Summer is just around the corner, and there’s nothing better than hanging out with family and friends to enjoy a backyard barbecue. When it comes to barbecues, I think the meat is only as good as the sauce you slather on it, which is why I make sure to pick out the best barbecue sauces. We’ve come a long way since the beginning of barbecue. What started out as nothing more than a savory pool of butter and vinegar has now become an entire library of barbecue sauce flavors – from mustard, vinegar and even tropical flavors, all the way to the classic smoky flavor that’s so popular today. With so many options, it’s hard to decide which one will complement your summer barbecue best. Here are some of my top choices of barbecue sauces to really make your party sizzle!   D.B. Yummers Barbecue Sauce Sometimes the classics are all you need to make a barbecue great, and D.B. Yummers will deliver on that promise. The Original Sweet & Smokey BBQ Sauce is indeed smoky and sweet for that authentic summer taste, while the Mildly Spicey BBQ Sauce tones the sweetness down to add a bit more kick. If you want to feel like you’re on vacation, then try their Island BBQ Sauce. With real bits of pineapple and pineapple juice, it’s sure sweep you off your feet and into a beach chair.   Dinosaur Bar-B-Que   Dinosaur Bar-B-Que sure knows how to put a spin on old classics. The Roasted Honey Garlic has a pleasant mix of sweetness and zest to give the mild lovers out there a taste of that iconic “kick.” The Garlic Chipotle Pepper sauce will feel like a sucker punch at first, but smooths out into a mouthwatering taste. For those interested in a bold flavor, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que offers its Devil’s Duel sauce. This sauce offers a roller coaster of spicy flavors and is intense, so it is not for the faint of heart.   Stonewall Kitchen’s Grille Sauces Stonewall Kitchen has gone all out with its unique line of grille sauces. One of my favorites is the Boozy Bacon Barbecue Sauce because it’s a hickory smoked sauce will real bits of bacon, onion, spices and a few splashes of bourbon. Or try the Roasted Apple Grille Sauce, made with New England apples and maple syrup, it gives any meat a sweet, mellow flavor.   Sauces of Summer The name says it all. Whatever the occasion, the Sauces of Summer will make any gathering great. The Organic Sriracha & Roasted Garlic BBQ Sauce and the Organic Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce and Marinade are two tomato-based sauces that both offer spice, as well as a smooth molasses undertone. The Sriracha is more for those who want a bit more spice with the added peppers and spices, while the Brown Sugar offers a sweeter side to spice with the additional flavor of an orange peel. Both will make your cookout great, some why not give them a try?   Brooks House of BBQ No barbecue is complete without chicken wings, and Brooks House of BBQ has a variety of wing sauces, including mild, medium and hot. For those who are looking for just the right amount of hotness, you must try Brooks’ Oneonta Hot Sauce. It mixes the smoky backyard taste of barbecue sauce with the spicy flavors of hot sauce into one amazing sauce – truly the best of both worlds.   With so many sauces to choose from, you may need to hold more barbecues than you planned, but there’s no better way to bring everyone together than a barbecue. So, strap on your aprons and fire up that grill – you’ve got some work to do.   Happy Grilling! BOB