BBQ Sauce - Heinz Carolina

Sauce Profile:
1. Tangy
2. Vinegar and Tomato base
3. Thin (will run on a plate)
4. A Little Spice Kick (just south of a very mild hot sauce)

This sauce is very similar to a sauce that I won 2nd place in the Memphis in May BBQ contest with back in the late 90’s.  It was a profile that my neighbor was taught how to make a BBQ sauce at a training session by the late John Willingham.

Interestingly, I used to take Kraft BBQ sauce, pour vinegar in it to thin it, and then mix in dry spices to get the flavor profile I was looking to achieve.  Don’t have to do that anymore now that I can just go to the store and pull a bottle of this off the shelf.

I use it primarily on chicken fingers, but I believe this would work well with any chicken or pork product.  You really need to be OK with the vinegar taste though.  If you are looking for a thick tomatoey sauce like KC Masterpiece, this is probably not for you.

How do you think it would do on pulled pork or ribs that might go in a comp box?  Too thin?  Better on a pulled pork sandwich?

Looking at the bottle and the picture on foil, I thought, no way this is Carolina sauce, to murky and tomatoie to be that...then what do I see?  Picture of ingredients...pretty sure ingredients in US still have to be list by greatest amount of ingredient 1st...what's 1st & 2nd...distilled white vinegar & apple cider vinager...yeah, that is Eastern North Carolina sauce for sure...

How do you think it would do on pulled pork or ribs that might go in a comp box?  Too thin?  Better on a pulled pork sandwich?

Unfortunately, I do not sauce pulled pork or ribs so I can't give you a good answer.  It has a vinegar bite so if most competitions prefer something more tomatoey then I don't think this would work.  I think it would set up OK on the meat though as it is no water thin sauce.  Probably best to brush on ribs.  I think it would work well on pulled pork sandwich with a vinegar slaw.

Thanks for the review and response.  I look forward to more!

Agreed, thank you for taking the time to share a review with all of us!

Thank you for the review of this. I love Carolina style sauces and am going to look for this at our local stores.

I’ve used this on both pulled pork sandwiches and chicken.  For store bought it is ok.  My wife does not like sweet bbq sauces so thought I would give it a try.  She seems to like it so it works for us.

Have not seen this in any of my local stores, but will look deeper.  Sounds like an interesting sauce I would love to give a try.

I am not a fan of vinegar sauce, particularly never cared for the water like consistency.  At least this look like it will stick.

I was sold on Tangy and a little spice kick..... but again, I am a pretty simple guy to please.

I really like this sauce. My Daughter in law has become addicted to it.
Really great on pulled pork.

Kristin just bought some today, so it will be interesting to see the flavor.

Kristin just bought some today, so it will be interesting to see the flavor.

Curious to hear what the two of you think of the flavor.

Great review, one of the nastiest BBQ sauces I have ever tasted!