Maple Cinnamon Smoked Bacon
Mountain Products Smokehouse 47 Burdick Rd., Lagrangeville, NY 12540

On a recent grocery trip, I decided to peruse the bacon section as it had been far too long since that lovely smokey smell permeated the kitchen. I’ve had the fine pork products from Mountain Products Smokehouse in the past and always found it to be a quality product. I was pleasantly surprised to see Adams Fairacre Farms (think upstate NY mom+pop Whole Foods but better and more local) carrying some varieties I had never seen. Specifically, they now had Chipotle Southwest Smoked Bacon and Maple Cinnamon Smoked Bacon.

Now I KNOW I should have bought both, but times are a bit tough and these are around $7 per pound. Worth it for quality smoked pork porduct, but limiting me to only one. Plus – I’m not really sure I wanted to go the chipotle route. That’s smoked bacon with a smokey pepper and that might be a bit too smokey. Then again, I will most likely break down and buy it next time.

So, I went with the Maple Cinnamon Smoked Bacon. Cinnamon is a beloved spice in the Ohabeer HQ. An additional bonus was the opportunity to get Mrs. Ohabeer – a somewhat antibacon person – to give it a try.

It is a lovely looking slab. Sliced in medium thickness with a good amount of marbling. Opening the package releases a sweet smoke smell. Not too overpowering. Just a nice slight incense in the air. The spices are visible as a dark ring around the outer edge. You can actually see bits of cinnamon.

Cast iron skillett on high heat. Splatter screen ready. Bacon into pan.

The smell of cinnamon fills the air.

Yes – it really does smell like cinnamon while cooking. Then comes the maple. it’s a sweet smokey aroma like someone making cookies with bacon. Even Mrs. Ohabeer was amazed. She did not ask me to turn on the fan until things got a bit smokey near the end.

I do not incinerate my bacon. I like a bit of crust and crunch, but still want some toothiness. Without a doubt, this is some of the best bacon I’ve ever had. The sweetness is nicely balanced in the smokiness. It is not overly salty providing just enough salt to compliment the sweet spices. The serving above rendered about a half cup of fat. (The fat was a deep brown and tasted of cinnamon and maple as well.)

Mrs; Ohabeer had a piece and remarked: “It was pleasantly non-bacon-y.”

She’s somewhat wrong. It was very bacon-y – as in exactly what bacon should be. I’m definitely heading back to check out the Chipotle Smoked Bacon.