BACON & WHISKEY

BACON & WHISKEY is a competition barbecue team with 19 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2016 and 2021. Their best overall finish is 4th of 34 at the International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN (JUDGES FULL) (2018). They are ranked #1348 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,348

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1576

peak 1578 · rated over 19 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 22, 2016

latest Jun 18, 2021 · 5.2 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#452

Master 2017 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

42% of 19 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 43%

overall standings

Best overall

691.9544 / 720

Master · Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off

Perfect 180s

Current form

678.52 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 674.14 (+4.39)

Walk rate

74%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

179.4400

Brisket · International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN

Consistency

±11.98

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 169.34 · weakest Pork Ribs (167.49)

Road miles

747

across 19 mapped stops · furthest 67 mi

Schedule strength

46%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1560)

Purse competed for

$41K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 4 state-championship entries

Master avg

674.14 / 720

19 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (9 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

They almost always walk

74% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 14 of 19 contests

A top-10 category call in 74% of their 19 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

691.9544 career-best overall

96.1% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 691.9544 at Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off — 96.1% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jun 16, 2017

Their season

2017 their best year

2017 was the year it came together: 6 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 2 category wins, at an average finish in the top 32%.

6 contests
5 overall top-10s
2 category wins
average top 32%

A tough matchup

8–1 behind in the head-to-head

Swine Life ahead in 89% of their meetings

Swine Life has come out ahead in 8 of their 9 shared contests.

A strong matchup

8–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 89% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of HILLTOP HOGGERS in 8 of their 9 shared contests.

The comeback

1.8 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.8 years, then back at DeSoto Shrine Club 13th Annual BBQ Cook-Off (Jun 18, 2021).

last seen Sep 6, 2019
back Jun 18, 2021

Pork nemesis

7 of 11 shared pork entries lost

HOTTY TOTTY BBQ CREW ahead 64% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, HOTTY TOTTY BBQ CREW has out-cooked them in 7 of 11 shared pork entries.

Show 2 more storylines

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

BLUE COLLAR BBQ MS has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The metronome

±1.66% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.66% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 93.6% of a perfect score
19 contests

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2021 ↗	Master	#1236 (60 pts)	#1183 (85 pts)	#935 (145 pts)	#1262 (60 pts)	#1245 (60 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#841 (343 pts)	#979 (288 pts)	#844 (373 pts)	#998 (288 pts)	#852 (368 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#704 (478 pts)	#760 (453 pts)	#859 (403 pts)	#806 (428 pts)	#829 (408 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#452 (841 pts)	#533 (746 pts)	#510 (776 pts)	#453 (856 pts)	#424 (926 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1656 (144 pts)	#1189 (279 pts)	#1838 (129 pts)	#1238 (264 pts)	#1783 (129 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to BACON & WHISKEY, each with one reason worth a look.

30 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

BUTTS A'BLAZE BATESVILLE

#1,350 of the rated field

1576 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 28%
Peak: 1576

2–2 in 4 shared contests (50% to BACON & WHISKEY)

These two have cooked 4 of the same contests — honours even — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 25 contests
last seen Oct 6, 2017

⚔ Head-to-head

RACK CITY BBQ

#1,353 of the rated field

1575 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 22%
Peak: 1575

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 18 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 18 contests
last seen May 23, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Spitballs BBQ

#1,345 of the rated field

1576 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1576

Careers of much the same size, 14 contests to 19, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Berkee Raes BBQ

#1,349 of the rated field

1576 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 54%
Peak: 1576

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 13 contests, alongside a 54% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Jun 14, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

Z-QUE

#1,346 of the rated field

1576 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 31%
Peak: 1576

Level with BACON & WHISKEY on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Aug 9, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

WALLY BBQ

#1,352 of the rated field

1576 power rating

Contests: 31
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 35%
Peak: 1576

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 31 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 31 contests
last seen Sep 7, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SMOKIN' BUTTS	14	8	6	57%	⚔ compare
HOTTY TOTTY BBQ CREW	12	6	6	50%	⚔ compare
KILLER HOGS	12	4	8	33%	⚔ compare
BLUE COLLAR BBQ MS	11	6	5	55%	⚔ compare
HILLTOP HOGGERS	9	8	1	89%	⚔ compare
HEAVENLY MANNA BBQ	9	3	6	33%	⚔ compare
RAZORRACKS	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
Swine Life	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
UNCLE POOKIE & THE RIBLETS	8	7	1	88%	⚔ compare
HOGG LEGG SMOKERS	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare
Q-BONES BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
Porkosaurus	7	7	0	100%	⚔ compare
UNCLE FEOL'S TENNESSEE STYLE BBQ	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
Sloppy Hog BBQ	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
TENNESSEE MOJO	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	19	6	0	0	174.8572	159.9656	169.32	top 46%
Pork Ribs	19	5	1	1	178.8572	158.2400	167.49	top 46%
Pork	18	7	1	1	176.5600	162.2400	169.34	top 42%
Brisket	19	8	1	1	179.4400	147.8972	168.03	top 45%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	top 36%
Medium (20–39)	9	top 45%
Large (40+)	9	top 41%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MS	12	top 47%
TN	6	top 32%
AR	1	top 62%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN	3	4	top 21%	Sep 6, 2019
Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off	3	5	top 24%	Jun 14, 2019
Southaven Springfest	3	7	top 39%	Apr 26, 2019

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 6 contests

Contests a season 3.8 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MS 12 of 19 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 13 3 of them more than once

Opponents faced 319 finished ahead 394 times, behind 271

Longest layoff 1.8 yrs Sep 6, 2019 → Jun 18, 2021

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20211 milestone

Jun 18 Most recent contest DeSoto Shrine Club 13th Annual BBQ Cook-Off

20191 milestone

Sep 6 Peak power rating (1578) International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN

20175 milestones

Apr 14 First overall top-10 2017 Smokin' in the Forest
Apr 28 First category win (Pork) Southaven Springfest
Jun 16 Career-best overall score691.9544 Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off
Sep 8 10th tracked contest International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN
Sep 8 Career-best single call (Brisket)179.4400 International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN

20163 milestones

Apr 22 First tracked contest Southaven Springfest
Apr 22 First call Southaven Springfest
Apr 22 First overall past 90% of a perfect score666.7428 Southaven Springfest

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.9	Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off	Jun 16, 2017
+13.4	Southaven Springfest	Apr 28, 2017
+12.2	International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN (JUDGES FULL)	Sep 7, 2018
+10.7	Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off	Jun 15, 2018
+10.3	International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN	Sep 8, 2017

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-8	Hog Wild BBQ Festival	Sep 29, 2016
-5.1	Mississippi Springfest BBQ Contest	May 13, 2016
-2	DeSoto Shrine Club 13th Annual BBQ Cook-Off	Jun 18, 2021
-1.4	Delta Smoke BBQ Contest	Jun 9, 2017
-0.8	Southaven Springfest	Apr 22, 2016

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2021	1	0	0	100%	top 54%	93.7%	93.7%
2019	3	1	0	67%	top 36%	94.4%	94%
2018	5	2	1	60%	top 38%	95.9%	93.7%
2017	6	5	2	83%	top 32%	96.1%	94.5%
2016	4	0	0	75%	top 67%	93.7%	91.9%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jun 18, 2021	DeSoto Shrine Club 13th Annual BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Nesbit, MS	26 / 48 (674.7656)	20 (170.8344)	9 (174.2972)	31 (165.1200)	30 (164.5140)
Sep 6, 2019	International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN 🏅 Millington, TN	10 / 32 (675.8856)	26 (160.4912)	5 (174.2744)	17 (164.5600)	4 (176.5600)
Jun 14, 2019	Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off 🏅 Hernado, MS	19 / 49 (679.9312)	17 (173.7028)	19 (171.4400)	—	27 (166.2628)
Apr 26, 2019	Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS	12 / 31 (674.7084)	10 (170.2628)	16 (166.2400)	11 (168.5256)	16 (169.6800)
Sep 7, 2018	International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN (JUDGES FULL) Millington, TN	4 / 34 (687.3256)	5 (174.2744)	12 (169.6800)	8 (171.4056)	8 (171.9656)
Jun 15, 2018	Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off Hernado, MS	9 / 45 (690.7772)	15 (171.9656)	1 (178.8572)	32 (165.6800)	9 (174.2744)
Apr 27, 2018	Southaven Springfest Southaven, MS	19 / 34 (665.5196)	22 (168.5256)	19 (163.9544)	8 (171.9656)	22 (161.0740)
Apr 6, 2018	Eighth Annual Bull Moose (JUDGE'S FULL) Somerville, TN	20 / 40 (665.5540)	21 (167.9656)	21 (165.0856)	28 (162.8000)	13 (169.7028)
Mar 16, 2018	Hog Wild BBQ Contest Corinth, MS	18 / 36 (664.3880)	14 (170.8344)	15 (166.8228)	29 (163.3596)	27 (163.3712)
Sep 8, 2017	International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN Millington, TN	9 / 42 (690.2400)	7 (174.8572)	14 (167.4172)	23 (168.5256)	1 (179.4400)
Jun 16, 2017	Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off Nesbit, MS	5 / 41 (691.9544)	12 (172.5600)	12 (171.9772)	13 (170.8228)	5 (176.5944)
Jun 9, 2017	Delta Smoke BBQ Contest Wynne, AR	28 / 45 (659.2684)	22 (169.1084)	37 (158.2400)	20 (168.5372)	30 (163.3828)
Jun 2, 2017	Variety Children's Charity BBQ Bash Memphis, TN	10 / 25 (679.9084)	8 (173.1084)	12 (168)	13 (169.1200)	7 (169.6800)
Apr 28, 2017	Southaven Springfest Southaven, MS	7 / 33 (686.7768)	16 (169.6684)	4 (175.4400)	1 (174.8456)	21 (166.8228)
Apr 14, 2017	2017 Smokin' in the Forest Millington, TN	5 / 14 (674.7884)	8 (163.9540)	6 (162.2744)	4 (173.7028)	5 (174.8572)
Sep 29, 2016	Hog Wild BBQ Festival Corinth, MS	23 / 28 (648.9600)	15 (168.5256)	24 (161.0856)	23 (162.2400)	22 (157.1088)
Jun 17, 2016	The Desoto Shrine Club 8th Annual BBQ Cook Off Hernando, MS	22 / 41 (674.7084)	33 (162.7884)	33 (161.0972)	6 (176.5600)	7 (174.2628)
May 13, 2016	Mississippi Springfest BBQ Contest Ashland, MS	19 / 26 (656.4116)	5 (173.7028)	21 (159.9544)	4 (174.8572)	23 (147.8972)
Apr 22, 2016	Southaven Springfest Southaven, MS	25 / 41 (666.7428)	35 (159.9656)	26 (166.2628)	5 (175.4172)	23 (165.0972)

BACON & WHISKEY

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (9 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

Their season

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

The metronome

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)