In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in December 2023 — 1 Dec to 31 Dec.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
December 2023 in BBQ
The recap: every contest scored, every story, every board
Inside
The Stories
Score of the month
top 3% of every Master overall ever scored
Heavy Smoke BBQ put up 698.1940 at Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship — the highest overall of the month.
First one ever
Modest Meats won their first Grand Championship at Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship, in their 14th contest in the data.
- 1 Dec
Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 3 perfect 180s were handed out in December 2023.
- Pork Ribs ×2
- Brisket ×1
Closest call
Heavy Smoke BBQ edged CONTAGIOUS Q by 0.0000 at Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship.
- Master Series
Biggest riser
Modest Meats gained 19 rating points across 1 contest — the biggest climb of the month.
- 1 contest
- now #1756 overall
State champion
Heavy Smoke BBQ won Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship, a state championship, against a field of 17.
- Alabama
Best in the backyard
Modest Meats put up 347.3712 on the Backyard board at Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
- 1 Backyard board in Dec 2023
- won it
Biggest field
Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship drew 17 teams, and Heavy Smoke BBQ won it.
- Demopolis, AL
The Boards
Highest overall scores (Master · /720)
Best of each meat (both series · /180)
| Category | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship |
177.7028 |
| Pork Ribs ×2 💯 | Heavy Smoke BBQ Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship |
180 |
| Pork | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship |
177.7028 |
| Brisket ×1 💯 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship |
180 |
Straight nines (perfect 180s)
| Team | Category | Contest |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | Pork Ribs | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship |
| Kith n' Kin | Pork Ribs | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship |
| MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | Brisket | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship |
On the move (power rating)
| Team | Rating | Dec 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Modest Meats No. 1,756 in the power rankings |
1,550 | +19 |
| Colonel Rusty's No. 3,419 in the power rankings |
1,495 | +14 |
| Deviant Smoke No. 610 in the power rankings |
1,658 | +13 |
| Willingham's No. 3,199 in the power rankings |
1,501 | +8 |
| MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ No. 982 in the power rankings |
1,607 | +8 |
| CONTAGIOUS Q No. 133 in the power rankings |
1,785 | +7 |
| Heavy Smoke BBQ No. 112 in the power rankings |
1,800 | +7 |
| BatWing BBQ No. 3,213 in the power rankings |
1,500 | +7 |
| Poppa Pig No. 126 in the power rankings |
1,788 | +6 |
| Kith n' Kin No. 254 in the power rankings |
1,740 | +5 |
| M and M Finger Lickin' BBQ | 1,490 | -10 |
| Organizer Portal No. 95 in the power rankings |
1,812 | -10 |
| Little Stankys BBQ | 1,489 | -11 |
| Elect Rob Lee | 1,488 | -12 |
| JIGGY PIGGY No. 524 in the power rankings |
1,672 | -12 |
Who showed up
| Team | Contests | GCs | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Modest Meats | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| CONTAGIOUS Q | 1 | — | 2 |
| Deviant Smoke | 1 | — | 2 |
| NORALA BBQ TEAM | 1 | — | 3 |
| Poppa Pig | 1 | — | 3 |
| Colonel Rusty's | 1 | — | 4 |
| MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | 1 | — | 4 |
| Kith n' Kin | 1 | — | 5 |
| Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | 1 | — | 5 |
| Off The Rack BBQ | 1 | — | 6 |
| RIBLIFE | 1 | — | 6 |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 1 | — | 7 |
| SLATER HOUSE BBQ | 1 | — | 7 |
| BatWing BBQ | 1 | — | 8 |
Who ran the table
| Rep | Contests | States |
|---|---|---|
| Carol Bigler | 1 | 1 |
| Randy G Bigler | 1 | 1 |
Where they cooked
| State/Prov. | Contests | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 35 |
Best in the backyard (Backyard · /360)
New to the circuit
Every contest scored (1 in December 2023)
| Contest | Grand Champion | score |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship Dec 1, 2023 · Demopolis, AL · 17 teams |
Heavy Smoke BBQ RC: CONTAGIOUS Q |
698.1940 |
The Archive
Every month with scored results, back to the start of the data. Subscribe to the monthly feed and each one lands as it closes.
2026 (338 contests) · the 2026 season in review
2025 (386 contests) · the 2025 season in review
2024 (343 contests) · the 2024 season in review
2023 (376 contests) · the 2023 season in review
2022 (376 contests) · the 2022 season in review
2021 (310 contests) · the 2021 season in review
2020 (134 contests) · the 2020 season in review
2019 (430 contests) · the 2019 season in review
2018 (480 contests) · the 2018 season in review
2017 (517 contests) · the 2017 season in review
2016 (505 contests) · the 2016 season in review
2015 (494 contests) · the 2015 season in review
2014 (469 contests) · the 2014 season in review
2013 (436 contests) · the 2013 season in review
2012 (1 contest) · the 2012 season in review
Every figure here is computed from the public results at kcbs.us, refreshed nightly. The Smoke Ring is not a publication of the Kansas City Barbeque Society.