LILLIE'S Q: Hot Smoky Barbeque Sauce – 380ml

Same Memphis smoke, with the heat turned right up

Lillie's Q Hot Smoky Barbeque Sauce is a spicy Memphis-style BBQ sauce from Chef Charlie McKenna's Chicago barbecue brand, made for ribs, tri-tip and mac and cheese. It opens sweet and smoky like its milder Smoky sibling, then finishes with real, lingering heat — built for people who want flavour first and a decent kick after.

The flavour

Front is tomato sweetness and molasses, the middle brings natural smoke flavour and mustard tang, and it finishes with a building spice heat that hangs around rather than blasting off.

How to cook with it

• Glaze pork ribs or a reverse-seared tri-tip in the last 15–20 minutes of the cook
• Stir through pulled pork for a sweet-heat finish
• Swirl into a skillet of mac and cheese before it goes on the smoker
• Serve as a dipping sauce for anything fried
• Rogue move: mix half-and-half with mayo for a hot smoky burger sauce

In the bottle

Deep reddish-brown and medium-thick — squeezes cleanly and clings well to ribs and tri-tip.

Ingredients & Dietary

Ingredients: Tomato concentrate (water, tomato paste), cane sugar, yellow mustard (distilled vinegar, water, mustard seed, salt, turmeric, paprika, spice, garlic powder), distilled vinegar, molasses, corn starch, salt, apple juice concentrate, natural smoke flavor, spices, caramel color, onion, garlic, paprika, lime juice concentrate, tamarind paste and natural flavors.

Dietary: Vegan and all natural per the Australian distributor; made with gluten-free ingredients but not gluten-free certified. Lillie's Q lists it as non-GMO, dairy free, nut free and free of high-fructose corn syrup. Contains mustard. Allergens — always check the physical label.

Questions answered

How hot is Lillie's Q Hot Smoky Barbeque Sauce? Lillie's Q describes it as sweet up front with plenty of heat at the finish. We rate it 6 out of 11 on our Sting Gauge — a real, lingering kick.

What should I use it on? Ribs, tri-tip and pulled pork are the classics, and it's great swirled through mac and cheese.

Is it gluten free? It's made with gluten-free ingredients, but it isn't gluten-free certified. It's also vegan, dairy free and nut free.

What's the difference between Smoky and Hot Smoky? They share the same sweet Memphis-style smoky base; Hot Smoky adds a building heat on the finish.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Sweet and smoky up front, then the heat turns up and hangs around for a yarn — Memphis with a backbone. Season a tri-tip with Heavenly Hell Grilled, Smoked and Lovely, reverse-sear it, and glaze with this in the last few minutes. Pile Acide Pickled Jalapeño Onions on top if you're game. Easily one of the livelier bottles in the stash.