Carey Bringle, lovingly known as Peg Leg Porker by friends, barbecue fans and whiskey lovers alike, had one helluva May! Both his spirits business and his career in barbecue as both a competitive pitmaster and as a restaurateur were recognized with some pretty epic awards last month.
First, Bringle entered several of his Tennessee Bourbon expressions of Peg Leg Porker Spirits into The Ascot Awards, noted whiskey writer Fred Minnick’s prestigious tasting table of spirits from across the country and beyond. Bringle offers eight different expressions of whiskey, and half of them were recognized as high achievers in their respective categories.
Peg Leg Porker White Label Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey (aged 4 to 6 years) won a gold medal, while his Gray Label (aged 8 years) and Black Label (aged 12 years) were both awarded platinum medals. Proving that age isn’t the only thing that makes a great whiskey, Bringle’s Full Proof Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey took home a double platinum award, despite only spending 4 to 5 years in oak. During that shorter time, it pulled plenty of flavor from the wood and was bottled at a delightful 119 proof!
Later in the month, Bringle achieved the pinnacle of a career in barbecue: induction as one of the newest members of the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame. He was selected by a panel that included two notable barbecue writers, Jim Auchmutey and Adrian Miller, along with three noted competitive pitmasters, television personalities and educators, Amil Mills, Tuffy Stone and Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe.
Joining Bringle in the 2026 class is Ben Lang, the inventor of the iconic and innovative Lang BBQ Smoker; seven-time BBQ world champion Mark Lambert; and the founder of the HowToBBQRight educational online platform, Malcolm Reed. Three legacy inductees were also recognized by the committee: George “Toots” Caston, Charles “Charlie” Stamey and Arthur Watts. Along with Bringle, this group joins previous inductees who are renowned in the world of smoked meats, including names you might know such as Guy Fieri, “Famous Dave” Anderson, Aaron Franklin and Dave Raymond. What? You don’t recognize that last name? What if I told you the nickname that he got while playing church league basketball growing up in Chicago? Sweet Baby Ray.
Here’s what the committee said about Carey when announcing his induction:
Carey Bringle, founder of Peg Leg Porker, has spent more than three decades competing, cooking and championing the traditions of West Tennessee-style barbecue. After surviving osteosarcoma and losing his leg to cancer, Bringle turned adversity into a career rooted in perseverance, hospitality and barbecue tradition. He built Peg Leg Porker into a destination for barbecue enthusiasts and expanded the brand into sauces, seasonings, apparel, events, education and award-winning Tennessee bourbon. As author of BBQ for Dummies, he continues to serve as a teacher and ambassador for the craft, helping preserve barbecue traditions for future generations.
Congratulations to Carey Bringle for all he has accomplished and for the well-earned accolades!
