The Best Carolina Reaper BBQ Sauces in Texas

Texas BBQ is a serious business, and so is the sauce that goes with it. While traditional flavors will always have their place at the cookout, there's a growing appetite for something with a bit more of a kick. Enter the Carolina Reaper, once crowned the hottest pepper in the world, which is making its fiery debut in BBQ sauces across the Lone Star State.

For those who crave intense heat without sacrificing flavor, finding the right balance can be a challenge. That's where Texas-based Mikey V's Foods comes in. Known for our award-winning hot sauces, BBQ sauces, and spicy foods, we've crafted some of the most highly recommended Carolina Reaper BBQ sauces that are sure to impress even the most seasoned chiliheads.

In this post, we'll take a closer look at two of their standout creations: Burnt Ends - Reverse Sear and Burnt Ends - Reaper Gold. We'll break down their flavor profiles, heat levels, and what makes them the best Carolina Reaper BBQ sauces in Texas.

Key Takeaways

Texas is seeing a rise in popularity for extra-spicy BBQ sauces, particularly those featuring the Carolina Reaper pepper.

Mikey V's Foods is a Texas-based, award-winning company known for its high-quality, all-natural spicy products.

We will review two of their Carolina Reaper BBQ sauces: Burnt Ends - Reverse Sear (a bold, smoky Texas-style sauce) and Burnt Ends - Reaper Gold (a tangy, mustard-based Carolina-style sauce).

Both sauces offer a unique combination of intense heat and complex flavor, catering to different tastes and culinary uses.

About Mikey V's Foods

Before we dive into the sauces, let's first talk about Mikey V's.

Mikey V's Foods has built a reputation in Texas and beyond for crafting exceptional spicy products. Our commitment to using fresh, all-natural ingredients is evident in every bottle.

With hundreds of awards under our belt, including multiple Scovie Awards, Mikey V's has proven that heat and flavor can, and should, go hand-in-hand. Our extensive product range includes everything from hot sauces and salsas to seasonings and, of course, some of the best Carolina Reaper BBQ sauces you can find.

Now, let's talk about the highly recommended and best Carolina Reaper BBQ sauces in the state of Texas!

Burnt Ends - Reverse Sear Review

First up is the Burnt Ends - Reverse Sear, a Texas-style BBQ sauce that promises a bold and unforgettable experience.

The name itself, "Reverse Sear," suggests a process that builds flavor slowly before hitting you with an intense finish, and this sauce delivers exactly that.

Flavor Profile

This sauce is an "in-your-face version" of a traditional BBQ sauce. It starts with a familiar ketchup base, sweetened with brown sugar and balanced by the tang of apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.

What sets it apart is the deep, smoky flavor that immediately evokes a classic Texas smokehouse. The addition of Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and garlic powder creates a savory foundation that is both complex and deeply satisfying.

Heat Level: Hot

The heat in Reverse Sear is a one-two punch. It gets its initial kick from 7-Pot Primo peppers, another heavy-hitter in the super-hot chili world. This is followed by the lingering, intense burn of the Carolina Reaper powder.

The heat is potent and builds steadily, but it's masterfully blended so as not to overwhelm the sauce's smoky and savory notes. It’s a slow burn that complements the rich flavor, making it a highly recommended Carolina Reaper BBQ sauce for those who want serious heat with their smoke.

Unique Ingredients and Pairings

The combination of 7-Pot Primo and Carolina Reaper peppers is what makes this sauce truly unique. It creates a layered heat experience that is both immediate and long-lasting.

Ingredients: Ketchup, Water, Apple Cider Vinegar, Brown Sugar, Worcestershire Sauce, Lemon Juice, 7-Pot Primo Peppers, Natural Smoke Flavoring, Carolina Reaper Pepper Powder, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, Mustard Powder.

This sauce is incredibly versatile. It's the perfect finishing touch for beef brisket, pulled pork, and ribs.

One user, Kevin, raves, "I use it on my tri-tip burnt ends. The flavor combined with the heat is a perfect combination."

It also works great as a marinade or even as a dipping sauce for fries if you're feeling brave.

Burnt Ends - Reaper Gold Review

Next, we have the Burnt Ends - Reaper Gold, Mikey V's take on a classic South Carolina mustard-based BBQ sauce.

This "liquid gold" offers a completely different flavor experience, pairing the tang of mustard with the formidable heat of the Carolina Reaper

.

Flavor Profile

As a Carolina-style sauce, the primary ingredient is mustard, which provides a tangy and sharp base. This is sweetened with honey and brown sugar, creating a beautiful balance of sweet and sour.

Ketchup adds a touch of classic BBQ flavor, while apple cider vinegar enhances the tang. The result is a vibrant, zesty sauce that is both bold and refreshing.

Heat Level: Hot

Just like its Texas-style counterpart, Reaper Gold brings the heat. The Carolina Reaper is native to South Carolina, so pairing it with a mustard-based sauce is a natural fit. The pepper powder is blended into the sauce, providing a consistent and powerful heat that complements the mustard's tang perfectly.

It's a sharp, immediate heat that lingers pleasantly without overpowering the other flavors.

Unique Ingredients and Pairings

The use of a mustard base is what distinguishes this sauce. It’s a flavor profile that’s especially popular in the Carolinas but is gaining fans everywhere.

Ingredients: Mustard, Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey, Brown Sugar, Ketchup, Carolina Reaper Pepper Powder, Worcestershire Sauce, Natural Smoke Flavorings, Granulated Garlic, White Pepper, Ground Cloves.

Reaper Gold is exceptionally well-suited for pork and chicken. Its tangy profile cuts through the richness of pulled pork and adds a zesty kick to grilled chicken. Mikey V's also suggests trying it on corn dogs or chili dogs—anywhere you'd typically use mustard.

As a review from Brian states: "Mustard base + heat = match made in heaven".

Comparison: Reverse Sear vs. Reaper Gold

So, how do you choose between these two fiery contenders? The decision comes down to your personal flavor preference and what you're cooking.

Feature	Burnt Ends - Reverse Sear	Burnt Ends - Reaper Gold
Base	Tomato (Texas-Style)	Mustard (Carolina-Style)
Flavor	Smoky, savory, and rich	Tangy, sweet, and zesty
Pepper Blend	7-Pot Primo & Carolina Reaper	Carolina Reaper
Heat Profile	Builds slowly, long-lasting burn	Sharp, immediate kick
Best For	Beef brisket, ribs, red meat	Pork, chicken, sandwiches

If you love the deep, smoky flavor of a traditional Texas BBQ sauce but want an extreme heat level, Reverse Sear is your go-to. It's perfect for heartier meats and for those who appreciate a slow, creeping burn.

If you prefer a tangier, more unique flavor profile, Reaper Gold is the one for you. Its mustard base offers a zesty alternative to typical BBQ sauces, and its immediate heat is perfect for cutting through rich pork or chicken.

How to Purchase

Ready to take your BBQ game to the next level? Both of these highly recommended Carolina Reaper BBQ sauces, along with Mikey V's full range of award-winning products, are available directly from their website.

Head over to our BBQ sauces category on our website to place your order and discover your new favorite spicy sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a Carolina Reaper?

A: The Carolina Reaper was for a long time recognized as the hottest chili pepper in the world by Guinness World Records. It was developed in South Carolina and is known for its intense, scorching heat.

Q: Are these sauces too hot for the average person?

A: Both sauces are rated as "Hot" and are designed for experienced chiliheads. If you are not accustomed to super-hot peppers, you may want to start with a milder sauce and work your way up. There are many other types of BBQ sauces that still have heat, but on a milder level.

Find Your Perfect Burn

Whether you're a fan of smoky Texas-style BBQ or tangy Carolina gold, Mikey V's Foods has a Carolina Reaper BBQ sauce for you. Burnt Ends - Reverse Sear and Burnt Ends - Reaper Gold are both exceptional sauces that showcase how extreme heat and incredible flavor can coexist. They stand out as two of the best Carolina Reaper BBQ sauces in Texas, offering quality and complexity that will elevate any meal.

Don't just take our word for it. Try them for yourself and experience the fiery, flavorful world of Mikey V's Foods.