2021 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
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2021 Awards of Excellence
Every year the National BBQ and Grilling Association runs the Awards of Excellence, acknowledging the commercial side of BBQ. Here are the talented award winners of 2021.
BBQ SAUCE CATEGORY
Fruit BBQ Sauce
Key foundation ingredient must be a fruit, and this be reflected in the product ingredients and flavor. Tomato is not considered a fruit, and tomato-based entries entered the appropriate alternate category.
1st - Cowgirl Sweet N Hot Glaze - Fat Boy BBQ
2nd - Eroc's Peach Bourbon Pomegranate - Eroc's LLC
3rd - Cherry "LaBomba" Habanero - Porkys Place BBQ
Mustard BBQ Sauce
Key foundation ingredient must be mustard, and this be reflected in the product ingredients and flavor.
1st - Carolina Yeller - UrbanQ Smokehouse
2nd - Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce - True Made Foods
3rd - NW Gold Rush - Best Damn BBQ Sauce
Tomato Mild BBQ Sauce
Key foundation ingredient must be tomato, and this be reflected in the product ingredients and flavor. It should have a mild disposition.
1st - Dixie Red - Old Southern BBQ Smokehouse
2nd - Mild Smokey - Porkys Place BBQ
3rd - Original Recipe BBQ Sauce - Porkosaurus BBQ
Tomato Spicy BBQ Sauce
Key foundation ingredient must be tomato, and this be reflected in the product ingredients and flavor. It should have a spicy disposition.
1st - Smokey, Spice & Everything Nice - Porky's Place BBQ
2nd - Norma Jean's Habanero BBQ Sauce - Black's Barbecue
3rd - Hot Damn That's Hot - Best Damn BBQ Sauce
Vinegar Mild BBQ Sauce
Key foundation style must be vinegar, and this be reflected in the product ingredients and flavor. It should have a mild disposition.
1st - Naked BBQ Sauce - Meat Mitch
2nd - Sweet Southern Shine - Hotty Totty BBQ Crew
3rd - G.P.A Sauce - University of Que L.L.C.
Vinegar Spicy BBQ Sauce
Key foundation style must be vinegar, and this be reflected in the product ingredients and flavor. It should have a spicy disposition.
1st - Jalapeno Business - B.T. Leigh's Sauces and Rubs
2nd - Nashville Hot - Hank Daddy's Barbecue
3rd - Fat Boy Trailblazer - Fat Boy BBQ
White Sauce BBQ Sauce
Key foundation style must be mayonnaise, and this be reflected in the product ingredients and flavor.
1st - It's Just AWESOME Sauce - University of Que, LLC
2nd - Tennessee White Sauce - Cisco's Kid Chicken Company
Original BBQ Sauce
This category is for sauces that do not fit into other categories and has a unique or distinct flavor profile such as but not limited to Korean Barbecue Sauce, Curry Sauce, Mole, and similar.
1st - Competition Sawse - Redneck BBQ Lab
2nd - Killa Ketchup - Bow Valley BBQ Inc.
3rd - Myassis Dragon - UrbanQ Smokehouse
RUB CATEGORY
Beef Rub
A rub designed to be cooked with beef whether barbecued low and slow on smoke or hot and fast grilled.
1st - Butter & Steak Seasoning - Old Southern BBQ Smokehouse
2nd - Historic Black - Historic BBQ
3rd - Steak Rub - Fireman John's BBQ
Pork Rub
A rub designed to be cooked with pork whether barbecued low and slow on smoke or hot and fast grilled.
1st - The Juicy Pig - Texas Select Seasonings
2nd - BBQ Badass Pork Boost - Big Swede BBQ
3rd - Rib Rub - Smokin Hoggz BBQ
Poultry Rub
A rub designed to be cooked with poultry, e.g. chicken, turkey, or similar, whether barbecued low and slow on smoke or hot and fast grilled.
1st - Rocking Rooster - All Q'ued Up
2nd - Grill'n Chik'n Seasoning - Old Southern BBQ Smokehouse
3rd - BBQ Gold Star Chicken Rub - Loot N' Booty BBQ
Seafood Rub
A rub designed to be cooked with seafood, e.g. fish, crustacean or similar, whether barbecued low and slow on smoke or hot and fast grilled.
1st - Sassy Jones Soulman - Sassy Jones Sauce & Spice Co.
2nd - All Purpose Rub - Redneck BBQ Lab
3rd - Smokin Applewood All Purpsose Rub - Smokin Hoggz BBQ
Spicy Rub
A rub designed to be spicy and have a kick to it, this is to be reflected in its ingredients.
1st - Caliente Rub - Fat Boy BBQ
2nd - Blazin' Cherry - Fireman John's BBQ
3rd - Texas Pequin Garlic Salt - Texas Select Seasonings
Original BBQ Rub
This category is for sauces that do not fit into other categories and has a unique or distinct flavor profile such as but not limited to base rubs, finishing rubs, game rubs, and similar.
1st - BBQ Rub - SNTB Barbecue Company, LLP
2nd - Dry Rub Blues City Dust - Memphis Original BBQ
3rd - Chipotle Cowgirl - Texas Select Seasonings
BBQ FOOD CATEGORY
BBQ Gift Pack
This is to be a gift pack consisting of at least three items, at least two of these must be edible items. The gift pack must be available for commercial sale.
1st - Redneck BBQ Lab Gift Box - Redneck BBQ Lab
2nd - Old Southern BBQ Smokehouse Legendary Gift Box - Old Southern BBQ Smokehouse
3rd - Fat Boy BBQ Gift Pack - Fat Boy BBQ
BBQ Snack
This is to be a barbecue related snack that utilizes flavors associated and familiar to BBQ, such as chips, crackers, pretzels, and similar.
1st - Loot N' Booty BBQ Brown Sugar Hickory Pretzels - Loot N' Booty BBQ
2nd - Smokehouse Crackers, Original Spicy - Spices Smokehouse LLC
3rd - Smokehouse Crackers, Bar-B-Q - Spices Smokehouse LLC
BBQ Injection
This is to be a barbecue related injection that is utilized in the cooking of BBQ. It may be for beef, pork, poultry or other product.
1st - None submitted
2nd -
3rd -
BBQ Marinade
This is to be a barbecue related marinade that is utilized in the cooking of BBQ. It may be for beef, pork, poultry or other product.
1st - Fireman John's Marinade - Fireman John's BBQ
2nd - Fat Boy Creole Butter - Fat Boy BBQ
3rd - Wicked Pig - Wicked Pig
EQUIPMENT CATEGORY
Barbecue
This is a new or significant version release of a barbecue in 2020. A 'barbecue' is a smoker, grill or any outdoor cooking device using live fire, gas, pellet, or similarly recognized barbecue fuel source.
1st - None submitted
2nd -
3rd -
BBQ Tool/Accessory
This is a tool or accessory used in the preparation or cooking of barbecue in all its shapes and forms, including but not limited to smoking and grilling.
1st - Flame Boss Wifi Thermometer- Flame Boss
2nd - Rib Rings - BBQ Guru
3rd - Tappecue Touch - Innovating Sollutions, LLC
Apparel
An item of BBQ apparel such as, but not limited to, shirts, aprons, caps, or similar, associated with BBQ in any way shape or form including but not limited to products, brands, individuals, restaurants, or similar.
1st - "Limited Edition Simon Luxton Jolly Roger" - Loot N' Booty BBQ
2nd - "Put Some South In Your Mouth" - Old Southern BBQ Smokehouse
3rd - "Pit Happens" - Fat Boy BBQ
Product Label Design
This may be a product label of any BBQ product including but not limited to sauce, rub, equipment, or similar
1st - 180 Proof BBQ Sauce - Top Notch Pizza & BBQ
2nd - Jolly Roger Jalapeno Garlic Black Rubb - Loot N' Booty BBQ
3rd - Spooky Swet BBQ Sauce - SmokinGhost BBQ
BBQ DIGITAL MEDIA
BBQ Blog
Includes solely a blog, or a blog as part of a larger website. A blog authored by a single person, either as an independent entity or an extension of an existing media brand, OR a blog authored by a group of individuals, either as an independent entity or an extension of an existing media brand.
1st - The Smoke Sheet BBQ Newsletter - The Smoke Sheet
2nd - The Firestarter: Highlighting People, Places, & Products - Pasatiempo Barbecue
3rd - Hey Grill Hey: BBQ and Grilling Food Blog- Hey Grill Hey
BBQ Website
Includes, product, produce, personality, e-commerce or similar. A BBQ-related online webpage that is produced by one or more individuals. To differentiate from a blog, entrants in this category are more likely to be database driven rather than simply organized by post or in a journal format. The focus of the site may be primarily news, information, entertainment, and may also be a product or retail site. The site may or may not contain recipes.
1st - www.Smokinghotconfessions.com - Smoking Hot Confessions
2nd - www.bushcooking.com - Bush Cooking
2nd - www.bowvalleybbq.com - Bow Valley BBQ Inc.
BBQ Audio Series
Includes radio, podcast or similar. A series is defined as a minimum of six audio programs that originally were broadcast within 2020. Each individual audio broadcast may be of any length. Three episodes must be submitted for consideration.
1st - The Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast - Ben Arnot
2nd - The Pit Master’s Podcast - Rusty Monson
3rd - BBQ RADIO NATION - Scott Bethel, with hosts David Kious, and Dan Hathaway
BBQ Video Series
Includes, YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, television or similar
A series is defined as a minimum of six video programs that originally were broadcast within 2020. Each individual video may be of any length. Three episodes must be submitted for consideration.
1st - Hey Grill Hey YouTube Channel - Hey Grill Hey
2nd - Croix Valley Live, Season 1 - Croix Valley Foods
3rd - Big Swede BBQ Covid-19 Weekly Recipe- Big Swede BBQ
Single BBQ Focused Video
Includes, feature film, an episode from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook or similar
Video may be any length and may focus on news, entertainment (including humor), instruction or another subject. While submissions to this category may have been part of a series, please note that any video entered in the BBQ Video Series is not eligible to be re-entered into this category.
1st - Green Mountain Grill Featuring Sterling Smith - Loot N' Booty BBQ
2nd - GrillGun by GrillBlazer Review - Smoking Hot Confessions
3rd - BBQ Logo Tattoo Reveal - Bow Valley BBQ Inc.
BBQ PUBLICATIONS AND LITERARY WORKS
Educational Writing
Includes magazine, newspaper, webpage, blog, or similar
Articles may be any length and must include an educational component that was published in 2020.
1st - The Poultry Proclamation - BBQ Buddha
2nd - Burn The Ships - Vic Clevenger
BBQ Focus Article
Includes magazine, newspaper, webpage, blog, or similar
Articles may be any length and may focus on news, entertainment (including humor), instruction or another subject that was published in 2020.
1st - "Old Aurthur's Barbecue" - National Barbecue News
2nd - "Knotty Wood Barbecue Company Launch - Knotty Wood Barbecue Company
Publication of the Year (Hardcopy)
Includes magazine, newspaper, periodical or similar
Entrants may submit up to three issues from 2020 for the judges' consideration.
1st - None submitted
2nd -
3rd -
BBQ Book of the Year
Includes any BBQ book published in the year 2020
BBQ books may or may not include recipes and be released in any country.
1st - Award Winning BBQ Sauces and How to use Them - Ray Sheehan, BBQ Buddha
2nd - The Pitmaster's Cookbook - Blue Smoke Blaire, LLC
3rd - BBQ Ben Colouring Book with Recipes - Ben Bartlett, The Flavour Kind
Marketing Material
Includes any marketing material used during the year 2020
May include items such as calendars, handouts, trinkets, drink coolers, stickers, recipe cards or similar.
1st - Who We Are - SmokinGhost BBQ, LLC
2nd - The Beginners Guide to REal BBQ - Smoking Hot Confessions
BBQ PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
BBQ Commercial Photograph
Includes any photographs that are commissioned and used in any advertising or marketing campaign, print or online, or in product packaging, collateral, or on a corporate or business website throughout 2020.
1st - Ingredients Matter - Knotty Wood Barbecue Company
2nd - Whole Hoggin in Houston- National Barbecue News
3rd - Junior Urias - Up In Smoke
Personal Photograph/BBQ Blog
Includes any non-paid for photograph shared on a blog, webpage or social media throughout 2020.
1st - Junior Urias - Up In Smoke
2nd - Cook Like A Boss - Chimmney Cartel, LLC
BBQ Character Photo
Includes cooking, joints/restaurants, characters, competitions and similar in 2020.
1st - Junior Urais - Up in Smoke BBQ
2nd - 30 Smokin' Years - National Barbecue News
3rd - Pit Master Rusty - Smoking Hot Confessions
BBQ Food Photo
Includes any image where the food is the topic and accounts for 70+ of the image taken in 2020.
1st - Pulled Pork Sandwhich- Black's Barbecue
2nd - Outback Low Country Boil - Smoking Hot Confessions
3rd - Burger - John Valenton
Live Fire Photo
Includes any image where the fire is the topic and accounts for 70+ of the image taken in 2020
1st - "Throwing Sticks" - Convicted Pic
2nd - "Fire in the Box" - Black's Barbecue
3rd - "Tri Tip" - John Valenton