Walkers Hot Honey Review: Taste Test & £10,000 Prize Guide
Everyone is talking about “Swicy” food right now. If you have scrolled through TikTok or Instagram lately, you know exactly what I mean. The combination of sweet and spicy, specifically hot honey, has seen a massive 174% surge in search interest across the UK over the last year.
It was only a matter of time before the nation’s biggest crisp brand jumped on the bandwagon.
As of today, 12th January 2026, Walkers Hot Honey Crisps are officially hitting shelves nationwide. But this isn’t just another limited-edition drop. It marks the start of the biggest rebrand Walkers has undertaken in 80 years, complete with a new “sun-inspired” logo and a massive £10,000 “Golden Potato” giveaway.
I managed to get my hands on a multipack ahead of the rush. Here is my honest review of the taste, a breakdown of where to find them, and exactly how you can hunt for that £10,000 ticket.
The Taste Test: Does Walkers Hot Honey Deliver the Heat?
Let’s get straight to the important bit. Do these actually taste like hot honey, or is it just a marketing gimmick?
When you first open the bag, you don’t get that immediate punch of vinegar you find in Salt & Vinegar, or the smoky hit of Prawn Cocktail. Instead, the aroma is surprisingly subtle. It smells faintly sweet, with a very slight earthy undertone from the chilli.
Flavour Map: Sweetness vs. Spice Ratio
I have broken down the experience into three stages:
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The Initial Crunch: The first note is undeniably sweet. It’s not a sugary, confectionery sweetness, but a floral honey profile. If you are a fan of the Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli, this will feel familiar, but it feels lighter and less cloying.
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The Middle: This is where the savoury elements kick in. The potato flavour (thanks to those 100% British potatoes) comes through clearly, balancing out the honey so it doesn’t feel like you are eating dessert.
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The Afterburn: The “Hot” in “Hot Honey” is a slow burner. It doesn’t sting your tongue immediately. Instead, a gentle warmth builds at the back of your throat after you have finished a mouthful.
My Verdict: On a heat scale of 1 to 5, I would rate these a 2.5.
They are accessible. If you can handle a Nando’s Medium sauce, you will be absolutely fine with these. Walkers has clearly designed this flavour for the mass market rather than heat-seekers looking for a Carolina Reaper challenge.
Texture and Crunch
Because these are part of the core range (not the thicker Sensations or Max crisps), you get that classic, thin Walkers crunch. They feel light to eat. This is likely due to the new non-HFSS (high fat, salt, and sugar) formulation. They don’t leave your fingers covered in heavy orange dust, which is a massive bonus if you are snacking at your desk.
My Pro-Tip: Don’t eat these on their own. I tried them with a cool garlic and herb dip, and the contrast between the creamy dip and the spicy honey crisp was incredible. It elevates them from a quick snack to a proper “Saturday night in” treat.
Where to Buy Walkers Hot Honey Crisps (Price & Stockists)
You are probably ready to grab a pack. The official nationwide rollout begins today, but stock levels vary wildly between retailers.
Based on my checks this morning, here is the current availability status across major UK supermarkets:
| Supermarket | Availability Status | Price (Approx.) | Links |
| Tesco | In Stock (Main Aisle) | £2.15 (Clubcard Price: £1.75) | Tesco Groceries |
| Sainsbury’s | In Stock | £2.15 | Sainsbury’s |
| Asda | Limited Availability | £2.00 (Rollback) | Asda Groceries |
| Morrisons | In Stock | £2.25 | Morrisons |
| Waitrose | Coming Soon | £2.30 | Waitrose |
Supermarket Rollout Strategy
According to reports from The Grocer, Walkers is pushing these heavily in the “Multipack” aisle rather than the “Grab Bag” section near the tills. You are looking for the 6-pack multipack.
The RRP sits at £2.15, which is standard for a branded multipack in 2026. However, keep an eye out for loyalty card prices. Tesco is already running a Clubcard offer that knocks 40p off the price, making them the cheapest option right now.
If you are struggling to find them in the main crisp aisle, check the “Seasonal” or “New In” distinct display units at the end of the aisles (gondola ends). Supermarkets often place high-profile launches there for the first two weeks.
How to Win the £10,000 Golden Potato Prize
The flavour is great, but let’s be honest, many of you are here for the money.
To celebrate the rebrand, Walkers has hidden “Golden Potato” tickets inside random packs. If you find one, you win £10,000. But before you go ripping open every bag of Hot Honey you see, you need to know the rules.
Which Packs Contain the Tickets?
This is the most common mistake shoppers make. The tickets are NOT just in the new Hot Honey packs.
According to the official competition terms, the Golden Potato tickets have been distributed across the entire core range. This includes:
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Ready Salted
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Cheese & Onion
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Salt & Vinegar
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Prawn Cocktail
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Hot Honey (New)
So, if you prefer the classics, you still have a chance to win.
What Does the Ticket Look Like?
You aren’t looking for a golden crisp (please don’t try to eat it if you find something gold!). You are looking for a physical voucher insert inside the bag.
Steps to Claim if You Win:
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Do not lose the packaging. You may need the batch code on the back of the crisp packet to validate your claim.
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Take a photo of the ticket and the packet immediately.
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Visit the website listed on the voucher (usually walkers.co.uk/goldenpotato) and enter your unique code.
The competition runs until the end of March 2026, so you have plenty of time to hunt.
The 2026 Walkers Rebrand: More Than Just a New Logo
You might notice the bags look different. Walkers has ditched the design we have known for the last decade in favour of a “sun-inspired” look.
Henry Walker’s Signature
The first thing that caught my eye was the return of the signature. The new logo features the founder, Henry Walker’s, signature more prominently. It feels like a nod to heritage, trying to remind us that despite being owned by PepsiCo, this is still a Leicester-born brand at heart.
The “Sun-Inspired” Design
The new logo now has subtle rays of sunshine radiating from the centre. It’s brighter, cleaner, and looks much better on the shelf. Wayne Newton, the marketing director at Walkers, stated in a press release that this new look represents the “positivity and warmth” the brand wants to bring to British homes.
From “Walkers Baked” to “Oven Baked”
Later this month, you will also see changes to the healthier ranges.
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Walkers Baked is rebranding to Oven Baked.
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Walkers Sunbites is getting a packaging refresh.
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Walkers 45% Less Salt is being renamed to Walkers Lightly (landing in mid-February).
This is smart. “Lightly” sounds much more appealing than “Less Salt,” which always implies “Less Flavour” to consumers.
Ingredients & Dietary Guide: Is it Vegan?
For my plant-based readers, this is the section you have been scrolling for. New meat-flavoured or honey-flavoured snacks are often a minefield.
Here is the nutritional breakdown based on the back of the pack:
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Suitable for Vegetarians: Yes.
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Suitable for Vegans: Yes.
Wait, how is “Honey” vegan?
I checked the ingredient list carefully. Walkers uses a honey flavouring rather than actual animal-derived honey for this specific product. This is huge news for vegan snackers who usually miss out on honey-BBQ or honey-glaze flavours.
Health Credentials (Non-HFSS)
These crisps are fully compliant with the government’s Non-HFSS regulations.
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Calories: 115 kcal per pack.
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Fat: 6.8g (Low saturated fat).
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Salt: 0.34g.
They manage to keep the calorie count relatively low without sacrificing that satisfying crunch. If you are tracking macros or watching your salt intake, these are a surprisingly safe bet compared to premium hand-cooked alternatives which often hit 150+ calories per serving.
Final Verdict: Should You Switch from Thai Sweet Chilli?
The Walkers Hot Honey crisps are a solid addition to the 2026 lineup. They capture the viral “Swicy” trend perfectly without being too experimental or alienating the general public.
If you love Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli, you will likely enjoy these as a lighter, everyday alternative. They lack the complex lemongrass and coriander notes of the Sensations range, but they make up for it with a cleaner, more straightforward sweet-heat profile that is incredibly moreish.
Pros:
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Vegan-friendly (rare for honey flavours).
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Non-HFSS (healthier than standard crisps).
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Part of the £10,000 Golden Potato hunt.
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Great balance of sweet and spicy.
Cons:
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Could be spicier for true heat fans.
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Only available in multipacks currently (no single grab bags yet).
Rating: 4/5
Have you managed to find a pack in your local supermarket yet? Or better yet, have you found a Golden Potato ticket? Drop a comment below and let me know—especially if you’ve discovered a winning pairing for them!
FAQs
When do Walkers Hot Honey crisps come out?
They officially launched nationwide on 12th January 2026. You should see them appearing in major supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s immediately.
Are Walkers Hot Honey crisps spicy?
They have a mild to medium kick. I would rate them a 2.5 out of 5 on the heat scale. The sweetness of the honey hits first, followed by a gentle chilli warmth.
How do I find the Golden Potato in Walkers crisps?
You need to buy any “Core Range” multipack (including Ready Salted, Cheese & Onion, or the new Hot Honey). Look for a physical voucher insert inside the bag. Do not throw the packaging away!
Are the new Hot Honey crisps vegan-friendly?
Yes! The honey flavouring used is plant-based, making them suitable for both vegetarians and vegans.
What is the price of a 6-pack of Walkers Hot Honey?
The Recommended Retail Price (RRP) is £2.15, though prices may vary between supermarkets and active promotions.
Is Walkers Lightly the same as 45% Less Salt?
Yes. As part of the 2026 rebrand, the “45% Less Salt” range is being renamed to “Walkers Lightly” to sound more appealing, but the product remains largely the same.
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