Bottom Line: The Carolina Reaper has a good flavor, but you only taste that for a few seconds before the heat makes your mouth go numb.
In 1999, the Habanero entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the hottest chili pepper on the planet. But that didn’t last long, as India’s Ghost Pepper (aka the Bhut Jolokia) came to the attention of Guinness in 2007 and was then handed the record. Chili pepper growers took that as a challenge,...
Bottom Line: The Tabanero Hot Sauce Challenge makes for a good gift with quality sauces that range from Medium to Insane levels on the heat scale.
As Christmas Day approaches and you find yourself doing some last-minute shopping, you might be tempted to grab one of those generic hot sauce gift sets for someone who enjoys spicy foods. But don’t do it! (More on that here.) Instead, seek out hot sauces that are not cheaply made in China or...
Bottom Line: The Blazin’ Knockout Sauce from BWW packs a lot of heat but may be taking things a bit too far as the flavor gets lost in the mix.
Buffalo Wild Wings has long been one of my favorite wing destinations, and they have what I consider to be the best of the superhot sauces among the chains which is their Blazin’ option. The original version of that delivers plenty of heat along with good taste, and is definitely something that fans...
Bottom Line: The Phoenix Fire, Vampire’s Bane, and Day Walker salsas from Mrs. McArthur deliver first-rate craft sauces that pack quite a bit of heat.
Craft salsas have become quite common lately, and when I find someone who makes them locally, I try to give them my support. The sauces from Mrs. McArthur (aka Lady McArthur, aka The Pepper Lady) fall into that category, and she offers some that will really light you up! She makes her products...
Bottom Line: The Torchbearer sauces Son of Zombie, Garlic Reaper, and Zombie Apocalypse deliver good taste and plenty of heat but should be used judiciously.
Torchbearer is a craft hot sauce company known for making some very hot and very tasty concoctions, and their products have started to become more readily available throughout the country. I have to admit, though, that I have been remiss in trying their sauces even though I have seen them...
The Ghost Pepper is one of those next level chilis. Jalapenos and Serranos can kick up the heat, and Thai chilis and the Cayenne pepper will amp things up even more. The Habanero/Scotch Bonnet was once considered the top of the scale, but then people started learning about the Ghost Pepper which promised a journey straight into the inferno. Also known as bhut jolokia, this chili originates from India and is one of the hottest in the world at...
Bottom Line: Buffalo Wild Wings Carolina Reaper Blazin’ Wings are some of the hottest wings out there, but they still deliver good taste.
For some reason, I have mostly neglected chicken wings on this site so far, probably because I have been focused on sampling the many spicy chicken sandwiches out there (watch for a ranking of those soon). But I will be turning my attention to the world of wings in the coming weeks, and when it comes to the...
It's time once again for the Paqui One Chip Challenge! Each year this Austin-based company releases their one scorching hot tortilla chip to challenge those that claim they love spicy food. I missed out on last year's chip, but I currently have four of the 2021 chips on the way. On their website, they claim that "This chip will destroy you!" The 2021 Carolina Reaper Chip is made with both the Carolina Reaper and Scorpion chilis, and they ask...
Okay, if you are ready to put on your big boy pants and up your hot sauce game to the major leagues, this is the one I recommend. Dave's Insanity Sauce is among the original of the insane sauces (thus the name) and is still one of the best. It contains a blend of chilis, tomato paste, and spices, but the key ingredient here is the capsaicin extract. That’s what packs the punch and makes this one of the hottest sauces widely available. It has...