Monday, September 1, 2025

J&K Beef Jerky - Prime Rib

jk beef jerky
J&K Beef Jerky is a brand owned by J&K Distributors based out of Huntington Beach, CA. J&K Distributors is an actual distributing company that stocks convenience stores throughout Southern California. J&K has been around since 1980.

Like most distributing companies, J&K offers several brands of jerky for its store clients, but also offers its own house brand. According to the company, they've offered this jerky over the past 20 years.

This Prime Rib beef jerky is not otherwise described by the company, nor comes with any claims aside from a photo of a juicy prime of beef on the label.

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, bouillon beef base, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne, salt, paprika, seasoning salt, liquid smoke

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate is a light sweet, followed by a savory marinade that soon develops into a beefy soy sauce laden with onion seasoning. The chewing brings on some natural meat flavors, and introduces a whisp of cayenne spice at the end.

For being marketed as "Prime Rib", there's a light reminiscence of the popular weekend steakhouse special, particularly the fatty, outer edges of a 12 ounce slice encrusted with seasonings. It does not, however, taste exactly like a slice of prime rib, nor anything close to the center portion. There's no pungent horseradish in this jerky, just a modest recognition of au jus sauce in the marinade.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a salty marinade comparable to a beefy flavored soy sauce with lots of seasonings and a bit of sticky sweet. It's peppery but also spicy with a light level of cayenne heat, registering as mild medium on our heat scale (level 2 out of 5). Think of it more as a seasoned steak variety of jerky than prime rib.

These slices of meat are chewy, but not tough. They have a faint bit of stickiness on the surface, but not enough to gunk up your fingers. There's light levels of stringiness in the chewing, but otherwise this jerky has a meaty chew that takes on a steak-like texture. I do see some streaks of gristle in the larger slices.

Verdict

This Prime Rib beef jerky from J&K may usher in some familiarity with a 12 ounce slice of the chef's special, perhaps with a light au jus flavor, or even the peppery, fatty edges of an end cut. But otherwise, these are not actual slices of prime rib, just beef jerky meant to mimic that roasted beef style. It kind of salty due to its stronger seasonings, as well as peppery with a light bit of cayenne heat. Think of it more as a seasoned steak style of jerky with a beefy soy sauce marinade. Chewy, yet easy to get through, this stuff has a meaty consistency with a steak-like texture. Definitely a more manly offering from J&K that you'll want to wash down with something cold and refreshing.


Rating: Good (4/5)


prime rib beef jerky

prime rib beef jerky




Friday, August 29, 2025

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Elk 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 describes this Elk Jerky as being made in a, "new natural Gluten Free recipe".

Friday, August 22, 2025

The Jerky Hut - Hot Cowgirl Beef Jerky

the jerky hut
The Jerky Hut is a brand of Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. The brand which is often seen at boat shows, gun shows, car shows, and trade shows of every kind, was started over 30 years ago.

Much of its jerky is sold through independent "retail licensees", who are the folks running the booths at the shows. It's parent company, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, runs its own USDA inspected facility.

This Hot Cowgirl Beef Jerky variety is marketed as having a "medium hot heat range due to the infusion of hot crushed red chili peppers", and goes on to say that it has a "rich smoky flavor from Oregon hardwoods".

Friday, August 15, 2025

Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Original

chef craigs jerky
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.

Friday, August 8, 2025

The Jerky Hut - Sweet Golden Nuggets

the jerky hut
Next in the series on Jerky Hut are these Sweet Golden Nuggets. See my previous review of their Cowboy Beef Jerky.

Jerky Hut is a brand of Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The brand which is often seen at boat shows, gun shows, car shows, and trade shows of every kind, was started over 30 years ago. Whiskey Hill Smokehouse runs its own USDA inspected facility.

These Golden Nuggets are the brand's signature product, sweetened with brown sugar and described as tasting like barbecue ribs.

Friday, August 1, 2025

Bakke Brother Brand - Honey Jalapeno Beef Jerky

bakke brothers brand
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'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 Honey Jalapeno Beef Jerky is marketed as, "Gluten Free", "No MSG", and "No Nitrates", going on to say that it has a, "spicy heat for a unique taste".

Friday, May 16, 2025

Bakke Brothers Brand - Scorpion Peppered Beef Jerky

bakke brothers brand 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 Scorpion Peppered Beef Jerky is made with Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers and is marked as, "Gluten Free", "No MSG", and "No Nitrates", going on to say, "So you think you want to go a little hotter?".

Friday, May 2, 2025

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Whiskey BBQ Jerky

whiskey hill smokehouse
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".

This "Whiskey BBQ" is part of a series of alcohol-infused jerky varieties recently launched by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse. Others include Maple Bourbon, and Saki-Teriyaki. The package is marked, "Gluten Free".

Monday, April 28, 2025

Western's Snack Sticks - Healthier For You Sticks

westerns snack sticks
Western's Smokehouse has been in business since 1978, when it was founded by Sam Western, a man who built a career as a butcher. Originally starting as a local meat market, Western's Smokehouse struck it rich when it introduced it's first meat stick, "Western's Hot Dogs".

Renaming them to "Snack Sticks", the company expanded to meet demand by building a larger facility. Production of snack sticks remains as the company's primary focus today.

These "Healthier For You" line of Snack Sticks are made with no antibiotics, no hormones, and no preservatives. They are also gluten-free, soy-free, and MSG-free. The beef stick in particular is made from grass-fed beef.

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Lawless Jerky - Japanese Curry

lawless jerky
Lawless Jerky is a new brand of jerky created by Matthew Tolnick of Santa Monica, CA. During the day, he's a licensed attorney, driving fancy BMWs, wearing Armani suits, and taking clients out for shabu shabu. But when he's not chasing ambulances, he's perfecting recipes for marinated meats and fulfilling online orders.

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Lawless Jerky stepped up their game and is now made in a USDA inspected facility and distributing out to stores.

This Japanese Curry is Tolnick's first perfected flavor, and he often considers it his "Original" flavor. He describes it as "sweet from brown sugar, salty from traditional soy sauce, umami from a proprietary Japanese curry blend, and tender from Asian vinegar".