Review: Carl's Jr. / Hardee's - Midnight Moonshine Burger

Carl's Jr.'s / Hardee's Midnight Moon Moonshine Burger features a charbroiled Black Angus beef patty, a smoky-sweet Midnight Moon Moonshine glaze, pepper jack cheese, crispy garlic-pepper onion straws, thick-cut, Applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, and tomato on a signature Fresh Baked Bun.

It's $7.79 for the 1/3 lb. version but I received this courtesy of Carl's Jr. (my local Carl's Jr. is really pricey; the suggested price starts at $4.39 for a single, which would put the 1/3 lb. version closer to $5.39 or so).

There's a low, burning heat to the sauce that lingered and built up over time but never got to any level of discomfort. If we're comparing to Burger King's latest spicy offering, the Angriest Whopper, the Midnight Moon Moonshine glaze is relatively mild. Other than that, as billed, it was sweet and smoky with a slight tang and more or less like barbecue sauce without the tomato base. If you're hoping to taste any Midnight Moonshine, I can't say I picked up on it.

The onion straws were just lightly crisp here and there but offered a nice, slightly-charred onion-y note. The bacon was unfortunately limp but flavorful, adding another layer of smokiness beyond the glaze.

The patty was moist and meaty with a bit more garlic and onion to it than the typical salt and pepper seasoning. The cheese added an extra creaminess over a more standard slice of American but didn't exactly deliver on the peppery bite you'd expect from pepper jack. The bun lent the burger a fresher, more premium feel over your typical burger bun.

The lettuce was slightly wilted and didn't offer up much watery crispness as a result. The tomato was fine though. They're probably not necessary in the burger but they don't hurt either.

Overall, the Midnight Moon Moonshine Burger was quite good, especially if you like Burger King's Rodeo Burger or the Carl's Jr. Western Bacon Cheeseburger. If you missed the Jim Beam burger, you can consider this its slightly upgraded spiritual successor. At the price my local Carl's Jr. is selling them, though, it's casual dining pricing without being cooked to order.

Nutritional Info - Carl's Jr. 1/3 lb. Midnight Moonshine Burger (365g)
Calories - 910 (from Fat - 440)
Fat - 49g (Saturated Fat - 16g)
Sodium - 1670mg
Carbs - 77g (Sugars - 26g)
Protein - 35g