My Honest Review of Oscar Mayer’s Maple Bourbon Bacon

For the first time in half a decade, Oscar Mayer just released a new bacon flavor, and it’s a boozy one. They partnered with Evan Williams Bourbon (my uncle’s favorite Bourbon brand; shout out to Bill) to make my favorite tongue-twister of the week: Maple Bourbon Bacon. This new bacon flavor is supposed to be sweet, smoky, and infused with those caramel-y, oaky notes you’d expect from a good bourbon. And I have quite the personal stake in this new bacon, believe it or not: Evan Williams was the name of my crush in high school. So this better taste good, Oscar Mayer.

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To be honest, this year hasn’t had the best track record with experimental meat flavors. After trying Dr Pepper sausage last month, I went into this mentally preparing for the worst. I know these are two very different things (mainly because maple bourbon bacon, you know, makes logical sense as a flavor), but that freaky cherry-forward sausage did scar me a little. Sorry you have to catch a stray here, Dr Pepper. But it’s the truth. Basically, I did not go into this with an open heart. Just honesty and a lot of caution.

I tried Oscar Mayer’s Maple Bourbon Bacon (seriously, try saying it three times fast, I dare you) on its own and in the laziest breakfast sandwich I’ve ever made. Here’s my honest review.

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Oscar Mayer Maple Bourbon Bacon

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Pros: In a breakfast sandwich, this is so incredibly delicious. I stacked it with a fried egg and some cheddar in a brioche bun, and my god, what a revelation. It brings so much depth to an otherwise unremarkable breakfast sandwich. The word “maple” puts my guard up a little in savory food products, but this is the perfect sweetness level and doesn’t taste artificial in the slightest. Plus, it’s just a nice quality bacon. I might need to try it in a carbonara next and report back.

Cons: Would I know, tasting blind, that this bacon has been cured with bourbon? Maybe not. The flavors are really subtle and balanced, which I like, but if you’re hoping for a really boozy bacon, that’s not what you get here.

Verdict: I like that this just tastes like normal bacon with a touch of sweetness. The sweetness itself has malty depth to it. What can I say? Oscar Mayer and Evan Williams made a beautiful baby together. If only the real Evan Williams from my high school had liked me back. Oh well!

Credit: Liv Averett / Oscar Mayer

Rating:

8.5/10

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