Bottom line first: Taking into account the customer service, quality, experience, features, and end results, I can’t imagine going elsewhere for a new cooker. For the same price that many other outfits charge for a basic backyard offset, David will make you something that can satisfy your curiosity for decades.
The AZBBQ experience: AZBBQ knows that this kind of investment should be once in a lifetime. Because of this, David and Sandra spent a ton of time with me over the phone (I’m out of state) working through each and every detail, answering my questions, and actually trying to understand WHY I wanted things a certain way. They did everything they could to help me accomplish my bbq goals, even designing custom details for my build.
The process was collaborative. David built trust with me and I was actually very grateful when, after taking the time to understand what I was going for, he pushed back on a few of my requests - saving me money and drawing on his deep experience building these things to make a better product for me. The result is a perfect blend of my aspirations and his experience.
My experience with out-of-state shipping was also positive. The components were professionally packed on a substantial pallet and delivered directly to my patio. My cooker had some very minor damage in shipping and David immediately sent replacement parts no questions asked. Note that these things are extremely heavy, so plan accordingly.
My AZBBQ cooker: after several rounds of refining my order, I ended up with a “Scottsdale” 48x24 cooker with a “Kingman" lid, “Sedona” Firebox and warming oven below, and a custom Brassero stand that can be rolled around and used as a small accessory grill. The little extras and thoughtful details are almost too numerous to list - firebrick lined floors, rotisserie ready hardware, multiple types of modular grates that can be used in several positions between the main grill and the brassero, custom charcoal grates for every cooking area, custom dual smokestacks, temperature gauges, on and on. Originally I had requested dual-elevating grates, but David talked me into a single and I’m so glad he did. With the single, you can slide your grates horizontally from side to side in addition to up and down. This allows you to go from a hard sear over your fire on the left to a warming situation on the right without ever removing your food from the grill or raising it too high to access easily. Horizontal movement also gives you much more control over direct vs indirect heat while the lid is down, although thoughtful design allows for vertical movement with the lid down as well.
The vertical lifting mechanism is bulletproof. Mine has stayed out in the weather for almost a year through rain and snow, and has shown no signs of rusting or any issues with the mechanism whatsoever. All of the vents, door latches, wheels, and handles have a positive feel. There’s nothing flimsy about any of this, it all feels like it’s going to outlast you.
My setup has been great for everything from quick weeknight sears over charcoal, high and low heat direct grilling, low and slow indirect smoking, offset style smoking using the firebox below, cold smoking, and neighborhood cookouts in the front yard using my little roll-around brassero/grill. All of the options have allowed me to grow my skills gradually without messing up food. For example if things get too hot you’ve almost always got a way to save the cook by making a simple adjustment. Basic charcoal grilling is super easy, but the fire box and brassero have allowed me to experiment with more advanced techniques. With all the adjustability, the range of temperatures and smoke levels that are available over one single fire is incredible. As you get better at fire management, the possibilities...
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