At a glance
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see Best with and Glaze vs solo.
| Rub | Heat | Profile | Best with | Glaze vs solo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Best | 1/10 | Sweet · smoky · savory |
Everyday everything
|
Excellent under glazes; also great standing alone |
| Praise the Lard | 2/10 | Sweet · heavy smoke · cinnamon whisper |
Pork bark / long cooks
|
Built for bark; watch sugar on direct high heat |
| Nashville Hot Rub | 5/10 | Savory · cayenne heat · paprika backbone |
Fried chicken system (brine/dredge/oil)
|
Purpose-built for the hot-oil finish, not a general glaze partner |
| Buffalo Wing and a Prayer | 6/10 | Buffalo tang · paprika · citric bite |
Wings / dry buffalo style
|
Stands alone on purpose — no wet sauce needed |
| Blazing Testimony | 7/10 | Layered heat · smoky · lower sugar |
When you want fire without scorching
|
Better for hard sears than the sweeter rubs |
| JB's Chicken Salt | 0/10 | Savory · chicken-y · chip-shop |
Fries, chicken, pork, vegetables
|
Finishing shaker, not a bark rub. Named for JB. |
Icons are “especially good with,” not “only use on.” Most of these play nice with almost anything — the table is a starting point, not scripture.
Flavor notes (from the jars)
Sunday Best
Brown sugar + smoked paprika lead. Chili powder, mustard, white pepper, and cumin in the background. The “reach for it first” jar — including salmon, trout, and weeknight white fish.
Pairs with: beer (lager / amber), bourbon, off-dry white if glazed
Praise the Lard
Turbinado + honey powder for bark, extra smoked paprika, chipotle, cayenne, and a cinnamon whisper. Pork’s best friend on a long cook.
Pairs with: brown ale, bourbon, apple cider
Nashville Hot Rub
Salt-forward, garlic/onion, smoked paprika, black pepper, cayenne. Designed to work three times in one chicken recipe: brine, dredge, finishing oil.
Pairs with: cold lager, sweet tea, pickle-brine energy
Buffalo Wing and a Prayer
Buffalo without the wet sauce. Paprika stack, brown sugar, cayenne, and citric acid for the vinegar tang in dry form.
Pairs with: light lager, wheat beer, ranch-adjacent sides
Blazing Testimony
Sunday Best backbone, then cayenne + chipotle + crushed red pepper. Lower sugar so it survives a hard sear — including a blackened-style fish cook.
Pairs with: hoppy IPA, rye whiskey, something creamy on the side
JB's Chicken Salt
Aussie chip-shop seasoning, named for JB. Chicken powder, garlic, paprika, celery salt. Fries were the first job. Chicken, pork, and vegetables took the rest.
Pairs with: cold lager, a burger, whatever just came off the grill
Drink pairing cheat sheet
Not gospel — just what tends to play nice with the ingredient profiles:
| If the food is… | Try… |
|---|---|
| Sweet-smoky (Sunday Best, Praise the Lard) | Bourbon, amber ale, brown ale, apple cider |
| Nashville hot / cayenne-forward | Cold lager, pilsner, sweet tea, buttermilk-adjacent coolers |
| Buffalo-tangy (Buffalo Wing and a Prayer) | Light lager, wheat beer, crisp white (if you insist on wine) |
| Blazing / layered heat | IPA, rye whiskey, or dairy on the plate to calm the fire |
| Tomato / Italian-leaning sides | Chianti or other medium red; light lager still works |