Chat with a KCBS judge at a local comp changed how I think about sauce

An older guy who's been judging for 20 years told me he docks points for any sauce that tastes like it came from a bottle, and now I'm second-guessing my whole mop recipe for this September cook-off in Fredericksburg, has anyone else run into judges with hardline stances like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

viola_cooper621d ago

Yeah, that "tastes like it came from a bottle" thing is a real trap lol. I used to lean heavy on storebought base too until a judge told me the same thing, now I just doctor my mop with fresh citrus and a little local honey to throw off that bottled taste. For Fredericksburg just tweak your recipe so it's clearly homemade and you'll be fine.

derek_burns1d ago

Wait, he's been judging for 20 years and still docks points for a bottled taste? That seems harsh honestly. @viola_cooper62 I've heard the same thing from a few judges at the Lockhart comp last spring, one guy said he could spot a Sweet Baby Ray's base from a mile away and would start subtracting a full point. Ngl I'd probably just swap out the sugar for local honey and throw in some fresh lemon zest, that usually throws off the store-bought profile enough to fool them. What's your mop base looking like right now?