Brian Nagele
Some whiskey aficionados prefer their drink untouched by supplemental flavors. Others enjoy the depth and interest of additives. No matter which category you fall into, there’s a peanut butter whiskey for you on the market.
Peanut butter complements the base whiskey with a nutty, creamy, or sweet flavor profile. It can go salty, sweet, dark and rich, or light and dessert-forward.
Bartenders and amateur cocktail connoisseurs alike appreciate peanut butter whiskey for its versatility, adding fruit liqueurs for a twist on the peanut butter sandwich in drink form.
In recent years, distilleries have adopted this trendy taste quickly, producing a variety to choose from. But with so many options available, how do you know which one is worth trying?
Below, we look at flavor profile, boldness, aftertaste, and price point to help you find the best peanut butter whiskey. Read on to find out which suits your palate and budget. Then, pour into your favorite whiskey glass and enjoy!
Skatterbrain Peanut Butter Whiskey
This Canadian whiskey base adds peanut butter as a thin top layer, making for one of the bolder flavors on this list.
Produced by Universal Brands in Minnesota, then distributed to Total Wine and More stores throughout the U.S., Skatterbrain is an inexpensive choice to start testing peanut butter whiskeys.
Added caramel color and natural flavors round out this blend, which gives a hint of vanilla and butterscotch in addition to the peanut butter.
At a lower price point than its competitors, Skatterbrain will give you a whiskey-forward option for less stress on your wallet.
This one works best when mixed in a cocktail but is good with ice or water as well.
Sheep Dog – Peanut Butter Whiskey
From Louisville, Kentucky, this choice has real Southern charm.
The Sazerac company headquarters are in New Orleans, but they produce liquor under different names and through geographically diverse locations.
There are no actual peanuts involved in the production process, as the makers opt instead for natural flavoring. Notes of caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch round out Sheep Dog’s modest peanut butter offering.
Sheep Dog is one of the cheapest peanut butter whiskeys on the market, so don’t expect the complexity of some of the higher-price-point competitors.
However, it works great in a cocktail, over ice, or for a peanut butter newbie who’s not yet ready for a bolder flavor.
Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
Many whiskey drinkers will recognize this iconic label, featuring a sheep’s head with a trendy, stylized font.
Introduced in California in 2018, Skrewball boasts the honor of being the original flavor that began the peanut butter whiskey craze.
It also uses real peanuts in its distilling process, unlike some others that rely on artificial flavoring.
Though it offers a nice smooth finish, this whiskey is definitely on the sweeter side of the peanut butter flavors out there.
If you’re feeling experimental (or avoiding heavier drinking), try it drizzled over vanilla ice cream for a decadent treat.
Hard Truth Peanut Butter Whiskey
Hard Truth Distilling Co. gives us a whiskey-forward taste with the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Aged whiskey and deep-roasted peanuts contribute to this mature blend, which is harder to track down than some names on this list – but if you do manage to snag it, you won’t regret the purchase.
Hard Truth’s distinctive dark color sets it apart from other caramel-toned peanut butter whiskeys on the market, giving the impression that it takes itself more seriously than others.
Likewise, its semi-dry finish makes it better suited to the seasoned whiskey palate.
Ole Smoky Peanut Butter Whiskey
Another Tennessee offering, this whiskey is the closest on this list to an old-fashioned peanut butter cookie.
It has unique notes of buttered popcorn, shortbread, licorice, and honey that make it the perfect complement to a night of old-fashioned home cooking.
Ole Smoky is a trusted distillery out of Gatlinburg, with flavored whiskeys that are consistently reliable if not overly exciting.
Smooth at first, this peanut butter blend has a nice kick to it that will satisfy fans of hard liquor who don’t want to admit they’re drinking peanut butter whiskey.
This one is best enjoyed neat or with an ice cube or two – you won’t want to overpower its appeal with additional flavors.
Sqrrl Peanut Butter Whiskey
The interesting bottle shape and amber color are two points of interest of this quaff.
Produced in Illinois, Sqrrl’s peanut butter whiskey offering is easy on the sweet and makes sure to go down super smooth.
The chocolate undertones in this whiskey beg for a creative cocktail – perhaps a spiked hot chocolate or a Reese’s peanut butter cup combo.
It’s also very heavy on the caramel, making the peanut butter more subtle than some of the other options on this list (not bad if something like Skrewball is too overpowering for your palate).
Claiming to be “extra nutty,” an intense roasted peanut flavor may turn off some whiskey drinkers who prefer the light, sweet flavors – but will delight those with richer palates.
Check out Sqrrl’s website for an easy list of accessible cocktails you can make at home.
Barrel & Banter Peanut Butter Whiskey
The balance of this blend will satisfy more developed tastes while still being accessible to the flavored-whiskey newcomer.
There is sweet on the front end in the form of cinnamon and vanilla notes. However, Barrel & Banter prides themselves on an oaky cast to their peanut butter whiskey, which helps stabilize the sweetness for a friendly sip.
We recommend you try this one neat to appreciate the excellent meld of flavors and smooth finish.
This distillery out of North Texas uses only regional grains for their alcohols, giving a homey and unique flavor to their bottles. The peanut butter edition is available in liquor stores nationwide.
Blind Squirrel Peanut Butter Whiskey
Another offering from Universal Brands in Minnesota, Blind Squirrel, offers this peanut butter whiskey entry as a basic and affordable option.
The peanut butter flavor is artificial and found in the syrupy consistency, heavy on the tongue for a seasoned whiskey drinker.
But for a palate that prefers a sugary appeal, this is a fantastic option – especially for mixers.
Try it with a banana liqueur for a summery cocktail. Or, add ice and sip slowly, enjoying its simplicity and ease of drinking.
Coastal Creek Peanut Butter Whiskey
This is the only whiskey on this list that comes in at 60-proof rather than 70-proof.
From a private label and distributed exclusively by Total Wine & More, Coastal Creek is another good starter option for someone who is new to whiskeys and wants an inexpensive choice.
The trendy bottle and middle-tone amber color add to the draw of this whiskey. Complex yet mild and with a slight burn at the end to keep you awake for more, Coastal Creek’s peanut butter whiskey is best on the rocks or as a dessert pairing.
Two Trees Peanut Butter Whiskey
You’ll find a velvety and oaky flavor in the whiskey.
Whiskey aficionados can appreciate the care that goes into this batch, even if they’re not initially drawn to the peanut butter flavor.
But that just might change when they give it a taste – the hints of vanilla and brown sugar coaxingly draw out the natural slow-roasted peanut flavor without putting it into overdrive.
Fletcher, North Carolina’s Two Trees Distilling Co. takes their flavored whiskeys seriously, offering nine different flavors that you can enjoy straight or as a cocktail.
This one we recommend you try on its own to experience the mellow Southern character with a pleasant aftertaste that lingers on the tongue.
Final Thoughts
Hardened whiskey drinkers may take some time to come around to any flavoring, but especially one as potentially sweet as peanut butter. Fortunately, there are offerings that go more salty- or more whiskey-forward, so that there’s a bottle out there that will satisfy any palate. And this list contains all the best peanut butter whiskeys, so you know where to start.
This type of whiskey is one of the most blendable, so once you find your particular favorite, make sure to try various cocktail recipes that give peanut butter whiskey a twist. Bonus: With the majority of peanut butter whiskeys relying on artificial flavoring, most (but not all) are safe even for those with nut allergies.
Looking for a different flavor? Check out our favorite cinnamon whiskeys for a spicy kick!
This article is very well done. I appreciate the care and complexity with with the various options and flavors were described. Thanks for the hard work!