Story Behind the Brand Name
"BOLA” comes from Boleadoras — a traditional throwing tool most famously used by the Gauchos of South America in the early 1800s. The Gauchos were rugged horsemen — brave, independent, and deeply connected to the land. Life was simple, and food was sacred. Over open fire, they gathered, cooked, shared stories, and built bonds that lasted a lifetime.
Fire was never just about cooking — it was about connection.
This spirit lives on today through Gaucho-style and Santa Maria grilling, where flame, smoke, and fire are controlled by hand — raising and lowering the grill to cook with precision, patience, and instinct. It’s a style that transforms cooking into an experience — one that is primal, social, and deeply satisfying.
BOLA was built to bring that same feeling to your table.
Not just grilling — gathering.
Not just cooking — connecting.
Not just food — experience.
When you sit around a BOLA grill, you’re not just making a meal.
You’re continuing a tradition.
The Journey
The idea for the BOLA Grill began during a simple night with friends. The table was full and conversations were flowing, but the grill sat at the opposite end of the yard. The one cooking was stuck going back and forth — missing moments, missing laughter, missing the experience.
It revealed something simple: cooking over fire should bring people together, not pull one person away.
BOLA was created to change that — a live-fire grill built for the center of the table, where the fire, the food, and the experience are shared by everyone. 🔥
The Idea
May, 2022
First Rendering
After careful thought and a vision for true versatility — a grill capable of cooking anything, right at the center of the table, surrounded by those who matter most — the first rendering came to life.
Prototype
June, 2022
First Grill
What began as a sketch on a napkin soon became a rough, non-working prototype — a first step toward turning vision into reality and seeing if the idea resonated beyond the drawing.
Crowdfunding Campaign
September, 2022
The First Sales
It was time to test the market. In September 2022, the first orders began to arrive through a crowdfunding campaign. Around one hundred grills were sold in the first month — validating the concept and fueling the push toward full-scale production.
Lesson Learned
December, 2022
Big Mistake
Sample after sample arrived from the manufacturer, each one falling short — sloppy, inconsistent, and unacceptable. The thought of walking away became real after significant time and investment, but the first 100 customers believed in the vision. They had taken a chance, and that trust demanded follow-through. A new manufacturing partner was found, and after extensive testing, the grill was redesigned the right way.
Extensive Redesign
February, 2023
Fine Tuning
The redesign was intentional and thorough — centered on tabletop safety, portability, and true versatility. The goal was simple: build something that not only worked flawlessly, but genuinely impressed the people who gathered around it.
v1 Production
May, 2023
Official Product Launch
We officially launched to the public in the summer of 2023.
Awards & Press
2024-25
Significant Achievements
We celebrated some big wins while selling v1 of the grill including being awarded "Best Portable Charcoal Grill of 2025" by Men's Journal and USA Today's 2025 10 BEST Readers' Choice Award: Best Gift for Foodies. We were also featured on Amazon Prime's "Buy it Now" and Good Morning America.
v2 Design
June, 2025
Building Something Truly Unparalleled in Tabletop Grilling
After the success of v1, we knew we had created something special. But “special” wasn’t enough. We listened carefully — to customers, to wholesalers, to real-world feedback. Then we went back to work.
v2 Launch
May, 2026
BOLA 360°
We reinforced the structure with foldable legs. We refined the mechanics. And we introduced something transformative: a fully rotatable cooking system that enhances flow, versatility, accessibility, and sociability around the table. The result is more than an upgrade. It's a reimagining of what tabletop grilling can be. Stronger. Safer. More interactive. And truly unlike anything else in its class.