Barbecue sauce has been used to add flavor to
grilled and smoked meats for as long as 300 years. The history of barbecue sauce isn't clear, but we
know that the mustard-based sauce that's native to South Carolina has been traced back to 17th
century Germany. Barbecue masters have their own special sauce recipe, but depending on where you set up your
smoker in the United States, you'll probably use a different style of sauce. This is because each
region, sometimes even within a state, has its own signature style. Sauces are used in a few
different ways. Some meats and ribs are marinated in sauce and then grilled and basted. Other meats, like
beef brisket and pork butt, are typically cooked with a dry rub and then sauced after they've been sliced or
pulled.
