Bourbon Barrel Barbecue

09/27/2026

What a weekend! We stayed close to home at the 39th annual 17th Street Barbecue Praise the Lard. We felt pretty good about our cook and the judges at least partially agreed.

Chicken- 15th
Ribs - 1st 🍎🍎🍎
Pork/Brisket- 🤷‍♂️. We loved it, judges didn’t. On to the next one.

Good enough to get an invite to the 2027 KCBS World Championship Invitational Rib Cook-Off.

Thank you to all of our sponsors.

Weekend Bum BBQ
Empire Insulation Services
Cotton Gin Smokers
Live Fire and Smoke
Barrel Creek Farm

And while not formal sponsors (maybe we should change that 🤔), thanks to the following for helping us lay down some flavor!

Smokey Woods BBQ
DR Smoke
Rockwood Charcoal

09/27/2026

More to come…

09/25/2026

The weather couldn’t be better for our hometown competition!

Its time to go 🍎 picking at the 39th annual 17th Street Barbecue Praise The Lard in Murphysboro. Hopefully we can add another one of those beautiful trophies to our case next to the one from last year.

Come visit if you’re in the area!

Cotton Gin Smokers
Empire Insulation Services
Live Fire and Smoke
Weekend Bum BBQ
Barrel Creek Farm

09/23/2026

Always good to make this list!

Weekend Bum BBQ
Empire Insulation Services
Cotton Gin Smokers
Live Fire and Smoke

09/11/2026

08/23/2026

Well after being off the trail for a few months it was good to hear our name called at the Newton American Legion Post 20 Smoke Off with a

*PERFECT SCORE* pork call.

Thanks to our sponsors.

Weekend Bum BBQ
Cotton Gin Smokers
Live Fire and Smoke
Empire Insulation Services

08/22/2026

It’s a beautiful morning here in Newton, IL for the 3rd annual Newton American Legion Post 20 Smoke Off. Good luck to everyone cooking today!

Cotton Gin Smokers
Live Fire and Smoke
Empire Insulation Services
Weekend Bum BBQ
St. Louis BBQ Society
Rockwood Charcoal

05/30/2026

All set up and cooking at the 14th annual Smok'n in the Park in Smithton, IL. Good luck to everyone today, and thank you to our sponsors.

Cotton Gin Smokers
Weekend Bum BBQ
Live Fire and Smoke
Rockwood Charcoal
Empire Insulation Services