This Eastern Kentucky BBQ restaurant is bottling some popular Lexington sauces
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Thatchers bought KD’s Bottling in May 2023 and rebranded it That Sauce Co.
- That Sauce Co. bottles Blue Door’s sauce, a Red State anniversary sauce and others.
- Restaurant plans new menu items and are considering workshops, contests and expansion
One local barbecue joint has recently expanded into operating its own bottling business and is already working with familiar Lexington names like Red State BBQ and Blue Door Smokehouse.
In May 2023, Shawn and Crystal Thatcher — owners of Thatcher Barbecue Company in Slade, acquired KD’s Bottling Co. and re-branded it That Sauce Co.
The company, previously operated by Kevin McKee, was set to be shut down before the Thatchers stepped in to take over. In doing so, they got not just the name and bottling equipment, but also previously held contracts to produce KD’s Homemade BBQ Sauce (original and hot) and moonshine-soaked cherries and barbecue sauces (original and habanero BBQ) from Devil John’s Moonshine — a product of Lexington’s Barrel House Distilling Co.
“It’s funny, because looking back, (Shawn) was so against sauce,” Crystal Thatcher said. “He didn’t even want it on the table because he spent all these hours smoking the meat and getting it to taste a certain way only for people to drown it. We used to joke and tell folks they can ruin it themselves, but fast forward a few years, and now we own a bottling company. It’s something we never envisioned doing but couldn’t resist — the opportunity just fell in our lap.”
In addition to working with entities like Devil John’s Moonshine, the Thatchers have also partnered with barbecue colleagues Red State on a new sauce to commemorate its 15th anniversary, dubbed Bluegrass Blackberry Smoke, and Blue Door Smokehouse, which just began working with That Sauce Co. to package its signature sweet sauce.
But they aren’t just working with the area’s well-known names in ‘cue — Thatcher has also helped to create and distribute sauces to smaller shops or food trucks like Hardinsburg’s NeedMore BBQ, Hazard’s Roadhouse BBQ and Corbin-based Bubbys.
“There are other people in the same shape we’re in who can’t afford the cost and scale of production offered at bigger distributors,” said Shawn Thatcher, who also hinted at a possible collaboration with Big Kahuna Hawaiian BBQ. “Our specialty is fulfilling orders for someone who wants to get 100 bottles or cases as opposed to 5,000. At the same time, I don’t want to work with just anybody in order to stay busy, I want to work with the best barbecue minds in the state — which is where places like Red State and Blue Door come in.”
Thatcher BBQ expands its menu
Although the Thatchers have stayed plenty busy between bottling and barbecuing, it hasn’t stopped them from experimenting with new menu items inside the Red River Gorge restaurant. Over the summer they began serving up pre-made barbecue pizzas with their sauce as a base, along with chicken, pulled pork, brisket and other fixings.
The crust is made in-house with fire-roasted dough that gives it a smokiness similar to the barbecue for which Shawn Thatcher has long been known.
“We’re not trying to be a pizza place,” Shawn Thatcher said. “This is just another vessel for us to get our barbecue in your mouth. It’s no different than the BBQ sundaes, loaded baked potatoes or mac we do in that regard.”
Aside from pizzas, the Thatcher’s have also added items like collard greens, sweet potato casserole and apple turnovers to their menu in recent months.
BBQ workshops next for EKY restaurant
Hosting barbecue workshops and bottling more of Thatcher’s sauces (like its white and vinegar), along with the restaurant’s meat seasoning and beef tallow are other potential ideas under consideration. Shawn also has his eye on getting out and about more, from participating in barbecue competitions to launching a food truck or satellite operation.
“I have a buddy in Georgia who not only has his main restaurant, but also a smaller setup at the local farmer’s market with just enough space to serve out of,” he said. “Whether it’s a food truck or something like that, I want to bring my barbecue to the people more than just having them come visit us. At the end of the day, our goal is to continue growing the business while also helping out other ‘little guys’ like us.”
Thatcher Barbecue Company
Where: 918 Natural Bridge Rd., Slade
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Monday-Wednesday
Online: ThatBbqCo.com
This story was originally published February 23, 2026 at 5:02 AM.