Hickory Liquid Smoke Taste Test

[gregbooras]

I have been using Stubb's Liquid Smoke for years, but decided I wanted to see how others stacked up against Stubb's.

For this test I compared 4 different Liquids smokes.

Wright’s Liquid Smoke (Hickory) $1.50 bottle
Ingredients: Water, Natural Hickory Smoke Concentrate.

CedarHouse Ultra-Premium Liquid Smoke (All Natural Hickory Liquid Smoke) $12.00
Ingredients: Water, Hickory Smoke, Smoke, Mesquite Smoke

Stubb's Hickory Liquid Smoke $4.00
Ingredients: Water, Soy Sauce (Water, Salt, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Corn Syrup, Caramel Coloring), Hickory Smoke Flavor, Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Coloring, Garlic and Onion Powder, Spice.

Living Nutritionals All-Natural Liquid Smoke $6.00
Ingredients: Hickory and a little mesquite are burned at a low temperature



Smell test:
Except for Stubb’s all the Liquid smokes had a mild smoke smell (reminded me of the smoke out of the smoker). The bottle of Stubb’s had the smoke flavor, but you could smell the soy.

Taste test:
Wright’s had a nice hint of smoke with no bitter after taste
Cedar House hint of smoke, very bitter taste
Stubb’s hint of smoke, taste of soy
Living Nutritionals hint of smoke, very bitter

Taste test in ketchup:
Wright’s nice smoke flavor, very clean
Cedar House smoke flavor and bitter
Stubb’s smoke flavor, taste of soy and it changed the color of the ketchup
Living Nutritionals smoke flavor and very bitter

Wow fun test, but all I can taste is smoke

In the end for me Wright's Liquid Hickory Smoke is the winner, all natural and nice smoke flavor. Stubb's placed second, but my new Liquid Smoke is Wright's.

Wright's also makes Applewood and Mesquite Liquid Smoke, that I would like to try.

Greg

 

[RG]

And it's the cheapest out of the bunch!

 

[gregbooras]

And it's the cheapest out of the bunch!

Yea makes me laugh, the cheapest turned out to taste the best....

For the ketchup test, I started with 1 T of ketchup and then did three tests starting with 1/8 t. per liquid smoke. I did this three times and the bitter ones did not improve in taste!

Greg

 

[DivotMaker]

Wright's is all I use, if not smoked in the SI with the "real deal!"   I actually only use liquid smoke, anymore, in BBQ sauce.

 

[gregbooras]

Wright's is all I use, if not smoked in the SI with the "real deal!"   I actually only use liquid smoke, anymore, in BBQ sauce.

Tony,

Yes I just use for my BBQ sauce also!

Greg

 

[prudentsmoker]

Regarding the ketchup taste testing portion of the experiment- I would submit that the brand of ketchup can make a huge difference. Out of the half dozen or so I have tried when making Jeff's sauce, I have found Aldi's house brand to be the best and the cheapest. Having said that, I would like to reiterate the obvious, taste can often be a matter of personal preference.

 

[DivotMaker]

I find Hunt's All Natural ketchup to be my favorite for sauce; one of the few with no high fructose corn syrup!

 

[gregbooras]

I find Hunt's All Natural ketchup to be my favorite for sauce; one of the few with no high fructose corn syrup!

I agree I also like the Hunt's no high fructose corn syrup. If I can not find it or I find a really good price on another brand I adjust how much sugar I add to my recipe or add more vinegar or lemon juice to balance the flavor.

Greg