BBQ flavor comes from cooking over real wood. As wood burns the smoke given off contains many of the flavor compositions contained in the wood. This is because the wood doesn’t burn completely and these flavor additives are vaporized and not burned. The additives then coat the meat, or fish in the smoker and are gradually absorbed through osmosis much like a brine or marinade. This is where the flavor comes from.
Charcoal and gas grills only provide heat NOT flavor. Charcoal is made from wood which has previously been partially burned. Fortunately for you it has because most charcoal is made from pine and other scrap woods which would impart a vile flavor if used in a smoker or BBQ grill. The partial burning however vaporizes these bad flavor compositions leaving behind the coal which can be burned as a good source of heat. Propane, the gas used in gas grills, on the other hand never had a flavor and burns very clean and hot. Neither adds flavor to the food on the grill.
Real wood smoke provides the natural flavor of barbecue. This natural flavor is really what a barbecue is all about. It only comes from wood and the right type of wood. Fruit and nut woods are generally the type used and the controlled burning of these woods is important as well. The SmokePistol™ has been designed and patented for this purpose.