T.G.I. Friday's announced it will feature Jack™ Championship BBQ sauce, the actual sauce recipe developed by Chad Hayden, the Grand Champion of the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue™ competition, on seven menu items at over 600 U.S. restaurants beginning today.

"T.G.I. Friday's is absolutely fanatical about bringing the most compelling, on-trend, best-in-class food and beverage to our guests," said Andrew Jordan, senior vice president of marketing for T.G.I. Friday's USA. "If you think our original Jack Daniel's Grill® is good, wait until you try this award-winning sauce."

The annual Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue™ competition features over 60 teams from around the world who bring their unique barbecue recipes to Lynchburg, Tennessee to compete for the Grand Prize.

The menu items featuring Jack™ Championship BBQ sauce include one appetizer: BBQ Pork Ravioli Bites, quick-fried crusted ravioli filled with pulled pork tossed in Jack™ Championship BBQ sauce, served with a side of sauce for dipping; and six entrées: Championship BBQ Sirloin, a 6 oz. sirloin steak basted in Jack™ Championship BBQ sauce, served over caramelized onions and mushrooms, with creamy mashed potatoes, crispy onion rings and a side of BBQ sauce; BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp, two skewers of bacon-wrapped shrimp, grilled and basted with Jack™ Championship BBQ sauce then served over garlic toast with mashed potatoes and crispy onion rings; Championship BBQ New York Strip, a big, 12-oz cut of USDA Choice steak basted in Jack™ Championship BBQ sauce, served over caramelized onions and mushrooms, with our creamy mashed potatoes, crispy onion rings and a side of BBQ sauce; Cheddar Bacon BBQ Sliders, tender all-beef patties covered with shredded Cheddar cheese, crispy bacon and Jack™ Championship BBQ sauce, served with a choice of Friday's Fries, onion rings, sweet potato fries or mixed greens salad with Italian vinaigrette; and Baby Back Ribs (a full-rack or half-rack), baby back pork ribs smothered in Jack™ Championship BBQ sauce, fire grilled to perfection and served with a side of golden fries.

"This sauce is downright crave-able," said Scott Randolph, senior director of culinary, R&D for T.G.I. Friday's. "It is in-your-face bold with a tangy kick and just screams flavors."

Additionally, building upon its long-standing beverage heritage, T.G.I. Friday's award-winning mixologists have also developed the perfect accompaniment to these mouth-watering dishes. The Tennessee Peach™ combines Jack Daniel's®, peach Schnapps and orange & cranberry juices while the Strawberry Lynchburg Lemonade is our latest twist on the famous citrus classic. Both are available only at Friday's and for a limited time.

Items featuring Jack™ Championship BBQ sauce by Hayden represent another iteration of best-in-class recipes being featured on the Friday's menu. Earlier this year, T.G.I. Friday's restaurants added five new recipes by respective category winners from the Food Network's Ultimate Recipe Showdown, a television series featuring America's greatest home cooks battling head-to-head for the chance to be on the T.G.I. Friday's menu.