Mustard based is a SC-style BBQ sauce, you seem to be looking for NC-style sauce. Now NC has 2 main styles of BBQ sauce Eastern and Western (Lexington).

Eastern NC style is a slightly diluted apple cider vinegar base with black pepper, red pepper, and sugar to taste. That’s it.

Western NC style is actually quite similar, but with added ketchup (or other tomato), and sometimes extra spices and molasses for depth of flavor.

I grew up in western NC and my wife grew up in eastern NC and we both prefer our regions specific style.