Jim Gilbert, a New Martinsville native, is now offering his Bluegrass BBQ sauces and rubs at local retailers.

Bluegrass BBQ sauces and rubs are expanding their distribution to select locations in the Ohio Valley in the near future and are currently available at Witschey’s in New Martinsville.

Founded in 2004, Bluegrass BBQ is owned by Jim and Brenda Gilbert of Summersville, W.Va. Jim Gilbert is a native of New Martinsville and a 1965 graduate of Magnolia High School. The Gilberts launched the retail business for their sauce after winning the West Virginia State Fair Recipe Challenge 2008 Blue Ribbon. Additional awards and acceptance include the People’s Choice Award 2009 at Taste of Summersville. They were also juried for retail sales at Tamarack-The Best of West Virginia, where they have had great success. Additionally, for the past two years, the Gilberts have been invited by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture to participate in The West Virginia Country Store, which it sponsors at the Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte, N.C. During two days of tasting this year the department sold 23 cases.

In 2008, Bluegrass BBQ captured the third annual West Virginia Recipe Challenge. Bluegrass BBQ was chosen over 11 other products competing in the Existing Entrepreneur Division. The Recipe Challenge is a joint effort of the State Fair of West Virginia, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, West Virginia State University, and Tamarack-The Best of West Virginia. The Recipe Challenge is based on the company possessing the best recipe as well as business plan for the marketability of the product.

Bluegrass BBQ developed its gourmet blend to achieve a combination of flavors representing different tastes from around the country. This unique blend of spices allows the consumer to experience the taste of smoky (Memphis), spicy (Texas), sweet (Kansas City), and vinegar (North Carolina). Research shows people desire these tastes to fulfill the dining experience with BBQ. Their high content of natural ingredients without the use of fillers or preservatives provides them with that opportunity. The new sauces heighten the awareness of flavor while maintaining the combination of the tastes of the original sauce.

Bluegrass BBQ recently added two new flavors to its award winning product line of barbecue sauces. Complementing the Original Gourmet Barbecue sauce are a Spicy and Blueberry flavors.

To learn more about Bluegrass BBQ, visit their Web page, SmokedtoPerfection.com.