Bespoke Bacon

Interesting idea, bad execution. The bacon is every bit as good as other reviewers have said but trying to get some outside of some local beer festival is damn near impossible.
Ordered over the internet for local pick-​up rather than pay $ 15 shipping in addition to the $ 11 price of the bacon. We knew from a previous attempt to find their «Telford» location (which isn’t anywhere close to Telford) that it’s hidden behind some rundown garages and extremely hard to find so we tried to pick up at their Lansdale location. Except that there is no indication on the website as to where that might be. After a Google search, we found a reference in Unilocal and stopped by on a Saturday. Turns out, it wasn’t where we were supposed to go. The guy who answered the door did fill the order after making it clear we should have waited for an email from his partner ‘around the corner’. Again, we had no idea we were supposed to wait for some secret message as there was no indication in the order confirmation as to how the process would be completed.
Near as I can tell, this business exists so the three partners have an excuse to attend every beer festival in Southeast Pennsylvania without getting an earful from their wives. They sure aren’t interested in making their product easy to buy otherwise. The website is hard to navigate, there is a separate website for ordering (without an obvious link from the main site), the shipping fees are ridiculous and their locations are extremely hard to find, if you can even get an address to try.
As I said in the beginning, the bacon is superb but the business plan needs a LOT of work. Unlikely we’ll buy again unless I have a beer in my hand at the time.

«The pig is in.» Those four words lit up my iPhone text screen at 9:30 p.m. on a Tuesday night. I was so excited, I jumped out of bed (ok, I’m not exactly a night owl), threw on some boots and didn’t even bother grabbing a jacket. THAT is how excited I was (I hate the cold weather and usually don’t leave the house without 3 layers of clothing).
A few months ago, my friend Rob suggested I «like» Bespoke Bacon on Facebook.
How could I NOT like a local uncured artisan bacon business?
On Facebook they posted updates that made me drool:
«In stock and ready for you we have:
— Maple and Muscovado
— Signature
— Big Pepper
— Honey Apple
— Bloody Mary
Plus our sugar free flavors:
— Jalapeño-​Cilantro
— Signature
— Big Pepper»
Finally, I took the plunge and shot Bespoke Bacon an email and placed an order for the jalapeño cilantro.
The response was almost immediate. And… it turned out that Bryan, one of the founders, was going to be in my area and offered to drop it off — but since it might be really late (that means past 9pm for me) — we agreed that the mailbox would be the drop off point, «Use the code: The Pig Is In,» I suggested, inspired by spy novel I’ve been reading — and having bacon delivered to my mailbox in the middle of the night seemed a bit exotic and covert.
I was so excited when the bacon arrived… it took all my willpower not to fry a small batch up right then. I went to sleep though, with dreams of bacon and spices dancing in my head.
I woke at 4 a.m. and hopped out of bed like Mark Wahlberg was waiting for me in the kitchen, but no, there was something even better: bacon.
I fried a small batch up and oh… geez, what an awesome way to start my day! The flavors were so perfect. Just a hint of jalapeño/​cilantro — no heat at all for those who may be too afraid to try it. I noticed that the flavor is more pronounced when you let it cool a few minutes (I couldn’t wait for that first taste and bit right in a sizzling hot strip).
I don’t know the guys from Bespoke Bacon — but Bryan texted me, «Let me know what you think, and we always appreciate a shout out.»
After tasting the jalapeño/​cilantro bacon, I’m already planning on ordering my next flavor, and my next.
He asked for a shout out, yet part of me wants to keep it a secret. What will happen if I spread the word and they can’t keep up with demand? No local bacon? Even Mark Wahlberg wouldn’t be able to console me.
I can’t keep it a secret though… my giddiness over finding local bacon artisans has elevated me to full stalker mode — a bacon roadie who will babble to everyone who will listen about this great new band of bacon brothers.
Needless to say: I. Am. A. Fan.
Great customer service, super speedy, local, natural, and bacon so damn flavorful… what’s not to love?
I’m thinking this could start a whole new trend… right next to the mailbox… a baconbox (and when the bacon is delivered, it sends an oink alarm to your cell phone) — anyone got the number to Shark Tank?
If you decide to place an order, use the code words: The Pig Is In The Barn. It won’t get you any sort of discount, but it will get you fabulous bacon.