10 Best Hot Sauces at the NYC Hot Sauce Expo 2013
I thought long and hard about it and — I decided NOT to do Hot Sauce “News” on this blog.
…and then I went and did it anyway. 🙂
My reasons for not including hot sauce news are simple: First, there are plenty of sources on the web already that do a wonderful job of keeping me up to date on all the happenings in the world of hot sauce. I don’t want to try and compete with them. And, second, that is not what this “project” is all about anyway.
However… Occasionally, when a “news item” is kind enough to make a list of new and exciting hot sauces I need to try… Well, that, on the other hand, IS PERFECT for this project – And I might just have to include it.
Like this one.
10 Best Hot Sauces at the NYC Hot Sauce Expo 2013
Below I have a list of The 10 Best Hot Sauces At NYC’s Hot Sauce Expo.
I have never seen any of these sauces before. That makes sense, since an Expo is usually where creators introduce their new products.
All of them sound delicious and I can’t wait to start searching for them. I will update this post with links as I try each sauce (if you are reading this later than August of 2013, some links may already be there. Check them out.)
This list and the tasting notes come from the site Complex.com. I have never seen the site before, but it looks like they sent 3 of their guys over to the Expo to check things out.
Read their full report at 10 Best Hot Sauces at the NYC Hot Sauce Expo 2013
I like this list and have added it to my “To-Do Best-of and Special Hot Sauce Lists” Page.
The 10 Best Hot Sauces At NYC’s Hot Sauce Expo.
This zesty sauce has the brightness of lime while still leaving a pleasurable tingle. When warm weather comes, this will be our go-to hot sauce for micheladas (Micheladas are a Mexican-style beer cocktail with lime juice, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Click here for a recipe.)
9. Ouch My Roids Tapestry
It may have the most unappealing name in the history of hot sauces, but this eclectic sauce is actually awesome. A diverse blend of heat sources including cayenne, habanero, jalapeno, hot cherry, Serrano and Thai chili, make for a complex sauce that is as spicy as it is subtly sweet, thanks to the addition of honey and molasses.
8. Bonfatto’s Apple Pepper Jack Sauce
This thick, hearty sauce is unlike any other we tried at the Expo. Brown sugar, cinnamon, and Jack Daniels Whiskey bring a caramel-like sweetness and consistency, but still managed to leave a subtle burn. A drinkable hot sauce, if we ever tasted one.
7. Ojeda’s Cherry Habanero
Nothing calms a habanero-soaked tongue like a hint of something tart and fruity, in this case, cherries. Twisted Sister guitarist Eddie Ojeda ventures into spicy territory, and the result is hardcore deliciousness. Also, no big deal, he signed our bottle.
6. Puckerbutt’s I Dare You Stupit Ghost Chili
You know the name of the game when it comes to ghost chilis, and Puckerbutt delivers on it’s promise. Or, should we say, dare. A powerful spice that is best in small, measured doses but that still has discernible flavor, thanks to being layered with rice vinegar.
5. A&B American Style Pepper Sauce
A bright, carrot-based condiment with the consistency of hearty tomato sauce. It has a bite, but it’s subtle enough that it can be applied liberally. A sauce you’ll want to pair with everything; we tried it in a Bloody Mary’s with Tito’s Vodka and it made our morning.
4. Rippin’ Red Forbidden Angel Habanero
Forbidden Angel is a fittingly ominous name for this habanero-based sauce. Guava, pumpkin, and lime save this concoction from going to the too-spicy side. Instead, we’re left with a nuanced sauce that brings the heat and the flavor.
3. Dirty Dick’s Hot Sauce
It might not sound like something you’d want to put in your mouth (pause), but gimmicky name aside, Dick delivers the goods with a habanero sauce that’s as spicy as it is flavorful, thanks to the addition of mangos and pineapples. It’s subtle fruitness and bold spice earned it the top spot in Screaming Mimi’s fruit-based sauce division.
2. NW Elixirs No. 3 Hott Smoke
This took the second place spot in Screaming MiMi’s chipotle division, and it’s easy to see why. A rich smoky flavor that somehow manages to capture the savoriness of a slice of brisket in a single drop. You know, if your brisket had been smothered in chipotle.
1. Mild to Wild Pepper & Herb Co.,Ralph’s Righteous Habanero Sauce
A chunky, full-flavored habanero sauce offset by a salt and vinegar kick. It’s hard to imagine what this wouldn’t pair well with.
I searched and could not find a copyright for the poster at the top of this post. It is all over the internet though. I used it based on my belief that the owners would be pleased with the free publicity. If you are the owner and you do not want your work appearing here, let me know and I will remove it.
The Ralph’s Righteous Habanero Sauce bottle pic is from Amazon.
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August 23, 2013 @ 10:08 am
Hi there, can you please let me know when the next hot sauce expo will take place in NYC. I’m on the final details of launching my hot sauce business and I will love to participate on the expo.
Thanks,
Alexis Mendez
917-217-1026
March 6, 2015 @ 4:53 pm
Hello fellow Chili Head again. Seems like your blog came up in a search earlier today. Wanted to say thank you for the great articles. Wish I could attend shows like this but most often hard to even tend my own small farm. Currently stuck in hospital on IV antibiotics. Can not even tend our indoor chili plants. So my choices for entertainment are: Law and Order (on three different channels no less) or reading about the things I love.
Your articles are becoming some of the things I love to read. Sorry if I seem all ‘I love you man’. Its the pain medication.