Drop zone is a hunting show on the Outdoor Channel. It was started by two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion crew chief Greg Zipadelli (Greg was Tony Stewards’ crew chief) and Hal Shaffer. Since their first encounter on a hunt in Kentucky seven years ago, the duo are now close friends who share a common passion for the outdoors. Team DZ is never staged or simulated – it truly is what it is: a half-hour of fun, excitement and priceless knowledge for hunters of all skill levels thrown in as icing on the cake.
Shiners Stash partnered with Drop zone in 2019. The jerky is centered around hunters out on hunts as a light snack The two flavors for Drop zone ranch and smokey rub were inspired by Chef Swen Altis. Drop Zone is distributed under the name of Drop Zone Hunting, and they are based out of Mooresvile, North Carolina. This jerky is not secretly manufactured by private labeler (Co-packer) Shiners Stash, LLC. based out of Conover, North Carolina.
The first review for Drop Zone will focus on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their ranch flavored beef jerky. This ranch beef jerky flavor is described as using their own blend of herbs & spices, fresh parsley, garlic, and mouthwatering seasonings. The jerky was kindly submitted for review by Shiners Stash Co-Owner, Beth Altis.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef (Eye Round), Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Ranch Powder (Buttermilk Powder, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Garlic Salt, Parsley, Monosodium Glutamate, Gum, Dill Weed), Brown Sugar (Molasses), Beef Flavor (Cooked Beef, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Dextrose, Sea Salt, Maltodextrin, Onion Powder, Sugar, Caramel Color, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate), Liquid Smoke, Potassium Sorbate (A Food Preservative), Black Pepper. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to graze on grass. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of a decent brand of soy sauce, and liquid smoke. The ranch sauce is in powdered form.
The sugar level is high at 6 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar and under per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is fairly low at 220mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to be sodium nitrite free, as similar potassium sorbate is used as a preservative to lose a rating.
This flavor does not qualify to be MSG free, as monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used outright to lose a rating. Also, the flavor enhancers disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate are used to lose a rating, which work synergistically to enhance the flavor. Lastly, the highly processed, cheap flavor enhancers hydrolyzed soy protein and hydrolyzed corn protein are used to lose another rating.
Bad (3/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
I find the jerky to be dark in color, could that be from the amount of marinade used? Anyways, the jerky is a bit hard and dry (just how I personally love it), it is relatively easy to chew, it is sliced rather thin, and it leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
Now, a question arises. Is the “ranch” flavor supposed to be like being on a ranch, or is it supposed to taste like ranch dressing? In my estimation, after eating a bit, it could be a combination of both. I taste a faint hint of ranch dressing, yet it also does come across as something you would be chewing on a ranch.
The first flavors I encounter (lest I forget) are salt, pepper, garlic, onion, much natural beef, and possibly a slight hint of ranch dressing, not entirely sure.
Either way, a very rewarding taste experience, and as such I am going to reward it a very tantalizing 9/10. I would also be content with a 10/10. Gentlemen?
Here is what Mark had to say about this ranch beef jerky flavor from Drop Zone: “Stéphane and I generally agree with Paul, where this is indeed a ranch dressing flavor, and deeply evenly marinated. This jerky was shared between eight people, and feedback was the same from everybody. A very good tasting jerky flavor, but lacking in the ranch dressing flavor. Had this been an original based flavor, which it comes across as, this ranch flavor likely would have been awarded a 10 taste rating. Based on experience, Stéphane and I noticed a foreign tasting flavor at a faint to light level that has to be the ranch flavor, but falls short to justify a Ranch flavor name. Ava described the light ranch flavor to be creamy tasting, but Sid thought the smoked flavor overpowered the ranch flavor. Here are the official ratings between the Group of Seven (Mark – 8, Paul – 9, Stéphane – 8, Nolan – 8, Mark M. – 8, Sid – 7, Ava – 7)”
A 3 ounce/85 gram bag sells online for $8.50. That works out to $2.83 an ounce, which rates as an average price.
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has everything printed directly on the bag itself, both on the front and back. The Drop zone logo has deer antlers. There is a drawing of a deer in the outdoors on the front of the bag.
A slogan printed on this bag could be “Greg Zipadellis Drop Zone”. Some facts printed on this bag are “Lightweight Outdoor Snack”, Veteran Owned”, “22g Protein Per Serving”, “Made in the USA”, “Produced in a Peanut Environment Facility”, and “Low in Carbs”.
All bag categories are covered with this bag. You are encouraged to follow Team DZ on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. A good blurb is printed on the back about Drop Zone and Shiners Stash.
Excellent (10/10) – Bag Rating
Order their jerky online: www.shinersstashjerky.com/products/dropzone-ranch
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