We Tried ‘Shmallow (Swiss Miss’s Marshmallow Whiskey), Our Thoughts

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

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