Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
The King once said, “Don’t criticize what you don’t understand, son. You never walked in that man’s shoes.” In that spirit, I checked my personal misgivings at the door when I received a sample of the Elvis Midnight Snack Peanut Butter, Banana & Bacon Flavored Whiskey. I like peanut butter, I like bananas, I like bacon, and I like whiskey. I was less sure about the combination of the four, but following the King’s advice, let’s dive into the story of this unique whiskey.
In 2021, Grain & Barrel spirits company launched the Elvis Whiskey collection, having entered a long-term licensing agreement with Elvis Presley Enterprises. Grain & Barrel is a spirits collective established in 2012 by Matti Anttila, a entrepreneur who left the finance world to dive into spirits. Mr. Anttila has quickly established a juggernaut of a company, acquiring numerous labels, such as Dixie Vodka (which has partnered with NASCAR), Virgil Kaine Lowcountry Whiskey, and the well known (and still humorously named) Chicken Cock Whiskey. Chicken Cock Whiskey especially has garnered a reputation for high quality spirits and unique expressions, with its recent limited release, the Chicken Cock ‘Chanticleer’ winning double gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The Elvis Midnight Snack Flavored Whiskey is the newest expression of the Elvis Whiskey line, which also contains the “Tiger Man,” a Straight Tennessee Whiskey, and “The King,” a Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey. The new spirit is inspired by Elvis’s favorite sandwich, which was made of peanut butter, banana, and bacon. He evidently discovered it at a now-closed Colorado restaurant, when he wandered in and ordered a “Fool’s Gold Loaf.”
In explaining their choice of flavoring, Matti Anttila noted “[t]o sip, or shoot – flavored whiskeys are continuing to grow in popularity, with flavored whiskey growing +19% and peanut butter flavored whiskey growing +200% in the United States, leaving our team especially excited to introduce ‘Midnight Snack’ to our growing portfolio of Elvis-inspired whiskeys.”
Grain & Barrel describes their product as a “decadent flavor combination [which] is a perfectly balanced blend of sweet, savory, salty and smoky.” Unfortunately, a quick smell and sip reveals a lack of the savory, salty, or smoky flavors promised. The whiskey is very sweet and only pays homage to the peanut butter and banana flavors, missing the bacon entirely. In a market that is currently saturated with other, more inexpensive, flavored whiskey offerings, there are too many other alternatives to turn to.
As the King said “when things go wrong, don’t go with them,” and unfortunately, that is the case with this offering.
Tasting Notes: Elvis Midnight Snack Peanut Butter, Bananas & Bacon Flavored Whiskey
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Vital Stats: No age statement. Flavored with peanut butter, banana, and bacon flavors. 70 proof (35% ABV). $35/750ml.
Appearance: Golden brown with a reddish hue.
Nose: Burnt sugar and syrup overwhelm the senses with the sharp scent of young alcohol burning beneath. If you stay with it long enough, something like salt water taffy emerges.
Palate: Sweet banana candy immediately hits the tongue with a layer of bubblegum underneath. Thick caramel flavor, which could be interpreted as peanut butter-ish, arises while overripe bananas persist through the finish.
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