Kentucky knows barbecue the way most states know their own capital, which is to say deeply, proudly, and with strong opinions about who does it best.
Across the state, you will find small restaurants that never bother with billboards, radio spots, or flashy social media campaigns, yet their parking lots stay packed from lunch until closing.
These places rely on smoke, seasoning, and the kind of word-of-mouth reputation that builds slowly over decades…