The flaming skulls on the bottle of “Hottest Hot Sauce” take me back to the worst nightmares of my childhood. I remember waking up screaming as skeletons chased me down the street and disembodied ghouls rose from the fiery pits of hell determined to take me back with them. Thankfully this sauce is a far more pleasurable experience for my taste buds.

The label includes standard threats that this is the “hottest hot sauce” and that it will “really set your skull on fire.” As a New Englander I appreciate the use of local vernacular on the label claiming that this is a “wicked hot sauce.” Continue Reading

A lot of people know Joe Perry for the sizzling hot guitar leads he lays down in the rock band Aerosmith, but one taste of his Rock Your World Mango Peach Tango Hot sauce will give you something else to think of him for.

I’m a big fan of combining subtle sweetness with heat. Peaches and mangos, which are key ingredients in Joe Perry’s hot sauce, are ideal for this. I opened Joe Perry’s Mango Peach Tango hot sauce with high hopes. I wasn’t let down, folks.

Beginning with the aroma, I knew I was in for a treat. I held the bottle under my nose and inhaled the delicate combination balance of peaches and mangos, complimented by the distinctive smell of fresh Habanero peppers. Continue Reading

Deep in the grass, where your momma told you never to go, there lies a predator silently waiting for a victim. Fangs bared, with ample venom to make the kill the Vicious Viper Hot Sauce is ready– and hungry.

The bottle claims that is a sauce not to be messed with lightly. That “you don’t know HOT until you’ve been bitten by the Vicious Viper.” It says this is a food supplement to be taken only one drop at a time. And so I step warily into the grass, forewarned of the dangers that lie before me. I open the bottle to reveal the potent poison within.

The first whiff smells of bananas and fresh Habenero peppers. A subtle fruitiness that draws me closer, begging me to take a taste. Continue Reading

Uncle Brutha’s Hot Sauce No. 10 has three pepper ingredients, all of them superstars in their own right; Habaneros, red and green jalapenos, and Serrano chilies. Add to that a few unusual ingredients, such as beets, cress, and spinach, and you have a hot sauce blend that can definitely be called unique.

First of all, if heat is what you want, Uncle Brutha’s will make your forehead damp. The cool thing about this heat is that it doesn’t overwhelm the smoky taste of the sauce. The heat factor is about a six on a ten scale, but it’s a slow heat one that teases the tongue and gradually warms your belly.

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Hot sauces with more novelty than quality are a dime a dozen, though it can be hard to tell which is which based solely on the label of the bottle.

Take the Ghost Hot Sauce, for example. Based on the label, it seems like the sauce will actually turn me into a ghost.

In my experience, the more hyperbole that is on the hot sauce bottle, the less impressive it actually tends to be, which is why I was surprised at the incredible amount of pain this sauce is able to induce. Continue Reading

There are just certain phrases a man never expects to hear himself utter. For me, “I’d like a little Baboon Ass, please,” certainly falls into that category of things I never wanted to hear myself say. These days, I say it often, and I say it with pride. The original Baboon Ass Habanero Hot sauce (as if there have been a lot of Baboon Asses to follow) is on my list of hot sauces to keep in stock.

From the instant you open this bottle, you’re drawn into the world of a masterfully crafted hot sauce. The enticing aroma of Habaneros hits you immediately. Continue Reading

Of all the hot pepper sauces that add carrots for sweetness and color, this just might be my favorite. Iguana XXX Habanero Pepper Sauce has a lot of heat and a lot of flavor, and one never gets sacrificed for the other. It’s fast becoming my preferred brand.

The ingredient list is headlined with the catchy – and true – phrase, “All Killer, No Filler.” Sure enough, there’s nothing here that you need to be a chemist to understand. Fresh ripe habaneros lead the list and the sauce does indeed have a fresh vegetable taste. Then comes carrots, vinegar, onions, lime juice, tomato paste, salt, and garlic. Ascorbic acid (which is simply vitamin C) is used as a preservative. All natural and good for you, too. Continue Reading

You remember that scene from Spinal Tap, where Christopher Guest’s character Nigel Tufnel is showing off his amp that goes to 11? Most amps, of course, only go to 10, but Nigel proudly states that his goes “one louder.” The joke is that the loudest is whatever the top number is, whether it’s 10 or 11; the only reason to make it 11 is to be different. And maybe just a little louder.

That’s kind of what Dave’s Gourmet has done. Its Dave’s Insanity Hot Sauce bills itself as “the hottest sauce in the universe.” So where do you go from there? You guessed it: to 11. Dave’s Ultimate Insanity Hot Sauce also bills itself as “the hottest sauce in the universe.” And guess what? It’s definitely one louder….er, hotter. Actually, it may even be two or three hotter. Continue Reading

Even though the name implies otherwise, you will definitely feel alive after even just the smallest amount of Blair’s Mega Death Hot Sauce. This is one of the hottest sauces on the market but not the spiciest for Blair’s which claims their Ultra Death is even hotter.

The bottle comes in a box and contains Blair’s signature skull keychain, which is proof positive that you survived death. The warning label proclaims, “Be warned: this sauce contains ingredients 500 times hotter than a jalapeno chile. Use sparingly. Not recommended for use without dilution.” Continue Reading

There are stereotypes and then there’s Ass Whoopin’ Redneck Sauce which features the confederate flag emblazoned on a wood patterned label. In keeping with the Dukes of Hazard theme the label is also riddled with bullet holes and written in southern drawl.

The sauce has the consistency of cream and smells like slightly sweet buffalo wings. Even though the bottle claims it to be “some hot shit y’all,” and its first ingredient is habenero peppers, I wasn’t convinced that this was dangerous stuff. The confederacy lost the Civil War, how strong could this sauce be right? Continue Reading

The label on the fire ant juice hot sauce bottle transports you into a scene from a 1950’s sci-fi  flick, portraying a hapless victim & an eight foot fire ant. It might not be a bad idea to keep your local national guard unit and/or haz-mat crew on speed dial, just in case. . .

Ever sat your posterior down on what looked like a nice soft mound of earth in say, south carolina or thereabouts?  You may have soon received a less than hospitable welcome from the local inhabitants ! ! !  An example of the above  mentioned inhabitant is glued to the neck of each bottle of fire ant juice, presumably  to make for easier identification by any first responders or your next of kin, if necessary. Continue Reading

Although the label does feature a skull surrounded by fire, compared to most other hot sauces, the design comes off as that of a no-frills sauce that is not interested in overselling itself. Full disclosure: Blair’s Pure Death Hot Sauce comes with a free dangling skull key chain, which is one of the easiest ways to get a positive review from me.

That being said, the smell gives off an acidic, tomatoey essence despite completely lacking the fruit. Instead, the sauce contains Habanero Chili Pods, Naga Jolokia, Vinegar and Hawaiian red salt. Continue Reading

Bee Sting Mango Passion Pepper Sauce is accurate in placing the two fruits in the sauce’s name before the pepper, as you enjoy the fruity sweetness before you ever get to the extremely mild burn of the habaneros, which account for such a small portion of the sauce that they are listed ninth on the ingredient list.

Based on the label, all I can assume is that a deranged bee was used in the creation of this sauce, which might have made the sauce more interesting. Continue Reading

I just discovered a new way to lose weight. It’s called the Da Bomb Diet, and it features Da Bomb Beyond Insanity hot sauce. You see, I read recently that a lot of overweight people eat too fast, and therefore their bodies don’t have a chance to register the sensation of feeling full, which means that fast eaters also tend to eat too much. Da Bomb solves that problem by making a sauce so insanely hot that you can’t help but eat any food touched by it extremely slowly.

Da Bomb makes a couple of varieties of hot sauce; Beyond Insanity likely is a shot at Dave’s Insanity, which can also be used as a weapon of sorts. Continue Reading

The first thing I’ll say about MJ’s Kick Ass Hot Sauce is that it’s made in Somerville, Massachusetts, which is also home to my favorite barbecue restaurant, Redbones. To my knowledge, there’s no connection between the two, but there should be. This is a rich, very full-flavored sauce that is all about making good food better.

The ingredients themselves suggest that MJ is a true foodie. First on the list is green habanero pepper instead of the more typical red and orange ones. That’s followed by white onion (which is distinctly sharper than yellow onion), cilantro, garlic, rice vinegar, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Continue Reading

The Rasta Fire! Hot, Hot, Hot Sauce label features a stereotypical Jamaican man — complete with tie-dye shirt, flip flops and dreads — eyes bulging in shock as he leaps away from a campfire that has lit the seat of his cut-off shorts on fire. The front of the label warns us that the sauce is made with habanero peppers and includes the phrase, “Dis stuff really hot mon!” — presumably the words of our fiery friend.  While it is quite colorful and eye-catching, I give the label a 2, largely because I did not find it to be a very accurate description of what one should expect from this sauce. Continue Reading

I thought Idiot Boyz Habanero Hot Sauce was just another oddly named pepper sauce angling for attention on a crowded store shelf. Then I tasted it and understood that the name is perfectly apt — because you’re an idiot if you underestimate both the flavor and the savage afterburn that this sauce delivers.

I took my customary initial taste by putting a drop on my finger and licking it off. “Ooh, now that’s hot!” was my first reaction. It really is a fiery concoction, featuring not only habaneros but also chile extract (the appearance of any pepper extract ensures a painful experience). Then the flavor came in, thanks to a nice combination of lime juice, onion, and garlic (which were prominent), and evaporated cane juice, which delivered a subtle sweetness that just barely broke through the heat. Continue Reading

If you’re looking at a bottle of Mad Dog 357 Hot Sauce, you’re staring down the barrel of a 357 — literally. That’s what’s on the label, along with a few “bullet holes” and several warning and disclaimers. Not to mention the notification that this sauce reaches 357,000 on the Scoville scale.

As much as I love hot sauce, “This Sauce Is Very Hot — Use It At Your Own Risk” is a warning I take seriously. A quick scan of the ingredients reveals that both habanero and cayenne peppers lurk within — a warning in and of itself. A closer inspection reveals that the cayenne peppers are 160,000 on the Scoville scale. Continue Reading

“Goin’ Bananas hot sauce” advertises itself as a medium hot, Caribbean inspired sauce made with ingredients like bananas, raisins, Worcestershire sauce, and honey.  Because I enjoy all of these things, I was more than excited to test this puppy out.  

The label is a vibrant splash of color showcasing a charming cartoon of Carmen Banana, the mascot for the Key West brand.  Looking as beautiful as a banana can when dressed in an elaborate hat, a string of beads, and make-up, Carmen claims the sauce to be “a delight with chicken, burgers, ice cream, seafood — and GREAT as a grill sauce!”  While initially intrigued to follow Carmen’s advice and try it on ice cream, it was 9:30 in the morning when I first broke the safety seal, so I opted for starting instead with topping my eggs. Continue Reading

There are eleven different warnings on the bottle of Ron’s Nuckin’ Futs hot sauce, the largest of which reads: WARNING! USE ONE DROP AT A TIME! Needless to say, I approached this stuff with a healthy mix of anticipation, respect, and reckless abandon.

Its a bit thicker than you’d suspect, pouring slowly out of the bottle. The ingredients list habeneros, pepper extract, citrus, salt and other “spices”, but I think ol’ Ron is being purposefully vague here. Futs has a rich, tantalizing smell that almost makes you wish it wasn’t so hot. Almost. Continue Reading

I told a friend of mine that I was reviewing a hot sauce called Hog’s Ass, and he said, “Is that supposed to be a funny way pronouncing ‘hot sauce’?” I said I hadn’t considered that; to me it was just a funny name. Then he asked me if it tasted like hog’s ass. I’m not sure if he meant a cut of pork butt or something else, but I quickly realized that we were both missing the point. As far as I’m concerned, hot sauces are for dipping, splashing, or cooking; rarely is one very suitable for all three. 

Hog’s Ass Hot Sauce is.

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Backdraft Fire Sauce: The Fireman’s Nightmare! Dedicated to all the brave firefighters around the world!
Head out to your local grocer or specialty store and take a cursory glance at their hot sauce selection. Even many of the stores that offer a wide selection have few sauces that aren’t bright red. Backdraft catches your eye with its yellowish brown hue,and specks of peppery bobs floating around, offering you a texture that is obvious through the bottle.

A glance at the order of ingredients offers you a glimpse into the mystery of Backdraft. You know this sauce will be more sauce and less hot because the first ingredients are sugar, yellow mustard, water, light brown sugar, tomato paste, herbs…and a few more items before we get to habanero peppers. Continue Reading

When the results of the 2010 Scovie Awards, the world’s leading recognition for hot and spicy products, were announced, Chef Wayne Howey of Tropical Island Gourmet was excited to get the call from the competition organizers. Palm Beach Gardens-based Tropical Island Gourmet Co., which distributes a wide assortment of bottled sauces and Spice Blends, has received a First Place 2010 Scovie Award.  In the industry’s most rigorous blind tastings, a panel of the country’s top culinary experts sampled hundreds of the world’s most lauded gourmet foods, and the top scoring products each won a coveted Scovie banner.

First Place in the Medium Hot Sauce category was awarded to Tropical Island Gourmet’s top selling “Fire Ant Juice” which is manufactured by Sauce Crafters  in Riviera Beach Fl.  Over 600 products from around the world competed for top honors.  Continue Reading

What are the hottest peppers and how is it determined which one is the hottest? A method of testing peppers is called the Scoville test. This method of testing a pepper’s pungency units was invented by Wilbur Scoville in 1912. Mr. Scoville determined his test results by taking the extracts of many types of chili peppers and diluting them in a sugared water solution until none of the heat remained. The testing was accomplished by a panel of 5 “judges” who would taste these solutions and then tell Mr. Scoville when they no longer felt any heat. This testing was very subjective as your can imagine and results were not very consistent. The hottest peppers, such as habaneros, have a rating of 300,000 or more, indicating that their extract has to be diluted 300,000-fold before the capsaicin present is unnoticeable.

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When it comes to hot sauces, one has to be fearless. Cautious, definitely, but fearless all the same. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to enjoy the wide variety of hot sauces on the market, and you’ll also probably never really learn how much heat you can handle. I discovered this valuable lesson from Mad Dog 357 Pure Ghost Sauce.

As I was examining the bottle, I have to admit I was a little scared. The label reads like a warning sign posted outside a ghost town advising wanderers to turn back or be prepared to meet their doom: “World’s hottest pepper.” “Use it at your own risk.” “Diabolical.” “Killer sting.” But I went forward – journalistic integrity and all that – and was richly rewarded when I actually took a taste. Continue Reading