Well, there are certainly some delicious sauces in this thread, but it seems they're quite heavily weighted towards the traditional hot sauce producing areas. (which includes Aaron's kitchen!)
I think we need some representation of hot stuff from traditionally non-spicy food regions. So, I will occasionally post some good stuff that I've found up here in the cold, mostly non-spicy, wilds of New England.
First off, I'm going to throw one out there that I'm sure most of you haven't heard of. And it comes from Vermont -- more known for maple syrup, crunchy-granola-tree-hugging-people and weird politics than spicy food. This is Fire in the Mountains Salsa. Although they don't make any true hot sauces, they make some really delicious salsas. They also make an interesting Maple Habenero BBQ sauce.
The Fire in the Mountains salsas are very fresh tasting, with good, but not overwhelming, heat in the Wildfire-Medium and ForestFire-Hot varieties. (I haven't tried the Raging Wildfire kind yet) There's a slight smokiness and everything works together without any one ingredient being overpowering. It's not a chunky salsa, and it's a fairly thin consistency -- enough to stay on a chip, but you'll have to hold it level.
Sadly, I currently don't have any in my cabinet to take "action shots", but I'll have to rectify that soon. They're mostly available in various gourmet and specialty stores in northern new england, but they do have an online store. Check 'em out.
http://w.ivenue.com/catamount/ecommerce/salsas.html
Nice link Aaron.
I see Ring of Fire. and many open bottles for tasting as well.
Have you tried Texas Kicker and Texas Champagne. I have seen both local to me
edit: I see they have sample bottles of those ones, if you have not tried can you report back after your in store taste test.
This just came across my news feed:
"Just released today from the Louisiana Hot Sauce Expo held this weekend – the 2015 World Hot Sauce Awards Winners List!"
http://www.scottrobertsweb.com/2015-world-hot-sauce-awards-winners-list/
Lots of delicious-sounding sauces, salsas, BBQ sauces, Rubs, etc. Including a win in the Ultra-hot category for our much-lusted-for, but rarely seen (in the US) Fire Dragon Chilies "Dragons Fury" from New Zealand.
Whoa, there are alot of categories. How does one keep up with all that?
Been there. There is nothing but greatness in Fredericksburg. Yes, it's a tourist trap, but it is a friendly one.Here's a cool place to buy hot sauce, salsa's, spices and jams....Rustlin' Rob's in Fredericksburg, Texas. I'm headed there next weekend.
Click on the stores red front doors to go inside and look around. Very cool feature. Go all the way to the back for the good (hot) stuff.
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.274...CfbJ-NRRP9263PYu6Fv2eA!2e0!3e2!7i13312!8i6656
I hate overly salted products. Even with recipes I halve the salt and double the pepper. We Americans get way too much salt.The Texas Kicker was too salty, YSMMV (You're Saltiness Mileage My Vary) for me. I haven't tasted the Champagne. Track back to the second to the last room (still in the hot sauce area) and look at the Hot sauce collection on the upper high shelf. Pretty good collection.
I'm interested in how the stuff in the PIF you sent compares to the El Yucateca...probably quite a bit hotter.
Gee, I think now I'll go pour some Valentina in a small bag of potato chips.