Black-Owned Rubs, Sauces, and Spirits to Try at Your Juneteenth Celebration
Up the flavor at your summer soirée with these barbecue basics
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Summer weather and backyard cookouts pair about as well as barbecue sauce and perfectly grilled meat. And for Juneteenth, both euphoric combinations come together for celebrations across the U.S., marking the date—June 19, 1865—many enslaved Blacks in Texas learned they were free.
For more than a century, the occasion also known as Freedom Day has been observed by Black Americans who, with family, remember the day with fun and food—particularly in a red hue to symbolize the bloodshed of enslaved ancestors as well as sacrifice, power, and strength. Seen as an opportunity to uplift culture, Juneteenth gatherings often serve as a time to preserve the tradition of assembling around food and reflecting on the rich legacy of the ancestors.
Ed Mitchell & Sons BBQ
Famed pitmaster Ed Mitchell has brought his love of barbecue to the masses for over three decades. And along with his son Ryan Mitchell, he founded Pitmaster Enterprises and operated the Big Apple Block Party, a barbecue festival in New York City, from 2002 to 2018. But after Ed was diagnosed with diabetes, the business pivoted into making health-conscious condiments that taste good, too.
Photos: Courtesy of Ed Mitchell, Pitmaster Photos: Courtesy of Ed Mitchell, Pitmaster
“We decided we wanted to use our platform in this business to change the narrative around barbecue,” Ryan Mitchell says. Sauces and condiments, in general, are filled with sugars, “and targeted marketing has taken its toll on underprivileged communities,” Mitchell says. “So, we took a stance on recreating our products with no sugar.”
Today, Pitmaster Enterprises, in partnership with True Made Foods, has a line of grilling accompaniments inclusive of regional sauces, rubs, and a cayenne hot sauce that can be paired with your favorite meats. If you’re interested in complementary dishes to go along with your mains, they’ve got you covered as well. The Mitchells released "Ed Mitchell’s Barbeque" cookbook (Ecco, 2023), a celebration of the history and tradition of whole-hog barbecue.
To buy: Pitmaster Carolina Classic Pork BBQ Rub, $25
Try it with: Pork chops, pork shoulder, ribs, pulled pork (the whole hog)
Sip on: Still Moon Moonshine Special Reserve with sweet tea or lemonade (where available) or Brough Brothers Bourbon Whiskey
AubSauce
The AubSauce story began with a request. Aubrey Lenyard, an entrepreneur based in Georgia, was challenged by a friend to create a peach-infused barbecue sauce recipe to pair with a pork loin she planned to cook. After a year of perfecting the taste, and with encouragement from loved ones, Lenyard realized he was on to something.
Photos: Ben Brinker, Jared Serfozo Photos: Ben Brinker, Jared Serfozo
“The positive responses led me to launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise the initial capital to bring AubSauce to market,” Lenyard says. “I raised $10,000—twice my $5,000 goal—and AubSauce was born.”
Now this line of small-batch gourmet barbecue sauces consists of four flavors: Spicy Peach, Fiery Pineapple Mango, Original Barbecue, and the newest, Strawberry Balsamic. Lenyard says that when he started the business in 2018, AubSauce was the only barbecue sauce on the market with a fruit base, outside of traditional marinades. “We are uniquely different in that way,” Lenyard says.
To buy: Spicy Peach Barbecue Sauce, $14
Try it with: Chicken, vegetables, salads (as a dressing), pork
Sip on: Lobos 1707
Sienna Sauce
Teen entrepreneur Tyla-Simone Crayton founded Sienna Sauce in 2017 after attempting to emulate the sauce of a cherished restaurant that had since closed.
“I tried to recreate it, but I ended up coming up with something better,” Crayton tells CR. The foodie, who’s based in Texas, says her sauce is now “redefining the condiments industry” because it’s gluten-free, contains no high-fructose corn syrup, and is low in sodium. “Sienna sauce has simple ingredients—water, honey, and tomatoes—but our versatility is unmatched,” Crayton says. She enjoys putting her sauces on everything from beef ribs to chicken.
To buy: Sweet & Tangy Everything Sauce, $7
Try it with: Chicken, pork, hot dogs, short ribs, seafood, tofu
Sip on: Moor’s Pilsner (where available) or Edelheiss Sparkling White Wine Fine Seket
Uncle Clarence BBQ
Clarence Mitchell (no relation to Ryan and Ed Mitchell) is a newcomer to the grilling condiments scene, but with Uncle Clarence BBQ, a line of sauces and rubs he founded in the fall of 2021, he’s quickly making his mark. After COVID-19 lockdowns forced the former telecommunications professional to reprioritize his commitment to family, Mitchell chose to lean into a passion he and his father have had for years.
Photos: Courtesy of Clarence Mitchell, Uncle Clarence BBQ Photos: Courtesy of Clarence Mitchell, Uncle Clarence BBQ
“People loved our recipes and kept suggesting that we do something with it,” Mitchell says. “And I realized what people loved the most was my father’s barbecue sauce,” which is blueberry-based. Mitchell says it became obvious that they should be selling it.
With a handful of offerings, this small family business, of which Mitchell’s young son is now a 10 percent owner, is building generational wealth—something Mitchell is most excited about.
To buy: Uncle Clarence BBQ Righteous Ribs With a Kick, $9
Try it with: Pork ribs, salmon, chicken, hamburgers, corn on the cob, grilled asparagus
Sip on: Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey
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