Dustyn Dahn’s love of his life purchased him a dehydrator as a gift, and she demanded that he make her beef jerky. Little did she know when Dustyn was under 4 feet tall (6’6” now!) he used to help his grandfather in the kitchen, measuring out ingredients, and combining their secret family recipe with meat to create delectable jerky. When Dustyn was in high school, he wanted to be a chef and attended an accelerated summer program at the CIA, Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York. So, unbeknownst to his wife, Dustyn marinated a batch to perfection, and being the Tetris master that he is, Dustyn did not waste a square inch of space in the new dehydrator.
After what seemed like days, the first jerky batch was finally finished. Dustyn pulled off the lid and savored that first bite. It was better than he could have imagined! Dustyn passed around the jerky to his wife and to his (then only) daughter. Both of them devoured it!
Not long after this, Dustyn started bringing his scrumptious snack into work. Co-workers began to take notice and would ask for some to try. Eventually, Dustyn realized that there was a demand for what he could supply. Empire Jerky was born in 2019, and is now shipping all across the U.S. Empire Jerky is distributed under the same of Empire Jerky, and they are located in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The next review on Empire Jerky will focus on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their Dragon’s Breath flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as a combination of chili peppers + cayenne peppers start off, shortly after whilst you have been lured into a false sense of “This ain’t so bad” the Ghost Pepper takes over with a swift addition of the famous Carolina Reaper Pepper that makes your breath so hot, so fiery, you better have a glass of milk or two nearby. The jerky was kindly submitted for review by the founder, Dustyn Dahn.
Ingredients: Beef, Teriyaki Sauce (Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Wine, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Spices, Onion Powder, Succinic Acid, Garlic Powder, Sodium Benzoate: Less Than 1/10 of 1% As A Preservative.), Brown Sugar, Carolina Reaper Mash (Carolina Reaper, Vinegar), Cayenne, Pineapple, Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled White Vinegar, Molasses, Sugar, Water, Salt, Onions, Anchovies, Garlic, Cloves, Tamarind Extract, Natural Flavorings, Chili Pepper Extract), Lemon Juice (Water, Lemon Concentrate, 1/10 of 1% Sodium Benzoate, Garlic, Ghost Pepper, Ground Pepper, Sea Salt, Ginger. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat, Anchovies
The beef used here is guaranteed to be ethically raised 98% of the time, meaning free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. There is not a 100% guarantee offered because sometimes the beef used cannot keep up with the demand. These cattle are not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to roam about. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
This liquid marinade here is comprised of a fair teriyaki sauce, healthy lemon juice, and a well-respected brand of Worcestershire sauce. It is disappointing to see that the teriyaki sauce uses the highly processed unhealthy sweetener high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to lose a rating.
There are healthy ingredients added, such as garlic, black pepper, pineapple, and ginger. The heat is achieved using Carolina reaper pepper, cayenne pepper, and ghost pepper. Hot peppers are healthy if eaten in moderation, which flushes toxins out of the body.
The sugar level is acceptable at 4 gram of sugar per 42 grams of jerky for a hot based flavor as we have here. The salt level is quite low at only 172mg of salt per 42 grams of jerky.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Admirably, this jerky qualifies to have no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
EMPIRE JERKY – DRAGON’S BREATH BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag, I believe I am smelling vinegar and possibly soy as well. The jerky is soft and dry, and it leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
The first flavors I encounter are salt, pepper, sweet, and the kick is beginning to rear its ugly head. I mean that in the nicest way possible. I also taste the vinegar, soy, and natural beef. I just finished my first piece, and the sweat, on the top of my head, is forming. Oh boy, this is going to be a doozie. Now I venture bravely into the second piece, as my head is forming a layer of sweat, followed by my insides being violated by this ridiculously hot flavor of jerky.
I may be hallucinating, but is that a dragon flying overhead? Where the heck is Daenerys Targaryen? Did I wake up in an episode of Game Of Thrones? I just pulled out a big long piece of jerky. Not sure I can see it to its end, things are smokin’ hot in here!! Ouch!! Mommy, it’s d*mn hot in here, I’m burning up!! That bloody dragon is mercilessly inundating me with its hellfire, I am about to diminish to a puddle of sweat, please, somebody, save me, I’m burning up over here. Sorry guys, I gotta tap out. Everything’s melting before my eyes. Before my fingers turn to liquid, I will award this Dragon’s Breath jerky a well-deserved 10/10. Phone 911, I’m melting, helpppp, gzurjut blblbl, ndlbkiwq…————.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Dragon’s Breath beef jerky flavor from Empire Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the colorful taste review. I could not agree more. This Carolina Reaper based flavor does deliver exactly as advertised. The flavor starts with the chili peppers and cayenne pepper. The pineapples and lemons initially do a good job dulling the heat to a certain extent. Then, after a good five seconds or so, the Ghost Pepper is beginning to take serious notice. Then after 15-20 seconds, it ends with the intense heat from the Carolina Reaper peppers. I was able to eat four strips at a time, where I then needed a break.”
“Full respect to the Carolina Reaper pepper, the jerky industry respected leader as being the hottest hot pepper on Earth. Included is also fresh Ghost pepper being around 1 million Scoville (hot as hell), Carolina Reaper potentially over 2 million Scovilles (insane), and not to mention delicious cayenne pepper otherwise known as crack.”
Due to COVID-19, we are down to just Paul for this review from the Group of Seven. If intense heat is your thing, look no further than this Dragon’s Breath flavor. Two thumbs way up!!!👍👍”
This 3 ounce/85 gram bag of jerky sells online for 9.00. That works out to $3.00 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This black resealable plastic bag has a label attached to the front and nothing on the back. There are several pictures depicted of various hot peppers, including ghost, Carolina, and chili peppers.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed on this bag are “Made in the USA”, and “Handcrafted”.
The only bag category missing is a blurb printed about Empire Jerky or this Dragon’s Breath flavor.
Order their jerky online: www.empirejerky.com
No merch on this site?