Joshua Taylor’s Big Daddy’s BBQ Sauce conquers Kroger shelves
Photo by Isabelle Velez
What started as a backyard experiment — part competition hobby, part self-taught obsession — has turned into one of Owensboro’s most inspiring comeback stories.
Joshua Taylor, born and raised in Whitesville, grew up surrounded by family, faith, and food. Now, his Big Daddy’s BBQ Sauce — a rich, robust blend he proudly calls “the sauce for grown folks” — is stocked in 50 Kroger stores across Kentucky, including his hometown.
“I didn’t even know how to break down a chicken when I started,” Taylor said, laughing as he recalled his first barbecue competition back in 2011 at Taylor’s Tavern. “I was watching Barbecue Pitmasters on TV, borrowed a smoker, and somehow got first place in chicken. After that, I was hooked.”
Crafting a Signature Flavor
Taylor quickly realized local pitmasters often relied on the same bottled sauces, tweaking them with a dash of this and a splash of that — but the end result was always similar.
“Everybody’s sauce kinda tasted the same around here. I wanted something that would set me apart,” he said. “So I got in the lab — my kitchen — and studied. It took me 2 years to get it right.”
The result? A sauce that blends the tang of a Carolina-style vinegar kick with the sweet, smoky undertones of Kansas City barbecue — but never overly sugary. And unlike mass-produced brands, Big Daddy’s skips powdered ingredients in favor of fresh garlic, onions, and real peppers you can see.
“It’s all natural. No high fructose corn syrup and gluten-free. People love that,” Taylor said.
A Battle Far Bigger than Barbecue
But Taylor’s life threw him a curveball bigger than any pitmaster competition. While running a small takeout joint at Nona’s Market with his wife, Jill, he quietly battled a failing heart. Years of health struggles led to a dramatic decline in 2018.
“I ended up in the hospital for 188 days total. My organs shut down. I was in a coma for 45 days,” he said. “When I finally came home, I couldn’t even walk. I was severely atrophied.”
Despite his condition, fans of Big Daddy’s kept asking when the sauce would return. That support lit a spark.
“In 2020, we decided to put it out there again. We started small — Hill View Farms, Reid’s Orchard, Trunnell’s — and then we landed in IGA. But our big break was when Kentucky Proud invited us to the Kroger Food Show. From there, we got into 50 Krogers. It’s a dream.”
Rooted in Whitesville
Taylor’s journey is deeply tied to his Whitesville roots. His family has lived on Dorinda Street for generations. He still attends Bryant’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, a historic Black church founded by his great-great-grandmother in 1894, now led by his cousin, Britton Hibbett.
“That church means the world to me. We’ve got about 20 members, but it’s family. We’ve been there through everything,” he said. “It needs work, but we keep it going.”
Big Daddy’s fans can look forward to more. He said Kroger has already requested a second product: a competition rub, followed by a brisket rub, and eventually more sauces.
“It’s just been a long time coming, and it’s a blessing to get where we are, to get into big box stores and Kroger — that’s such a big feat,” Taylor said.
Where to Find It
Big Daddy’s BBQ Sauce is available at IGAs in Whitesville and Owensboro, plus the Parrish Avenue and Frederica Street Kroger locations — and now, 50 Kroger stores across the state. Try it on ribs, pulled pork, chicken, wings — or, as Taylor puts it, “whatever makes you happy — because this sauce can handle it.” OL
