OK so not a Sunday but got a batch of new rubs and wanted to try them out. Got some awesome looking baby backs from my butcher and figured I would add these to the post. I also got a couple of small racks of spare ribs and added them to the pile.
First up the Spare Ribs with Tatonka Dirt (donated by Tommo - thanks) and a Carolina Style Rub from Rub some Butt);
Todds Dirt;
Finger - weirdest rub I have come across if only for the colour. Nice gentle flavour with what I assume is onion powder and some garlic (no label to read for this one). It also contains charcoal, hence the colour, and almost no heat so should be an interesting eat once cooked.
Cooked;
Still the weirdest rub after the cook. If anything this one let the meat do the talking a lot more then any hot or sweet element that the other rubs added. To be completely honest I am undecided on whether I like it or not above any of the others but the ribs tasted good.
Rubb Some Butt (Carolina Style)
Finger Test - I like this a lot already. No paprika (so no red colour) , some obvious chilli flakes and a nice bit of heat in the rub. The dehydrated apple cider vinegar adds something really moreish to the rub.
Cooked;
Nice heat to this one with the sharp vinegar aftertaste. I think that it is that lack of paprika that I like here as it just stands out as something different. Obviously lighter colour and I may have needed to leave it to form more of a bark before foiling but I will put that down to the cook more than the rub.
Now for the Baby backs. props to my butcher as these were really good in size and as you can see in the pic below it is hard to tell them apart from the Spares;
Dizzy Pig
I have done this one before so won't go over it but really liked it and had a spare rack.
Cooked;
More heat to this than I remember - but in a good way. Still like this one for the flavour profile it gives.
KC Butt Spice
Finger Test - My least favorite of the rubs that I have bought in to date. An alright Hot/Sweet flavour profile but they have added "natural hickory smoke flavour" which just leaves a bitter/acrid taste in my mouth. I won't discount this as it may all change in the cook but not starting out as well as the others. This was also the finest ground of the rubs.
Cooked;
Lost the acrid/bitter element to the flavour and the heat really came through. Nice colour and OK bark but little to offer beyond the chilli heat.
PlowBoys BBQ - Yardbird Rub
Finger test - You can see from the colour that the paprika is back as it the chilli with a good kick. Those are the two predominant flavours but there is a small amount of sweetness to it. Pretty standard Sweet/Heat profile rub with nothing in the ingredients suggesting otherwise.
Cooked;
Really lovely flavour on this once cooked. The finger test suggested not much more than heat but the sweetness came through as did a savory element. Lighter colour and good bark on the ribs. Slightly sweeter than the Dizzy Pig but one to try again.
Kansas City Cowtown - The Squeal
Finger Test - More sweet than heat here although there is a nice delayed chilli kick. The use of the malted barley flour adds a nice element to the sweet flavour. The is also more of a savory flavour here as compared to the KC or Plowboys.
Cooked;
Really lovely flavour profile here. There is heat but it is subtle and comes after you have tasted the sweet and savory elements. The malted barley flour really gives a beery flavour to the rib and is something that makes me want another. Nice colour, not as dark as some of the others and a much wide variety of flavours over all. Of the baby backs this one wins out, even over Dizzy Pig for me.
by ConorD » 07 Feb 2014, 15:06 
