16 choices. 4 rounds. Here’s the winner of The Telegraph’s BBQ Bracket.

Finger-licking flavor. Sweet and spicy sauces. Bold seasonings.

We’re in love with barbecue and luckily, Middle GA has plenty of options.

We’ve rounded up the best barbecue restaurants in the Macon area and started with 16 spots for our first-ever Barbecue bracket.

And after all of the votes were counted, it’s Fresh Air in Macon that reigned supreme.

Fresh Air was established in 1929 in Jackson, Georgia. It is the oldest pit-cooked barbecue restaurant in Georgia still in its original location, according to the restaurant’s website.

However, that isn’t all that makes Fresh Air special.

Fresh Air uses an old-fashioned wood-burning pit with hickory and oak woods to create a unique and unbelievable flavor.

Fresh Air only made up about 13% of the votes in the first round, but by round three, it was clear Fresh Air was a big competitor.

In the final round, Fresh Air made up 95% of the votes and won by over 1,700 votes. Talk about a strong lead.

Our polls are not meant to be scientific, but they are a lot of fun and you are sure to discover some great places to dine if you give these contenders a try.

The Telegraph’s barbecue bracket featured 16 of the most popular barbecue sources in the Macon area.

Top 2

• Fincher’s — Macon

• Fresh Air — Macon

Top 4

• Fincher’s — Macon

• Fresh Air — Macon

• Tucker’s BBQ — Macon

• Fincher’s — Warner Robins

Top 8

• Fincher’s — Macon

• Satterfield’s — Macon

• Fresh Air — Macon

• Piedmont Brewery — Macon

• White Diamond Grill and Barbecue — Bonaire

• Tucker’s BBQ — Macon

• Georgia Bob’s — Warner Robins

• Fincher’s — Warner Robins

The rest of the original 16

• Sonny’s BBQ — Perry

• Shane’s Rib Shack — Perry

• Georgia Bob’s — Perry

• Levi’s Grill — Bonaire

• Mother’s Breakfast & BBQ — Macon

• Sonny’s — Warner Robins

• Shane’s Rib Shack — Macon

• Georgia Bob’s — Macon

This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 1:51 PM.