Chef Shares Homemade Barbecue Sauce Recipes

Cooking class to feature DIY sauces and bourbon tasting for Father's Day

Apr. 15, 2026 at 6:07pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a single barbecue sauce bottle or jar repeated in a grid pattern, capturing the creative energy and visual flair of homemade condiments.Homemade barbecue sauces take center stage as a vibrant pop art celebration of DIY cooking and flavor experimentation.Indianapolis Today

Chef Amy demonstrated how to make two homemade barbecue sauce recipes - an Alabama white sauce and a maple bourbon sauce - during a recent cooking demonstration. She encouraged home cooks to make sauces from scratch instead of relying on store-bought versions, which often contain added sugar and processed ingredients. The chef also announced an upcoming 'Barbecue and Bourbon' Father's Day cooking class that will teach participants how to make rubs and barbecue sauces and include a bourbon tasting led by a local expert.

Why it matters

Homemade barbecue sauces allow for more creativity and control over ingredients compared to store-bought options. The upcoming Father's Day class provides an opportunity for people to learn new grilling and sauce-making skills while enjoying a bourbon tasting, making for a unique and memorable experience.

The details

During the cooking demonstration, Chef Amy showcased the Alabama white sauce, which includes mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, horseradish and cayenne pepper, as well as the maple bourbon sauce, featuring caramelized onions, bourbon, chicken base, brown sugar and maple syrup. She provided tips on adjusting heat levels and reducing eye irritation when chopping onions. The chef also distinguished between real maple syrup and table syrup, which often contains high-fructose corn syrup.

  • The cooking demonstration took place on April 15, 2026.
  • The 'Barbecue and Bourbon' Father's Day class is scheduled for June 2026.

The players

Chef Amy

A local chef who demonstrated how to make homemade barbecue sauces and announced an upcoming Father's Day cooking class.

A local bourbon expert

Will lead the bourbon tasting portion of the upcoming 'Barbecue and Bourbon' Father's Day cooking class.

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What they’re saying

“No, I don't actually enjoy much jarred stuff. I want you guys to learn how to make your own.”

— Chef Amy

“If you screw up the brisket and it's super dry, just add the sauce.”

— Chef Amy

What’s next

Gift certificates for the 'Barbecue and Bourbon' Father's Day class are available on Chef Amy's website at acutabovecatering.com.

The takeaway

Homemade barbecue sauces allow home cooks to have more control over ingredients and flavors compared to store-bought options. The upcoming Father's Day class provides an opportunity to learn new grilling and sauce-making skills while enjoying a bourbon tasting, creating a unique and memorable experience.