The hot sauce fairy came today

[Boxx]

You know that you very much into "hot sauce" when you begin to salivate just reading some of these posts about hot sauce... lol

[Daddy Dee]

OK. Was willing to take the plunge to buy the Tabasco Family Reserve when I noticed that the "undressed" bottle was available for $10 instead of the usual $24.95. Don't know if they have offered the undressed bottle before or not. Also if one purchases the collector's bottle they will throw in the undressed bottle for a few more bucks.

So, did a little taste test. Served up a teaspoon of each just to taste outright with a sip of water in between. Put some of each on half a boiled egg and then went back to the teaspoon tasting. Here are my observations:

1. The Family Reserve sauce is a little darker than the regular. This is probably because of it's age. In the past I've had a gallon jug of the regular Tabasco and it takes me a couple of years to get through it. Even keeping it in the fridge, it will get darker, more brown, less red than it is fresh from Tabasco.

2. Aroma test. Both have a prominent smell of vinegar. Noticed no difference here.

3. Taste. I had been curious as to whether there would actually be a noticeable difference. There is a discernible difference in the flavor. The vinegar flavor of the original is a bit stronger than the Family Reserve. The Family Reserve has more of an "oaky" flavor than the original. Smoother? Perhaps. Better? "Better" is completely subjective. Testing the flavor of each on a boiled egg, I could not tell a difference. Only when tasting the sauce directly from a teaspoon could I discern the difference. I would doubt seriously if anyone could tell the difference adding it to a bowl of chili. (man, that sounds good right now)

The Family Reserve would get the nod in terms of cool factor. Also the "difference" in taste is interesting and pleasing. The decked out Family Reserve paired with the undressed Family Reserve would make a very nice gift for a hot sauce o'phile. It's a bit over $30.

[CECAA850]

several years ago that had picked up a novelty sauce in Branson. It was labeled insanity sauce. he took a toothpick and dipped about 1/4 inch into the sauce and gave it to me to taste. Actually caused a cough reflex.

another example was my nephew employed in an Indy bbq restaurant. They had four sauces progressivly hotter and the hottest was "slap yo momma" sauce. Told him that sounded exciting. I took some and it way to hot to enjoy, to my taste. I took it and diluted it by half in mild sauce. Still too hot. Diluted that yet again by half with mild sauce. It was still moderately spicy, but even then just wasn't good sauce.

That remints me of a type of pesto (relish??) I made last weekend. I took my wifes small food processor and filled it about 3/4 of the way up with ghost peppers. The remaining 1/4 of the space was filled with cloves of garlic and oregano. I chopped it till it was fine and put the mixture in a plastic container. I then put a good layer of salt over it and added olive oil till it was wet. WOW, great flavor but you only need a dab to do some serious damage. I've been putting it (sparingly) on pizza and in sandwitches. Really good.

[TasDom]

If any of you hot and spicy enthusiasts ever have an opportunity, The National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show is held here in Albuquerque at the Sandia Resort and Casino. It's a great venue with exhibitors from around the globe. Last time I went my son and I left with a nice variety of salsas, sauces and a vile of something that didn't even register on the scoville scale...

http://www.fieryfoodsshow.com/