Keno's Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Gary Keeney, baesed out of Wichita Falls, TX. Established in 2010, Keeno's manufacturing process is state inspected, and the company runs an outlet store in the same building.
Keeney got into the jerky business while working at Dell Computers, where he sold bags of his homemade stuff to fellow employees. After getting laid off, he went into business for himself with the aid of a $17,000.00 prize for winning the IdeaWF competition hosted by Midwestern State University. Keeney also won the 2014 Peppers and More World Jerky Contest.
This "Bloody Mary" jerky claims to be based on the same ingredients as Keeno's Salsa Beef Jerky that we reviewed last week, but throws in some Bloody Mary Mix. It also claims to be "Medium Heat".
Ingredients
Beef, Cajun Bloody Mary Mix, worcestershire sauce, onions, molasses, herbs, red pepper, black pepper, celery, ascorbic acid, natural hickory wood smoke, dark red chile, hydrolyzed soy and corn protein, sugar, citric acid, crushed red chile, green/red/yellow bell pepper flakes, dill seed, MSG, paprika, cilantro, cayenne pepper, mustard seed.
Review
The first flavors I pick up are a moderate salt, along with light garlic and onion seasonings. There's a light wood smoke flavor too. The chewing brings on some natural meat flavors, combined with a vinegar tanginess. The dill seed is more light in this than with other of Keeno's varieties.
For being marketed as, "Bloody Mary", it doesn't really have the Bloody Mary mix flavor. I'm not picking up that spicy, tomatoey flavor at all. There is, however, a slight pasty residue in the chewing that perhaps comes from the tomato juice after dehydration. But flavorwise, I don't identify the Bloody Mary mix. I also don't find the "Medium Heat" in this. It's actually more mild to me.
Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of garlic and onion seasoning salt, with a noticeable hickory wood smoke, and a light vinegar tanginess. A light natural meat flavor sits behind the scenes, and there's just a faint trace of the worcestershire. The dill comes in through small bursts where I chew into a seed.
The meat consistency comes in thin sliced slabs, rather soft and flexible, but dry. It chews soft, but is still "chewy". It feels quite meaty, though with some stringiness, but has a texture just like a well-done cooked steak.
Verdict
This Bloody Mary Beef Jerky from Keeno's delivers a lot of flavor, but nothing that tastes like Bloody Mary Mix. It doesn't have that spicy, tomatoey flavor. It also doesn't have the "Medium Heat" that the package claims. It's actually quite mild. In fact, it tastes similar to the company's "Mild Beef Jerky", but with a little less salt, and a wee touch of worcestershire. On its own merits, it's still a good jerky in terms of taste and chewing. Adding that touch of worcestershie seems to give it just a bit more savory character. The idea of a Bloody Mary Mix marinade seems like a great idea, but it doesn't quite materialize in this.
Rating: Good
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