Skrewball | Peanut Butter Whiskey
Enjoy the Whiskey of black sheep, misfits and skrewballs
By ABQ Live columnist Carla Gilfinnan
New Mexicans are no stranger to Skrewball Whiskey— the “whiskey of black sheep, misfits, and skrewballs” has been popular in bars since its distributor, Admiral Beverage, introduced it to our state in 2019. While we’re all familiar with the delicious combination of natural peanut butter and quality whiskey, the story behind the juice is even sweeter.
Skrewball is the brainchild of Ocean Beach bartender Steve Yeng and his wife, Brittany. In their words, Ocean Beach is a place that “allows you to be a skrewball.” Brittany is an Ocean Beach native with previous experience in law and chemistry, and Steve is a high-volume bartender known for his delectable peanut butter whiskey shot. Steve is a Cambodian refugee and polio survivor. He remembers coming to America and tasting peanut butter for the first time—a taste that he considers a literal taste of freedom. His peanut butter whiskey shot was an ode to that memory and was the inspiration for Skrewball. The drink quickly became a best-seller at the bar where Steve was working. Brittany realized what a special drink Steve had created, and Skrewball was born. The result is a peanut butter whiskey, made with pure cane sugar and real peanuts, that makes a great base for cocktails, in addition to being an excellent cocktail on its own. Unlike copycat flavored whiskies, Skrewball is completely natural and contains no artificial flavoring or additives.
Skrewball aims to be unique, a drink for those who, like Steve and Brittany, are proud to consider themselves black sheep—thus, the black sheep on the label. The black sheep mascot is also a reference to Skrewball’s beginnings: when Brittany and Steve first started producing Skrewball, they were met with skepticism. Some drinkers thought they were destroying whiskey, while others probably felt the combination was an affront to peanut butter. However, Brittany and Steve persisted because of all their fellow skrewballs, the misfits of society who dare to be independent and do things their way. They define a “skrewball” as “an individual who strays away from the cliche things in life” who has a “craving to be different” and “is concerned with creating their own path.”
Steve and Brittany also set themselves apart from other spirit-makers by consistently giving back to the communities that Skrewball has found a home in, including Albuquerque. When the Yengs learned an Albuquerque bar had been broken into and insurance would not cover the damages, they donated the money for repairs. The Yengs are a family with a decade of bar and restaurant industry experience, and when the COVID-19 pandemic forced bars and restaurants to close their doors, they knew they needed to act quickly to help those in the industry. Skrewball, despite being an independent, family-owned brand, was able to donate nearly $500k during the pandemic to non-profits, including Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE) and the US Bartender Guild Charity Foundation’s Emergency Bartender Relief Fund.
I love Skrewball in a PB & J shot with Chambord as much as the next girl, but it’s also great in classics like Old Fashioneds and Cobblers, as well as winter drinks like spiked hot chocolate and cider.
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