The Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. Smokey Carolina BBQ meets
the Primal Spirit Hickory Smoked Vegan Jerky
Small-batch, bold-flavored soy jerky from a family-run operation. We tested it head-to-head against the Primal Spirit Hickory Smoked Vegan Jerky ($2) across 6 key dimensions.
Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. Smokey Carolina BBQ
“Small-batch, bold-flavored soy jerky from a family-run operation”
Primal Spirit Hickory Smoked Vegan Jerky
“Convenience-store-priced strips with convincingly meaty texture”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. Smokey Carolina BBQ
- Won 2025 VegNews Best Jerky award and Rhett & Link's blind taste test, placing in the top 2 across 6 of 7 independent reviews we analyzed
- 21g protein per bag with no artificial colors, preservatives, or GMOs; handmade in small batches using locally sourced ingredients in Louisville, KY
- Creative flavor range (Carolina BBQ, Buffalo Dill, Pepperoni Pizza, Orange Chicken) goes well beyond the generic teriyaki most brands offer
- At $8.69 for 3 oz, it's the priciest option on this list; Primal Spirit offers comparable protein for $1-2 per strip
- Soft, moist texture splits opinion; Sporked called it 'pulled pork-esque,' and Make It Dairy Free found it 'softer than expected' for a jerky
- Piece sizes are inconsistent; Tasting Table's Sara Klimek flagged uneven sizing across the bag
Primal Spirit Hickory Smoked Vegan Jerky
- At $1-2 per strip, it costs 75% less than Louisville and is the only vegan jerky widely available in convenience stores for grab-and-go snacking
- Sporked gave Hickory Smoked 8.5/10 for a 'convincingly meaty texture' with smoky flavor that 'lasts and lasts and fools your brain into thinking you're tasting meat'
- Appears in all 7 sources we analyzed, placing top 3 in VegNews consumer vote and Sporked's taste test, proving consistent quality across independent reviewers
- Rhett & Link ranked it last in their 6-brand taste test, noting 'it smells not so great' for the Texas Barbecue flavor; flavor quality varies significantly across their range
- 10g protein per strip is decent but lower per ounce than Louisville (21g/3oz) or Unisoy (20g+/serving)
- Contains wheat gluten (seitan), making it off-limits for celiac or gluten-sensitive buyers, and the single-serve format means more packaging waste
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. placed in the top 2 of six out of seven independent sources we analyzed, a consistency no other brand matched. The 2025 VegNews Veggie Awards (consumer-voted, 156 categories) gave Louisville the Best Jerky crown. Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, tasting blind on Good Mythical Morning, ranked the Smokey Carolina BBQ #1 of six brands, with Rhett exclaiming 'this has got a lot of flavor. WOW.' Tasting Table's Sara Klimek placed it #2 of 13 brands. Happy Happy Vegan and The Vegan Skillet both ranked it first in their roundups.
Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. Smokey Carolina BBQ
Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. placed in the top 2 of six out of seven independent sources we analyzed, a consistency no other brand matched. The 2025 VegNews Veggie Awards (consumer-voted, 156 categories) gave Louisville the Best Jerky crown. Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, tasting blind on Good Mythical Morning, ranked the Smokey Carolina BBQ #1 of six brands, with Rhett exclaiming 'this has got a lot of flavor. WOW.' Tasting Table's Sara Klimek placed it #2 of 13 brands. Happy Happy Vegan and The Vegan Skillet both ranked it first in their roundups.
- You care about creative, restaurant-quality flavors beyond standard BBQ and teriyaki
- You want 21g protein per bag from a clean ingredient list with no artificial additives
- You're buying jerky as a premium snack or gift, not an everyday gas-station grab
- You prefer softer, moister jerky texture over tough leather-style chew
- Supporting small-batch, family-run production matters to your purchasing decisions
Primal Spirit Hickory Smoked Vegan Jerky
Primal Spirit appears in all seven sources we consulted, the only brand to achieve that. VegNews readers voted it 3rd Best Jerky. Sporked's Justine Sterling scored the Hickory Smoked flavor 8.5/10, praising a 'convincingly meaty texture' and noting the 'hickory smoked flavor lasts and lasts and fools your brain into thinking you're tasting meat.'
- You want to try vegan jerky without risking $9 on a bag you might not like
- You need grab-and-go snacks from convenience stores and gas stations, not specialty retailers
- Budget matters and you buy jerky frequently for road trips, gym bags, or lunchboxes
- You prefer the meaty, chewy texture of traditional jerky over softer pulled-pork styles
- You don't have celiac disease or wheat sensitivity (seitan is a key ingredient)