Funky’s Meat Snacks is a small batch snack brand that offers a wide variety of beef jerky, meat sticks, seasonings, condiments, and specialty snacks with a bold, playful personality. Founded by Debby Funk during the COVID era as an extension of her gift shop and embroidery business (www.embroideryboutiqueknox.com), the company began by launching its first meat snack flavors in 2022 and has since expanded into numerous savory and spicy offerings.
Funky’s Meat Snacks focuses on flavorful, handcrafted products such as Sweet Korean BBQ Beef Jerky, Tennessee Whiskey Beef Jerky, Cowboy Cut Honeyed Pepper Beef Jerky, jalapeño meat sticks, and salt and pepper jerky varieties. The brand emphasizes fun flavor combinations, eye catching branding, and snack experimentation while maintaining a homemade, independent business feel.
This Funky’s Meat Snacks brand is distributed under the same name Funky’s Meat Snacks, located in Knoxville, Tennessee. This jerky is manufactured by Boyd Specialties LLC, which is located in Colton, California, making this a stock recipe.
The next review on Funky’s Meat Snacks will focus on a 2.5 ounce/71 gram bag of their Tennessee Whiskey flavored beef jerky. This jerky was graciously submitted for review by Owner Debby Funk.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Brown Sugar, Whiskey, Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt, Sodium Benzoate), Apple Cider Vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled White Vinegar, Molasses, Sugar, Water, Salt, Onions, Anchovies, Garlic, Cloves, Tamarind Extract, Natural Flavorings, Chili Pepper Extract), Lemon Juice, Liquid Hickory Smoke (Water, Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor), Cayenne, Granulated Garlic, Ground Pepper. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
This 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 consists of not so healthy whiskey, an average soy sauce, a well respected Worcestershire sauce, super healthy apple cider vinegar, liquid hickory smoke, and healthy lemon juice.
Some healthy ingredients are added, such as granulated garlic, cayenne pepper, and ground black pepper.
The sugar level is respectable at 2 grams of sugar per 28 gram of jerky. The salt level is very low at 50mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
Commendably, this jerky has no sodium nitrite added, or any other similar unhealthy preservative. Instead, salt is the main preservative used, and apple cider vinegar to a lesser extent. Admirably, this jerky qualifies to have no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
FUNKY’S MEAT SNACKS – TENNESSEE WHISKEY BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell next to nothing. The jerky is medium in size, and the slices are cut to a medium thickness. The jerky is reasonably dry yet soft, not exactly as our forefathers intended. There is no oily residue left on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky, I taste very little salt, a ton of sweetness, and minimal pepper and garlic, this flavor is MUCH too sweet for my liking. It tastes almost like a ridiculously sweet marbling flavor, so I’m not impressed. I can go no higher than a 5.5/10, which will round up to a 6/10, which is to me, still somewhat debatable. I was not impressed at all. Snacks for my boys. Gentlemen?
Here is what Mark had to say about this Tennessee Whiskey beef jerky flavor from Funky’s Meat Snacks: “Thanks Paul for the honest taste review. I think that Paul is being way too harsh here. This whiskey flavor is indeed sweet tasting, and I agree it is too sweet, which is unnecessary. Beyond the sweetness, there is a great medley of flavors. The familiar combination of soy and Worcestershire sauce is at a mild level. A faint to light level of smokiness in the background. A faint kick from the cayenne pepper brightens the entire taste profile. As with Paul, I was unable to detect the taste of whiskey also, which historically is a challenging flavor to achieve.”
“The natural flavor of beef has no hint of tasting processed. Brisket is the cut of beef used, well known for being superior in absorbing the marinade. While I found this flavor enjoyable and somewhat addictive, it does not have much ‘wow’ factor, mainly because of the excessive sweetness. With Paul at 6 and myself at an 8, a Decent (7/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.5 ounce/71 gram bag of jerky sells online for $10.00. That works out to $4.00 an ounce, which rates as an average price.
Bag Review
This black, resealable plastic bag has a label affixed to the front and nothing on the back. The logo depicts owner Debby Funk introducing Funky’s Meat Snacks.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. The only facts printed on this bag is “Made in the U.S.A.” and “Natural Smoke Flavor Added”.
The only missing bag category is a blurb about this jerky or flavor. You are encouraged to follow Funky’s Meat Snacks on Instagram.
Order their jerky online: www.funkyssnacks.net
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