2015 Southern Living Food Awards

The Southern Living Test Kitchen taste-tested over 300 of the newest artisan products to find the best Southern-made foods. These are our 24 favorites and 22 runners-up.

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The 2015 Southern Living Food Awards

Photo: Hector Sanchez

We kicked off our three-day taste test by sampling nearly 60 jars of jams and jellies and ended with a side-by-side comparison of 46 different kinds of coffee. In between the sugar headaches and caffeine rushes, not only did we find the perfect pickle and the most refreshing summer beer, but also we discovered the stories of the people who make them. They all remind us that the best Southern recipes mix innovation with tradition.

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Best Pickles: Texas Sweet Heat Pickles

Hector Sanchez

Pogue Mahone Pickles
Made in Austin, TX

Cool, crisp, and zingy all at once. The sweetness of these bread-and-butter-style pickles—our favorite of all the food we tasted—tempers the piquant punch of jalapeño, mustard seeds, and black peppercorns.

$10 for 16 oz.; poguemahonepickles.com

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Best Beer and Best Snack

Photo: Hector Sanchez

See following slides for category winners.

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Summer Basil Farmhouse Ale

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Fullsteam Brewery
Made in: Durham, NC

The beer equivalent of lemonade. The intensity of the North Carolina-grown basil varies depending on when the basil is harvested during summer.

$6 for 22 oz.; fullsteam.ag

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Pork Clouds

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Bacon's Heir
Made in: Atlanta, GA

A gourmet take on gas station rinds, kettle-cooked in olive oil for a light and airy texture with a satisfying crunch. In flavors like Malabar Black Pepper, Rosemary-and-Sea Salt, and Cinnamon Ceylon, it's an extraordinary high-low snack.

$12 for 6 bags; baconsheir.com

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Best Sweets

Photo: Hector Sanchez

See following slides for category winners.

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Tupelo Honey Shortbread Bites

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Willa's Shortbread
Made in: Madison, TN

Tiny cookies sweetened with buttery, floral Tupelo honey.

$12.25 for 6-oz. tin; willas-shortbread.com

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Original Salted Caramels

Shotwell Candy Co.
Made in: Memphis, TN

Semi-hard caramels, infused with Kentucky bourbon and vanilla for a rich, deep flavor.

$9.75 for 12 pieces; shotwellcandy.com

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Buttermilk Ice Cream

Southern Craft Creamery
Made in: Marianna, FL

Supremely creamy with a subtle lemon-like tang. Milk from the creamery's own family-run dairy provides the velvety base.

$8 for 1 pt.; southerncraftcreamery.com

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Wildflower Honeycomb Chocolate Bar

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Chocolat by Adam Turoni
Made in: Savannah, GA

Gilded dark chocolate bars that ooze with raw wildflower honeycomb at first bite. Nearby business Savannah Bee Company supplies the honey. Almost too pretty to eat, they've come our hostess gift of choice.

$6.25 for 1 bar; chocolatat.com

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Best Seasoning, Best Hot Sauce, and Best Vinegar

Photo: Hector Sanchez

See following slides for category winners.

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Jalapeño, Serrano, and Habanero Sauces

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Yellowbird Sauce
Made in: Austin, TX

A brighter, less astringent hot sauce that uses citrus juice as the backdrop for fiery peppers in its three different varieties. This bottle has become our main squeeze.

$8 for 19 oz.; yellowbirdsauce.com

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Habanero-Infused Vinegar

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Frankie V's Kitchen
Made in: Dallas, TX

That tired bottle of green pepper vinegar has met its match. Frankie V's high-octane pepper sauce, made by steeping organic habaneros in organic white vinegar, is our new go-to for field peas and greens. It delivers blazing acidity.

$6 for 8.5 oz.; frankievskitchen.com

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French Picnic Salt and Friends Forever Salt

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Beautiful Briny Sea
Made in: Atlanta, GA

Hand-harvested sea salt blended with herbs and spices. Granulated honey makes Friends Forever savory-sweet; French Picnic adds Dijon mustard and herbes de Provence with a subtle hint of lavender.

$9 for 8 oz.; e-mail info@beautifulbrinysea.com

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Best Jam and Best Spreads

Photo: Hector Sanchez

See following slides for category winners.

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Ghost Pepper Whipped Honey

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Cloister Honey
Made in: Charlotte, NC

Thick, spreadable honey with a creamy sweetness that soothes the slow-burning bite from notoriously hot ghost peppers. A dollop heats up a ho-hum cheese board—or try it as a glaze on smoked wings.

$8 for 9 oz.; cloisterhoney.com

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Strawberry Balsamic Preserves

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Blackberry Farm
Made in: Walland, TN

A scarlet jam made with strawberries grown in the gardens of the farmstead-style resort. The tart twist of balsamic vinegar keeps the chunky preserves vibrant, not cloyingly sweet, and the chunky texture is a perfect match to the fluffy interior of a biscuit.

$19 for 8 oz.; blackberryfarm.com

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Mission Almond Butter

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Big Spoon Roasters
Made in: Durham, NC

A three-ingredient nut butter that blends wildflower honey and sea salt with heirloom Mission almonds, which are creamier and richer than regular almonds.

$14 for 8 oz.; bigspoonroasters.com

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Best Sweets

Best Coffee, Best Tea, and Best Baked Good

Photo: Hector Sanchez

See following slides for category winners.

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Twenty Strong

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

King Bean Coffee Roasters
Made in: Charleston, SC

A dark, chocolaty roast with a fruity hint of berries. These beans, the company's 20th anniversary blend, produce a black-coffee lover's dream: a full-bodied brew, with low acidity and plenty of pep.

$12.99 for 12 oz.; kingbean.com

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Front Porch Special

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Piper and Leaf Artisan Tea Co.
Made in: Huntsville, AL

A black tea blend dotted with cornflowers that produces the perfect pitcher of iced tea. It's spiked with delicate notes of cooling spearmint, jasmine, and a tinge of bittersweet orange from bergamot peel.

$9 for 15 servings; piperandleaf.com

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Goat Cheese Cheesecake

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Belle Chèvre
Made in: Elkmont, AL

A light and airy cheesecake, delicately scented with vanilla and lemon zest. Alabama-made goat cheese, the signature ingredient, lends a cloud-like texture and some tangy tartness.

$35 for 6-inch cake; bellechevre.com

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Best Spirits, Cocktail Mixers, and Bitters

Photo: Hector Sanchez

See following slides for category winners.

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Bloody Mary Mix

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Debutante Farmer
Made In: Oxford, MS

Bursting with the vine-fresh verve of summer tomatoes and fresh lime juice (for zip without the sinus-clearing horseradish). This bottle is our new brunch must-have.

$14 for 25.4 oz.; elizabethheiskell.com

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No. 6 Oaxacan Old Fashioned

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Bittermilk
Made in: Charleston, SC

A subtly spicy blend of Mexican chiles, cocoa nibs, spices, and sweet raisins. Mix with mezcal or rum.

$15 for 8.5 oz.; bittermilk.com

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Pineapple Gum Syrup

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Liber & Co.
Made in: Austin, TX

A fruit-forward mixer, made with fresh pineapple juice and cane sugar, that tastes like a tropical resort bar in a bottle.

$8 for 8.5 oz.; liberandcompany.com

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Bristow Gin

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Bristow Gin
Made in: Jackson, MS

A botanical—not piney—gin with hints of orange peel and minty hyssop. It pairs perfectly with Jack Rudy's Elderflower Tonic.

$35 for 750 milliliters; bristowgin.com

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Belle Meade Bourbon Sherry Cask Finish

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Green Brier Distillery
Made in: Nashville, TN

A special batch of nine-year-old bourbon, matured in sherry casks from Spain for a darker color and sweeter, nutty taste.

$75 for 750 milliliters; greenbrierdistillery.com

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Richland Rum

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Richland Rum
Made in: Richland, GA

A butterscotch-like rum made with sugarcane grown on the owners' estate. It goes down so smooth we love to drink it straight up.

$52 for 750 milliliters; richlandrum.com

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Elderflower Tonic

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.
Made in: Charleston, SC

A floral twist on traditional tonic, with subtle hints of pear and lychee. We recommend trying it with gin, bourbon, rum, or even tequila.

$16 for 17 oz.; jackrudycocktailco.com

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Cucumber & Lavender Bitters

El Guapo Bitters Cucumber and Lavender Bitters

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

El Guapo Bitters
Made in: New Orleans, LA

Nonalcoholic bitters that impart herbal freshness. Just a few drops elevate a gin and tonic. SL

$24 for 7 oz.; elguapobitters.com

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Runner Up: Woodford Reserve® Bourbon-Smoked Chef's Spice Blend

Woodford Reserve Bourbon-Smoked Spice Blend

Bourbon Barrel Foods
Made in: Louisville, KY

A savory mix of spices, salt, and sugar—all smoked over whiskey-soaked oak—with dried parsley and garlic.

$10 for 2 oz.; bourbonbarrelfoods.com

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Runner Up: Small-Batch Bourbon Truffles

Art Eatables
Made in: Louisville, KY

Our drink of choice distilled into gorgeous chocolate truffles; pick from makers like Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey.

$10 for 4-piece box; arteatables.com

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Runner Up: Gourmet Ice Pops

The Hyppo
Made in: St. Augustine, FL

Available in fresh flavors like Pineapple-Cilantro, Straight-Up Strawberry, Berry-Cheesecake, and Honey-Pear.

$40 for 12 pops; thehyppo.com

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Runner Up: Green Martini Mater Pickles

beta verde
Made in: Winston-Salem, NC

Our new favorite martini garnish; these green cherry tomatoes are soaked in an garlic-and-herb-flavored brine.

$8 for 6 oz.; betaverde.blogspot.com

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Runner Up: Shrimp Dip

Big T Coastal Provisions
Made in: Mount Pleasant, SC

Not your typical store-bought seafood dip; it's packed with chunky shrimp complimented by a blend of cheddar cheese, cream cheese, lemon juice, and spices.

$8 for 8 oz.; bigtcoastalprovisions.com

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Runner Up: The Filthy Liar Cocktail Mixer

White Whale Bold Mixers
Made in: Durham, NC

Made with delicately sweet and floral lychee fruit, rosemary, and spicy clove; add it to your next gin and tonic for a fruity twist.

$10 for 8 ozz; drinkwhitewhale.com

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Runner Up: Valines Famous Cocktail Sauce

Valines Famous
Made in: Columbia, SC

A Southern-made cocktail sauce fitting of Southern-caught seafood; it has the perfect hit of horseradish.

$16 for 2 9.6 oz. jars; valinesfamous.com

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Runner Up: Bourbon Marshmallows

Wondermade
Made in: Orlando, FL

Adds boozy sweetness to S'mores and hot chocolate; these little squares have a fluffy texture that sets them apart from store-bought marshmallows.

$8 for 16 piece box: wondermade.com

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Runner Up: Fleur de Sel Pecan Toffee

Lambrecht Gourmet Fleur de Sel Pecan Toffee

Lambrecht Gourmet
Made in: Herber Springs, AR

A toffee take on chocolate-pecan pie with the perfect sprinkle of savory sea salt.

$16 for 18 piece box; lambrechtgourmet.com

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Runner Up: Sweet Garlic Vinaigrette

T. Lish
Made in: Birmingham, AL

Subtly sweet from the mellowed taste of roasted garlic; it's divine on pasta salad.

$7 for 12 oz; tlish.com

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Runner Up: Wicked Pickle Chips

Wickles Pickles
Made in: Dadeville, AL

Sweet bread-and-butter-style pickles with that pack a punch from dried chili peppers; they're an essential ingredient for a great cheeseburger.

$5 for 16 oz.; wicklespickles.com

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Runner Up: Prairie Standard Hoppy Farmhouse Ale

Prairie Artisan Ales
Made in: Krebs, OK

A crisp, hoppy saison with a little zing of lime; it's our go-to light beer.

$12 for 4 12 oz. bottles; prairieales.com

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Runner Up: Organic Sprouted Gluten-Free Yellow Corn Grits

The Sprouted Flour
Made in: Fitzpatrick, AL

Creamy, course-ground grits with the added beneifts that come from sprouted corn.

$3.80 for 1 lb.; healthyflour.com

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Runner Up: Cold Brew Coffee

Highbrow Cold Brew Coffee
Made in: Huntsville, AL

Made with beans allowed to blossom for 3 days in cold water; it makes for a smooth sipper.

$30 for 2 32 oz. bottles: highbrowcoldbrew.com

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Runner Up: Beer Vinegar

Back Forty Beer Co.
Made in: Gadsden, AL

Pleasantly tart blanaced by the malty taste of Back Forty's craft beer; bring a bottle to your next fish fry.

$8 for 12 oz.; backfortybeer.com

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Runner Up: Buddascotch-Oatmeal Southern Style Bite Size Cookies

G Momma's Southern Style Bite Size Cookies
Made in: Selma, AL

Crispy cookies made with butterscotch chips, oats, and cinnamon; their tiny size provides a convenient excuse to have more than just one.

$10 for 2 5.5 oz. bags; gmommas.com

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Runner Up: Revival Sorghum Whiskey

High Wire Distilling Revival Sorghum Whiskey

High Wire Distilling Co.
Made in: Charleston, SC

Distilled with earthy sorghum sourced from farms in Eastern Tennessee; it brings a maple-syrup-like sweetness to cocktails.

$62 for 750 ml.; highwiredistilling.com

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Runner Up: Blueberry BBQ Finishing Sauce

The Chef and the Farmer
Made in: Kinston, NC

A vinegar-based sauce in keeping with Carolina tradition with regionally sourced blueberries; slathered it on at the end when grilling for fruity caramelization.

$13 for 16 oz; chefandthefarmer.com

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Runner Up: Fast Forward

Counter Culture Coffee
Made in: Durham, NC

Similar beans sourced from Counter Culture's latest grower connection in Latin America; each bag provides a slightly different take on a medium, nutty roast.

$15 for 12 oz; counterculture.com

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Runenr Up: Bourbon-Barrel Smoked Flake Sea Salt

Bulls Bay Saltworks Bourbon Barrel Smoked Sea Salt

Bulls Bay Saltworks
Made in: Charleston, SC

Adds smokey, woodfire goodness to whatever it's sprinkled on; the salt is smoked over bourbon barrels used by another Southern Living Food Award winner, Bittermilk.

$18 for 4 oz.; bullsbaysaltworks.com

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Runner Up: Callie's Cheese Crisps

Callie's Charleston Biscuits
Made in: Charleston, South Carolina

Our favoirte take on classic cheese straws; they're not too spicy or too greasy. We always keep a bag handy for an instant party snack.

$20 for 2 6 oz. bags; calliesbiscuits.com

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Runner Up: Sea Salt Butter

Banner Butter
Made in: Atlanta, Georgia

Made with grass-fed milk from locally soured milk; this is a butter worth setting out for company.

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The Southern Living Food Awards

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The 2015 Southern Living Food Awards

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Best Pickles: Texas Sweet Heat Pickles

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Best Beer and Best Snack

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Summer Basil Farmhouse Ale

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Pork Clouds

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Best Sweets

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Tupelo Honey Shortbread Bites

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Original Salted Caramels

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Buttermilk Ice Cream

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Wildflower Honeycomb Chocolate Bar

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Best Seasoning, Best Hot Sauce, and Best Vinegar

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Jalapeño, Serrano, and Habanero Sauces

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Habanero-Infused Vinegar

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French Picnic Salt and Friends Forever Salt

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Best Jam and Best Spreads

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Ghost Pepper Whipped Honey

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Strawberry Balsamic Preserves

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Mission Almond Butter

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Best Sweets

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Twenty Strong

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Front Porch Special

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Goat Cheese Cheesecake

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Best Spirits, Cocktail Mixers, and Bitters

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Bloody Mary Mix

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No. 6 Oaxacan Old Fashioned

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Pineapple Gum Syrup

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Bristow Gin

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Belle Meade Bourbon Sherry Cask Finish

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Richland Rum

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Elderflower Tonic

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Cucumber & Lavender Bitters

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Runner Up: Woodford Reserve® Bourbon-Smoked Chef's Spice Blend

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Runner Up: Small-Batch Bourbon Truffles

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Runner Up: Gourmet Ice Pops

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Runner Up: Green Martini Mater Pickles

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Runner Up: Shrimp Dip

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Runner Up: The Filthy Liar Cocktail Mixer

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Runner Up: Valines Famous Cocktail Sauce

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