Western North Carolina Vinegar Barbeque Sauce

4 cups cider vinegar

1 cup brown sugar

1 ⅓ cups ketchup

¼ cup butter

2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™)

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

2 teaspoons mustard powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Place the vinegar, sugar, ketchup, butter, hot pepper sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, mustard powder, salt, and pepper into a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 30 minutes longer, stirring occasionally. Remove from the stove and pour into a heatproof bowl. Cover, and refrigerate the sauce for 2 days.

Strain the sauce through a mesh sieve to remove the red pepper flakes. Store the sauce in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.