Cox Rub — World Champion BBQ Rub (Medium Heat)

In 1991, Uncle Dave Cox of Jonesboro, Arkansas drove down to Memphis with a homemade rub and won the World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest at Memphis in May. No secret ingredient. No mystery powder. Just proper proportions of standard kitchen spices. He passed in 2008. We put his recipe in a bottle so more people could taste what he made.

This is that rub. Same proportions. Same balance. Sweet, savory, and a clean medium heat that builds without burning anyone out of the room.

What it does

• Sweet up front. The brown sugar caramelizes into bark.
• Savory through the middle. Sea salt, garlic, onion, and the umami MSG brings.
• Medium heat on the finish. Enough to know it's there. Grandma can still eat it.

How to use it

1. Sprinkle liberally on your meat. Don't be shy. Coat all sides.
2. Let it sit 20 minutes or so, until the surface looks wet.
3. Apply heat. Smoker, grill, oven, cast iron. You know what to do.

Or mix 2 tablespoons into 16 oz of sour cream and call it chip dip. (See Recipes for more ideas.)

Best on

• Pork (shoulder, ribs, chops)
• Chicken (whole birds, wings, thighs)
• Beef (brisket, tri-tip, burgers)
• Anything you'd put in a smoker
• Sour cream, for a dangerously good chip dip

What's in it

Ingredients: Brown sugar, monosodium glutamate, sea salt, spice and coloring, chili powder (chili pepper, spices, salt, dehydrated garlic), spices, dehydrated garlic, and dehydrated onion.

About the MSG

Yes, proudly contains MSG. Says so right on the label. MSG is the sodium salt of glutamate, the same thing that makes tomatoes, parmesan, and mushrooms taste so good. The "MSG is bad for you" scare was debunked decades ago. We're not hiding it.

Specs

• Heat level: Medium
• Net weight: 9 oz / 259 g
• Contains MSG: Yes
• Made in: Texas, USA
• Manufactured for: Cox BBQ, LLC, Dallas, Texas

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place. Keep the lid on tight. If you're using it right, it won't last long anyway.

Why it matters

Uncle Dave fed people. That was the thing about him. You showed up at his house, you left full and you left laughing. He won Memphis in May because he was a great cook, but the trophy wasn't really the point. The point was that anybody who sat at his table got to taste what he made.

That's what we're doing here. Same recipe. Same proportions. Same Uncle Dave.

Perfected in Arkansas. Made in Texas.