2022 Awards of excellence
Our list of winners for 2022
The National BBQ and Grilling Association runs the Awards of Excellence, acknowledging the commercial side of BBQ.
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 - Eroc's Rasberry Chipotle Mild - EROC'S LLC
2nd - Smokehouse Blues - UrbanQ Smokehouse
3rd - Grapefruit Jalapeno - Motley Que
4th - Croix Valley The Rhu Barbecue Sauce - Croix Valley Foods
5th - House of Q - Apple Butter BBQ Sauce - House of Q Foods, Ltd
Mustard BBQ Sauce
The key foundation ingredient must be mustard, and this be reflected in the product ingredients and flavor.
1st - Fat Boy Apple Cider Honey Mustard - Fat Boy BBQ
2nd - Jack Cawthon's Carolina Bar-B-Que Sauce - Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que, Inc
3rd - The Redneck BBQ Lab Pop's Mustard Sawse - RBL Provision Company
4th - Sweet & Sassy - Hoosier Daddy BBQ
5th - Smokin' Coals Original Mustard Sauce - Smokin' Coals
Tomato Mild BBQ Sauce
The key foundation ingredient must be tomato, and this is reflected in the product ingredients and flavor. It should have a mild disposition.
1st - Old Arthur's Barbecue Sauce Orginal - Old Arthur's
2nd - Sweet & Savory - Wellspring Components, LLC
3rd - The Redneck BBQ Lab Competition Sawse - RBL Provision Company
4th - House of Q Five Star BBQ Sauce - House of Q Foods, Ltd
5th - All Q'ued Up All Sauced Up Original BBQ Sauce - All Q'ued Up BBQ & Grilling, LLC
Tomato Spicy BBQ Sauce
Key foundation ingredient must be tomato, and this is reflected in the product ingredients and flavor. It should have a spicy disposition.
1st - Sweet with a Little Heat - Memphis Original BBQ
2nd - Haunted Heat - Smokin Ghost BBQ, LLC
3rd - Old Arthur's Barbecue Sauce Hot & Spicy - Old Arthur's
4th - Eroc's Hot Raspberry Chipotle - EROC'S LLC
5th - Uncle Bubby's Sweet Heat BBQ Sauce - Uncle Bubby's BBQ, LLC
Vinegar Mild BBQ Sauce
The key foundation style must be vinegar, and this is reflected in the product ingredients and flavor. It should have a mild disposition.
1st - Smokehouse Hickory with Lime - Hoosier Daddy BBQ
2nd - Naked BBQ Sauce - Meat Mitch
3rd -Memphis Mop BBQ Sauce - BBQ Buddha
4th - The Redneck BBQ Lab NC Pork Sawse - RBL Provision Company
5th - Smokin Coals Original Vinegar Pepper Sauce - Smokin' Coals
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 - Whomp BBQ Sauce - Meat Mitch
2nd - Fireman John's 3 Alarm Vinegar - Fireman John's BBQ
3rd - Fat Boy Trailblazer - Fat Boy BBQ
4th - Ghost Roast - Hoosier Daddy BBQ
5th - Baby Out Sauce - Loyal Dogs, LLC
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 - Smokn' Coals Original Sauce - Smokin' Coals
2nd - The Redneck BBQ Lab Grand Champion Sawse - RBL Provision Company
3rd - Brisket Sweet - Charcoal Cowboys BBQ
4th - SoFa King Awesome BBQ Original Sauce - SoFa King Awesome Products
5th - The Rib Doctor Southern Tangy - The Rib Doctor, Inc
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 - Big Swede BBQ Badass Beef Boost - Big Swede BBQ
2nd - Steakhouse PitGrit - Pit O' Heaven Grilling
3rd - Steer Season - Meat Mitch
4th - The Redneck BBQ Lab Beef Rub - RBL Provision Company
5th - Ghost Powder - Smokin Ghost BBQ, LLC
Pork Rub
A rub designed to be cooked with pork whether barbecued low and slow on smoke or hot and fast grilled.
1st - SoFa King Awesome BBQ Top Secret Dust - SoFa King Awesome Products
2nd - Sweet Heat - Charcoal Cowboys BBQ
3rd - Big Swede BBQ Badass Pork Boost - Big Swede BBQ
4th - House of Q - Competition Rib Rub - House of Q Foods Ltd
5th - Uncle Bubby's Pig Rub - Uncle Bubby's BBQ, LLC
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 - Honey Rub - Butcher BBQ, Inc
2nd - Uncle Bubby's Yardbird Rub - Uncle Bubby's BBQ, LLC
3rd - The Redneck BBQ Lab Chicken and Rib Rub - RBL Provision Company
4th - UrbanQ SmokehouseHoney Dew Chicken Rub - UrbanQ Smokehouse
5th - Smokestack BBQ Dry Rub - Old Arthur's
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 - All Purpose Run - Smokin Ghost BBQ, LLC
2nd - BBQ Buddy Herby All-Purpose Seasoning - B Bartlett
3rd - All Q'ued Up Bayou Bandit - All Q'ued Up
4th - Croix Valley Carolina Dry Rub - Croix Valley Foods
5th - Cajun PitGrit - Pit O'Heaven Grilling
Spicy Rub
A rub designed to be spicy and have a kick to it, this is to be reflected in its ingredients.
1st - Flying Swine Seasonings Sweet N' Spicy - Flying Swine Seasonings, LLC
2nd - Fireman John's Blazin' Cherry - Fireman John's BBQ
3rd - SoFa King Awesome BBQ Thai Dragon Powder - SoFa King Awesome Products
4th - Honey Habarnaro Fixx - Motley Que
5th - Fat Boy Caliente Rub - Fat Boy BBQ
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 - Whomp Rub - Meat Mitch
2nd - Gunpowder - Charcoal Cowboys BBQ
3rd - Premium Rub - Butcher BBQ, Inc
4th - Missing Ling - Bow Valley BBQ, Inc
5th - Fat Boy Wild Game Seasoning - Fat Boy BBQ
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 - The Redneck BBQ Lab Gift Box - Red Neck BBQ Lab
2nd - SmokinGhost BBQ Gift Pack - SmokinGhost BBQ LLC
3rd - Backyard BBQ Kit - Indigo Lake Sauce Company LLC
4th - Jack's BBQ 4-Pack with Free Hand Rub - Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que, Inc.
Sausage/Cured Meat
1st - Grilling Addition Beef Jerkey - Butcher BBQ, Inc
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 - The Rib Doctor Caribbean Sweat - The Rib Doctor, Inc
2nd - Fat Boy Creole Butter - Fat Boy BBQ
3rd - Croix Valley Steak Sauce & Marinade - Croix Valley Foods
4th - BBQ Mud - Butcher BBQ, Inc
5th - Marinade - Fireman John's BBQ
EQUIPMENT CATEGORY
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 - Tip Top Temp - Tip Top Temp/Score Components, Inc
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 - "Wanna See My Rack" - Motley Cue
2nd - "Prairie Fresh Pit Crew I Love BBQ T-Shirt" - Prairie Fresh-Seaboard Foods
3rd - "I Got Sauced T-Shirt" - Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que, Inc.
4th - "My Dad's BBQ - Hat" - My Dad's BBQ, LLC
Product Label Design
This may be a product label of any BBQ product including but not limited to sauce, rub, equipment, or similar
1st - Smokin Ghost BBQ Haunted Heated - Smokin Ghost BBQ
2nd - The Rib Doctor Caribbean Sweet - The Rib Doctor inc
3rd - Herb From The Curb Hickory Sweet-N-Tangy - D Watts Group, LLC
4th - My Dad's BBQ - My Dad's BBQ, LLC
5th - Jack Cawthon's Carolins Bar-B-Que Sauce - Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que, Inc
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 - Sonny's BBQ Blog - Sonny's Franchise Company
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.bushcooking.com "The Ultimate Outdoor Cooking Website" - Bush Cooking
2nd - www.smokinghotconfessions.com - Smoking Hot Confessions
3rd - www.jacksbarbque.com - Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que, Inc
4th - www. bowvalleybbq.com - Bow Valley BBQ, Inc
5th - www.BBQProshop.com - BBQ Pro Shop
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 - All Q'ued Up Podcast - All Q'ued Up BBQ & Grilling, LLC
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 - Big Swede BBQ YouTube Channel - Big Swede BBQ
2nd - Meet Stretch From JAGRD Wood Fired YouTube - Smoking Hot Confessions
3rd - The Pit Stop with Blue Smoke Blaire Video Series - The Pit Stop with Blue Smoke Blaire
4th - SCA Ribeye Roundup Show - All Q-ued Up BBQ & Grilling LLC
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 - "Pitmaster Profile: From the Gridiron to the Grill" - Sonny's Franchise Company
2nd - "How to Trim Beef Ribs" - Smoking Hot Confessions
3rd - "Road to the KCBS Invitational BBQ Contest: BBQ Dreams" - Prairie Fresh
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 - "How to Find the Hot Spots in Your BBQ" - Smoking Hot Confessions
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 - "Sonny's BBQ: A Dish-rags to Riches Story" - Sonny's Franchise Company
2nd - "The Sauce Bosses" - Bow Valley BBQ, Inc.
3rd - "Meet 'Stretch'" - Smoking Hot Confessions
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 - "Badass Backyard Cooking" - Big Swede BBQ
2nd - "Hot and Fast BBQ on Your Weber Smokey Mountian" - Smoking Hot Confessions
3rd - "Essential BBQ Herbs and Spices" - B Bartlett
4th - "Barbecue - Like A Boss" - Adam Roberts
5th - "How to Grill Vegetables" - Steven Raichlen
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 - The Rib Doctor Sales Sheet - The Rib Doctor, Inc
2nd - The Flavor Guide - The BBQ ProShop
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 - "The Rib Doctor" - The Rib Doctor, Inc
2nd - "Texas Best' - D Watts Group, LLC
3rd - BushCooking.com Promotional Poster - Bush Cooking
Personal Photograph/BBQ Blog
Includes any non-paid for photograph shared on a blog, webpage or social media throughout 2020.
1st - South American Beef Rib Spread - Smoking Hot Confessions
BBQ Character Photo
Includes cooking, joints/restaurants, characters, competitions and similar in 2020.
1st - J.B. Hare - C.C.C. - Cucamonga Cattle Co.
2nd - Eric Mendel Competition Life - Bush Cooking
3rd - "Rooster" - Wing-a-Lings Dry Rub
BBQ Food Photo
Includes any image where the food is the topic and accounts for 70+ of the image taken in 2020.
1st - "I Can't Believe It's From Aldi" - Smoking Hot Confessions
2nd - "Flat Top BBQ Fried Rice" - Bush Cooking
3rd - "Peppers" - Wing-a-Lings Dry Rub
Live Fire Photo
Includes any image where the fire is the topic and accounts for 70+ of the image taken in 2020
1st - "Setting the Pit" - Bush Cooking
2nd - "Tomahawk Fire Dancer" - Cucamonga Cattle Co.
3rd - "Small Fire" - Smoking Hot Confessions
4th - "Ribs" - The Rib Doctor, Inc