The Jerky Hut - Hot Cowgirl Beef Jerky

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".

Ingredients

Beef, water, corn syrup solids, seasonings, teriyaki sauce, crushed red peppers, smoke flavoring, worcestershire sauce, black pepper, monosodium glutamate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite

Review

The first thing I taste from the surface of these pieces is a smokiness and light salt. The natural meat flavors linger in while a light bit of heat starts. The chewing brings on a bit more smoke, along with a noticeable chile pepper, some more salt, and some black pepper. The natural meat flavors continue to build while the heat increases.

For being named, "Hot Cowgirl" and described as having a medium hot heat range, it seems to hold up well. It definitely has a spicy heat but not too much so. I'd rate in our heat scale as "medium hot" (level 4 out of 5). It also has a fair amount of chile pepper flavor too. The smokiness that the company described is also there too, but at a moderate level.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a moderately smoked and salted natural meat flavor with dashes of chile pepper and black pepper. It's not at all saucy, despite the addition of teriyaki and worcestershire. Instead, there's a faint sweet, but mostly it tastes seasoned and smoked.

The meat consistency is excellent, resembling something of an old fashioned style. These are thick sliced strips that start out lightly moist, but very meaty. They eventually chew down into something very much like pieces of steak. No stringiness was noted, nor anything unchewable. These are beautiful slices of pure meat.

Verdict

This Hot Cowgirl Beef Jerky from The Jerky Hut reminds me much of the company's Cowboy Beef Jerky, but spiced up with fair amount of red chile pepper flakes. You get a decent amount of heat, enough to produce tingling on the scalp and a moistness on the brow. For the most part, it tastes and chews like an old fashioned style jerky, perhaps something you'd associate with the Old West, but hot and sassy like a six-shootin' sweetheart. The addition of corn syrup solids makes this only faintly sweet, though moderately salted, and might make an option as a keto diet snack.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Where to buy:

• https://thejerkyhut.com/