Slow Smoke Gold BBQ Sauce Comes Home With Big Award

House of Q has done it again! We are incredibly thrilled to announce that our fan-favourite Slow Smoke Gold BBQ Sauce has been awarded Second Place in the highly competitive Mustard Category at the prestigious 2026 Artisan Flave Awards!

It is always remarkable for a Canadian product company based in Vernon, BC, to receive top-tier recognition from international industry experts, and this latest win gets all of us at House of Q really excited.

About the 2026 Artisan Flave Awards

The competition, organized by the International Flavor Awards, LLC out of Baraboo, WI, recently concluded its latest event. It is an intense global arena where over 320 products from 12 different countries vied for top honours across 41 distinct categories.

The Flave Awards are designed to provide small- to medium-sized businesses with a level playing field and a platform to stand on, allowing them to be judged against similarly sized food companies from around the world. To ensure complete fairness, the organization implements a strict, impartial blind-judging process. Entries are evaluated by a diverse panel of food professionals, including restaurateurs, purveyors, manufacturers, and active members of the food-centric community. Standing out in this field is a true testament to craftsmanship and flavour!

A Tradition of Consistency

One of the primary tenets of any competitive sport is to be consistent.  A truly great sauce shouldn’t just taste good once; it should win over judges year after year, across different panels and prestigious competitions.

Our Slow Smoke Gold BBQ Sauce has proven it is a consistent winner for nearly two decades. This new 2026 second-place finish is added to the list of major awards, proving that professional blind judges over the years continue to agree that this sauce has an outstanding and consistently desirable flavour.

• American Royal World Series of BBQ (Kansas City, MO) – Mustard Category: 2012 Second Place & 2013 Second Place
• National BBQ Association (NBBQA) – Awards of Excellence: 2019 Third Place & 2020 Eighth Place
• National BBQ Festival (Douglas, GA): 2008 Fifth Place & 2009 Eighth Place

Incredible Diversity of Use

What makes Slow Smoke Gold so special to both blind sauce judges and backyard grillers alike? It’s the sheer versatility and unique flavour profile built into every single jar.

• The Ultimate Competition Slather: Slow Smoke Gold was originally created to be House of Q’s competition slather. It serves as the indispensable coating of flavour applied directly to raw meat before our House Rub or Competition Rib Rub is shaken on, locking in moisture and helping to build a beautiful bark. (See Pitmaster Secrets to Crafting Exceptional BBQ Flavour for details on how to craft BBQ flavour.)
• Zingy & Tangy Flavour Profile: This gold-coloured, mustard-based sauce starts with a bright, tangy zip from mustard and vinegar, perfectly balanced by sweet brown sugar, and finishes with a subtle, warm hint of heat from pepper and cayenne notes.
• Endless Everyday Uses: While it is fabulous as a traditional dipping sauce or an everyday spread for sandwiches and hamburgers, its applications go far beyond standard BBQ. It makes a spectacular glaze for baked salmon or smoked pork ribs, and it is absolutely outstanding when mixed into vegetable dips, homemade potato salads, or deviled eggs.

A Note From BBQ Brian

With another massive international award to add to the trophy mantle, head pitmaster and sauce creator BBQ Brian Misko couldn’t keep a smile off his face.

“It is really easy to wear a big smile when you get recognition from industry people and food professionals who are from another area of the world and recognize the flavours you have crafted,” says BBQ Brian. “I am in awe that after all these years, Slow Smoke Gold still gets top honours at major competitions. I know it’s super-delicious, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that international judges still agree with me!”

Try It Yourself!

Are you ready to elevate your next cookout with an internationally acclaimed, award-winning mustard sauce? Slow Smoke Gold is a fan favourite for a reason. Head over to our online store to grab a bottle (or a gallon in bulk for the serious cooks!), or use our store locator to find a retailer near you.

To see the full list of winners from the 2026 Artisan Flave Awards, you can visit their website at www.TheFlaveAwards.com.

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