Bacon flavored whiskey has become an intriguing spirit for many whiskey enthusiasts and bacon lovers alike. In recent years, there has been a rise in popularity of bacon inspired foods and beverages, including bacon flavored whiskey. But who exactly is behind the creation and production of these tasty bacon whiskies? Let’s explore some of the distilleries making this smoky, salty, and sweet spirit.
How is bacon flavor infused into whiskey?
Before diving into specific producers, it helps to understand how bacon flavor is imparted into whiskey. There are two main methods used:
- Infusing bacon fat into the whiskey during the distillation process. The fat renders and mixes with the distillate as it is being made.
- Adding natural bacon flavoring extracts after the whiskey has been distilled. This allows the bacon flavor to be added to straight or blended whiskies.
In both cases, the bacon essence provides a smoky, salty, umami, and sweet taste that complement the flavors already present in the whiskey. The spirit takes on those classic bacon notes without having actual bacon present in the bottle.
Bakon Vodka
One of the earliest bacon flavored spirits to hit the market was Bakon Vodka from Idaho. First released in 2009, Bakon Vodka begins as a premium potato vodka. It is then infused with essence of bacon to provide a crisp, smooth vodka with a smoky bacon finish.
Bakon Vodka helped spur the wave of bacon flavored spirits and intensity the craze and popularity of bacon flavored liquor. It is produced by Moscow Distillery Platinum in Idaho and pays homage to the region’s potato growing and meat curing industries.
J&B; Distilling Co – Bacon Bourbon
J&B; Distilling Co. produces several innovative spirits at their distillery in Lebanon, Tennessee. One of their creations is Bacon Bourbon, made with havoc-wreaking whole renderings of Tennessee pork bacon.
According to J&B; Distilling, they start with a 4-year aged bourbon whiskey and render the bacon in-house. Bits of bacon are then added during the mashing and fermentation process to infuse the flavor. Finally, the distillate is aged again in charred oak barrels.
The result is a smoky, salty, and slightly sweet bourbon with distinctive bacon notes. J&B; Distilling’s Bacon Bourbon fully embraces the bacon flavor in a smooth sipping bourbon whiskey.
Black Maple Hill – Bacon Infused Bourbon
Black Maple Hill is a spirits company based in California known for their limited release and experimental bourbons. One of their innovated offerings is a Bacon Infused Bourbon.
They start with an 8-year aged Kentucky straight bourbon and add natural smoked bacon flavoring. The result is a full-bodied bourbon with subtle hints of maple, smoke, and cured pork. It brings bacon essence to a well-aged and complex sipping whiskey.
As a limited release, the Black Maple Hill Bacon Infused Bourbon can be harder to find compared to some others. But it offers a high-quality and refined take on bacon whiskey.
Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine – Applewood Smoked Bacon Whiskey
Ole Smoky Distillery is known for their creative flavors of moonshine and whiskey made and aged in Tennessee. One of their inventive offerings is their Applewood Smoked Bacon Whiskey.
They start with their corn whiskey and use an applewood smoking technique to impart a smoky bacon flavor. Natural flavors are also added to produce the salty, savory bacon taste. The result is a whiskey with a crisp applewood smoke and bacon essence.
As a moonshine style whiskey, it has a lighter and more neutral spirit base that allows the bacon flavor to shine through. Ole Smoky offers a tasty and affordable bacon whiskey option.
Broken Bones Spirits – Bacon Whiskey
Broken Bones Spirits is a distillery based in Charleston, South Carolina focused on unique flavored whiskeys. Their Bacon Whiskey seeks to provide a fun and delicious twist to the breakfast staple.
They start with a 3-year aged American whiskey and infuse it with hickory smoked bacon flavor. The result is a rich, smoky, and slightly salty whiskey with a crisp and subtle bacon taste.
As a small batch distiller, Broken Bones Spirits offers a handcrafted approach to bacon whiskey for those looking for an artisanal infusion.
Other Producers
In addition to those major producers, there are several other distilleries making bacon inspired whiskey:
- Axe and the Oak Distillery – Pig Roast Bourbon
- Cedar Ridge Distillery – Maple Bacon Whiskey
- Gatlinburg Distilling Company – Original Bacon Bourbon
- Copperhead Distillery – Bacon Bourbon
- Kings County Distillery – Bacon Bourbon
- Wayne Gretzky Estates – 99 Proof Canadian Whisky with Bacon
The popularity of bacon whiskey has inspired many distilleries to try their hand at making a bacon infused spirit. Each producer provides their own take on imparting smoky, salty, and savory bacon flavor into bourbon, whiskey, or moonshine.
Why make a bacon whiskey?
So what exactly inspires and motivates distilleries to make bacon flavored spirits? There are a few driving factors behind the popularity of bacon whiskey:
- Novelty – Bacon whiskey provides an innovative twist that generates buzz and interest for distilleries.
- Uniqueness – In a crowded spirits market, bacon flavor offers differentiation and a unique tasting experience.
- Pop culture trend – Riding the waves of bacon mania and bacon flavored foods provides marketing appeal.
- Fun flavor – Bacon complements and adds a new dimension to the flavor of whiskey.
In the search for new innovations, bacon whiskey has been widely embraced and enjoyed by distillers and drinkers seeking novelty and fun from their spirits.
Tasting notes and reviews
So how does bacon whiskey actually taste? Here are some common tasting notes and reviews for the flavor profile:
- Smoky, salty, and savory with bacon essence up front.
- Touches of sweetness from maple or vanilla flavors.
- Slight umami and fatty mouthfeel from bacon fat.
- Hints of spice such as pepper or paprika.
- Whiskey flavors like caramel, vanilla, oak rounding out the taste.
- Milder smoke than traditional smoked whiskey styles like Islay scotch.
- Oily, crisp, and rich texture depending on the base spirit.
The bacon flavor ranges from subtle accent notes to full on pork essence depending on the intensity of the infusion. It adds a tangy, cured meat taste that intermingles with the underlying whiskey notes.
Reviews are mixed, with some finding it intriguing for the novelty and others feeling it makes the whiskey too smoky or meaty. It tends to be a very polarizing and love it or hate it type of flavor.
Cocktail Use
In addition to sipping, bacon whiskey can provide unique flavor to craft cocktails. Some popular ways to use it include:
- Old fashioneds or Manhattans for a smoky, savory twist.
- Adding umami depth to a Bloody Mary or Caesar.
- Enhancing the bacon taste in a Bacon Maple Old Fashioned.
- Adding a touch to a breakfast inspired cocktail.
- Using just a dash or float to finish a drink.
The salty, fatty bacon flavor can complement many classic cocktails in small amounts. It provides a nice savory balance with sweet ingredients.
Where to buy bacon whiskey
Finding a bottle of bacon whiskey used to be quite tricky as it was limited to smaller distilleries. But with the boom in popularity, bacon whiskey is becoming more widely distributed. Here are some places to look for it:
- Spirits specialty shops – Many liquor stores now carry at least a couple bacon flavored whiskeys.
- Online spirits retailers – Sites like Flaviar, Caskers, ReserveBar will have various bacon whiskeys.
- Distillery tasting rooms – Visit the distillery directly to taste and buy their bacon spirit.
- Big box liquor stores – Total Wine, BevMo and others may carry national releases.
- Order directly from distilleries – Many offer online sales and shipping.
The limited releases can still be harder to find. But the increased demand has made bacon whiskey much more accessible overall compared to just a few years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about bacon flavored whiskey:
Is bacon whiskey gluten free?
Bacon whiskey is generally gluten-free, provided the base spirit is distilled from gluten free grains like corn, rye, or potatoes. But those sensitive to gluten should check labeling and distillation processes for potential cross contamination.
Does the bacon taste overpower the whiskey?
Bacon flavor intensity varies across different releases. Many aim to balance the bacon essence with the underlying whiskey notes. But some bottlings do lean further into an intense bacon taste.
Is there real bacon in the whiskey?
There is no actual bacon meat in bacon whiskey. The flavor comes from infusing bacon fat during distillation or by adding natural liquid smoke or bacon extract afterward.
What is the alcohol percentage of bacon whiskey?
ABV will range widely based on the base spirit used, from 40-50% for unaged styles to 50-60% for barrel aged. Flavored liqueurs may be lower at around 30% ABV.
Can you make your own bacon whiskey at home?
It is possible to home infuse whiskey with bacon fat or bacon drippings. However, the results tend to be inconsistent compared to commercial techniques. Proceed with caution when infusing at home.
Conclusion
Bacon whiskey offers a savory new twist on your favorite breakfast meat combined with an aged spirit. While novelty drove initial interest, a genuine appreciation for the flavor has kept bacon whiskey popular with consumers looking for something new. Distilleries have responded by offering creative techniques and bottlings to satisfy bacon loving whiskey drinkers.
Quality producers like J&B; Distilling Co, Ole Smoky, and Bakon Vodka lead the pack in balancing bacon essence with the underlying spirit. As demand remains strong, expect more distillers to release their take on bacon flavored whiskey. This Meat Liquor movement still has more innovation and tasty recipes to explore in the coming years.