Country Hams

We have been given the responsibility to bring a Kentucky Country Ham to our family Christmas dinner in Alabama (first time). Which, in everyone’s opinion, is the best ham to cook. I’ve cooked Harpers and Clifty Farms and prefer the Clifty Farms. In Western KY, I grew up on home cured or Broadbent Hams. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

Finchville Farms. I like their hams a LOT. I am a bit biased as I used to live not far from Finchville. http://www.finchvillefarms.com/index.html

I've always liked Meachan Hams http://www.meachamhams.com/

I enjoy Colonel Newsom's...

Carol,

Definitely Broadbent! You might need to order it though- I don't know of anyone locally who carries their whole hams. And if you find anyone who does carry Broadbent ( just steaks or pieces), please let me know- I've been craving it for some holiday appetizers and the only local source I know of no longer has it.

Deb

This is VERY subjective. None of the choices are bad. I believe it's a matter of taste.

Finchville is awesome and made naturally.

Finchville is awesome and made naturally.

Thanks, Will. A lot has changed since those days in the back of the country grocery store, but one thing has not - Finchville hams are still cured and processed using the same recipe from 1947. In an age of fast food and artificial preservatives, these country hams are cured with only salt, peppers and brown sugar. All natural ingredients used throughout the centuries to preserve food before refrigeration.

Once again, I have to give a nod to the guys at Gatton Farms in Bremen, Ky who are responsible for...
http://www.fatherscountryhams.com/
I am quite fond of the readily available Clifty Farms as well!

[Robin Garr]

Definitely Broadbent! You might need to order it though- I don't know of anyone locally who carries their whole hams. And if you find anyone who does carry Broadbent ( just steaks or pieces), please let me know- I've been craving it for some holiday appetizers and the only local source I know of no longer has it.

I concur. Broadbent has earned a national reputation (and as I recall, back in the day, Barry Bingham Sr. was so impressed with Broadbent that he bought (part of) the company.

Cost can certainly be an issue. A relatively local ham will be less expensive. I've used Finchville Farms for over 20 years (they were Robertson Ham's until just a few years ago) and can't say that I've had a better ham. They are "naturally cured". Plus they are about as local as you can get.

Clifty Farms is from Tenn., not Kentucky. But not a bad ham IMO.

Cliffty is okay but it just does not have that zing that makes your tongue dance the way Finchville does. And as Mark says it can't get much more locale than Finchville KY. Right down the road.

Mmmmm, mail order pork!

I was browsing the websites for the various ham companies and I noticed they offer both cooked and uncooked ham. I'm pretty sure I've never seen the concept of an uncooked ham up here. I thought the curing process actually cooked all hams.

What's the difference, and which is preferred?

Once again, I have to give a nod to the guys at Gatton Farms in Bremen, Ky who are responsible for...
http://www.fatherscountryhams.com/
I am quite fond of the readily available Clifty Farms as well!

Carol,

I agree with Dan. Father's best pleases my taste. I've had more luck introducing city ham eaters to country ham with these hams than any others.

I believe they have been KY State Fair Grand Champion multiple times.

Morris Deli (Formerly Karem Deeb Liquors & Deli) on Taylorsville Rd. near Bardstown Rd across from old Hickory House BBQ location carries it. They'll slice a small amount for you to sample. Hope this helps.

Tom

[Robin Garr]

(they were Robertson Ham's until just a few years ago)

Time flies, Mark ... they were already Finchville when I featured them in a NY Times travel article in 1992.