About VP Jerky
Not many founders swore off jerky more than once before making their own. Vince first tasted it at six in a shop just past the Route 50 bridge into Ocean City, Maryland, and remembers only the salt. A neighbor’s grocery-store bag got the same verdict years later, as did a two-dollar bag from a high-school friend, yet that one stuck with him. That night he and his mom found a recipe online and spent a weekend hand-slicing eye round, marinating it for a day and tending a dehydrator. A few adjustments produced Original Teriyaki, still made today, and that, Vince says, is when VP Jerky was founded. The school eventually shut him down, a loophole moved sales to the end of campus, and the company paused when he left for Roanoke College. Today VP Jerky is rebuilding on a simple, limited set of high-quality ingredients.
What makes VP Jerky different
The brand describes its jerky as small-batch and handmade, and its flagship Original Teriyaki rests on four main ingredients, teriyaki, Worcestershire, honey and liquid smoke, marinated for at least 48 hours. The recipes are tied to family and to Maryland: Crab Habanero began when Vince’s mother, sister and brother tasted a table sauce at an Ocean City restaurant that has since closed, and his mother recreated it at home. The original logo featured a mascot named Bucky and the slogan “Stand Out From The Herd.”
VP Jerky flavors we carry
If you want the flavor that built the brand, Original Teriyaki is sweet from teriyaki and honey, savory and tangy from Worcestershire, with red pepper flakes for just a hint of spice; it sits comfortably in the teriyaki beef jerky selection. Ole Cracked Pepper, its traditional-style companion with enough pepper to stand out, holds its own in the peppered beef jerky range. For heat with a Maryland accent, Crab Habanero pairs Maryland crab seasoning with spicy habanero hot sauce, good company for the habanero beef jerky lineup. Cowboy Chili, described as tender, smoky and savory with no heat level called out, joins the chili-seasoned beef jerky options. If you would rather skip beef, Turkey Sriracha is billed as a savory choice for turkey fans and belongs with the other turkey jerky worth trying. Everything currently in stock is in the grid above.
Who it's for
Heat runs from a hint of red pepper in Original Teriyaki to habanero hot sauce in Crab Habanero. Texture, in the brand’s words, is tender. The manufacturer publishes no ingredient statements or allergen lines, only named components such as teriyaki, Worcestershire and crab seasoning. If you manage a food allergy, read the label before you buy.
JerkyBrands is an independent retailer; the VP Jerky name and logo are trademarks of their owner.
