Each year, the National BBQ Association recognizes outstanding products throughout the BBQ industry through their annual Awards of Excellence.  Each year, products are judged in 24 different subcategories to determine the best of the best in four main categories: BBQ sauce, dry rubs and seasonings, marinades, and anything goes.  Judges also select winners in non-tasting categories such as BBQ labels, accessories, and apparel.

Without further delay, here are the winners of the 2012 National BBQ Association Awards of Excellence!  We are very proud to say that Big Ed’s Heirloom BBQ Sauce & Marinade took 5th place in the spicy vinegar category as well as 6th place in the oil & vinegar marinade category. We would have liked to done a little better but we will take it especially considering that this was all the way across the United States where they typically don’t favor a vinegar based bbq sauce and marinade. Congratulations to everyone and thanks to Big Wayner’s BBQ Blog for sharing the link.

You can always pick up a bottle of Big Ed’s Heirloom Here.

BARBECUE SAUCE – TOMATO MILD

• Sixth Place – Causey’s Foods – Causey’s Rib Sauce
• Fifth Place – Hank Daddy’s Barbecue – Hickory  Barbecue Sauce
• Fourth Place – Big Butz BBQ Sauce – Cranberry BBQ Sauce
• Third Place – Company 7 BBQ – Firefighter Sweet
• Second Place – Rufus Teague – Honey Sweet Sauce
• First Place – Porky’s Place BBQ – Mild Smokey Sauce

BARBECUE SAUCE – TOMATO SPICY

• Sixth Place – Buen Apetito – Chipotle BBQ Sauce
• Fifth Place – Ole Ray’s – Steak & Brisket BBQ & Cooking Sauce
• Fourth Place – Ole Ray’s – Pork-o-licious BBQ & Cooking Sauce
• Third Place – Slick’s Que Co. – Slick’s Original BBQ Sauce
• Second Place – Famous Dave’s of America – Wilbur’s Revenge
• First Place – 3 Taxi Guys – Sweet and Sassy Sauce

BARBECUE SAUCE – MUSTARD MILD

• Sixth Place – Sam Dog Barbecue – Yellow Dog Sauce
• Fifth Place – Ole Ray’s – Classic Gold Barbecue & Cookin
• Fourth Place – Hank Daddy’s Barbecue – Carolina Mild
• Third Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Mississippi Mild Mustard
• Second Place – Uncle Joe’s Sauces – Sweet Mustard
• First Place – Company 7 BBQ – Captain Carolina

BARBECUE SAUCE – MUSTARD SPICY

• Sixth Place – Porky’s Place BBQ – Mean Mister Mustard
• Fifth Place – Scott’s Pig Roast – Honey Mustard
• Fourth Place – Captain Mowatt’s Fiery Foods – Dirty Mustard
• Third Place – Ole Ray’s Sauces – Kentucky Gold Bourbon Barbecue
• Second Place – Smoky John’s #1 BBQ – Spicy Mustard BBQ Sauce
• First Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Spice It Up Mustard Sauce

BARBECUE SAUCE – FRUIT MILD

• Sixth Place – Ole Ray’s Sauces – Peach-A-Licious Barbecue & Cooking
• Fifth Place – Squealers Award Winning Sauces – Smokey Sweet Sauce
• Fourth Place – Texas Smokehouse Sauce – Apple BBQ Sauce
• Third Place – Smackers BBQ – Smack Me Mild Smackin’ Sauce
• Second Place – Ole Ray’s Sauces – Blackberry Wine Barbecue & Cooking Sauce
• First Place – 3 Guys Smokin’ LLC – Smokin’ Razz

BARBECUE SAUCE – FRUIT SPICY

• Sixth Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Spicy Orange Sunset Sauce
• Fifth Place – 3 Taxi Guys – Sweet and Sassy
• Fourth Place – Smackers BBQ – Smack Me Hard Spicy Smackin’ Sauce
• Third Place – 3 Guys Smokin’ LLC – Smokin’ Razz Bold & Spicy
• Second Place – Smoky John’s #1 BBQ – Spicy Fruit BBQ Sauce
• First Place – Tennessee River Barbeque – Apple Jack Barbecue Sauce

BARBECUE SAUCE – VINEGAR MILD

• Sixth Place – Sucklebusters – Original BBQ Sauce
• Fifth Place – Smoky John’s #1 BBQ – Mild Vinegar Sauce
• Fourth Place – Sweet Swine O’ Mine – Sweet Sauce O’ Mine Original
• Third Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Mississippi Mild Vinegar Sauce
• Second Place –3 Guys Smokin’ LLC – Smokin’ Blue
• First Place – Uncle Joe’s Sauces – Tangy BBQ Sauce

BARBECUE SAUCE – VINEGAR SPICY

• Sixth Place – Woody’s Bar-B-Q Sauce Co. – Original Hot Bar-B-Q Sauce
• Fifth Place – Pigtail Brands – Big Ed’s Heirloom BBQ Sauce
• Fourth Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Mississippi Classic Spicy Vinegar
• Third Place – 3 Taxi Guys – Tijuana Taxi Sauce
• Second Place – Smoky John’s #1 BBQ – Spicy Vinegar BBQ Sauce
• First Place – Woody’s Bar-B-Q Sauce Co. – Hickory Hot Bar-B-Q Sauce

BARBECUE SAUCE – WHITE SAUCE

• Third Place – Jack’s Bar-B-Que – Jack’s Music City White Sauce
• Second Place – MoMo’s BBQ & Grill – Alabama White Sauce
• First Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Rene’s White Mediterranean Sauce

BARBECUE DRY RUB/SEASONING – ALL PURPOSE

• Sixth Place – Pirate Jonny’s – Pirate Jonny’s BBQ Curry
• Fifth Place – Alspaugh’s – Alspaugh’s Secret Seasoning
• Fourth Place – Top Secret Gourmets – Pulled Porky Carolina Q Spice Rub
• Third Place – Tabby’s – Trim Tabb’s Pig Powder
• Second Place – Sweet Swine O’ Mine – Sweet Rub O’ Mine
• First Place – Woody’s Bar-B-Q Sauce Co. – Woody’s Dry Rub

BARBECUE DRY RUB/SEASONING – SOUTHWEST

• Sixth Place – Char Crust, Inc. – Char Crust Smoky Spicy Southwest
• Fifth Place – DennyMike’s Sauces & Rubs – Cow Bell Hell
• Fourth Place – DennyMike’s Sauces & Rubs – Chick Magnet
• Third Place – Woody’s Bar-B-Q Sauce Co. – Woody’s Dry Rub & Seasoning
• Second Place – DennyMike’s Sauces & Rubs – Pixie Dust
• First Place – Scott’s Pig Roast – Blackened Magic Dry Rub

BARBECUE DRY RUB/SEASONING – CAJUN

• Sixth Place – DennyMike’s Sauces & Rubs – Pixie Dust
• Fifth Place – Lynch BBQ Company – Lynch’s Rajun Cajun
• Fourth Place – Scott’s Pig Roast – Blackened Magic Dry Rub
• Third Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Rene’s Season All
• Second Place – DennyMike’s Sauces & Rubs – Cow Bell Hell
• First Place – Smoky John’s #1 BBQ – Cajun Seasoning

BARBECUE DRY RUB/SEASONING – CARIBBEAN JERK & MEDITERRANEAN/HERB

• Sixth Place – Char Crust, Inc. – Char Crust Roasted Garlic Peppercorn
• Fifth Place – Pirate Jonny’s, LLC – Pirate Jonny’s Caribbean
• Fourth Place – Scott’s Pig Roast – Blackened Magic Dry Rub
• Third Place – Top Secret Gourmets – Xhot Jamaican Habanero & Lime
• Second Place – Lynch BBQ Company – Lynch’s Butter and Garlic
• First Place – Pirate Jonny’s LLC – Pirate Jonny’s Jamaican Jerk

HOT SAUCE

• Sixth Place – Big Butz BBQ Sauce – Big Butz “No Butz” BBQ Sauce
• Fifth Place – Ole Ray’s Sauces – Get Sauced Pepper Sauce
• Fourth Place – Rufus Teague – Blazin’ Hot
• Third Place – Sucklebusters, Inc. – Texas Heat Chipotle Pepper Sauce
• Second Place – Captain Mowatt’s Fiery Foods – Canceaux Sauce
• First Place – Smackers BBQ LLC – Smack Me Hard Hot Sauce

BARBECUE MARINADE – CITRUS/FRUIT

• Second Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Zest of Freshness
• First Place – Lynch BBQ Company – Boar’s Berry Blaster

BARBECUE MARINADE – OIL & VINEGAR

• Sixth Place – Pigtail Brands BBQ Sauce – Big Ed’s Heirloom BBQ Sauce
• Fifth Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Rene’s Mighty Good Meat
• Fourth Place – Stubb’s Legendary Kitchen – Texas Butter Injectable Marinade
• Third Place – Famous Dave’s of America – Chicken Marinade
• Second Place – Stubb’s Legendary Kitchen – Chipotle Butter Injectable Marinade
• First Place – 3 Taxi Guys – Tijuana Taxi Sauce

BARBECUE MARINADE – CARIBBEAN

• Fourth Place – Scott’s Pig Roast – Scott’s Famous BBQ Honey Mustard
• Third Place – Scott’s Pig Roast – Mild Scott’s Famous BBQ
• Second Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Caribbean Mojo
• First Place – Scott’s Pig Roast – Original Scott’s Famous BBQ

BARBECUE MARINADE – ASIAN

• Sixth Place – Easy Peasy Foods – Chicken Insurance
• Fifth Place – Buckboard Collection – Cause… East Meets West Cowboytaki Style
• Fourth Place – Scott’s Pig Roast – Original Scott’s Famous BBQ
• Third Place – Rocky Mountain Products – Rocky Mountain Chinese BBQ
• Second Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Kinky Asian Marinade
• First Place – Famous Dave’s of America – Teriyaki Marinade

BARBECUE MARINADE – MUSTARD

• Fourth Place – Lynch BBQ Company – Lynch’s Sweet Swine Honey Mustard
• Third Place – Scott’s Pig Roast – Honey Mustard – Scott’s Famous BBQ
• Second Place – The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint – Mighty Mustard Marinade
• First Place – Rocky Mountain Products – Carolina Mustard

BEST BBQ TOOL/ACCESSORY

• Sixth Place – Chef Locke – Smokin’ Chips
• Fifth Place – Chef Locke – BBQ Smoke Bombs
• Fourth Place – Chef Locke – Beer, Bourbon & Tequila BBQ Wraps
• Third Place – Chef Locke – Beer Can Chicken Plank
• Second Place – Chef Locke – Pullin’ Pork Forks
• First Place – GrillGrate – AmazingRibs.com Temperature Chart

BEST BBQ GIFT PACK

• Sixth Place – Jack’s Bar-B-Que – Jack’s 4 Pack
• Fifth Place – DennyMike’s Sauces & Rubs – Wooden Crate 9 Pack
• Fourth Place – Chef Locke – Larry the Cable Guy BBQ Gift Pack
• Third Place – Stubb’s Legendary Kitchen – Stubb’s Legendary Texas BBQ Kit
• Second Place – Rufus Teague – Gift Crate
• First Place – DennyMike’s Sauces & Rubs – Cue Lover’s Branded Shipper 9-Pack

BEST BBQ APPAREL

• Second Place – Scott’s Pig Roast Shirt
• First Place – Twyford BBQ Shirt

BEST LABEL

• Sixth Place – Famous Dave’s of America – Devil Spit
• Fifth Place – DennyMike’s Sauces & Rubs – Hot n’ Nasty
• Fourth Place – Sweet Swine O’ Mine – Sweet Sauce O’ Mine Original
• Third Place – Hill Country BBQ – Peach Habanera BBQ Sauce
• Second Place – Rufus Teague – Honey Sweet BBQ Sauce
• First Place – Pirate Jonny’s – Scorched Pirate Chef Flask