The 2024 season marked Bourbon & Blues BBQ’s first year competing as a professional team on the KCBS Masters circuit. What started as an adventurous BBQ road trip quickly turned into a full season of traveling the country, competing in KCBS-sanctioned contests, and testing ourselves against some of the top pitmasters in the sport. It was a year of learning, growth, memorable calls, and plenty of miles on the BBQ trail as we worked to establish ourselves at the next level of competition.
Bourbon & Blues BBQ 2024 Competition Schedule
While most of our 2024 schedule focused on KCBS Masters events, we also mixed in a few non-KCBS contests along the way, including events sanctioned by Champions Barbecue Alliance (CBA), the Florida Barbecue Association (FBA), and a non-sanctioned New Year’s Eve competition hosted by Myron and Michael Mixon.
We competed throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Mid-South regions, while also traveling well beyond our usual territory for events across the country.
| Date | Competition | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 6, 2024 | 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show | Elkton, FL |
| Jan. 27, 2024 | Lakeland Pig Festival | Lakeland, FL |
| Feb. 10, 2024 | Grills Gone Wild | Davenport, FL |
| Feb. 17, 2024 | Ribs on the Ridge Brews & BBQ | Haines City, FL |
| Feb. 24, 2024 | Mission Farms King of the Farm | Iron Station, NC |
| Mar. 2, 2024 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival | Lawrenceville, GA |
| Mar. 16, 2024 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship | Lebanon, TN |
| Mar. 23, 2024 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) | Urbanna, VA |
| Mar. 24, 2024 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) | Urbanna, VA |
| Apr. 13, 2024 | Bone Suckin’ Sauce Peak City Pig Fest | Apex, NC |
| Apr. 20, 2024 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 1) | Williamsburg, VA |
| Apr. 21, 2024 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 2) | Williamsburg, VA |
| Apr. 27, 2024 | Southaven Springfest | Southaven, MS |
| May 4, 2024 | Jiggy With The Piggy (Day 1) | Kannapolis, NC |
| May 5, 2024 | Jiggy With The Piggy (Day 2) | Kannapolis, NC |
| May 25, 2024 | Best Dam Barbeque | Boulder City, NV |
| Jun. 1, 2024 | Horsetown Brew n’ Que Festival | Norco, CA |
| Jun. 8, 2024 | Original SD BBQ Championships | Huron, SD |
| Jun. 15, 2024 | Almost Heaven BBQ Bash | Buckhannon, WV |
| Jun. 23, 2024 | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle | Washington, DC |
| Jul. 13, 2024 | South Carolina Festival of Discovery | Greenwood, SC |
| Jul. 20, 2024 | The Blaze of 47 BBQ Cookoff | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Aug. 3, 2024 | All American BBQ Throwdown | Westland, MI |
| Aug. 10, 2024 | Smoke on the Bricks | Baldwin City, KS |
| Aug. 17, 2024 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River | Excelsior Springs, MO |
| Sep. 1, 2024 | Smoke on the River | Burlington, KS |
| Sep. 14, 2024 | Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff | Waller, TX |
| Sep. 21, 2024 | Smoke on the Water | Pine Bluff, AR |
| Sep. 28, 2024 | TN River BBQ Fest | Saltillo, TN |
| Oct. 5, 2024 | Poosa Q | Montgomery, AL |
| Nov. 3, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue – Open Contest | Kansas City, KS |
| Dec. 31, 2024 | The Hog Drop (Non-Sanctioned Invitational) | Unadilla, GA |
This schedule reflects Bourbon & Blues BBQ’s KCBS Masters competition stops during the 2024 calendar year, including 31 KCBS Masters contests and the non-sanctioned Hog Drop Invitational.
Our 2024 Competition Season
Our first season on the KCBS Masters circuit turned into a true cross-country introduction to professional competition BBQ. We competed in 31 KCBS Masters contests, taking on everything from regional events to some of the largest and most competitive fields in barbecue.
Along the way, we earned four Top 10 overall finishes and 27 Top 10 category finishes, including two 1st Place Rib calls. One of the biggest moments of the season came at The Blaze of 47 BBQ Cookoff, where our ribs earned a perfect 180 and helped carry us to a Reserve Grand Champion finish.
The season also gave us a chance to test ourselves on one of the sport’s biggest stages, where we finished 4th in Pork at the American Royal Open against a field of more than 400 teams. More than anything, 2024 gave us the experience, confidence, and lessons that helped shape the seasons that followed.
2024 Season Highlights
- Reserve Grand Champion — The Blaze of 47 BBQ Cookoff — highlighted by a perfect 180 and 1st Place Ribs, plus 7th Chicken and 6th Pork
- 3rd Overall — Horsetown Brew n’ Que Festival — with 2nd Place Chicken and 6th Pork
- 6th Overall — TN River BBQ Fest — with 5th Chicken, 4th Pork, and 8th Brisket
- 9th Overall — Jiggy With The Piggy, Day 2 — with 6th Chicken, 5th Ribs, and 6th Brisket
- 1st Place Ribs — Revolutionary BBQ Brawl, Day 1
- 4th Place Pork — American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open — a standout finish against a field of more than 400 teams
2024 by the Numbers
31 KCBS Masters Contests • 4 Top 10 Overall Finishes • 27 Top 10 Category Finishes • 2 Category Wins • 1 Reserve Grand Champion • 1 Perfect 180 • High Score: 695.38
Our first year on the Masters circuit was a big step forward for Bourbon & Blues BBQ, and 2024 gave us plenty to build on. From long road trips and tough fields to breakthrough calls and unforgettable finishes, every contest added another lesson to the season. We’re grateful for the teams, organizers, friends, and supporters who were part of the journey.
Follow Us on the BBQ Trail
Explore more of our competition seasons, results, resources, and life on the road through On the BBQ Trail.
2 Responses
Congratulations on winning the Reserve Grand Champion @ the Blaze of 47 event in SLC.
THE ONLY ONE!!!!!!! THE BEST!!! 😊