Mustard

Mustard-based BBQ sauce is its own tradition, not a novelty — South Carolina's been building tangy, vinegar-sharp mustard sauces since German settlers brought the style over two centuries ago, and that Carolina Gold character is exactly what a good bottle should taste like: sharp first, sweet underneath, never one-note. It earns its keep on pulled pork and pork ribs above all else — the acidity cuts straight through fat the way tomato-based sauce can't — but it's just as good brushed on chicken thighs or stirred into a potato salad.

Start with The Feedlot's Gold Rush BBQ Mustard Sauce or Butchers Axe's Mustard BBQ Sauce for the classic Carolina Gold profile, or Blues Hog's Honey Mustard Sauce if you want the tang softened right down with real honey.

What sets this shelf apart is the spread of styles on it — genuine Carolina imports sitting next to Melbourne-made versions like Mama Melisse's turmeric-forward Mama Mustard, so you're not stuck with one region's idea of what mustard sauce should be.

Several, including Mama Mustard, are gluten free and vegan too. Sharp, tangy, built to cut through the fat.

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