2020 Awards of excellence winners
Every year the National BBQ and Grilling Association runs the Awards of Excellence, acknowledging the commercial side of BBQ. Here are the talented winners of the 2020 awards.
Explore all 35 categories to see what opportunities exist for your business, products, marketing, media, and photos, there is something for everyone.
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 - Butch's Smack your lips BBQ-Happy Apple - Alyson Lupinetti
2nd - Eroc's Peach Bourbon Pomegranate - Eroc's LLC
3rd - SNAFU Elite BBQ Sauce - Warpig BBQ
Mustard BBQ Sauce
Key foundation ingredient must be mustard, and this be reflected in the product ingredients and flavor.
1st - Loot N' Booty BBQ Arizona Gold - Loot N' Booty BBQ
2nd - Croix Valley Honey Dijon BBQ ' n Brat Sauce - Croix Valley Foods
3rd - Jack Cawthon's Carolina Bar-B-Que Sauce - Jack's Bar-B-Que
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 - Chief Smokey - Company 7 BBQ
2nd - Smokey's Bar-B-Que Somkey Sweet BBQ Sauce - Smokey's Bar-B-Que
3rd - Myassis Dragon - Urban Q Smokehouse
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 - Hot Mama - BurnOut BBQ
2nd - Chipotle Glaze - Ole Hickory Pits
3rd - Pitty Que Spicy BBQ Sauce - Pitty Que
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 - Memphis Mop BBQ Sauce - BBQ Buddha
2nd - Meat Mitch Whomp! Naked BBQ Sauce - Meat Mitch
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 - Meat Mitch Whomp!BBQ Sauce - Meat Mitch
2nd - Eroc's Black Cherry Mango - Eroc's LLC
3rd - Manganero - Rob's Smokin Rub
White Sauce BBQ Sauce
Key foundation style must be mayonnaise, and this be reflected in the product ingredients and flavor.
1st - Jack Cawthon's Music City White Sauce - Jack's Bar-B-Que
2nd - Alabama White - BBQ'D Productions
3rd - Bully White Sauce - Bully Sauce Brand 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 - Eroc's Sweet Fig Jamaican Rum Sauce - Eroc's LLC
2nd - Meat Mitch Char Bar Table Sauce - Meat Mitch
3rd - Chipotle Apple - Tillmans BBQ
BBQ 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 - Hey Grill Hey BEEF - Hey Grill Hey
2nd - Competition Basic Beef - Texas Select Seasonings
3rd - SmokinGhostBBQ Steak & Brisket Rub - Smokin' Ghost BBQ
Pork Rub
A rub designed to be cooked with pork whether barbecued low and slow on smoke or hot and fast grilled.
1st - Pork Rub - Meat Mitch
2nd - Sweet and Bold (Fireman John's) - Fireman John's BBQ
3rd - BBQ'd Productions House Rub - BBQ'D Productions
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 - Chicken & Rib Rub - Red Neck BBQ Lab
2nd - Chicken Rub - Nunhath Hill BBQ Co
3rd - Loot N'Booty 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 - SmokinGhost BBQ Ghost Powder All Purpose Rub - Smokin' Ghost BBQ
2nd - Croix Valley Carolina Dry Rub - Croix Valley Foods
3rd - Fintastic - Denny Mike's Sauces and Rubs
Spicy Rub
A rub designed to be spicy and have a kick to it, this is to be reflected in its ingredients.
1st - Cow Bell Hell - Denny Mike's Sauces and Rubs
2nd - Rattlesnake Dust - Texas Select Seasonings
3rd - Blazin Cherry (Fireman John's) - Fireman John's 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 - Nell's Famous Sweet Heat - Nell's Famous
2nd - AP Rub - Grilla Grills
3rd - Smokey's Bar-B-Que Pitmaster rub - Smokey's Bar-B-Que
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 Ultimate Black's Barbecue Gift Pack - The Original Black's Barbecue
2nd - Gift Box - Red Neck BBQ Lab
3rd - Jack Cawthon's 4-Pack - Jack's Bar-B-Que
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 - Peg Leg Pork Rinds - Peg Leg Porker
2nd - Smokehouse Crackers - Spices Smokehouse LLC
3rd - Loot N' Booty BBQ Brown Sugar Hickory Pretzels - Loot N' Booty BBQ
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 - Fat Boy Creole Butter - Bar B Que Specialties
2nd - Blues Hog Beef Marinade Mix - Blues Hog LLC
3rd - Meat Revival Beef Injection & Marinade - Kevin Jaques
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 - Porkosaurus Coleslaw Dressing and Marinade - Porkosaurus BBQ
2nd - Hickman's Bovine Bonanza - Bar B Que Specialties
3rd - Fireman John's Marinade - Fireman John's BBQ
BBQ EQUIPMENT CATEGORY
Barbecue
This is a new or significant version release of a barbecue in 2019. A 'barbecue' is a smoker, grill or any outdoor cooking device using live fire, gas, pellet, or similarly recognized barbecue fuel source.
1st - Peg Leg Porker BMF -200 Smoker - Peg Leg Porker
2nd - SC-300 - Southern Pride
3rd - Pit Barrel Cooker - Pit Barrel Cooker
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 - The All New MeatStick Xtender Set - The MeatStick
2nd - Chop's FULL Power Injector System (Electric) - Barbecue Kansas City LLC
3rd - BBQ Cutlery Set - Gunter Wilhelm Cutlery
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 - The Hail Mary T-Shirt - Smoking Hot Confessions
2nd - Back The Blue Law Enforcement & Team BBQ'd Productions - BBQ'd Productions
3rd - Peg Leg Porker T Shirt - Peg Leg Porker
Product Label Design
This may be a product label of any BBQ product including but not limited to sauce, rub, equipment, or similar
1st - Peg Leg Porker Frozen Food Box - Peg Leg Porker
2nd - Our Own Chicken Wing Dry Rub - Shanin Stoddard
3rd - 180 Proof - 180 Proof
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 - www.bbqnewsletter.com - The Smoke Sheet
2nd - www.bbqbeat.com - The BBQ Beat Podcast with Kevin Sandridge
3rd - www.grillgrate.com - Grill Grate
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 - Bush Cooking
2nd - www.bestnaturalbbq.com - Bar B Que Specialties
3rd - https://bit.ly/2uP2omx - Smoking Hot Confessions
BBQ Audio Series
Includes radio, podcast or similar. A series is defined as a minimum of six audio programs that originally were broadcast within 2019. Each individual audio broadcast may be of any length. Three episodes must be submitted for consideration.
1st - Smoking Hot Confessions
2nd - The BBQ Beat Podcast with Kevin Sandridge
3rd - Pit Master Podcast
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 2019. Each individual video may be of any length. Three episodes must be submitted for consideration.
1st - video.mpt.tv/show/steven-raichlens-project-fire/ - Steven Raichlens Project Fire
2nd - Perfect Barbecue Method - Smoke & Grill Meat
3rd - www.grillgrate.com - GrillGrate
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 - Roast Grilled On Royal Oak Charcoal Fire Wall with Chef Mike Johnson - Royal Oak Enterprises inc
2nd - Love BBQ Consumer Video - Prairie Fresh
3rd - Southwest Crab Cakes on GMG Featuring Sterling Smith, Loot N'Booty BBQ - Loot N' Booty BBQ
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 2019.
1st - The Bacon Manifesto - Smoking Hot Confessions
2nd - Cured Pork Belly Bacon - BBQ Buddha
3rd - The Essentials - 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 2019.
1st - Smoked Brisket - Steven Raichlen
2nd - Bourbon+ Magazine Featuring Carey Bringle and Peg Leg Porker - Peg Leg Porker
3rd - Jack's Bar-B-Que - Jack's Bar-B-Que
Publication of the Year (Hardcopy)
Includes magazine, newspaper, periodical or similar
Entrants may submit up to three issues from 2019 for the judges' consideration.
1st - Tailgater Magazine
2nd - National BBQ News Magazine
3rd - International Dutch Oven Society
BBQ Book of the Year
Includes any BBQ book published in the year 2019
BBQ books may or may not include recipes and be released in any country.
1st - Brisket Chronicles - Steven Raichlen
2nd - Operation BBQ Relief
2nd - Mexican Book
Marketing Material
Includes any marketing material used during the year 2019
May include items such as calendars, handouts, trinkets, drink coolers, stickers, recipe cards or similar.
1st - Grilgrates Meat Temperature Magnet - Grill Grate
2nd - I Love BBQ Sticker - Prairie Fresh
3rd - Beef Rib Chew Toy - The Origianl Black's Barbecue
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 2019.
1st - Peg Leg Porker Frozen Food Product Cut Sheets - Peg Leg Porker
2nd - Choice of Champions- Blues Hog Sauce- Blues Hog - Blues Hog LLC
3rd - Ribeye Stack - Joey Machado
BBQ Blog/Personal Photograph
Includes any non-paid for photograph shared on a blog, webpage or social media throughout 2019.
1st - "SIS" - Daren Proctor
2nd - Afternoon Smoking - Allan Detrich
3rd - Meat and Veg - Richard Williams
BBQ Character Photo
Includes cooking, joints/restaurants, characters, competitions and similar in 2019.
1st - Up in Smoke - Daren Proctor
2nd - A Boy and His Tank - Warpig BBQ
3rd - The Godfather- Johnny Trigg- National BBQ League - Blues Hog LLC
BBQ Food Photo
Includes any image where the food is the topic and accounts for 70+ of the image taken in 2019.
1st - Peg Leg Porker Food Spread -Alyssa Joisa - Peg Leg Porker
2nd - Picanha at Kangaroo Valley - Smoking Hot Confessions
3rd - Brisket Rub Down - The Original Black's Barbecue
Live Fire Photo
Includes any image where the fire is the topic and accounts for 70+ of the image taken in 2019
1st - GA at Sugar Loaf Lake - Ben Arnot
2nd - Ring of Fire - Allan Detrich
3rd - Sausage + Fire - Richard Williams