Smoky BBQ rubs and sauces bring the flavour of a long smoke, from hickory and smoked tea to chipotle and smoked paprika. This shelf runs from Cool As BBQ sauces to hot chilli sauces, with makers like Sinsque, Coast n Smoke, Fancy Hanks, Blues Hog and Uncle Mungos. Flat $10 shipping Australia-wide.
Which smoky rub or sauce should I buy?
| Product | Maker | Style / heat | Best on |
| Black Mamba Charcoal Rub | Sinsque | Charcoal and black pepper / mild (1/11) | Brisket, beef ribs, steak |
| T-Rub Umami Seasoning | Coast n Smoke | Smoked tea and shiitake / Cool As (0/11) | Brisket, game, poultry |
| Black Angus Rub | The Feedlot | Pepper and Urfa Biber / mild (1/11) | Brisket, short ribs, burgers |
| Meltdown Bourbon Cowboy Dry Glaze | Meat Mitch | Smoky-sweet bourbon / mild (1/11) | Steak, chicken, fish |
| BBQ Sauce Coffee & Molasses | Fancy Hanks | Dark coffee sauce / Cool As (0/11) | Brisket, short ribs, steak |
| Smokey Mountain BBQ Sauce | Blues Hog | Hickory BBQ sauce / Cool As (0/11) | Ribs, brisket, pulled pork |
| Smoky Barbeque Sauce | Lillie's Q | Memphis-style sauce / Cool As (0/11) | Pork ribs, pulled pork, burgers |
| Big GCs Smoked Apple BBQ Sauce | Heavenly Hell | Apple-wood smoked apple / Cool As (0/11) | Ribs, pulled pork, chicken |
| Smoky Gochujang | ChamCham | Hickory Korean chilli / medium (5/11) | Chicken, pork, seafood |
| Chipotle Paste | Gran Luchito | Mexican chipotle paste / medium (6/11) | Steak, pulled pork, tacos |
| Chipotle Salt | Smokes Seasoning | Smoky chipotle salt / hot (7/11) | Steak, wings, tacos |
| Bhut Jolokia BBQ | Uncle Mungos | Ghost chilli BBQ sauce / hot (8/11) | Steak, ribs, chicken |
How to use smoky rubs and sauces
- Smoky rubs go on before the cook. Bark-builders like Black Mamba and T-Rub suit a long, low smoke on brisket and beef ribs.
- On a gas grill or in the oven, a smoky rub or sauce gives you smoke flavour without a smoker.
- Smoky BBQ sauces are for the finish. Brush them on in the last 15 to 20 minutes so the sugar sets instead of burning.
- Chipotle salt and chipotle paste are strong. Start with a little and taste as you go.
- Every product page shows its Hub Heat rating out of 11.
Smoky vs spicy: what's the difference?
Smoky is a flavour, not a heat level. Blues Hog Smokey Mountain and Fancy Hanks Coffee & Molasses are Cool As (0/11), all smoke and no chilli. Chipotle is a smoke-dried jalapeño, so chipotle products bring smoke and heat together. If you want smoke without the burn, check the Hub Heat number before you buy.
Can a smoky rub replace a smoker?
Not quite. A real smoke builds a smoke ring and bark over hours. A smoky rub or sauce adds that flavour on a grill, in the oven or in an air fryer, and adds another layer on top of real smoke. For real wood smoke, see our BBQ woods; for a few drops in a sauce or marinade, try liquid smoke.
For sweeter smoke, see sweet & smoky, and for bark-building beef rubs head to brisket. Every BBQ sauce we stock is a click away, and Sinsque and Coast n Smoke are good brand pages to start with.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy smoky BBQ rubs and sauces in Australia?
The Rub Hub stocks smoky rubs, BBQ sauces, chipotle salts and pastes from makers like Sinsque, Coast n Smoke, Fancy Hanks and Blues Hog. We ship Australia-wide for a flat $10.
Are smoky BBQ sauces spicy?
Not always. Smoky is a flavour, not a heat level. Blues Hog Smokey Mountain and Lillie's Q Smoky Barbeque Sauce have no chilli heat, while chipotle and ghost chilli sauces can be hot.
What is chipotle?
Chipotle is a smoke-dried jalapeño chilli. It gives sauces, salts and pastes a smoky flavour with some heat, so check the Hub Heat rating before you buy.
Can I get smoky flavour without a smoker?
Yes. A smoky rub, smoked salt or smoky BBQ sauce adds smoke flavour to food cooked on a gas grill, in the oven or in an air fryer.
What smoky rub suits brisket?
A pepper-forward bark-builder works well on brisket. Sinsque Black Mamba Charcoal Rub, Coast n Smoke T-Rub and The Feedlot Black Angus are smoky, low-heat options for a long cook.