Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Original BBQ Sauce

Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Original BBQ Sauce earned the highest praise in The Kitchn's 2024 comprehensive taste test, where reviewers described it as the "platonic ideal of BBQ sauce" and the closest a grocery-store bottle has come to what they actually want from the category. That endorsement reflects what is genuinely notable about this sauce: it is sweet-tangy-smoky in the Tennessee tradition, but with real Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey and an ingredient list that includes pineapple juice and tamarind paste — two additions that bring brightness and sourness rarely found in mainstream BBQ sauces. The flavor is approachable but layered. Cane sugar and molasses provide the sweetness foundation without HFCS, while the whiskey adds a subtle oak and caramel undertone that emerges particularly on the finish. The pineapple contributes a tropical brightness that cuts the richness of fatty meats, and the tamarind paste delivers a mild fruity tartness that knits the whole profile together. At approximately 60 calories and 13 grams of sugar per serving, it sits in the mid-range on both counts. The 19.5-ounce bottle is gluten-free and preservative-free. Availability is strong — Jack Daniel's branded products have nationwide grocery distribution through their licensed sauce producer — making this one of the easiest premium sauces to find at a standard supermarket. Best uses include glazing chicken breasts and thighs, basting pork tenderloin, finishing a brisket, and dipping at the table. It holds up well as a dipping sauce served warm or cold without the cloying quality that pure-sugar sauces can develop. For the griller who wants a step above the everyday sweet baseline without venturing into specialty stores, Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 is the natural upgrade.