(Family Features) - "Barbecue" is a word that, when uttered, makes mouths water and keeps folks tending pits and grills for hours at a time. But with little time left for optimal outdoor cooking this season, how do you turn up the heat and ensure your next barbecue is the best of the bunch?

Although the "world's best" barbecue is perhaps the most feuded-over food claim, it's hard not to think of the South in connection with best-of-class barbecue.

Southern barbecue, with its time-burnished, rich tradition of cooking meat slowly over a wood fire, offers a distinctive style and unique flavor. Great pitmen come from the South, and many great barbecue showdowns take place in the South, like the Jack Daniel's® World Championship Invitational Barbecue Contest held annually in Lynchburg, Tennessee. And while the definition of "best barbecue" varies from region to region, there are a few standard Southern barbecue traditions that hold true throughout the entire Southern barbecue belt and beyond.

For one, barbecue in the South usually means pork, but there are a few exceptions; beef is most often the meat of choice for Texas barbecue, and mutton is used in parts of Kentucky.

Another sticking point for Southern barbecue is the sauce. Most would agree that bathing your barbecue with a perfectly seasoned, balanced sauce makes the difference between ho-hum and sublime.

Many sauces contain ingredients such as molasses, brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, black pepper, onion, celery, garlic, mustard, cayenne pepper, vegetable oil and salt, with some variations. And while there are some true Southerners that would take issue with any barbecue sauce that's simply not their own, there are a few bottled sauces that can make your celebration simpler while still holding true to Southern barbecue traditions.

Jack Daniel's® Barbecue Sauce, for example, is a welcomed Southern guest at any barbecue just burning to make a good impression. Whether it's the sweet and spicy flavor of Original No. 7 or the genuine wood-smoked flavorings of Tennessee Hickory, Jack Daniel's Barbecue Sauce offers the flavor of the famous Jack Daniel's Whiskey with just the right amount of Southern hospitality to please everyone.

Yet another long-standing tradition at Southern barbecues are the sides and accompaniments. Some of the most popular items used to complement a traditional barbecue meal include old standards such as cole slaw, baked beans and hush puppies. However, modern-day Southern cooks are more willing to welcome a wider array of accompaniments, including something as delightful as bacon-wrapped barbecued shrimp.

So, light the grill, hum a few bars of the "Tennessee Waltz" and get ready to go out of the season in style - Southern barbecue style, that is. Try these tempting recipes or visit www.JackDanielsSauces.com for ideas on how to inspire your own barbecue specialty. Let's get to eatin'!