ROCKY TOP BARBECUE WINS TOP PRIZE AT 29th ANNUAL JACK DANIEL’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP INVITATIONAL 

 

 

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. (Oct. 28, 2017) – Rocky Top Barbecue from Jonesborough, Tenn., claimed the title of Grand Champion at the 29th Annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue held today in Lynchburg. 

 

As Grand Champion, Rocky Top Barbecue earns $10,000, braggin’ rights as winner of what many consider to be the most prestigious barbecue contest in the world, and the chance to defend its title next year in 2018. 

 

“This is the second time that we’ve competed at The Jack, and the first time we weren’t really happy with our results,” said Rocky Top’s Walt Moulton. “But I think we certainly made up for it this year, and it’s just an incredible experience to win this event against this type of competition.”

 

Rocky Top BBQ has competed in regional competitions for several years and owns the Grand Champion title from the Blue Ridge BBQ Festival (2013, 2015) and has also claimed the top prize at a Sam’s Club National Tour event in 2015.

 

To compete in The Jack™, domestic teams must win a state championship with at least 25 teams or a competition of 50 teams or win one of the premiere barbecue competitions in the U.S.—Memphis in May, American Royal Open or Houston World’s Championship Bar-B-Que—which qualifies a team for an automatic berth. At The Jack, each team competes in seven categories – Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder/Butts, Beef Brisket, Chicken, Dessert, Cook’s Choice, and Jack Daniel’s Sauce.

 

Sixty-seven championship teams from the U.S. and 23 international teams from countries including Austria, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom convened in Lynchburg to compete for the covered Grand Champion title. 

 

“It’s always exciting to see each team’s passion and dedication at the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue. They live and breathe barbeque. It’s great to see the competition getting hotter every year, yet the friendly atmosphere remains,” said Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jeff Arnett. “We want to congratulate Rocky Top Barbecue on winning the title of Grand Campion—that’s an incredible feat.” 

 

The American Dream BBQ Team from Tecumseh, OK, was named the Reserve Grand Champion, taking home the second-place cash prize of $2,500. Other teams rounding out the top 10 are:

 

3. Smokin’ Hoggz BBQ (Abington, MA)
4. Parrothead Smokers (Dakota Dunes, SD)
5. Gettin’ Basted (Springfield, MO)
6. Lucky’s Q (Waverly, IA)
7. R Butts R Smokin (Liberty, MO)
8. Drilling & Grilling BBQ Team (Glenn Rock, PA
9. Shake ‘N Bake BBQ (New Haven, MO)
10. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q (Decatur, AL)

 

Click Here to learn more about the 2017 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue.