BBQ Lingo
Alabama White Sauce
A tangy mayonnaise-and-vinegar sauce invented at Big Bob Gibson's in 1925, served over smoked chicken.
Alabama white sauce is the rare BBQ sauce built on mayonnaise instead of tomato or vinegar. The base is mayo, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, black pepper, horseradish, and a touch of sugar. Big Bob Gibson invented it in Decatur, Alabama in 1925 as a finishing dip for whole smoked chickens — the bird gets dunked in a vat of sauce straight off the pit. The mayo emulsion clings to the skin and the acid cuts the rich smoked fat.
Why it matters
It single-handedly defines North Alabama BBQ identity and is the best sauce ever invented for smoked chicken.