White sauce is a type of barbecue seasoning unique to Alabama. It was created by Bob Gibson, original owner of Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q in Decatur, in 1925. The sauce is a combination of mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt and was initially used only on chicken. In July 2026, Southern Living magazine readers named Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q White Sauce as one of 50 iconic foods on its annual “Southern Food Hall of Fame” list.
Big Bob Gibson's White Sauce
Photograph courtesy of the Birmingham News. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Photograph by Bernard Troncale.
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