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Rubs and Sauces Of Honor
Barbecue News Magazine holds two events every year that are 
focused on helping readers and subscribers find the best barbecue sauce and rubs for chicken, pork, seafood, and beef. In 2025 we celebrate our 15th year of hosting and organizing these events that ANYONE can enter, regardless if you are a commercially available product or just a backyard enthusiast with a great product. Below you will find our winners list sorted for your convenience.
2024 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2024 Sauces of Honors Top 10 Winners
The 2024 competition was an exciting four-day event, with each day dedicated to judging a different category. We have listed the top 10 finishers in each of the four protein categories, but don’t worry—every participant will receive a full list of results to see how they did.
The top 10 in each category will be awarded certificates. Category winners will receive a special plaque to showcase their winning sauce and a $750 advertising deal with Barbecue News Magazine. First-place winners in each protein category will receive $300, while second-place winners will get $200. Additionally, the overall sauce category winner will take home a $500 cash prize, a $750 advertising deal with Barbecue News Magazine, and a one-year professional membership to the National Barbecue & Grilling Association worth $175!
Congratulations to this year’s winners and a huge thanks to all that participated.
2023 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2023 Sauces of Honors Top 10 Winners
The Barbecue News 2023 Sauces of Honor event had yet another record year with a total of 465 entries. 95 beef entries, 148 chicken entries, 160 pork entries, and 62 seafood entries made this the biggest Sauces of Honor event to date. The Sauces of Honor contest is the only barbecue sauce contest in the world that welcomes homemade sauces to compete with commercially produced sauces.
The contest is unique as the goal is simple; find the best sauce entered that accompanies beef, chicken, pork, or seafood. Your Barbecue News Magazine hosts this event every spring. In addition to the Sauces of Honor event, we also host the Rubs of Honor event as we search for the best barbecue rub for the same four proteins.
Listed below are the top 10 sauces for each of the four categories. Top 10 winners in each category will receive certificates, and the winner in each category will receive a special plaque made to display their winning sauce and their choice of a $750 bottling contract with SuckleBuster’s or $750 advertising contract with Barbecue News Magazine. 1st place winner in each category will receive $300. 2nd place in each category will receive $200.
Thank you to all who entered our 2023 competition. We are already looking forward to hosting the 2024 event and hope to see your entries then.
2022 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2022 Sauces Of Honor Top 10 Winners
The Sauces of Honor contest is the only barbecue sauce contest in the world that welcomes homemade sauces to compete with commercially produced sauces. The contest is unique as the goal is simple; find the best sauce entered that accompanies beef, chicken, pork, or seafood. Your Barbecue News Magazine hosts this event every spring.
2021 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2021 Sauces Of Honor Top 10 Winners
The 2021 Sauces of Honor broke the previous record of total sauces entered for the event with a total of 385 entries. 85 beef entries, 119 chicken entries, 131 pork entries, and 50 seafood entries made the event our largest to date. Here are the top 10 winners for each of the four sauce categories. Winners in each category will have their choice of a $750 advertising contract with Barbecue News Magazine or a $750 bottling contract with The Shed Saucery from Ocean Springs, MS. Huge thanks to all who entered to make this our biggest event to date and we are looking forward to the 2021 Rubs of Honor event!
2020 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2020 Sauces Of Honor Top 10 Winners
The Barbecue News 2020 Sauces of Honor event had a total of 228 entries. 51 beef entries, 69 chicken entries, 75 pork entries, and 33 seafood entries. Here are the top 10 winners for each of the four sauce categories.
2019 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2019 Sauces Of Honor Top 10 Winners
The National Barbecue News 2019 Sauces of Honor event had yet another record year with a total of 243 entries. 68 beef entries, 81 chicken entries and 94 pork entries made this the biggest Sauces of Honor event to date. The Sauces of Honor contest is the only barbecue sauce contest in the world that welcomes homemade sauces to compete with commercially produced sauces.
The contest is unique as the goal is simple; find the best sauce entered that accompanies beef, chicken or pork. Your National Barbecue News Magazine hosts this event every spring. In addition to the Sauces of Honor event, we also host the Rubs of Honor event as we search for the best barbecue rub for the same three proteins.
Listed below are the top 10 sauces for each of the three categories. Winners in each category will have their choice of a $750 advertising contract with the National Barbecue News Magazine or a $750 bottling contract with the Saucery from Ocean Springs, MS.
Thank you to all who entered our 2019 competition. We are already looking forward to hosting the 2020 event and hope to see your entries then.
2018 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2018 Sauces of Honors Top 10 Winners
Our 2018 event had a record total of 206 entries. 51 beef entries, 68 chicken entries and 87 pork entries made this the biggest Sauces of Honors event to date. The Sauces of Honor contest is the only barbecue sauce contest in the world that welcomes homemade sauces to compete with commercially made sauces.
The contest is very unique as the goal is really simple; find the best sauce entered that accompanies beef, chicken or pork. Your National Barbecue News hosts this event every spring and they also host the Rubs of Honor event as they go looking for the best barbecue rub for the same three proteins as the Sauces of Honor. Here are the top 10 winners for each of the three categories. Winners in each category will have their choice of a $750 advertising contract with the National Barbecue News or a $750 bottling contract with the Saucery from Ocean Springs, MS.
Huge thanks to all who entered to make this our biggest event to date and we are looking forward to the 2019 already!
2017 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2016 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2016 Sauces Of Honor Top 10 Winners
The Barbecue News 2016 Sauces of Honor event had a total of 159 entries. 42 beef entries, 58 chicken entries, and 59 pork entries. The Sauces of Honor contest is the only barbecue sauce contest in the world that welcomes homemade sauces to compete with commercially produced sauces.
2015 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2015 Sauces Of Honor Top 10 Winners
The Barbecue News 2015 Sauces of Honor event had a total of 165 entries. 50 beef entries, 56 chicken entries, and 59 pork entries. The Sauces of Honor contest is the only barbecue sauce contest in the world that welcomes homemade sauces to compete with commercially produced sauces.
2014 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2013 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2012 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2011 Sauces Of Honor Top Ten Winners
2023 Rubs Of Honor
2022 Rubs Of Honor
2021 Rubs Of Honor
2021 Rubs of Honor results
2020 Rubs Of Honor
2019 Rubs Of Honor
2019 Rubs of Honor results
2018 Rubs Of Honor
2018 RUBS OF HONORS
TOP 10 LISTS
The purpose for the annual Rubs of Honor event is very simple: find the best seasoning for chicken, pork and beef. Each of the top 10 finishers in each category is presented with a certificate and the winner in each category is presented with a national championship award. Each category winner also receives a $750 prepaid advertising contract with the National Barbecue News for the purpose of promoting their product to the barbecue world. The 2018 event had a record-breaking 202 entries this year!
2017 Rubs Of Honor
2017 Rubs of Honor results
The annual Rubs of Honor contest is an event that is run by the National Barbecue News and is the only rub contest in the country that anyone can enter.
The purpose for the annual Rubs of Honor event is very simple: find the best seasoning for chicken, pork and beef. Each of the top 10 finishers in each category is presented with a certificate and the winner in each category is presented with a national championship award that uses their actual entry as part of the award. Each winner also receives a $750 prepaid advertising contract with the National Barbecue News for the purpose of promoting their product to the barbecue world. This event always takes place in the fall of the year and the Sauces of Honors event happens each spring. The Rubs and Sauces of Honor events are perfect ways to test new products that you may want to market. You can find more info on these events at www.BarbecueNews.com /nbn-saucesrubs-honor
2017 Rubs of Honor National Champions presented by the National Barbecue News. Chicken champion rub (left) is Historic BBQ Red. Pork rub champion (center) is Up In Smoke BBQ Rub A and Beef champion rub (right) is Veterans Q beef rub.
2016 Rubs of Honors
2016 NBN Rubs of Honor Winners
BEEF (32 Entries)
1) All About The Meat Seasoning by
Chris Cavender
2) SPG by Sucklebusters
3) Popa Sisco’s Arkansaw Seasoning &
Rub by HogDog, LLC
4) Deep Tissue Massage by Big T Spice Co.
5) What’s Your Beef by Loot N’ Booty BBQ
6) Riley’s Red Rub by CRC BBQ
7) Brisket Rub by Hoghenheiferz BBQ
8) U-Betcha Beef by Eroc’s
9) Zen Steak Rub by BBQ Buddha
10) Beef Rub by Good Smoke BBQ
CHICKEN (36 Entries)
1) Chik Bait by Swimmin In Smoke
2) Championship Rub by 3 EYZ BBQ
3) Chix Rub by Damn Yankee Riders
4) Everything Rub by Loot N’ Booty BBQ
5) Riley’s Red Rub by CRC BBQ
6) Rescue by Code 3 Spices
7) Chicken Rub #1 by Torch It Up Q
8) Gold Star Chicken Rub by Loot N’ Booty
BBQ
9) Clucker Dust by Sucklebusters
10) BBQ+ by Wellspring Components, LLC
PORK (38 Entries)
1) Meat Rub by Wellspring Components,
LLC
2) Chipotle Cowgirl by Texas Select
Seasonings
3) Sticky Rub by Texas Select Seasonings
4) Radical Rib Rub by Swimmin’ In Smoke
5) BBQ +by Wellspring Components, LLC
6) Riley’s Red Rub by CRC BBQ
7) Booty Shake by Swimmin’ In Smoke
8) U-Betcha-Smokey Maple by Eroc’s
9) Rib Rub by Hoghenheiferz BBQ
10) Pork Magic by Zigs Pig BBQ Team
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