Every fourth Saturday in October, some of the finest teams from the US and abroad converge on Lynchburg, TN for one of the most prestigious barbecue contests in the world – The Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue. This year I was honored to serve as a judge for the fifth time, critiquing some of the finest BBQ from around the world.

Now in its 29th year, the contest features grand championship winners from the US who were selected by draw in September, as well as teams from as far away as Japan and Germany.  Gathered in the famed Jack Daniel’s Hallow, these top tier outdoor cooks will compete for the top prize in chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder/butt, and beef brisket as well the ancillary categories of dessert, cook’s choice and sauce (featuring Jack Daniel’s, of course!).

“Our teams continue to amaze the judges and me, bringing different flavors and techniques to the competition and constantly raising the bar in barbecuing,” notes Jack Daniel’s master distiller Jeff Arnett. “They have spent thousands of dollars and countless hours perfecting their trade, and this competition is truly the best of the best in barbecuing. But while the competition is fierce, there is still a strong sense of friendship and camaraderie among teams when they gather together in Lynchburg for The Jack.”

Grand Champion: ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE
Reserve Champion: TheAmericanDreamBBQTeam

OVERALL

1  ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE

2  The American Dream BBQ Team

3  Smokin' Hoggz BBQ

4  PARROTHEAD SMOKERS

5  GETTIN' BASTED

6  LUCKY'S Q

7  R BUTTS R SMOKIN

8  Drilling & Grilling BBQ Team

9  SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ

10  BIG BOB GIBSON BAR-B-Q

11  THUNDER HOG BBQ

12  COOL SMOKE

13  WHO CARES BBQ 

14  VICTORY LANE BBQ

15  Rio Valley Meat

16  SHIG NINJA BBQ

17  SHARPE GOURMET COOKING WOOD

18  GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA

19  JO-BAWB'S BBQ

20  BUTCHER BBQ 

21  APORKALYPSE NOW

22  INSANE SWINE BBQ 

23  GOOD SMOKE BBQ

24  CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ

25  All in Que

26  FYC BARBEQUE

27  SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ

28  REDNECK SCIENTIFIC

29  BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ

30  Swamp Boys

31  BALLS OUT BBQ

32  Smokin' Mo's

33  CAJUN BLAZE

34  ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ

35  FOUR SMOKING GUYS

36  IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ

37  BIG POPPA SMOKERS

38  BLUE CHIP BBQ

39  MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ

40  THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ

41  YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG

42  Hickory and Spice BBQ

43  *Smokin Boys & Hot Grills

44  SHIGGIN & GRINNIN

45  Helping U Barbeque

46  Rooftop Barbeque

47  ACK-QUE

48  GREY STREET BBQ

49  CLARK CREW BBQ

50  GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE

51  TOP GUN BARBECUE

52  TEAM AMERICA

533  N1 Q

54  *De Vliegende Hollander BBQ Team

55  Palmetto Pitmasters

56  CITY SLICKERS BBQ

57  4:20 Q

58  PB & J's BBQ

59  HOTTY TOTTY BBQ CREW

60  HIGH ON THE HAWG

61  *Sticky Fingers Barbecue Team

62  Wicked Smoke BBQ

63  OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE

64  *Bunch Of Swine

65  SMOKIN TIMBERS NORTHWEST

66  Rockin W Smokers

67  B-S BBQ OUTLAWS

68  *Grill Team Gut Glut e.V.

69  Buckshot BBQ

70  *Q'n Canucks

71  LIL EARL'S BUTT NAKED BBQ

72  *Grillet No BBQ Team

73  *Rocky Mountain Smokers

74  SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ

75  BIG D'S BBQ

76  *Smoke On The Wild Side

77  ELITE BBQ SMOKERS

78  913 BBQ

79  LOCAL SMOKE BBQ

80  SWINE THYME U.S.A.

81  *Grillkunst

82  *Dragon BBQ

83  *BBQ Team Smoke It All

84  * Eureka Smoke

85  TRIPLE 5 COMPETITION BBQ

86  Slowpokes Grill & Smoke

87* Salzburger Barbecue Bulls

88  *BBQ SHOGUN

89  *Grill Droids

90  *Slow Joe & The Other Pigs

91  *Grill-Ueli BBQ Team Switzerland

92  *Black Forest

93  *7 Schawben

94  *Swinefellows

95  *Polish BBQ Kings

 

CHICKEN

1  All in Que

2  GETTIN' BASTED

3  The American Dream BBQ Team

4  R BUTTS R SMOKIN

5  GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA

6  PARROTHEAD SMOKERS

7  HOTTY TOTTY BBQ CREW 

8  SWINE THYME U.S.A. 

9  ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE 

10  CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ 

11  BIG BOB GIBSON BAR-B-Q 

12  APORKALYPSE NOW 

13  ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ 

14  BLUE CHIP BBQ 

15  HIGH ON THE HAWG 

16  VICTORY LANE BBQ 

173  N1 Q 

18  Smokin' Mo's 

19  SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 

20  REDNECK SCIENTIFIC 

21  CITY SLICKERS BBQ 

22  Smokin' Hoggz BBQ 

23  SHARPE GOURMET COOKING WOOD 

24  SHIG NINJA BBQ 

25  Swamp Boys 

26  WHO CARES BBQ 

27  LUCKY'S Q 

28  BIG POPPA SMOKERS 

29  Drilling & Grilling BBQ Team 

30  THUNDER HOG BBQ 

31  Helping U Barbeque 

32  PB & J's BBQ 

33  FOUR SMOKING GUYS 

34  THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ

35  4:20 Q 

36  *Sticky Fingers Barbecue Team 

37  Palmetto Pitmasters 

38  913 BBQ 

39  GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE 

40  IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ 

41  CAJUN BLAZE 

42  *Grillet No BBQ Team 

43  COOL SMOKE 

44  *BBQ SHOGUN 

45  FYC BARBEQUE 

46  Hickory and Spice BBQ 

47  Rooftop Barbeque 

48  Rio Valley Meat 

49  BALLS OUT BBQ 

50  MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ

51  TEAM AMERICA

52  INSANE SWINE BBQ 

53  GOOD SMOKE BBQ

54  BUTCHER BBQ

55  B-S BBQ OUTLAWS 

56  SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ 

57  Wicked Smoke BBQ 

58  *Grillkunst

59  *De Vliegende Hollander BBQ Team 

60  *Q'n Canucks 

61  BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ 

62  ACK-QUE 

63  *Smoke On The Wild Side 

64  *Smokin Boys & Hot Grills 

65  CLARK CREW BBQ 

66  *Black Forest

67  TOP GUN BARBECUE 

68  Buckshot BBQ 

69  JO-BAWB'S BBQ 

70  *Bunch Of Swine 

71  YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG 

72  *Rocky Mountain Smokers 

73  SHIGGIN & GRINNIN 

74  SMOKIN TIMBERS NORTHWEST

75  LOCAL SMOKE BBQ 

76  *Eureka Smoke 

77  OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE

78  LIL EARL'S BUTT NAKED BBQ

79  ELITE BBQ SMOKERS 

80  GREY STREET BBQ 

81  Rockin W Smokers 

82  Slowpokes Grill & Smoke

83  BIG D'S BBQ

84  *Slow Joe & The Other Pigs 

85  TRIPLE 5 COMPETITION BBQ 

86  *Grill-Ueli BBQ Team Switzerland 

87  *Salzburger Barbecue Bulls 

88  *7 Schawben 

89  *BBQ Team Smoke It All 

90  *Swinefellows 

91  SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ 

92  *Grill Team Gut Glut e.V. 

93  *Grill Droids 

94  *Dragon BBQ 

95  *Polish BBQ Kings 

 

PORK RIBS

1  Smokin' Hoggz BBQ 

2  PARROTHEAD SMOKERS 

3  Rio Valley Meat 

4  Rooftop Barbeque 

5  LUCKY'S Q 

6  BALLS OUT BBQ 

7  SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ 

8  R BUTTS R SMOKIN 

9  JO-BAWB'S BBQ 

10  SHIG NINJA BBQ 

11  Hickory and Spice BBQ 

12  ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE 

13  WHO CARES BBQ 

14  SMOKIN TIMBERS NORTHWEST

15  Drilling & Grilling BBQ Team

16  SHIGGIN & GRINNIN

17  *BBQ Team Smoke It All

18  Smokin' Mo's

19  Rockin W Smokers

20  GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE 

21  GETTIN' BASTED 

22  HIGH ON THE HAWG 

23  BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ 

24  COOL SMOKE 

25  SWINE THYME U.S.A.

26  TheAmericanDreamBBQTeam

27  IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ 

28  BIG BOB GIBSON BAR-B-Q 

29  CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ

30  BIG POPPA SMOKERS

31  INSANE SWINE BBQ 

32  REDNECK SCIENTIFIC 

33  PB & J's BBQ 

34  SHARPE GOURMET COOKING WOOD 

35  *De Vliegende Hollander BBQ Team 

36  CLARK CREW BBQ 

37  BUTCHER BBQ 

38  BLUE CHIP BBQ 

39  GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA 

40  *Smokin Boys & Hot Grills 

41  GREY STREET BBQ 

42  Wicked Smoke BBQ 

43  *Grillet No BBQ Team 

44  APORKALYPSE NOW 

45  *Grill Team Gut Glut e.V. 

46  913 BBQ 

47  CAJUN BLAZE 

48  SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 

49  YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG 

50  ACK-QUE 

51  GOOD SMOKE BBQ 

52  HOTTY TOTTY BBQ CREW 

53  SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ 

54  FYC BARBEQUE 

55  *Grillkunst 

56  MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ 

57  *Smoke On The Wild Side 

58  All in Que 

59  OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE 

60  4:20 Q 

61  LOCAL SMOKE BBQ 

62  THUNDER HOG BBQ 

63  ELITE BBQ SMOKERS 

64  VICTORY LANE BBQ 

65  CITY SLICKERS BBQ 

66  Buckshot BBQ 

67  *Bunch Of Swine 

68  B-S BBQ OUTLAWS 

69  THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ 

70  TEAM AMERICA 

71  Helping U Barbeque 

72  *Q'n Canucks 

73  TRIPLE 5 COMPETITION BBQ 

74  3N1 Q 

75  LIL EARL'S BUTT NAKED BBQ 

76  Swamp Boys 

77  TOP GUN BARBECUE 

78  *Salzburger Barbecue Bulls 

79  FOUR SMOKING GUYS 

80  *Sticky Fingers Barbecue Team 

81  Palmetto Pitmasters 

82  *BBQ SHOGUN 

83  BIG D'S BBQ 

84  *Eureka Smoke 

85  ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ 

86  *Grill-Ueli BBQ Team Switzerland 

87* Swinefellows 

88* Black Forest 

89  Slowpokes Grill & Smoke 

90  *Rocky Mountain Smokers 

91  *Dragon BBQ 

92  *Grill Droids 

93  *7 Schawben 

94  *Polish BBQ Kings 

95  *Slow Joe & The Other Pigs 

 

PORK

1  The American Dream BBQ Team

2  Swamp Boys 

3  THUNDER HOG BBQ

4  ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE

5  Smokin' Hoggz BBQ

6  INSANE SWINE BBQ 

7  SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 

8  FYC BARBEQUE 

9  GOOD SMOKE BBQ 

10  LUCKY'S Q 

11  Drilling & Grilling BBQ Team 

12  BALLS OUT BBQ 

13  PARROTHEAD SMOKERS 

14  JO-BAWB'S BBQ 

15  All in Que 

16  FOUR SMOKING GUYS 

17  BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ 

18  TOP GUN BARBECUE 

19  BUTCHER BBQ 

20  *Smokin Boys & Hot Grills 

21  TEAM AMERICA 

22  R BUTTS R SMOKIN 

23  Smokin' Mo's 

24  GETTIN' BASTED 

25  GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA 

26  *Grillet No BBQ Team 

27  OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE 

28  REDNECK SCIENTIFIC 

29  LIL EARL'S BUTT NAKED BBQ 

30  VICTORY LANE BBQ 

31  COOL SMOKE 

32  BIG D'S BBQ 

33  *De Vliegende Hollander BBQ Team 

34  IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ 

35  HOTTY TOTTY BBQ CREW 

36  MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ 

37  SHIGGIN & GRINNIN

38  ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ

39  B-S BBQ OUTLAWS 

40  GREY STREET BBQ 

41  WHO CARES BBQ 

42  Helping U Barbeque 

43  GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE 

44  ACK-QUE 

45  BLUE CHIP BBQ 

46  APORKALYPSE NOW 

47  SHARPE GOURMET COOKING WOOD 

48  BIG BOB GIBSON BAR-B-Q 

49  CLARK CREW BBQ 

50  YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG 

51  Palmetto Pitmasters 

52  *Grill Team Gut Glut e.V. 

53  Hickory and Spice BBQ 

54  *Dragon BBQ 

55  CITY SLICKERS BBQ 

56  4:20 Q 

57  Rooftop Barbeque 

58  BIG POPPA SMOKERS 

59  *Bunch Of Swine 

60  SHIG NINJA BBQ 

61  CAJUN BLAZE 

62  *Smoke On The Wild Side 

63  SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ 

64  Rio Valley Meat 

65  *Rocky Mountain Smokers 

66  CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ 

67  ELITE BBQ SMOKERS 

68  PB & J's BBQ 

69  Wicked Smoke BBQ 

70  Rockin W Smokers 

71  SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ 

72  HIGH ON THE HAWG 

73  THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ 

74  Buckshot BBQ 

75  *Grill Droids 

76  913 BBQ 

77  Slowpokes Grill & Smoke 

78  3N1 Q 

79  *Sticky Fingers Barbecue Team 

80  *Q'n Canucks 

81  SWINE THYME U.S.A.

82  LOCAL SMOKE BBQ

83  SMOKIN TIMBERS NORTHWEST 

84  *7 Schawben 

85  *Polish BBQ Kings 

86  *Slow Joe & The Other Pigs 

87  *Grillkunst 

88  *Grill-Ueli BBQ Team Switzerland 

89  *BBQ Team Smoke It All 

90  *Eureka Smoke 

91  *Salzburger Barbecue Bulls 

92  TRIPLE 5 COMPETITION BBQ 

93  *BBQ SHOGUN 

94  *Black Forest 

95  *Swinefellows

 

BRISKET

1  THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ

2  BIG BOB GIBSON BAR-B-Q 

3  VICTORY LANE BBQ 

4  SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ 

5  COOL SMOKE 

6  YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG 

7  GETTIN' BASTED 

8  THUNDER HOG BBQ 

9  Rio Valley Meat 

10  ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE 

11  CAJUN BLAZE 

12  *Rocky Mountain Smokers

13  SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ

14  WHO CARES BBQ

15  The American Dream  BBQ Team 

16  ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ 

17  Drilling & Grilling BBQ Team 

18  SHARPE GOURMET COOKING WOOD 

19  GREY STREET BBQ 

20  BUTCHER BBQ 

21  APORKALYPSE NOW 

22  Smokin' Hoggz BBQ 

23  SHIG NINJA BBQ 

24  MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ 

25  *Sticky Fingers Barbecue Team 

26  3N1 Q 

27  LUCKY'S Q 

28  JO-BAWB'S BBQ

29  R BUTTS R SMOKIN

30  ACK-QUE 

31  *Grill Team Gut Glut e.V. 

32  CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ 

33  GOOD SMOKE BBQ 

34  FOUR SMOKING GUYS 

35  Helping U Barbeque 

36  BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ 

37  TOP GUN BARBECUE 

38  Buckshot BBQ 

39  *Bunch Of Swine 

40  *Dragon BBQ 

41  *Q'n Canucks 

42  CLARK CREW BBQ 

43  FYC BARBEQUE 

44  SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ 

45  SHIGGIN & GRINNIN 

46  Palmetto Pitmasters 

47  PARROTHEAD SMOKERS 

48  Swamp Boys 

49  SMOKIN TIMBERS NORTHWEST 

50  *Smokin Boys & Hot Grills 

51  Rockin W Smokers 

52  REDNECK SCIENTIFIC 

53  BIG POPPA SMOKERS 

54  INSANE SWINE BBQ 

55  GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA 

56  IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ 

57  BIG D'S BBQ 

58  OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE 

59  LOCAL SMOKE BBQ 

60  Wicked Smoke BBQ 

61  LIL EARL'S BUTT NAKED BBQ 

62  4:20 Q

63  BLUE CHIP BBQ 

64  TEAM AMERICA 

65  Hickory and Spice BBQ 

66  ELITE BBQ SMOKERS 

67  *De Vliegende Hollander BBQ Team 

68  *Eureka Smoke 

69  All in Que 

70  CITY SLICKERS BBQ 

71  Smokin' Mo's 

72  B-S BBQ OUTLAWS 

73  *Slow Joe & The Other Pigs 

74  PB & J's BBQ 

75  Rooftop Barbeque

76  *BBQ Team Smoke It All 

77  BALLS OUT BBQ 

78  GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE 

79  TRIPLE 5 COMPETITION BBQ 

80  *Smoke On The Wild Side 

81  HIGH ON THE HAWG 

82  *Salzburger Barbecue Bulls 

83  *Grill Droids 

84  Slowpokes Grill & Smoke 

85  *Grillkunst 

86  913 BBQ 

87  *BBQ SHOGUN 

88  HOTTY TOTTY BBQ CREW 

89  *Black Forest 

90  *Swinefellows 

91  *Grillet No BBQ Team 

92  *7 Schawben 

93  *Grill-Ueli BBQ Team Switzerland 

94  SWINE THYME U.S.A. 

95* Polish BBQ Kings 

* Denotes International Teams