Peanut Butter Whiskey 101: Everything You Need to Know

Bottles of peanut butter whiskey, like Skrewball, have taken the cocktail scene by storm. But what is this unique spirit and what can you make with it? Let’s find out.

Peanut butter whiskey has seemingly taken by storm the flavored whiskey section of the liquor store.

Where apple, peach, caramel and cinnamon once ruled, peanut butter is a new flavor on the shelf — and it rules.

In fact, Drizly identified flavored whiskeys as an evolving category of spirits on the rise right now, and this nutty flavor is high on the list.

But what is this nutty new spirit and how can it be used? Let’s find out.

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What is peanut butter whiskey?

Peanut butter whiskey is a sweet spirit that is either infused with peanuts or has added peanut butter flavoring.

Its flavor is meant to emulate that of real peanut butter: nutty, sweet and a little salty. This smooth whiskey is a delicious treat with all the creamy flavor of nuts.

Like other whiskey infusions such as cinnamon whiskey, it can be enjoyed as shots, sipped straight or mixed into cocktails.

However, you can’t call it “peanut butter bourbon.” According to U.S. regulations, a whiskey with artificial flavoring or coloring cannot be called bourbon whiskey.

Whiskey connoisseurs may find its unique flavor to be too sweet, while non-whiskey drinkers may find it to be a great introduction to whiskey.

How it’s made

To start, peanut butter whiskey is made similarly to other types of whiskey.

Depending on the brand, it starts with raw grains. Then it is then malted, mashed, fermented, distilled and matured in wood barrels.

Before bottling, the whiskey is either infused with real peanuts or mixed with artificial and/or natural flavors and/or coloring.

Peanut butter whiskey brands

There are quite a few brands of this nutty whiskey on the market these days.

If you head to the liquor store, you are sure to find quite a few bottles from different distilleries. Here are a few notable ones:

• Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
• Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey
• Ole Smoky Peanut Butter Whiskey
• Old Elk Distillery PB&W Peanut Butter-Flavored Whiskey
• Skatterbrain Peanut Butter Whiskey
• SQRRL Peanut Butter Whiskey
• Hard Truth Distillery Peanut Butter Whiskey
• Bird Dog Peanut Butter-Flavored Whiskey
• Blind Squirrel SQRRL Peanut Butter Whiskey
• Ram’s Point Peanut Butter Whiskey
• Ballotin Peanut Butter Chocolate Whiskey

The best peanut butter whiskey

Of all the ones I have tried, my favorite is Skrewball whiskey for both sipping straight and mixing into cocktails. To me, it tastes most like the creamy and chunky peanut butters I know and love.

Skrewball has the most whiskey flavor, while still bringing in the sweet-and-salty flavors of PB. Its taste is similar to a Butterfinger candy, but it still tastes like a sweet whiskey.

If you find it to be too sweet, you can always cut it with a little bit of regular bourbon.

Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey

Nicknamed the “whiskey of black sheep, misfits, and skrewballs,” Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey was founded by Brittany and Steven Yeng. After immigrating to the United States as a refugee from Cambodia, Steve discovered his love for peanut butter, which was a totally new and different flavor for him.

Later, he worked in bars and developed a best-selling peanut butter cocktail. He then teamed up with his wife Brittany Yeng, who is a lawyer and chemist, to develop a standalone spirit that had a great taste but could also play well in drinks.

Steve’s new spirit, Skrewball, launched in 2018. According to Forbes, it is one of the fastest-growing spirits on the market.

In 2021, it was one of the top three brands of flavored whiskey on Drizly.

What to mix with it

Peanut butter complements a large spectrum of different flavors, from chocolate to coffee and fruits to nuts.

Here are a few ideas for creating your own peanut butter cocktails:

• Fruit flavors like grape, strawberry or raspberry make a drink taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Try strawberry syrup or raspberry liqueur for a jam-like addition.
• The addition of chocolate gives it the flavor of a liquid peanut butter cup. Try it with chocolate syrup, crème de cacao (chocolate liqueur) or even coffee liqueur for an elevated treat.
• Bananas and peanut butter are another common pairing. Drizzle the whiskey over nice cream or mix it with crème de banane (banana liqueur).
• Other nut flavors like pecan, walnut or hazelnut work well with peanuts, too. Combine it with pecan whiskey or walnut bitters for an even nuttier flavor.
• Try it with honey to give it the flavor of a peanut butter and honey sandwich. Try it with honey simple syrup or honey whiskey.

How to drink peanut butter whiskey

You can enjoy this new spirit in quite a few ways! Its natural peanut butter flavor sure is tasty on its own, but it can also be enjoyed in cocktails and desserts.

• Stir it into coffee for a pick-me-up with a kick. Or make a spiked hot chocolate!
• Pour into a shot glass and toss it back!
• Sip it straight, either neat or on the rocks (meaning without ice or with!)
• Mix it into a cocktail — see some suggested recipes below!
• Blend it into a boozy peanut butter milkshake.

This flavored whiskey can also be used in baking and cooking, especially sweet foods.

Try pouring it over ice cream for a boozy dessert. Might I suggest this peanut butter brownie ice cream?

Use it to make bourbon caramel sauce or bourbon caramel popcorn to add a hint of peanut flavor.

Tips for enjoying PB whiskey

If you’re brand new to this spirit, here are my top tips for making it the best experience:

• Feel free to mix up your own concoctions but keep in mind that flavored whiskeys are pretty sweet on their own, so you may wish to cut back on other sweet elements like simple syrup.
• Whiskey purists might prefer trying it in a mixed drink over sipping it straight.
• While peanut butter lovers may like the strong, nutty taste, you can cut back on the flavor and sweetness by cutting it with regular whiskey. (For example, if a recipe calls for 2 ounces of PB whiskey, try using 1 ounce of it plus 1 ounce of bourbon instead for a subtler, less complex flavor.)
• If you have a peanut allergy, it may be best to stay away from peanut butter whiskey altogether. Check with your doctor and consider reaching out to the brand directly to make sure it is safe for you to consume.

FAQ

Peanut butter whiskey drinks

So, what peanut butter drinks can you make with this spirit? Here are a few suggestions for making a PB drink with a hint of that whiskey bite:

• Peanut Butter & Jelly Old-Fashioned
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Old-Fashioned
• Boozy Peanut Butter Chocolate Milkshake
• Elvis Banana & Peanut Butter Drink
• Peanut Butter & Jelly Shot

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