FAQ
The questions we get most often. If yours isn't here, email us — we'll write back.
Rub, Spice, or Seasoning?
Rub, spice, or seasoning — what do I even ask for?
Ask for the shaker. The label says Spice Beautiful. The old-timers say Rub Beautiful. "Seasoning" is the polite word you use when your aunt is watching you shake it. Same original rub. One 4.7 oz shaker. If you say "that brown dust," we will not know who you are.
Then what is the hickory one? A different religion?
Same church. Smokier pew. Steak rub, hickory rub, Spice Beautiful Hickory — three names, one 3.7 oz shaker. Put it on a ribeye and try to act humble. The steak will not help you.
Is a seasoning just a rub that went to finishing school?
Seasoning is the verb. Rub is the noun you commit to. A pinch is seasoning. A coat you can see from the driveway is a rub. Spice Beautiful is that coat, in a shaker, and it was built for pork shoulder, chicken, and the weeknights when you cook a little of everything.
Can I put the steak rub on pork? Will the steak sue?
The steak has no lawyer. Spice Beautiful Hickory — the hickory rub, also called the steak rub — likes ribs, chops, brisket, and chicken that has made peace with smoke. If the menu is "whatever is thawed," start with the original shaker.
Do I rub it on, or do I sprinkle it like a fairy?
If you can still see a lot of naked meat, you sprinkled. Rub means you meant it. Both shakers can take it: Spice Beautiful for the all-purpose coat, Spice Beautiful Hickory when you want the bark darker. Do not turn the pork into a snowman. We are feeding people, not insulating an attic.
I can only grab one. Which lie should I tell myself?
Tuesday night, any meat, kids in the kitchen: Spice Beautiful. Saturday steak, or a rack of ribs you plan to brag about: Spice Beautiful Hickory. If "only one" was a lie, get both shakers. The wet half of the cook is Sauce Beautiful Original, which is a bottle, not a shaker, and it will not answer to "rub."
What if I want the sauce and the rub to show up already introduced?
They have met. The Sauce & Spice Duo is the original bottle plus the original shaker. The Sauce & Hickory Duo is the original bottle plus the hickory rub. One box. No debate in the grocery aisle. Every product is shipped directly by Jim's sons.
About the Sauce
What is Sauce Beautiful?
Sauce Beautiful is the original BBQ sauce championship pitmaster Jim Quessenberry created in the early 1980s. It's the same sauce that helped him win the Irish Cup in Fanore in 1985, place top three at the KCBS American Royal, and become a BBQ Hall of Fame semi-finalist. Sauce Beautiful Original comes in a 20 oz bottle and a 160 oz gallon-plus jug. Spice Beautiful, the original rub, is a 4.7 oz shaker. Spice Beautiful Hickory — the hickory rub, also called the steak rub — is a 3.7 oz shaker. Every product is shipped directly by Jim's sons.
What is Spice Beautiful?
Spice Beautiful is Jim's original championship dry rub, in a shaker. Around the pit it's also called Rub Beautiful. Spice Beautiful Hickory is the hickory rub — also called the steak rub — in its own shaker. Same notebook. Goes great on ribs, brisket, pork shoulder, chicken — anything that goes near a smoker.
Are the recipes really original?
Yes. The recipes are Jim's original 1980s competition formulas. Every product is shipped directly by Jim's sons, Lee and Michael.
Orders & Shipping
Where do you ship?
We ship anywhere in the continental United States. International shipping isn't available right now, but we're working on it.
How much is shipping?
Free shipping on orders over $50 (before shipping and tax) when there's no gallon in the order. Under that, single bottles, rubs, duos, Pick 2, Pick 3 and Pick 5 ship for a flat $9.99, and orders with a 160 oz gallon jug ship at the USPS rate shown at checkout plus $0.75 packaging (no free shipping) — the whole package, including any Pick 3, Pick 5 or Ultimate in the same order. Refill Club boxes always include shipping.
Do discount codes work on everything?
Discount codes (like WELCOME10 or HOLIDAY15) work on single bottles and rubs, duos and the 160 oz gallon. They don't apply to the Pick 3, Pick 5, Ultimate Combo or Refill Club terms — those are already priced as low as we go.
Do Refill Club boxes cost extra to ship?
No. Shipping is included on every Refill Club box — the first box ships right away and the rest go out every 3 months to the address on your order, with no shipping charge at checkout or later. That's the value of a regular shipment: stocked up, no surprise fees.
How long will my order take?
Pre-orders opened July 7, 2026. Fulfillment begins Tuesday, July 14. Sauce, rub, and combo packages ship from Arkansas on Tuesdays and Thursdays only — then most U.S. orders arrive in 3–5 business days after they leave our dock.
What if my bottle arrives broken?
We'll replace it. Just email us with your order number and a photo, and we'll get a replacement out the door — no questions asked. See our refund policy for full details.
Can I return sauce or spice for a refund?
No. All Sauce Beautiful and Spice Beautiful orders are final sale — no returns, no refunds. That includes one-time bottles, jugs, rubs, combos with sauce/spice, and prepaid Refill Club terms. Damaged or lost-in-shipping items are replaced. See our refund policy.
How does Refill Club work?
It's a one-time prepaid order, not a recurring charge. Pick Sauce Beautiful Original (20 oz bottle), Spice Beautiful Original, or Spice Beautiful Hickory, then a 3, 6, or 12-month term. You pay once at checkout and we ship one box every 3 months — shipping included on every box. A box holds 6 bottles. 3 months = 1 box at 3% off ($52.32); 6 months = 2 boxes at 6% off ($101.41); 12 months = 4 boxes at 12% off ($189.87). Gallon terms are coming soon. When your term ends, you're never charged again — just order a new term if you want more. Prepaid terms are final sale. First box includes stickers, magnets, and recipe cards. Details at /club/.
What physical rewards do Club members get?
Welcome kit on join (sticker sheets, die-cut magnets, recipe cards). Ongoing: rotating stickers/magnets and recipe cards by tier, seasonal Pit Pack inserts for 12-month members, and member-only limited drops. Recipe cards have QR codes to full methods and member offers. See the Refill Club page.
Can I find Sauce Beautiful in stores?
Yes! We're in 35 stores: Hays, Food Smart, Edwards Food Giant & Cash Saver, Bill's Cash Saver, Harps, and independent grocers across Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel. Check our Where to Buy page for the full list.
Wholesale & Other
Do you offer wholesale pricing?
Yes. We work with restaurants and caterers, grocery stores, distributors, and regional partners who want to sell Sauce Beautiful in their own town. Pricing is on request — visit our Wholesale & Partners page (/wholesale/) and use the inquiry form so your note goes straight to the right person.
Can I tour the operation?
We're a small family business, so tours aren't a regular thing — but if you're nearby and want to chat BBQ, reach out. We've been known to fire up the pit for friends.
Do you cater events?
Yes — Michael Quessenberry handles private events and catering across Northeast Arkansas, often at Jonesboro Elks Lodge #498. Visit our Events & Catering page for a quick cost estimate and inquiry form.
Can you accommodate vegan guests or dietary restrictions?
Yes — tell us in the catering inquiry form. Michael plans vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and allergy accommodations when you flag headcounts upfront. BBQ is our specialty, but sides, sauces, and separate service can be built around your guests. Sauce Beautiful Original is vegan-friendly.
Still have questions?
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