DENVER — Vermont Smoke & Cure, a subsidiary of Johnsonville, LLC, is launching a new meat sticks line that includes a unique, limited time offering (LTO) through a partnership with WhistlePig Whiskey. The new WhistlePig Maple Old Fashioned Meat Sticks will be available in stores and online beginning Sept. 23, coinciding with National Snack Stick Day.

The LTO combines Vermont Smoke & Cure’s meat crafting expertise with WhistlePig’s whiskey flavors, creating a cocktail-inspired snack experience. The products will come in 8-count, 1-oz pouches and 40-count display shippers.

Vermont Smoke & Cure plans to give a sneak peek to visitors at the 2024 Newtopia Now, held Aug. 25 – 27 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Attendees can visit booth no.1236 to sample the new products.

"Our new product line, especially our partnership with WhistlePig, represents our commitment to innovation in the premium meat snack category," said Michael Schafer, Commercial Business Lead at Vermont Smoke & Cure. "We're particularly excited about our turkey offerings, which address a significant gap in the market." 

Other new products introduced in Vermont Smoke & Cure’s line include:

  • Hickory Smoked Premium Beef Sticks — Made with 100% beef, these new sticks feature rich, savory flavors using the finest cuts of meat that are hand trimmed and ground to create a premium smoked beef stick. They’re available in 1-oz, 24-count cartons and 1-oz, 6-count pouches.  
  • Oven Roasted, Seasoned Turkey Sticks Carton & Pouch — Featuring aromatic seasonings to deliver a homestyle flavor in every bite, this new poultry stick is finished with a touch of hickory smoke to drive home on flavor. They’re available in 1-oz, 24-count cartons and 1-oz, 6-count pouches.  
  • Hickory Smoked Hot & Spicy Turkey Sticks Carton & Pouch — This turkey stick starts off with a smoky, American Southwestern-meets-“Dad’s spicy chili” blend of flavors, followed by the heat from a mix of paprika, chili and chipotle. They’re available in 1-oz, 24-count cartons and 1-oz, 6-count pouches.  
  • Customer Favorites Variety Pack — Vermont Smoke & Cure introduces what it calls the first and only multi-flavor meat stick pouch to be mass distributed in retail. This convenient variety pack of mini sticks offers an array of Vermont Smoke & Cure’s best-selling sticks to satisfy every palate, including the Original Beef & Pork, Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon Pork, and BBQ Seasoned Beef sticks. They’re available in 5-oz, 12-count variety packs. 

All the new products are made from antibiotic-free and hormone-free meat, with no artificial colors, preservatives or flavors, the company said. The products are processed in small batches, slow cooked for over 18 hours and smoked with hardwood chips.