Woody's re-creation experiment #1 took place yesterday afternoon. I ended up with a half-gallon batch of something that's darned good, and it looks like Woody's -- but there's a an upfront flavor in the real product that I can't identify or recreate, so far. If those of you who still have a jar would you take a tiny taste, it's the obvious flavor right upfront that doesn't (to me) quite taste like food. It's a touch bitter and a bit rank -- but I mean this in a good way. What is it?

I worked on my batch immediately after watching a Paula Dean cooking show on various types of barbeque. Got some ideas I wouldn't have thought of from that, including the addition of instant coffee to my knock-off Woody's. That did help, and adding cumin helped even more...but until I can figure out what the missing flavor is, it won't be Woody's.

Does anyone want me to post the ingredients of Batch #1, or should I try to get it perfect before posting a recipe?