It’s hard to find a good BBQ sauce in the grocery store. Most brands are far too thick, hopped up on corn syrup and some strange kind of gelatinous gum. When I was a kid, these sauces were fine, but now, I’d like to think my tastes have matured even if other parts of my personality haven’t. So, if you’re looking for a real BBQ sauce with plenty of flavor and a bit of sophistication, scourer your grocers’ shelves for Slick’s Big Time Sauces. 

There are currently two varieties of the stuff: Sweet & Spicy along with Sweet & Tangy . The Sweet & Tangy variety strikes a brilliant harmony, as the sweeter notes of honey and brown sugar meld nicely with soft, mellow spice. Light in texture, it doesn’t overpower the flavors of meat, so chicken or pork are truly brought to life by the sauce.

For the more adventurous eaters out there, the Sweet and Spicy variety has a bit more pizzazz. Flavors of tomato and sweeter spices blend nicely with the slow, smokey burn that builds in your mouth. Don’t fret, though. It’s not an overpowering kick that will leave you scrambling for your drink. They were moderate with their use of chilies, so they enhance the overall flavor of the sauce rather than overpower .

 In short, this is quality stuff. Those of you that reside in the Northwest corner of America should look for both varieties at all 74 QFC stores as well as various Thriftway and Albertson’s stores. For the rest of you, don’t worry. Both sauces can be ordered on their website myslicksauce.com.

Review by Michael Perkins, Food Writer