‘Shmallow Bourbon: Our Honest Review of Swiss Miss Marshmallow Whiskey

Hot cocoa season and whiskey season are one in the same. Nothing takes the edge of a chilly night like a cup of hot chocolate or a good slug of bourbon. So, it only seems natural that a hot cocoa maker that has cornered the market on instant hot chocolate mix would take a stab at the whiskey market, as well. Was that a complicated way to start this article? Here’s the deal, plain and simple: Swiss Miss made marshmallow whiskey. It’s called Shmallow. And we tried it.

But is it any good? Read on to find out.

Marshmallow Whiskey!

Swiss Miss x Hotel Tango ‘Shmallow Bourbon Whiskey

Cask Cartel

This isn’t the first ‘Shmallow whiskey. Hotel Tango created the toasted marshmallow bourbon years ago (it won silver in the 2022 Whiskey & Barrel Consumer Choice Awards). But this is the first Swiss Miss ‘Shmallow, which incorporates notes of hot cocoa into the mix. I haven’t tried the original ‘Shmallow, so all I can comment on is this new ‘Shmallow bourbon.

Pros: It definitely channels the Swiss Miss experience. It smells like sweet, instant hot cocoa mix along with those traditional vanilla-tinged bourbon notes. And it truly does taste like marshmallow. It specifically tastes like the super sweet and sticky insides of a marshmallow. I appreciate that it has a touch of that whiskey bite on the end to warm your chest. But, for the most part, it’s very easy drinking. And it would go great in a cup of cocoa.

Cons: It’s very, very, very sweet. If you were looking for a flavored bourbon that was heavier on the bourbon than the flavoring, you would be a bit shocked upon first sip. And it’s definitely instant hot cocoa and marshmallows—not homemade. There’s a real artificial thing going on with the aroma, almost like a hot cocoa scratch and sniff might smell. But, hey, that’s why this is a Swiss Miss hot cocoa and marshmallow whiskey and not a Your Mom’s hot cocoa and marshmallow whiskey.

Credit: Liv Averett / Cask Cartel

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.