America’s Best States for a Top-Level BBQ Experience

4. South Carolina

The barbecue traditions in South Carolina run deep, and it's one of the few states where you'll find all-you-can-eat barbecue buffets. Similar to Tennessee and North Carolina, whole hog cooking rules the pits here, but they also love a tender, slow-smoked ham or pork shoulder. Food historians say that the methods used by South Carolinians are closest to those practiced in America's colonial days. The state is famous for its tangy Carolina Gold sauce, a mustard-based sauce with a lot of spice and a hint of sweetness.