George's BBQ Sauce

Overview

George's BBQ Sauce produces vinegar-based barbecue sauces in Eastern North Carolina style, using recipes unchanged since 1975. The family-owned company handcrafts three sauces—Original, Hot, and Special—in small batches at its facility in Nashville, NC, and ships over 4,500 bottles daily worldwide. It has gained recognition including fourth place in the Coolest Thing Made in NC contest and praise as the best barbecue sauce in the Carolinas by Rachael Ray.

History

Founded in 1975 by George Stallings in his outdoor garage in Nashville, NC, using a family recipe. George and his brother began hand-cooking, bottling, and selling the sauces after it became a local hit. Ownership later passed to the Hassell family, which continues small-batch production on the family farm. In 2025, the company celebrated 50 years of operation.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Products are manufactured in-house by hand in small batches at the family farm in Nashville, North Carolina. The team personally pours, packages, and ships over 4,500 bottles daily without third-party distributors or outsourcing.

Notable Products

• Original BBQ Sauce - Vinegar-based Eastern NC style sauce using the 1975 recipe, suitable for poultry, pork, beef, and seafood.
• Hot BBQ Sauce - Vinegar-based sauce with double the heat of the Original, maintaining Eastern NC flavors.
• Special BBQ Sauce - Tomato-based sauce inspired by Western NC styles.

Reputation

George's BBQ Sauce is recognized among barbecue enthusiasts for its authentic Eastern NC vinegar-based flavors and commitment to unchanged recipes and handmade production. It has received awards like fourth in the Coolest Thing Made in NC and acclaim from Rachael Ray. Professionals note its quality and small-batch consistency, though its limited product range may restrict broader appeal.