What began as a backyard passion project has turned into a statewide success for Joshua Taylor, founder of Big Daddy’s BBQ Sauce. And for Taylor, the road to seeing his sauce hit shelves in 50 Kroger stores across Kentucky is nothing short of miraculous.
In 2015, Joshua and his wife Jill Taylor opened Big Daddy’s inside Nona’s Market as a takeout lunch spot. But just a few years later, Taylor’s health began to decline. He was placed on the transplant list for a new heart and eventually spent 188 days in the hospital. He fell into a 45-day coma and came out in late 2018 with an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) and a long road to recovery.
“I couldn’t walk. I was severely atrophied and had home health care. But people kept asking if we’d ever bring back the sauce,” Taylor said.
That sauce — crafted from scratch using natural ingredients and perfected over two years of trial and error — was originally developed in 2013 when Taylor was competing in barbecue contests. His first competition was at Taylor’s Tavern, where he won first place in chicken despite being new to the scene.
“I was using store-bought sauce and mixing it with my own stuff like everyone else around here,” he said. “But everything kind of tasted the same. So I got in the lab, started studying, and came up with something different.”
That “different” became Big Daddy’s signature sauce — made without high fructose corn syrup, gluten-free, and packed with chunks of real onion, garlic, and peppers.
In 2020, after regaining strength, Taylor and his team began selling the sauce in local mom-and-pop stores such as Reid’s Orchard, Hillview Farms, and Trunnell’s. From there, they secured shelf space in IGA stores before catching the eye of Kentucky Proud, which led to an invite to the Kroger Food Show. That partnership resulted in their sauce hitting 50 Kroger stores statewide — including two in Owensboro earlier this month.
“The flavor falls somewhere between Kansas City and Texas styles,” Taylor said. “It’s tomato-based with just the right amount of vinegar and heat. I call it the sauce for grown folks — it’s not Sweet Baby Ray’s. But people of all ages love it.”
Taylor said the sauce pairs perfectly with ribs, pulled pork, chicken, and even wings.
“It’s won in every category I’ve competed in. But for me, there’s nothing better than having it on a slab of ribs,” he said.
Big Daddy’s BBQ Sauce is made by Bloemer Foods in Louisville, which took five test runs to match Taylor’s original recipe. Taylor said the difference is hardly noticeable — even in a blind taste test.
Jill Taylor, Joshua’s wife and co-owner, helps run the business alongside partner Ronald Gossom. Taylor’s brother-in-law Steven Edge also plays a major role in competitions and events.
Taylor hopes to continue expanding the brand with additional products.
“Kroger already wants another SKU from us,” he said. “Next will be our competition rub, then our brisket rub, and then eventually more sauces. The end goal is to become a worldwide brand.”
Beyond the sauce, Taylor remains deeply rooted in his hometown of Whitesville. He grew up near Whitesville Park on Dorinda Street and still attends Bryant’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, founded by his great-great-grandmother in 1894. The historic church is one of the oldest Black churches in the region.
Big Daddy’s BBQ Sauce is available locally at IGAs in Owensboro and Whitesville and at select Kroger stores, including the Parrish Avenue and Frederica Street locations.
