WASHINGTON ISLAND, WI, August 31, 2015 — In an exciting reprise of their 2012 win, the T-Mac Smokin’ barbecue team from Appleton once again claimed the Grand Championship prize at the 4th annual Death’s Door BBQ (DDBBQ) this past Saturday, August 29 on Washington Island. When Tom McIntosh and his crew received the 2012 award, it happened to be the event’s inaugural contest. Their Grand Championship win later took T-Mac Smokin’ to Kansas City, MO, location of the Kansas City Barbecue Society, where the team finished second in the American Royal Invitational contest, with 100 top teams competing.
This year, Death’s Door BBQ featured 35 teams from five states, all competing for the coveted 2015 Grand Champion award. Tim’s Full Belli Deli team, from Oshkosh, WI, just missed the top spot and was presented with the Reserve Grand Champion award.
L-R: Becky McIntosh; Tom McIntosh, Chief Cook, T-Mac Smokin’, Grand Champions; and Dick Jepsen, Chairman, Death’s Door BBQ. Photo ©2015 Matt Weigand
Winners in each of the event’s “meat categories,” officially sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society were the following: Chicken: T-Mac Smokin’ (Appleton, WI); Pork Ribs: The Smokin’ C’s (Grafton, WI); Pork: T-Mac Smokin’; and Beef Brisket: Smoke Infusion (Appleton, WI). The only non-meats category was Dessert, which featured a tie between Crash Test Smokers (Wrightstown, WI) and Tim’s Full Belli Deli (Oshkosh, WI) both of whom had perfect scores of 180. KCBS tie-breaking rules ultimately declared Crash Test Smokers the winner in the Desserts category.
A crowd of over 4,000 attended the 4th annual DDBBQ event, despite the clouds that initially loomed overhead. By late morning, the dark skies had cleared and small planes began arriving at the Washington Island Airport site. Afternoon activities included the savoring of excellent barbecue and other foods, kids’ games, and music by the Alex Wilson Band, whose accomplished blues entertained the crowd up to the awards ceremony.
Just before the awards presentation, a raffle drawing was held for a Traeger pellet smoker donated by Mann’s Mercantile and a half hog processed by Marchant’s Foods and then donated by Robert and Patricia Cornell. The DDBBQ raffle winner was Ann Heer of Kewaskum, WI.
Enjoying the fine barbecue at the 4th Annual Death’s Door BBQ! Photo ©2015 Matt Weigand
Planning is already underway for the 5th Annual Death’s Door Barbeque, scheduled for Saturday, August 27, 2016.
Months of planning go into each annual DDBBQ by its local committee, consisting of Dick Jepsen (Chairman), Amy Rose (Treasurer), Tom Nikolai and William Nauta (Grounds), Mary Andersen (President, Washington Island Chamber of Commerce), and Janet Hanlin and Cathy Meader (Volunteer Coordinators). The Washington Island Electric Co-Op sets up the event’s electrical power. Jonathan Mann and the rest of the Town Crew prepares the airport grounds. 30-plus other volunteers also help put on the annual Death’s Door BBQ.
Death’s Door BBQ sponsors include: Washington Island Ferry Line, Washington Island Chamber of Commerce, Ministry Door County Medical Center, Door Guide Publishing, Wisconsin Brewing Company, Flanigan Distributing, Washington Island Electric Co-op, Wisconsin Public Radio, Shipyard Island Marina, Baylake Bank, The Danish Mill, Mann’s Mercantile, Washington Island Lion’s Club, The Red Cup, Mann’s Food Store, K.K. Fiske, Sailors Pub Restaurant, Gordon’s North Star Realty, Robert and Patricia Cornell, and Robert Atwell of Nicolet National Bank.
4th Annual Death’s Door BBQ, August 28-29. Photo ©2015 Matt Weigand
All profits from Death’s Door BBQ help fund the Washington Island Food Pantry.
More information on Death’s Door BBQ can be found at www.deathsdoorbbq.com and the Death’s Door BBQ Facebook page. For information on this and other Island events, go to the Washington Island Chamber of Commerce website at www.washingtonisland-wi.com, the Washington Island Ferry Line website at www.wisferry.com, or download the Washington Island App (washingtonislandapp.com) on your smartphone.
