Lem's Sauce--Missing Ingredient?

I have been trying to manufacture Lem's sauce at home, and think I have a pretty decent resemblance but am still missing a few things. So far, I have used apple cider vinegar, cloves, ketchup, cayenne, and honey, but it still is not quite thick enough or smoky enough. Any suggestions or guesses about what I might be missing? Many thanks,

--JBL

I haven't had the sauce but rather than use cornstarch as someone suggested, I'd cook it down a bit to concentrate it. Put it on the stove, over a low flame and simmer it down. Works for stocks and sauces so why wouldn't it work here?

For the smoky part, liquid smoke but just a little. It can add a chemically flavor if overdone. What about chipotle? Either ground or the adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chilis. It's probably not traditional but a little might do the trick and add the smokiness you're looking for and a bit of a hot bite. Worth a shot.

Or, if you don't want the bite, some pimenton de la Vera.

On my last visit to Lem's a few weeks ago (State St.), I ordered hot sauce on my small bucket of tips. I never paid much attention before, but this time, I watched the guy ladle the sauce from the stockpot into my bucket, and then squirt something else from a red kethcup bottle on top of the tips. He did this a few times: a layer of tips, a ladle, a squirt, then repeat. It tasted the same as always. Has anyone noticed this before? Do they always work from a single batch of mild sauce and doctor it if a customer wants it hot? Or might they have just run out of hot sauce that day?

I made my first trip to Lem's last Wednesday, and what you describe is exactly what I observed.

Sauce was not available to go. Would've liked a pint or so.

Ribs were mighty tasty but gotta say I they reached their rib "half life" before I got home as others have said.

Sauce to go is available at the 75th st. location.

Lem's hot (spicy) BBQ sauce is mild BBQ sauce with added Louisiana style hot sauce. On occasion Lem's has a batch premade, most often they simply go the ladle and squirt bottle routine, as you observed.

Enjoy,
Gary

JBL

Corn starch and Liquid Smoke....BAM

JSM