British celebrity chef Marco Pierre White toured the United Kingdom several years ago searching for special foods. His discoveries, televised as Marco’s Great British Feast, culminated in a huge meal featuring the best of British cuisine. In this spirit, I offer you Wes’s Great Kentucky Barbecue Feast—a collection of my favorite smoked meats, sides, and desserts from my tour of the Commonwealth.
Smoketown USA, Louisville
Hickory Heaven Bar-B-Q, Marion
Mama Lou’s Bar-B-Que and Gifts, Uno
Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, Owensboro
Texican’s BBQ Pitt, Crestwood
Ole Hickory Pit, Louisville
Split Tree Barbecue, Alvaton
Thomason’s Barbecue, Henderson
Peak Bros. Bar-B-Que, Waverly
Hammerheads, Louisville
Backyard BBQ, Tompkinsville
Collins Barbecue, Gamaliel
Frances’ Bar-B-Que, Tompkinsville
R & S Bar-B-Q, Tompkinsville
Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q, Bowling Green
South Fork Grill, Glasgow
Bar B Que Shack, Hopkinsville
J & B Barbecue, Henderson
Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, Owensboro
Dave’s Sticky Pig, Madisonville
Ky. Butt Rubb’in BBQ, Lexington
Larry, Darrell & Darrell, Mayfield
Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, Owensboro
Sarah’s Corner Cafe BBQ, Lexington
Scotty’s Ribs and More, Louisville
Southern Reds Bar-B-Que, Pilot Oak
Carr’s Barn, Mayfield (pulled pork from whole shoulder)
Harned’s Drive In, Paducah (pork on toast)
Knockum Hill Bar-B-Q, Herndon (the big loin chop)
Leigh’s Bar-B-Q, Future City (pulled pork from whole shoulder)
Mr. BBQ & More, Grand Rivers (pulled pork from whole shoulder / hoggy sandwich)
Pit Stop BBQ, Murray (pulled pork from Boston butt)
Prince Pit BBQ, Bardwell (pulled pork from Boston butt)
Red Grogan’s Bar-B-Q, Clinton (pulled pork from whole shoulder)
Woodshed Pit BBQ, Hopkinsville (pulled pork from whole shoulder)
Hamilton’s Bar-B-Q, Burkesville
Red Barn Bar-B-Q, Tompkinsville
Shack in the Back BBQ, Louisville
Staxx, Frankfort
Texican’s BBQ Pitt, Crestwood
Big Kahuna Bar-B-Q, Leitchfield
Hardware Cafe, Cunningham
Dave’s Sticky Pig, Madisonville
KP’s Smokehouse, Central City
Thomason’s Barbecue, Henderson
Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, Owensboro
Billy’s Bar-B-Q, Lexington
Mama Lou’s Bar-B-Que and Gifts, Uno
Red State Barbecue, Lexington
Mr. BBQ & More, Grand Rivers
Billy’s Bar-B-Q, Lexington
Ky. Butt Rubb’in BBQ, Lexington
Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar, Louisville
Mama Lou’s Bar-B-Que and Gifts, Uno
Red Barn Bar-B-Q, Tompkinsville
Backwoods Bar-B-Que, Paducah
Frances’ Bar-B-Que, Tompkinsville
Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar, Louisville
Smoketown USA, Louisville
Smoketown USA, Louisville
Big R’s and Shannon’s BBQ, La Grange
Brothers Barbecue, Murray
Frankfort Avenue Beer Depot & Smokehouse, Louisville
Ky. Butt Rubb’in BBQ, Lexington
Mark’s Feed Store, Louisville
Ole South Barbecue, Owensboro
Pig in a Poke BBQ, Prestonsburg
Mama Lou’s Bar-B-Que and Gifts, Uno
Texican’s BBQ Pitt, Crestwood
Bar B Que Shack, Hopkinsville
Dave’s Sticky Pig, Madisonville
Dave’s Sticky Pig, Madisonville
Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, Owensboro
Mark’s Feed Store, Louisville
Pop’s Southern Style Barbecue, Morehead
Ruby Faye’s Bar-B-Que, Clinton
Sarah’s Corner Cafe BBQ, Lexington
Hamilton’s Bar-B-Q, Burkesville