Pony Express Jerky - Original Hickory Smoked

Pony Express Jerky is a brand owned by Pony Express Enterprises based out of New Holland, PA. The brand was started in 2009 by Ted Cundiff, a veteran of the meat snack industry. Cundiff originally launched Wild Bill's Beef Jerky in 1983, a brand that was bought up by Monogram Foods in 2009.

Pony Express is manufactured in its own USDA inspected facility in New Holland, right in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. The company offers a retail location in Blue Ball, PA.

This "Original Hickory Smoked" is the brand's flagship flavor, and is offered in two meat styles, this smaller cut style reviewed here, and a longer strip style sold in one-pound packages (which we will review later).

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Jerky's Gourmet - Habanero Sculpin

Jerky's Gourmet is a new brand of jerky, founded by Tim Gerstman and Andria Taylor, based out of San Diego, CA. Gerstman, who transplated to San Diego from the East Coast 8 years ago, met Andria who also happened to love beef jerky. The two joined forces and launched Jerky's Gourmet.

Their jerky is sold at various shops, bars, and venues across the San Diego area. However the two can be found at the Little Italy Farmers Market on Saturdays, doling out samples of their jerky.

Habanero Sculpin also happens to be the name of a craft beer made by Ballast Point Brewing, another San Diego business. This jerky is marinated for 24 hours in this brew, creating a one-two punch of habanero spices and "subtle hoppy notes" on the tongue.

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Blu Collar Meat Co. - Teriyaki

Blu Collar Meat Co. is a start-up jerky brand launched last April 2018 by Steven and Brandy Reinecke in Lancaster, CA. Marketed as "100% homemade beef jerky", Reinecke says they use only locally sourced meats and ingredients.

The name, "Blu Collar Meat Co." makes reference to Steven's profession as a welder. "We represent the working class, and everybody putting in work ... whatever your profession, we got the jerky for you".

This Teriyaki variety is described as being made from, "...our blend of sweet teriyaki sauce and delicious pineapple."

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West Virginia Beef Jerky

West Virginia Beef Jerky is a brand started by Wayne and Patti Burdette of Alderson, WV back in 1996.

Recently, the couple teamed up with meat processor named Peerless Food Service to take their brand into the competitive business of gourmet jerky. Produced in small batches, hand packed and graded, West Virginia Beef Jerky is claimed to be nitrate-free.

The company describes their jerky as, "Cowboy jerky", and as, "only a Mountaineer can make beef jerky this good".

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Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Venison Jerky

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse is a brand owned and operated by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The company also owns The Jerky Hut brand of jerky, along with Bakke Brothers Brand.

According to the company, the Whiskey Hill Smokehouse brand focuses on exotic meats and more exotic recipes than The Jerky Hut and the Bakke Brothers lines. It also focuses on all natural ingredients and its jerky varieties are all marked as "Gluten Free".

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse says this Venison Jerky has , "No wild taste", and goes on to describe the flavor as, "Just a hint of tang with a little Black Pepper", and says the meat comes from, "slices of premium, tender VENISON prime steak".

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Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Korean Barbecue

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Korean Barbecue" variety is described by the company as showcasing, "the use of Korean barbecue sauce as a main ingredient", going on to say that they, "blended it up with a few more spices", and then fused it with their old fashioned recipe.

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Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Original

One the newest jerky brands on the market is Chef Craig's Beef Jerky. A product of CJM Products, it's based out of West Kingston, RI.

It's the idea of Craig Mitchell, who a few years ago, had sent me samples of his own homemade jerky, with the intent of launching a business someday. Mitchell received his Culinary Arts degree from Johnson & Wales University, and has been cooking professionally since 1978.

As of this review, the only flavor Chef Craig's offers is this Original.

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Gringo Bandito Beef Jerky

Gringo Bandito has entered into a deal with Homegrown Meats to offer a new co-branded beef jerky variety.

Gringo Bandito is a popular brand of hot sauces owned by Hungry Punker, Inc., based out of Huntington Beach, CA. It was started by Dexter Holland, singer for the punk rock band The Offspring more than 10 years ago.

Homegrown Meats is a brand of grass-fed beef based out of Palomar Mountain, CA that offers a line of steaks, roasts, sausage, and of course, beef jerky. We actually wrote a review of their, "Good Ol' Traditional" last year.

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Smoke Shack Jerky - Snack Sticks

Smoke Shack Jerky describes itself as a "small Upstate NY kitchen" that launched in 2017 by Jonathan Brown of Rochester, NY. Their unique angle is smoking jerky over real wood, and using thicker cuts of meat for a beefier chew. They don't use any smoke flavoring, and no preservatives. The company also has a line of smoked nuts.

Brown also chose to develop jerky recipes based on cultures found around the world as opposed to the more common profiles found with mass-produced brands.

These snack sticks are described by the company as being 60/40 Pork & Beef, cured, and smoked. They come in two flavors, Jammin Jerk and Fuman Chew.

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Bakke Brothers Brand - Peppered Beef Jerky

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill's founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

This Peppered Beef Jerky is marketed as, "Gluten Free", "No MSG", and "No Nitrates", going on to say that it is, "slightly sweet with plenty of pepper".

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