The Jack Daniel’s edition

Every team, every meat and every score from the 2026 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational.

Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests

The Smoke Ring

Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record

The Index

How It Was Won A2
Jack Daniel’s 2026 in Brief A3
Meat by Meat A4
The Field A5
Perfect 180s A6
Final Standings B1
Through the Years B2
The Record Book B3
Back Issues C1

Vol. XV · No. VIII Friday, October 9 – Saturday, October 10, 2026 Price: One Coffee

The 2026 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational

709.7144 winning score, out of 720 SmellaQue

99 teams invited

6.8916 points, first to second

13 perfect 180s

8th Jack Daniel’s on record

2 past champions in the field

51 teams at a first Jack Daniel’s

The 2026 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational

SmellaQue Wins the Jack Daniel’s

Their 709.7144 beats B's Que by 6.8916 points, in a field of 99 invited teams.

By The Smoke Ring Staff

2nd-highest winning score of 8 Jack Daniel’s Invitationals on record

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — SmellaQue won the 2026 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational in Lynchburg, Tenn., with 709.7144 out of 720, 6.8916 points clear of B's Que, the reserve grand champion. 99 teams were invited.

It was their 3rd Jack Daniel’s, and the first time they had won it. They went in as the field’s No. 10 seed on the power rating. The win was their 4th Grand Championship of 2026 and the 21st of their career. On the way they finished 5th in chicken, 16th in pork ribs, 11th in pork and 12th in brisket.

The meats went to Hot Daddy's BBQ in chicken (180), Mudville BBQ in pork ribs (180), Cynical BBQ in pork (180) and LC BBQ in brisket (180).

The winning score is the 2nd-highest of the 8 Jack Daniel’s Invitationals on record. The field included two past champions and 51 teams at their first Jack Daniel’s. Judges handed out 13 perfect 180s. The full standings run on B1.

99 teams
Reserve: B's Que
Lynchburg, Tenn.
Oct. 9-10

Section AHow It Was WonA2

Where the Title Was Won The champion against the reserve grand champion, meat by meat: who scored more, and by how much.

Chicken +3.4400

Pork Ribs +1.7028

Pork +1.7372

Brisket +0.0116

All four meats together: +6.8916 to the champion. The margin overall: 6.8916.

The Top Ten, Meat by Meat Each team’s place in each meat. The darker the box, the higher the call.

Overall	Chicken	Pork Ribs	Pork	Brisket
1 SmellaQue	5	16	11	12
2 B's Que	18	31	22	16
3 Muttley Crew BBQ	3	7	38	51
4 Janky Leg BBQ	20	24	39	8
5 Son of a Boar BBQ	22	39	25	17
6 Blind Fox BBQ	19	56	14	19
7 Kings BBQ Team	6	29	37	49
8 Hot Daddy's BBQ	1	46	31	45
9 Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA	44	5	33	23
10 Glamping Grillers	33	49	43	3

Won it
2nd–3rd
4th–10th
Outside the top ten

Section AJack Daniel’s 2026 in BriefA3

The defending champion

Defending Champion Kings BBQ Team Finishes 7th

The 2025 winner stays in the top ten.

7th of 99, after winning in 2025

Kings BBQ Team won the Jack Daniel’s in 2025 and finished 7th this time, with 699.3712.

An upset

The No. 10 Seed Takes the Title

SmellaQue went in rated 10th of the 92 teams in the field with a rating.

No. 10 seed on the power rating, going in

On the power rating going in, SmellaQue was the field’s No. 10 seed. The top seed, Janky Leg BBQ, finished 4th.

How it was won

SmellaQue Beats the Reserve in All Four Meats

Ahead of B's Que in every one, by the most in chicken.

4 of 4 meats ahead of the reserve

Meat by meat against B's Que: chicken +3.4400, pork ribs +1.7028, pork +1.7372 and brisket +0.0116.

The finish

The Biggest Winning Margin in Jack Daniel’s History

SmellaQue wins by 6.8916 points.

6.8916 points between first and second

SmellaQue finished 6.8916 points clear of B's Que, the widest margin of the 8 Jack Daniel’s Invitationals on record.

First time in

B's Que Takes 2nd on Its Jack Daniel’s Debut

51 teams cooked their first Jack Daniel’s in 2026.

2nd of 99, at a first Jack Daniel’s

B's Que finished 2nd with 702.8228 at their first Jack Daniel’s, the best of 51 teams in the field for the first time. They had won 6 Grand Championships in 2026 going in, more than any team in the field.

Perfect scores

13 Perfect 180s at the Jack Daniel’s

Six judges, every card a nine.

13 perfect 180s

Hot Daddy's BBQ in chicken, ELJEFE Smoke in chicken, Muttley Crew BBQ in chicken, Heath Riles BBQ in chicken, Mudville BBQ in pork ribs, Food'Venture Grill & BBQ in pork ribs, Black Bark Coyotes BBQ in pork ribs, Cynical BBQ in pork and 5 more scored a perfect 180.

Also at the 2026 Jack Daniel’s

Top Seed Janky Leg BBQ Has to Settle for 4th

Janky Leg BBQ went in as the field’s No. 1 seed on the power rating and finished 4th, with 701.6456. They are the 2026 points leader on KCBS’s Master Series standings. It is their 3rd top ten at the Jack Daniel’s.

SmellaQue Wins Without Winning a Meat

SmellaQue finished 5th in chicken, 16th in pork ribs, 11th in pork and 12th in brisket, and that was enough.

The Biggest Field in Jack Daniel’s History

99 teams cooked the Jack Daniel’s in 2026, the most of the 8 on record.

Mudville BBQ Wins Pork Ribs but Ends 41st Overall

Mudville BBQ won pork ribs with 180 and finished 41st overall.

The Highest Top-Ten Cutoff on Record

Tenth place at the Jack Daniel’s scored 698.2284, the highest of the 8 on record.

Chicken Was the Toughest Table

Across the field, chicken averaged 169.72, pork averaged 171.31, brisket averaged 171.46 and pork ribs averaged 172.20.

Chicken Went to a Tiebreaker

Hot Daddy's BBQ and ELJEFE Smoke tied on 180 in chicken, and KCBS’s tiebreaker gave it to Hot Daddy's BBQ.

Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA Cooks Its 7th Jack Daniel’s

Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA has cooked 7 of the 8 Jack Daniel’s Invitationals on record, starting in 2019 with a best finish of 6th, and finished 9th this year.

Most-Decorated Slaps BBQ Comes Home 23rd

Slaps BBQ came in with 49 Grand Championships on record, more than anyone else invited, and finished 23rd.

Section AMeat by MeatA4

Every Score in Every Meat One tick per team, out of 180; the ticks bunch darker where the scores did.

The champion
The meat’s winner
The median

Chickenmedian 171.41

1st 180 Champion, 5th 179.4400

Pork Ribsmedian 172.56

1st 180 Champion, 16th 176.5600

Porkmedian 171.42

1st 180 Champion, 11th 177.1428

Brisketmedian 171.97

1st 180 Champion, 12th 176.5716

Chicken

The top ten, out of 180 · 4 perfect 180s

Pl.	Team	Score
1	Hot Daddy's BBQ	180†
2	ELJEFE Smoke	180†
3	Muttley Crew BBQ	180†
4	Heath Riles BBQ	180†
5	SmellaQue	179.4400
6	Kings BBQ Team	178.2972
7	Titans of BBQ	177.7028
8	Bad Dog BBQ	177.7028
9	Butterbeard BBQ	177.7028
10	Good Googly Goo BBQ	177.1544

Pork Ribs

The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s

Pl.	Team	Score
1	Mudville BBQ	180†
2	Food'Venture Grill & BBQ	180†
3	Black Bark Coyotes BBQ	180†
4	Done Right Smokin	179.4400
5	Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA	177.7144
6	Scuffletown Smokers	177.7144
7	Muttley Crew BBQ	177.7028
8	LC BBQ	177.7028
9	Loot N' Booty BBQ	177.7028
10	Razorracks	177.7028

Pork

The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s

Pl.	Team	Score
1	Cynical BBQ	180†
2	Cooklounge BBQ	180†
3	Cast Iron Cookers	180†
4	BBQ Hot Yard	178.8800
5	B' Mackin BBQ	178.8572
6	Shiggin aint easy	177.7372
7	Smoke Central BBQ	177.7028
8	ELJEFE Smoke	177.7028
9	Triple H BBQ	177.7028
10	Razorracks	177.1772

Brisket

The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s

Pl.	Team	Score
1	LC BBQ	180†
2	Humphrey's BBQ	180†
3	Glamping Grillers	180†
4	Grandpa Val's BBQ	178.8572
5	Texas Oil Dust	177.7144
6	Cast Iron Cookers	177.7028
7	Shiggin & Grinnin	177.7028
8	Janky Leg BBQ	177.7028
9	Sticks & Stones BBQ	177.7028
10	Sweet Bayou BBQ	177.7028

Section AThe FieldA5

How the Field Scored Teams in each band of overall score, out of 720; 3 more scored under 655.

The champion
The rest of the top ten
The rest of the field

The busiest band held 12 teams. Every score is in the standings on B1.

The Field, One Square per Team In finishing order, the champion first, reading across.

Past champion (2)
Been before (46)
First Jack Daniel’s (51)

The Seeds Against the Finish The highest-rated teams going in, on the power rating, and where each finished of 99. The shaded band is the top ten.

No. 1 Janky Leg BBQ 4th

No. 2 Slaps BBQ 23rd

No. 3 Rooters-N-Tooters TN 24th

No. 4 Triple H BBQ 21st

No. 5 Scuffletown Smokers 16th

No. 6 Porky Butts BBQ 51st

No. 7 Shiggin & Grinnin 55th

No. 8 Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA 9th

No. 9 Hot Daddy's BBQ 8th

No. 10 SmellaQue 1st

Section APerfect 180sA6

13 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.

Section BFinal StandingsB1

Every team on the 2026 board, 99 in all: the overall out of 720 and each meat’s place. ★ a past Jack Daniel’s champion; ◆ a first Jack Daniel’s. Click a column head to sort.

Place	Team	Chicken	Pork Ribs	Pork	Brisket	Overall
1	SmellaQue	5	16	11	12	709.7144
2	B's Que ◆	18	31	22	16	702.8228
3	Muttley Crew BBQ	3	7	38	51	702.7884
4	Janky Leg BBQ	20	24	39	8	701.6456
5	Son of a Boar BBQ	22	39	25	17	699.9888
6	Blind Fox BBQ ◆	19	56	14	19	699.3944
7	Kings BBQ Team ★	6	29	37	49	699.3712
8	Hot Daddy's BBQ	1	46	31	45	699.3712
9	Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA	44	5	33	23	699.3484
10	Glamping Grillers	33	49	43	3	698.2284
11	ELJEFE Smoke	2	86	8	39	698.2172
12	Poor Boys BBQ	23	37	12	52	698.2168
13	Razorracks	71	10	10	32	697.7256
14	Wag's Backwoods BBQ	14	45	35	31	697.6684
15	LC BBQ	25	8	84	1	697.6456
16	Scuffletown Smokers ★	68	6	23	26	697.0740
17	Shiggin aint easy	52	13	6	65	696.5484
18	Tire Smoke BBQ	26	35	34	35	696.4912
19	Bocephus BBQ ◆	32	19	44	30	695.9656
20	Bull in the Ring ◆	82	30	13	18	695.9312
21	Triple H BBQ	41	25	9	57	695.9312
22	WEQ4U	39	36	16	47	695.9084
23	Slaps BBQ	34	28	58	27	694.1940
24	Rooters-N-Tooters TN	37	17	47	40	694.1824
25	Cast Iron Cookers ◆	59	94	3	6	693.1084
26	Okie Folks Barbecue ◆	62	55	17	24	693.0628
27	Cynical BBQ	51	23	1	86	693.0512
28	Big Johns BBQ Company ◆	28	44	57	36	692.5256
29	Cooklounge BBQ	91	47	2	29	692.4912
30	The Miller Lite Bunch ◆	47	60	26	25	691.9428
31	Drilling & Grilling	43	42	19	61	691.9428
32	Butterbeard BBQ ◆	9	90	59	14	691.9200
33	Mar-B-Que’s BBQ ◆	38	12	18	90	691.3368
34	Smoke Central BBQ ◆	36	43	7	81	691.3252
35	Dog Bite Barbecue	16	77	64	21	690.8000
36	Chicken Fried BBQ	67	11	51	43	690.2744
37	Smoky Cotte ◆	85	20	54	15	690.2056
38	Smokin’Volts BBQ ◆	27	67	20	71	690.2056
39	Heath Riles BBQ	4	93	30	74	689.5996
40	Brinkerhoff BBQ ◆	49	18	32	78	689.0624
41	Mudville BBQ ◆	70	1	79	41	689.0512
42	Bigg Smoak BBQ ◆	30	61	55	38	689.0512
43	B' Mackin BBQ	56	88	5	46	689.0400
44	Sticks & Stones BBQ ◆	21	96	46	9	689.0284
45	Humphrey's BBQ	46	52	90	2	688.5028
46	Done Right Smokin ◆	40	4	83	64	687.9544
47	Sweet Bayou BBQ	95	21	21	10	687.9200
48	Fire At The End of the Day	12	64	68	59	687.8968
49	Bad Rooster BBQ	58	75	28	44	687.3252
50	Bunch of Swines	13	76	56	67	686.7884
51	Porky Butts BBQ	42	63	67	34	686.7312
52	BrewsCue ◆	79	14	63	53	686.2172
53	Gettin’ Basted ◆	53	95	27	13	686.2056
54	Loot N' Booty BBQ	80	9	70	48	685.6224
55	Shiggin & Grinnin	69	73	69	7	685.5996
56	Texas Oil Dust	66	70	72	5	685.0628
57	Que U	63	27	53	76	685.0396
58	Go Pig or Go Home ◆	35	22	40	94	685.0396
59	Zips BBQ ◆	17	53	78	72	685.0396
60	Bone Rubbin BBQ ◆	75	71	15	63	685.0284
61	Black Bark Coyotes BBQ ◆	89	3	81	42	684.4912
62	Paddy McQ's	15	89	52	73	684.4684
63	Bad Dog BBQ ◆	8	26	73	95	684.4456
64	Smokey D's Wannabees ◆	88	34	29	68	683.9196
65	HotMess BBQ ◆	60	97	24	22	683.8968
66	All Fired Up BBQ ◆	54	69	50	54	683.3484
67	Maya Jane BBQ Co. ◆	11	92	48	80	682.7768
68	Good Googly Goo BBQ	10	58	82	77	682.1944
69	Small Axe BBQ	55	57	65	56	682.1712
70	Cocamoke Smoke BBQ ◆	57	33	62	82	681.6228
71	Titans of BBQ ◆	7	82	88	58	681.0628
72	Smokin' Aces BBQ ◆	74	51	36	83	681.0284
73	BBQ Hot Yard ◆	94	50	4	75	680.5140
74	Keij Smokin' Hot ◆	65	15	75	89	680.4340
75	Colorado Bulldawg BBQ	31	54	96	50	679.3828
76	Skinny Beans BBQ team ◆	50	91	49	70	679.3372
77	BBQ Symphony	64	48	92	37	679.3028
78	Pitmasters Syndicate ◆	45	85	74	55	679.2912
79	Dang Good BBQ ◆	24	78	66	85	679.2912
80	Crooked Pigs	77	59	87	28	678.7544
81	Angrycock BBQ ◆	72	38	86	66	677.6340
82	Justice BBQ	29	79	85	62	677.6228
83	Food'Venture Grill & BBQ	61	2	94	91	677.6112
84	Burnt Trees BBQ	78	72	41	79	677.6000
85	Knox BBQ ◆	76	68	42	84	677.0280
86	Kickin' Ash BBQ - Bulverde ◆	87	81	76	33	676.5144
87	The Antwerp Smokers ◆	97	65	45	20	674.7772
88	WYO Smoke Show ◆	84	32	71	92	673.5768
89	BEERS ◆	90	74	93	69	667.8512
90	Black Forest Germany ◆	86	62	89	88	667.2564
91	B.R.A. Barbecue Team	96	40	60	93	667.2452
92	Rob's Smokin and Grillin BBQ ◆	81	87	99	60	663.8400
93	BBQ WorX ◆	92	83	77	96	660.4228
94	BBQ Brothers	48	80	97	99	659.8512
95	Polish Bbq KING- Smoker ◆	83	66	95	98	659.2912
96	All Jacked Up ◆	73	98	98	87	656.4344
97	Lingon & Dill ◆	93	99	80	97	649.6000
98	Grandpa Val's BBQ ◆	98	41	91	4	537.0968
99	Grill and Chill ◆	—	84	61	11	515.4172

Every board, with the score charts, on the contest’s own page →

Section BThrough the YearsB2

The Winning ScoreOut of 720, every Jack Daniel’s on record

710.87 709.71

Teams InvitedThe size of each field

The Winning MarginPoints between first and second

6.8916

Jack Daniel’s Champions Every one on record to 2026, newest first. Each year has an edition of its own.

SmellaQue 2026 — this edition 709.7144 · by 6.8916 · 99 teams · Lynchburg, Tenn. · Reserve: B's Que
Kings BBQ Team The 2025 edition 710.8684 · by 6.3200 · 90 teams · Lynchburg, Tenn. · Reserve: BOGGS HOG BBQ
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS The 2024 edition 702.8228 · by 0 · 87 teams · Lynchburg, Tenn. · Reserve: JANKY LEG BBQ
UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT The 2023 edition 699.4056 · by 1.1540 · 81 teams · Lynchburg, Tenn. · Reserve: B'Mackin BBQ
Heavy Smoke BBQ The 2022 edition 703.4056 · by 1.0628 · 83 teams · Lynchburg, Tenn. · Reserve: GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ
GETTIN' BASTED The 2021 edition 703.4172 · by 3.8972 · 70 teams · Lynchburg, Tenn. · Reserve: SLAPS BBQ
Clark Crew BBQ The 2019 edition 705.1544 · by 1.7488 · 97 teams · Lynchburg, Tenn. · Reserve: Shake 'n Bake BBQ
COOL SMOKE The 2013 edition 693.1200 · by 1.6572 · 97 teams · Lynchburg, Tenn. · Reserve: A BOY & HIS BBQ

Section BThe Jack Daniel’s Record BookB3

Every Jack Daniel’s on record to 2026, the invitational itself only.

Highest Scores

Any finish, out of 720

1 SmellaQue2026 · 1st 709.7144
2 Clark Crew BBQ2019 · 1st 705.1544
3 GETTIN' BASTED2021 · 1st 703.4172
4 Shake 'n Bake BBQ2019 · 2nd 703.4056
5 Heavy Smoke BBQ2022 · 1st 703.4056
6 SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS2024 · 1st 702.8228
7 JANKY LEG BBQ2024 · 2nd 702.8228
8 B's Que2026 · 2nd 702.8228
9 Muttley Crew BBQ2026 · 3rd 702.7884
10 GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ2022 · 2nd 702.3428

Most Titles

Grand Championships

Most Appearances

Jack Daniel’s Invitationals cooked

1 Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA2019–2026 · best 6th 7
2 POLISH Bbq KING - SMOKER2013–2025 · best 78th 6
3 GETTIN' BASTED2019–2025 · best 1st 5
4 UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT2019–2025 · best 1st 5
5 Slaps BBQ2021–2026 · best 2nd 5
6 Razorracks2019–2026 · best 3rd 5
7 Fire At The End of the Day2019–2026 · best 10th 5
8 Paddy McQ's2019–2026 · best 11th 5
9 Crooked Pigs2021–2026 · best 19th 5
10 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ2019–2025 · best 26th 5

Closest Finishes

Points between first and second

1 SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS2024, over JANKY LEG BBQ 0
2 Heavy Smoke BBQ2022, over GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ 1.0628
3 UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT2023, over B'Mackin BBQ 1.1540
4 COOL SMOKE2013, over A BOY & HIS BBQ 1.6572
5 Clark Crew BBQ2019, over Shake 'n Bake BBQ 1.7488
6 GETTIN' BASTED2021, over SLAPS BBQ 3.8972
7 Kings BBQ Team2025, over BOGGS HOG BBQ 6.3200
8 SmellaQue2026, over B's Que 6.8916

Biggest Fields

Teams invited

1 2026won by SmellaQue 99
2 2013won by COOL SMOKE 97
3 2019won by Clark Crew BBQ 97
4 2025won by Kings BBQ Team 90
5 2024won by SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS 87
6 2022won by Heavy Smoke BBQ 83
7 2023won by UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT 81
8 2021won by GETTIN' BASTED 70

Best First Appearances

Finish at a first invitation

1 Kings BBQ Team2025 · of 90 1st
2 CLARK CREW BBQ2019 · of 97 1st
3 Heavy Smoke BBQ2022 · of 83 1st
4 Scuffletown Smokers2024 · of 87 1st
5 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ2019 · of 97 2nd
6 B's Que2026 · of 99 2nd
7 Good Googly Goo BBQ2022 · of 83 2nd
8 Slaps BBQ2021 · of 70 2nd
9 B' Mackin BBQ2023 · of 81 2nd
10 Shiggin aint easy2022 · of 83 3rd

Section CBack IssuesC1

Every Jack Daniel’s on record has an edition of its own. ← 2025

Jack Daniel’s editions: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2019 · 2013

The other invitationals: American Royal · World Invitational · every invitational on record

The season: 2026 in review · the latest edition