Skip to main content

Stuff Your Stocking with Shurky Jurky

shurky jurky
Image used with permission by copyright holder
We know that you just put away your Halloween costume, but we’re now in the first full week of November and it’s already time to start thinking about holiday gifts.

It may be a stressful thought, but we at The Manual are here to provide you with plenty of ideas. One of those ideas comes from the great state of Oregon (full disclosure: it’s where our corporate offices are based), where Shurky Jurky, a brand new jerky on the market is looking to win you over with their revolutionary “rip and tear” jerkies.

Recommended Videos

Founded in 2010 by the husband and wife team of Mike Shur and Meg Stack, Shurky Jurky takes pride in creating gourmet jerky that is unlike any other product on the market today. Mike and Meg’s jerkies are handmade from scratch using no sugars (or other “crap” as they like to boast) and feature a unique mix of meat and fruit to provide an authentic texture. The couple is devoted to providing a healthy jerky that is natural and delicious.

Shurky Jurky currently comes in beef, pork, turkey and bison varieties. Each type of meat is sourced as locally as possible with the beef coming from grass-fed cattle of the Pacific Northwest, the pork and turkey from family farms in Oregon, and the bison from 100% pasture-raised buffalo that are farmed in an ethical and environmentally sustainable way. The jerky is available in two distinct styles. Cowboy, when the meat is cut with the grain for a more old-fashioned approach; and City Slicker, which is a more contemporary, softer chew of jerky.

Each meat can be purchased in one of Shurky Jurky’s five distinct flavors: traditional smoked, peppered, spicy, guajillo chile and sesame. The traditional smoked jerky speaks for itself. For peppered, the meat is covered with coarse black pepper for a flavor that is not too spicy or hot, but full of taste-bud tingling flavor. Spicy is for those of you who like real, red chile pepper heat, while guajillo chile features a more blended, mild, sweet and tangy Mexican flavor. Finally, sesame will satisfy those who like more of an Asian approach to their smoked meats.

In addition to their jerkies, Shurky Jurky also sells their own specialty marinade; a side of the business that was spearheaded by Meg. The marinade provides the base flavor for each variety of jerky and is made from scratch using fresh pineapple, Bragg liquid or coconut aminos and a trademarked blend of spices. True to their healthy vision, Shurky Jurky’s marinade features no sugar and lower amounts of sodium than the average market jerky.

With the holiday countdown already on, it’s time to take a hard look at Shurky Jurky as a go-to gift item. These jerkies, as well as the marinade, would work well as stocking stuffers, a present for a co-worker, or just something to bring to one of the many holiday parties that will soon be filling up your schedule.

Who says no to high-quality, homemade jerky?

Matt Domino
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Domino is a writer living in Brooklyn. His fiction has appeared in Slice and The Montreal Review, while his non-fiction…
The drink of the summer: White Port & Tonic
These Portugese classic is ready for its international debut
Taylor Fladgate Chip Dry White Port & Tonic

Though winter is still in full swing, let's take some joy in looking ahead to summer -- and what we might all be drinking in a few months' time. One drink that's up on professional radars for 2025 is the White Port and Tonic, the unofficial drink of Porto and a low-abv sipper that's big on flavor and refreshingly casual.

I'm personally delighted about this development, as I spent a very happy summer in Porto a few years ago, enjoying the excellent food and drink there as well as the gorgeous ocean views. Something I appreciated about the culture there was that port was absolutely not a stuffy, elite, or terribly expensive drink. Rather it was something to casually sip after finishing a pizza, or something to share with friends sat on a wall overlooking the city. Certainly, more aged and pricey ports are available -- and are interesting to drink in their own right -- but port can also be something relaxed and informal.

Read more
Take your Margarita up a notch with beautiful garnishes, like this bar does
Visual appeal is as important as flavor in creating a great drink
The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel Margarita

It's Margarita season, and that means you'll be seeing Margarita recipes which incorporate fruits, infused tequilas, and even alternative spirits like mezcal. But if you'd prefer to keep your Margaritas more on the classic side, then there are still changes you can make to fancy them up.

One option is to keep the changes minimal, such as switching out the usual lime juice for lemon juice. That adds a tart, sharp note to the drink, and lemon is a natural partner for tequila. You should also feel free to play with the proportions of tequila, triple sec, and citrus juice to find your own preference, as well as adding a sweetner like simple syrup if required. One thing to remember is that the freshness of your citrus will make a big difference to its flavor, so fresher citrus juice may not require any additional sweetner at all, while if you're using older lemons or limes you might need to help them out with a little additional sugar.

Read more
Pronghorn launched a bourbon matured in Madagascar vanilla extract-soaked cognac casks
Pronghorn's new bourbon is aged in a very unique barrel
Pronghorn

You've likely had your fair share of unique expressions if you're a whiskey drinker. We're talking about whiskeys elevated by maturing or finishing in unique barrels. And very few of those whiskeys are as unique as Pronghorn's newest expression.
Edmond's Honor

This whiskey was made to pay homage to the sometimes overlooked Edmond Albius, the Malagasy botanist and vanilla cultivation pioneer of the 1800s. It's an ultra-premium bourbon that's matured in vanilla extract-soaked cognac casks.

Read more