flavors that bring people together
Our mission is to honor the tradition of barbecue by creating high-quality sauces that bring people together to enjoy delicious, flavorful meals.
As a veteran-owned business, we are dedicated to serving our customers with the same passion that our Whiskey Road co-owner, also a successful BBQ restaurant owner, brings to his own establishment.
Our Story
Whiskey Road was founded in 2023 by two friends, Christian Judy and veteran Austin Coomes, who grew up in the same South Carolina small town. Their different, but complementary, backgrounds are what has enabled them to work together to bring a unique product to market.
Austin returned from deployment in Afghanistan in 2010, and took up culinary arts in his free time, cooking and creating something he loved: authetic, southern, Carolina BBQ. This experimentation was the genesis of what would become the first Whiskey Road sauces.
While Austin was perfecting his craft, Christian was learning the ropes of running his family’s restaurant, Dukes Bar-B-Que. Each bringing his passion to the craft, their talents united in creating two unique and classic sauces that not only showcase their love for traditional BBQ, but also for the small town where they grew up and became friends (which also inspired the company name!).
Together, they formed the Whiskey Road Sauce Bottling Co., launching with two original flavors in 2022. The future of Whiskey Road will include a larger variety of small batch BBQ sauces, Rubs, Hot Sauces, and one day, their very own Whiskey Road Whiskey.
Founders
Austin Coomes
Co-Founder Austin is a Decorated Marine and Army Veteran who is still currently serving in the South Carolina Army National Guard as a Medical Officer. He deployed with the Marines in 2010 to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and there shortly after he attended the Culinary Institute of Charleston where he explored his passion for the culinary arts. When he is not working or doing his military duties, he enjoys spending hot summer days relaxing by the pool, smoking and grilling meats with his wife and kids.
Christian Judy
Christian was born and raised in the well-known low country BBQ name, Dukes. At the height of its prominence, Dukes had over 15 locations each owned by various family members. Christian and his wife Rebecca have owned the Aiken location since 2015. They enjoy spending most of their free time traveling with their three children Ellie, Emelia, and Elijah.
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