Photo credit: Old Mule

Based at the Modlin family farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Old Mule specializes in crafting a unique barbecue, marinade and dipping sauce. The secret family recipe got its start in the 1980s, when Farm Bureau members Steve and Cheryl Modlin began making jars of their special sauce to give away as gifts. Their friends and family loved it so much that they encouraged the couple to go into business.

Today, you can find Old Mule at vendors across the country. The gourmet sauce is available in five flavors, which the Modlins continue to produce on their farm in Polk County. Customers love using the sauce for everything from grilling and barbecuing to marinating meats, dipping chips and french fries, spreading on sandwiches, and more.

See more: Fryar’s Sauce is Seriously Saucy

To learn more about the business, purchase Old Mule sauce, locate a vendor near you or find recipes, visit oldmule.com or call (828) 625-0305.

(Note: This product was featured as a giveaway in our Spring 2020 issue. The giveaway has now ended. Thanks to all who participated.) 

Comments

  • Richard Stevens

    Old Mule Sauce looks awesome and I’m a spicy BBQ lover. I was in Polk County in October and really loved visiting the area, so I’d like to support the local farmers there and their entrepreneurial spirit. Keep it up!

    • Cathy Folger

      We use sauce on everything. Never tried Old Mule!

    • Patricia O'Connor

      I just got my sauces and cannot wait to try them. Got mustard.smoked chipolle and original.

  • Mark Ivansek

    I love the Orignial Old Mule sauce! I have some in the fridge right now!

  • John

    My wife likes sauces, but we have never tried Old Mule.

  • Amy Lee

    I love to try new sauces.

  • Brian Mehlman

    Give Away

  • Thomas Dodson

    I like good sauces. I have not tried Old Mule as of this writing. I am looking forward to trying some. Winning giveaway would be a great way to get started.

  • Darlene Bowman

    Would love to try this sauce

  • Shirley Taylor-Edwards

    After reading the article “Sauce With a Kick” article in this months issue of North Carolina Field & Stream magazine I knew right away that I had to try this sauce. I like sauces with a “kick” and this is one that I would love to have in my cabinet. Summer is coming and grilling is one of my family favorite things to do and this would be a great sauce to introduce them too!! So keeping my fingers crossed that this entry is selected! Thanks for sharing your sauce.

  • Shirley Hatcher

    Please enter my name in the chance to win the box of Old Mule sauces. I would greatly appreciate it.

    Shirley Hatcher
    4820 Brown Road
    Hamptonville NC 27020

  • Ralph Bauguess

    After reading about the sauce, I know I want to try this one. I love sauces of all kinds but especially those with a little “kick”.

    • David Cropp

      I love BBQ sauce made by local people. The article was great. I would definitely enjoy trying these sauces.

  • Regan Springer

    This sauce is NC awesome!

  • Annie

    Love sauces on everything. Love to try these.

  • Scott Craig

    The grill is awaiting a new aroma and flavor, made in NC. Looking forward to the experience!

  • Diana McCollum

    Unfortunately I have not tried this sauce. I am more than sure than I really would enjoy this sauce , just by reading the comments.

  • Donna Caraway

    I have not tried these sauces but winning would be a good way to get started.

  • Sandy Thompson

    These sound amazing! Hope to win. If not, I will certainly buy a bottle to try!

  • Wendy Kennedy

    I’ve never heard of these sauces. Sounds yummy. Hope I win!

    • Harold Michaletz

      I believe that you have a sauce that probably is good and great on ribs and of course on a juicy steak. Of course I would use it on a Boston butt.

  • Bill

    Looking for something different ..

  • Selby Yelverton

    I enjoy buying and using different sauces in recipes. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to try these sauces!

  • Sonya Howell

    We have a large family that loves good food, so we are always trying new recipes, sauces, and dips. We have never heard of Old Mule sauces, and we would love the opportunity to try them out! Our children are excellent food critics and that comes from being exposed to a variety of different foods through out their childhood. Healthy food can even taste great with the right sauces incorporated into the mixture. We hope to be trying Old Mule sauces in the near future! 🙂
    Thanks, Sonya Howell

  • MARC KNIGHT

    I love any kind of BBQ sauce.looking forward to trying these NC sauces

  • Denise Wright

    Mmm, sounds good. Hoping to win this contest!

  • Grace

    My son love to eat meatball with bbq sauce for school – we have tried different kind and would like to try oldmule, especially being a local NC company! We love to support local NC companies. Thanks for the chance!

  • Norman W Forbes

    The sauce looks great.The articles,news,recipes and jus so much more it’s def realism on our state n places,people,and so much more.

  • Maggie Rowe

    Would love to try all five flavors!

  • thomas green

    You know, I would just like to win something I could use, as much as I grill this would be an awesome deal and also I would get to try something different and especially being made here in N.C

  • Curtis Garner

    I love sauce. I also love to make sauce. It would be neat to win! Thanks for the opportunity!

  • Cassandra D

    I would use this as a nice marinade.

  • Brenda J Campbell

    Love the Old Mule Co but as a woman of 60 years old with arthritis., I CANT OPEN THE JARS. It’s like they are cemented shut. I don’t have that much trouble opening jars but the Old Mule is a bit over the top stuck. So disappointed in trying to open the jar.

Comments are closed.

Read & Connect

North Carolina Field & Family Spring 2026
Flip through the pages of the Spring 2026 edition of North Carolina Field and Family magazine. In this issue, impress your guests with creative yet easy spring holiday recipes, learn how farmers face challenges planning the future of their farmland, meet some North Carolina beef producers raising the steaks, start your engines with eight reasons to visit Richmond County, get crabby with Sheri Castle’s Deviled Crab recipe and much more.

Get the latest news, recipes, articles and more, right to your inbox.

Connect with us