. BBQ pairs oh so well with our full-out flavor and crisp carbonation. If you need inspiration, give these combos a try:
• Pulled Pork Sliders + Waterloo Peach and Raspberry Nectarine
• Grilled Chicken + Waterloo Blackberry Lemonade and Ruby Red Tangerine
• Smoked Brisket + Waterloo Black Cherry
Happy BBQ’ing! And, be sure to have plenty of chilled Waterloo favorites on hand for summer weekends – whatever you’re cooking.
