I have been practicing smoking ribs over the past few months with my UDS.
It's been a challenge, the first few batches came out a bit tough.
Reason being temperature under the bottom grill was 10deg cooler than the top.
I was aiming to smoke at 120deg, but the top grill was reaching 130+.
The last few batches have been perfect, well for me anyway, and have had the temp sitting at 100 +- 5 deg over 5 hours, basted every 45mins with a mop of 50/50 vinegar and apple juice. I use a bbq sauce also in the last 30mins of the cook to glaze the ribs.
Lucky for me I have a good source from a local butcher who regularly has specials on ribs for $4.85kg (min 5kgs)
I have tried many rubs sourced from US forums and books, but have settled with an awesome recipe from Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book.
It's from a chapter on designing your own rub, and I have tweaked it using various other ingreedients, such as mustard powder and chicken salt.
Here's the recipe:
Sweet Rib Rub
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbs garlic salt
2 tbs kosher/sea salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground corriander
1/8 tsp allspice
Season the ribs to your liking, wrap and refrigerate min 2hrs, best overnight. An hour before cooking, remove from the fridge and allow to reach room temp. You can add more rub just before cooking, but not necessary.
Memphis - style championship red sauce (also from same book)
1 1/4 cups ketchup
1 cup water
3/4 cup vinegar
3/4 cup tomato paste
3/4 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup corn syrup (bought from continental deli or substitute with a bit more sugar and water)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
4tbs honey
3tbs molasses
4tsp salt
4tsp worcestershire sauce
1tbs apple sauce
1 1/2 tsp soy sauce
1 1/2tsp liquid smoke
1tsp onion powder
3/4tsp cornstarch
1/2tsp mustard powder
1/2tsp cayenne pepper
1/4tsp black pepper
1/8tsp garlic powder
1/8tsp white pepper
1/8tsp celery seed
1/8tsp ground cumin
Heat to simmer and cook until desired viscosity. It looks like a hard recipe, but it's well worth it, sweet and sticky with amazing flavour. Makes 4 cups.
Enjoy.