LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — We’re the home of America’s first registered distillery and the mecca of Tennessee whiskey and for one weekend each October, the town of Lynchburg turns into the barbecue capital of the world during the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Barbecue.
The top barbecue teams from the U.S. and around the globe will return to Moore County to smoke, season and sear their way to a chance to be named the Grand Champion of what’s come to be known as the Superbowl of competitive barbecue. Festivities begin the afternoon of Friday and continue on Saturday.
Judges from around the country and thousands of barbecue enthusiasts will join competitive barbecue’s “best of the best” as they compete for the coveted title of Grand Champion and $25,000 in what is widely considered the world’s most prestigious barbecue competition. The top international teams will also be back to compete after not participating last year due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.
“In addition to the top domestic teams, we look forward to safely welcoming back the international competitors as well as all those who come out to support this event,” said Larry Combs, Jack Daniel Distillery’s General Manager. “We hope everyone will mark their calendars for October 14-15, because there will be smoke back again in the Hollow in 2022.”
More than 85 teams from across the United States and around the globe will compete in seven categories – Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder/Butts, Beef Brisket, Chicken, Dessert, Cook’s Choice, and Jack Daniel’s Sauce. To qualify, domestic teams must have won a state championship with a minimum of 25 competing teams, or a competition with more than 50 teams battling in the categories of Pork Ribs, Pork Butts, Chicken and Beef Brisket.
The final competitors are then selected during a blind drawing of all eligible teams in August. Additionally, automatic invitations are given to the 2021 Jack Daniel’s Grand Champion and this season’s grand champions from Memphis in May, The American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open, and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.
Other activities include original games such as the Country Dog Contest as well as Bung and Bag Toss competitions. Games begin Saturday at 11 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Tours of the Jack Daniel Distillery from the Visitor Center will also be available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Barbecue judging starts at 11:30 a.m., and the awards presentation will take place at 5 p.m.
Admission to the 33rd Annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue is a voluntary donation to the Moore County School system. For more information, please visit www.jackdaniels.com.•
{The Lynchburg Times is an independently-owned, community newspaper located in Lynchburg, Tennessee the home of The Jack Daniel Distillery. We focus on public service, non-partisan, rural journalism. We cover the Metro Moore County government, local tourism, Moore County schools, high school sports, Motlow State Community College, as well as whiskey industry news and regional and state stories that affect our readers.}