Carolina Mustard BBQ Rub

Carolina Mustard BBQ Rub is a tangy, mustard-forward barbecue rub styled after classic South Carolina gold. Yellow mustard leads, brown sugar rounds it out, and a touch of hickory smoke sits underneath the whole thing.

This is Spicewalla take on the SC mustard rub, and it is built for pork that needs a little zip in the bark. The mustard brings that signature golden tang, the brown sugar keeps it from turning too sharp, and the smoke gives it backbone so it reads like real barbecue and not just a condiment. Ground in small batches, so the blend stays lively on the shelf. If you grew up on Carolina gold sauce, this rub speaks the same language in dry form.

Rub it on thick and let it set before the cook so the mustard grabs the surface. Low and slow is where it shines, building a tangy, mahogany bark over a pork shoulder or a rack of ribs. Hit it once more late if you want the crust to really lock in.

• Pulled pork and ribs
• Smoked sausage
• Chicken thighs
• Pork chops off the grate