Nashville is blessed with some longtime barbecue institutions. While current favorites like Peg Leg Porker, Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint and Edley’s get lots of deserved attention, everyone realizes that current pitmasters are standing on the shoulders of former giants.
Before Mary’s closed last year, the Jefferson Street institution had been serving ribs for 60 years. Tex’s World Famous Bar-B-Q has been slicing smoked bologna since 1979, and Whitt’s has been doing what Whitt’s does to pulled pork since 1978.
The oldest continually operating barbecue joints in Nashville are the Bar-B-Cuties that have been around since 1950. But what I want to recognize today is Jack Cawthon and his two remaining Jack’s Bar-B-Que operations, which are celebrating 50 years of business, making them two years older and 10 times better than Whitt’s (in my humble opinion).
Jack Cawthon made out pretty well for himself after selling his Lower Broad location to Robert’s next door for a cool $15 million, but I wonder how many people remember who his other next-door neighbor was before the sanitization of the Neon Corridor in the late 1980s? [ANSWER.]
Robert’s Western World owners plan expansion after purchase of property
Jack Cawthon still operates his oldest location at 334 W. Trinity Lane, but the 1601 Charlotte Ave. restaurant will host a big block party on Thursday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate 50 years of smokin’. The free event will feature complimentary pork sliders and smoked chicken wings as well as live music from singer-songwriter Eli Perron.
Of course, Jack will be there to press the flesh and share stories with his many fans. Now the chairman emeritus, Jack is in the process of passing the smoldering torch to his son Jay Cawthon, who currently serves as president and will lead the brand into the future. Drop by and congratulate the whole family on June 25!
The subterranean cocktail lounge Pushing Daisies has developed a couple of new initiatives that could be fun for both bachelorettes and locals looking to learn more about the craft of mixology. The talented bar staff has developed a cocktail class where guests can learn about the ingredients, equipment and techniques needed to whip up two delicious cocktails.
To be clear (and legal), the class is described as “hands on,” and instructors will demonstrate techniques that students will practice. But to keep everything above board, alcohol will be pre-poured and measured by the bar team, so don’t expect to be able to free-pour — nothing crazy like that.
This isn't to say it won’t be fun and a little boozy. In fact, the class will kick off with a celebratory group shot before moving into the book-learnin’ portion of the event. That’s when students will learn about the tools of the trade and learn how to make a Strawberry Kiwi Smash and a Devil’s Vice or a Mango Stand. Oh, and there will be nachos!
Pricing begins at $50 per person with a six-person minimum. The 90-minute cocktail class will be available for booking on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.
If you’d rather learn more about tequila without bothering with all that muddling, shaking and stirring, Pushing Daisies is also offering private tequila tastings hosted in the bar’s hidden private room. These experiences are also 90 minutes long and include explanations of the history and varieties of agave spirits along with tastings. Two options are available — one that explores blanco, mezcal, reposado and añejo expressions, and another featuring blanco, mezcal, sotol and bacanora. Tastings begin at $50 per person, and are available for groups of eight or more on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.
Finally, the prestigious 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition has announced the finalists for the Best Whiskey in the World, and two local favorites are still in the running for the chance to be named Best in Class, then Best Bourbon and finally Best Whiskey.
I recently told you that Carey Bringle did quite well at the Ascot Awards, and his Peg Leg Porker Grey Label Tennessee Straight Bourbon scored 98 points and earned a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco competition. The judges described his 8-year-old whiskeys as evoking “Cracker Jack, cornbread, cherry cola and chocolate.” That puts him in the running to win the 6- to 10-year-old bourbon category and to move on in the competition.
Joining Peg Leg is Nashville Barrel Company, whose Nashtucky Single 8 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon also scored a 98, this time in the category of Single Barrel Bourbons up to 10 years old. The judges said, “Nashtucky displayed dark stone fruit, black cherry, butterscotch, chocolate and a hint of smoke.” Sounds great to me!
I wish all our talented distillers luck as they move on in the competition!
