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Warning: This is a fairly long review - if you can’t wait until the end to find out what the sauce is, just skip to the end here.
Reviewer #3: It was a day like any other day: the sun was out, the air was cool, and the breeze was brisk. A package arrived at the door, and inside was a masked bottle. My mission, should I have chosen to accept it, was to do a blind review of this mystery sauce. So when I came back from Fantasy Land there was a package from Nick, and the bottle was taped up so I wouldn’t know what it was. I really like this idea; Cigar Aficionado and Wine Spectator magazines use this “blind” method, and they are the leaders in their respective fields. So I’m excited about this, and you, Dear Reader, will have to suffer knowing that my life is a tad more exciting than your’s. Sorry, but, ha ha!
Reviewer #2: Twirling the bottle around, it looks like it’s mostly ground chiles, pretty thick, with small flecks of red and white and large flecks of black pepper. Pouring it out on the plate, it is reddish-orange, thick, gritty and menacing. 7/10
Reviewer #3: The sauce itself is dark orange with flecks of black. It’s fairly thick with a consistency of ketchup, and pours well out of the bottle. Deep and rich orange, thick and deliberate. Black pepper through-out.

Reviewer #2: All I can smell is fresh Habanero, or maybe Scotch Bonnet. Can’t smell much else. The bridge of my nose glistens at the very anticipation of tasting this sauce. 8.5/10
Reviewer #3: Fresh habanero smell with a hint of garlic and citrus, but strangely smells processed. The aroma is a combination of vinegar and citrus, leading me to think this is a habanero sauce with possibly Serrano chile blended in. There is a very faint hint of garlic, but over-all a very nicely balanced smell.
Reviewer #2: Pure Habanero, mostly in the aftertaste, once the heat subsided enough for my tastebuds to return. One can take comfort in the fact that if you O.D. on this sauce, as you lay dying, you will at least have a pleasant flavor of Habanero on your tongue before you leave this world. 7.5/10
Reviewer #3: A balanced combination of chiles and black pepper, but that’s over shadowed by the heat. If the heat could have been held off a little longer, the flavors could be sublime.
Reviewer #2: I am not an “extreme” chile taster, so for me, the heat level is nothing short of “devastating”. I dip the tip of a knife in the sauce and taste it without food. It attacks me straight away, with all of the powerful effects of a Habanero. Instant runny nose. Full mouth and throat burn. Instant activity in all sweat points. I am wondering if the naked Habanero can do this much damage without the help of something more concentrated. While I ponder that, I make a fatal mistake. I don’t wait for the initial effects to present themselves fully and I forge ahead with the tasting on food. I coat the end of my fork and mix it in my Jambalaya. It imparts that wonderful Hab character, but burns like hell. The only things that alleviate the burn are the salty ham in my Jambalaya and lashings of cold apple cider. Then, I double the dose. I’m instantly in trouble. Constantly wiping my eyes and nose, which are running uncontrollably. Serious mouth damage, to the point that I take sips of hot water in an attempt to release the oils. Extremities tingling, heartburn. I’m starting to worry that I’m at home alone, tasting this “bottled death”. 30 minutes later, my mouth is still numb. 5 hours later, my lips are still burning. 15 hours later, I am awakened out of a sound sleep by an endorphin rush. 24 hours later, well…suffice to say that I danced with the devil and the devil came to collect the next day. 10+/10
Reviewer #3: This heat is my kind of heat: Says hello right away, makes you take notice, and then takes it’s time to leave. Excellent back of throat burn that lingers.


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Reviewer #2: For the average hot sauce lover, I would say 7.5/10. For the serious heat-seeker, it has to be a 10/10. I hope for everyone’s sake, this sauce carries a warning label. It owned me.
Reviewer #3: I prefer to use pasta with sauces I’m totally unfamiliar with because the starch tempers the heat while retaining the original flavor. I made linguini with a bacon-cream sauce, and put the hot sauce into the bacon-cream sauce, then drizzled the hot sauce on top of the finished product. In my experience, or tastes really, there can never be too much hot sauce in any finished product. The first taste I got was pure heat, which I really don’t mind. Again, there was a lemon/lime flavor, and now the black pepper really came out. What impressed me was that the sauce, while retaining its heat, retained its flavor-nothing broke down or came apart during the cooking process. And this sauce really complimented the over-all dish. I experimented with other foods; fried chicken, pizza, and chili, and the sauce really delivered a much needed capsaicin kick. Good, good stuff.
This is a sauce that has a lot going for it, but the heat dominates the overall package. That’s great if you’re searching for the heat, but unfortunate because there are other flavors in there that are wasted in effort. Still, this is a sauce that I would keep in the pantry because of the all-around construction. Good stuff.
Curious to know what sauce it is? Information on the sauce is available below the fold
HSB Blind Review #104: CaJohn’s Scorch Hot Sauce

Click to Enlarge
CaJohn’s Scorch Hot Sauce - The hottest all natural pepper sauce ever produced! Nick Panico, Reviewer, www.hotsauceblog.com. Just one of the many accolades given this sauce by the Chilehead Community. Produced with three of the world’s hottest chiles, it’s no wonder this sauce is pushing the limit on what can be acheived without the use of capsicum extract. Enjoy the burn! Mamma told you not to play with fire, but you’ll be fine once the fire subsides…
CaJohns Fiery Foods
2040 Oakland Park Avenue
PO Box 24010
Columbus, Ohio 43224
Chilehead Comments:
Posted by: HSB Reviewing Team - Categories: Blind Reviews, Reviews
Permalink: Review: Blind Hot Sauce Review #102 - Hot
One year ago: Review: The Salsa King - Flaming Green Garlic Passion Salsa
Two years ago: Defcon Sauces
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44 Comments »
I GOTTA SAY THAT I AM ENJOYING THE READING IN THIS FORMAT. IT ALSO MAKES ME WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE SAUCE IS.
Too funny, I click the link to go straight to the end, and it takes me straight to the beginning.
No need for me to read this review. I’ve had this sauce and love it. Great flavor with lots of heat. One of my favorite sauces. It’s got a permanent spot on my table.
I still don’t like the idea of the reviewer’s being anonymous. Big difference between a blind review and an anonymous review. The only thing that needs to be hidden in a blind review is the name of the sauce from the reviewer(s). Hiding anything else makes no difference in the opinion of the reviewers. That’s the purpose, correct? Keep the reviewers honest?
The reviewer #2 was truly fun to read and it was like going down the path to hell with him/her. I really enjoyed reading the taste on down. If my nose or eyeballs were going to dine with my mouth then I would care about the other senses’ opinions. As long as it tastes good, I am willing to give it a try.
I will have to disagree with my esteemed chilehead collegue, DK about skipping the review just to find out about the sauce. Do you fast forward over movies or books just to get to the ending? The best part in this review was watching them guess, then get smacked by the heat. I will agree though about who the reviewers are. Tell us at the end as well.
Two thumbs up for this review.
I love this format - you can’t argue with the reviewer or the results and you know for sure the review is unbiased by branding. Great work guys, keep it up. The only benefit I can see of knowing who the reviewers are is that some reviewers dislike certain types of sauces, like different heat levels, etc. However all the reviewers have been doing a good job of stating that as a disclaimer and reviewing the sauce for it’s intended purpose.
Buddah on 11/21/2007 at 12:45 pm said:
The reviewer #2 was truly fun to read and it was like going down the path to hell with him/her. I really enjoyed reading the taste on down. If my nose or eyeballs were going to dine with my mouth then I would care about the other senses’ opinions. As long as it tastes good, I am willing to give it a try.
I will have to disagree with my esteemed chilehead collegue, DK about skipping the review just to find out about the sauce. Do you fast forward over movies or books just to get to the ending? The best part in this review was watching them guess, then get smacked by the heat. I will agree though about who the reviewers are. Tell us at the end as well.
Two thumbs up for this review.
Knowing the sauce to me should be the beginning of the review. It’s what the review is about. To use your analogy Buddah, it’s more like buying a book and waiting until the ending to find out the title. How many Harry Potter books can you sell like that?
And to continue the book analogy, there are plenty of books sold on the name of the author alone. Another reason to know the reviewer names. It’s another deciding factor of whether to read the review or not.
Also, there’s still the issue of some people being opposed to manufacturer reviewers. For those opposed to manufacturer reviewers, does the fact that the reviewer is “blind” to the name of the sauce negate the issue? If so, then there’s no need for the reviewer to be “hidden”.
So what would be a positive and beneficial reason to hide the names of the reviewers?
That one is on my list to uy on my next trip to Jungle Jims. Good reviews guys/gals.
DK on 11/21/2007 at 1:59 pm said:
Knowing the sauce to me should be the beginning of the review. It’s what the review is about. To use your analogy Buddah, it’s more like buying a book and waiting until the ending to find out the title. How many Harry Potter books can you sell like that?
And to continue the book analogy, there are plenty of books sold on the name of the author alone. Another reason to know the reviewer names. It’s another deciding factor of whether to read the review or not.
Also, there’s still the issue of some people being opposed to manufacturer reviewers. For those opposed to manufacturer reviewers, does the fact that the reviewer is “blind” to the name of the sauce negate the issue? If so, then there’s no need for the reviewer to be “hidden”.
So what would be a positive and beneficial reason to hide the names of the reviewers?
Many books are written under pen names as well…. only benefit I could see is that the review ,review would not be based on personality conflicts in the past.
Sam on 11/21/2007 at 3:20 pm said:
Many books are written under pen names as well…. only benefit I could see is that the review ,review would not be based on personality conflicts in the past.
Conflicts based on possibilties of bias, which the “blind” format should eliminate. So allowing them to “hide” behind anonymity because they don’t have the balls to stand behind what they write is a plus?
As for the pen names, many famous writers do this, but in a lot of instances the pen names are known as well, so it’s just another name to look for. This post being an example.
LOL!!
Looks really good to me. I think anything can be picked apart, I like not knowing the reviewers, I guess they are people too as long as they are from this planet, Haven’t met any aliens yet at least they didn’t claim it if they were. Nick could you clear this up for me? Locals?
The blind review this is cool, but I don’t understand why the reviewers are anonymous.
Actually I do understand, and I just think it’s silly.
A review is supposed to be about the sauce, but when certain reviewers submit reviews, they are attacked for something they’ve said in the past or conflicts with other bloggers, or they are a manufacturer, or blah blah blah and the entire review is a clusterf*ck because the focus is taken off the sauce. We all know what I’m referring to, so I won’t bother elaborating.
On a side note, I think reviews should be posted with a seperate URL and comments should fall under a sub URL so that the drive by attacks of the reviewer aren’t included on the review’s page so a manufacturer can post a clean review of their product. But I’m old school in that thinking I’m sure.
DK/Leroy, you’re book analogy works in theory but look at it this way.,
I used to proof read books for a publishing company in a former life, and granted if was for spelling and grammatical content, but you were always able to glean the storyline and sometimes become engrossed whilst proofing it.
It was very rare that we had a title or writers name associated with the proof, they were just tagged with a alpha numeric code and you went about your business “blindly” doing the proof. Just ask HSB has attempted to do here.
Now, that being said, would I have enjoyed reading the book more/less knowing that is was written by my favorite author? Good is good, bad is bad IMHO.
Great writers can write a crappy book. Some of my favorite authors have done so. Chalk it up to a bad stint at rehab or lack thereof, but you have to hold out hope the next one is better.
If I like/don’t like something made by XYZ sauce company, should I have a predisposition of that opinion going into a review of a different product?
Using this sauce as an example (no offence Cajohn). This sauce being a Cajohn product, you gotta know that 99.9% of the time, you’ve got a winner on your hands.
But if Cajohn somehow manages to make a unpopular sauce (yeah right), it’s up to the reviewer to say so, otherwise they shouldn’t be a reviewer. Just because the reviewer loved Cajohn’s 10, doesn’t mean they should automatically assume the next sauce will be as good, although I’m sure Cajohn can whip up an award winner in his sleep. They have to remain neutral and see every sauce they review with a fresh perspective label or no label.
Again as I alluded to above, having the label on the bottle may produce a predisposed biase, but it should in no way impact the review, or they should disqualify themselves as a reviewer period.
But WTF do I know……………..
By the way, who the hell is Nick Panico from www.hotsauceblog.com?
Is that your pseudonym there Nick?
UB, what you say makes perfect sense from the reviewers standpoint. I support the blind format. All I’m talking about is the presentation of the review. If the review is truly unbiased and fair, then why the need to “protect” the reviewer? Why make the reader guess? Why all the hoops? That’s all I’m sayin’.
Hey Big I hust had some serial killer on some sushi, Good God Man.
just-just-just ok i got it
Uncle Big on 11/21/2007 at 5:29 pm said:
By the way, who the hell is Nick Panico from www.hotsauceblog.com?
Is that your pseudonym there Nick?
I think that is goonienick, but I could be wrong!
Leroy on 11/21/2007 at 5:38 pm said:
UB, what you say makes perfect sense from the reviewers standpoint. I support the blind format. All I’m talking about is the presentation of the review. If the review is truly unbiased and fair, then why the need to “protect” the reviewer? Why make the reader guess? Why all the hoops? That’s all I’m sayin’.
I get ya Leroy. I think the anonymous reviewer thing is silly, but that’s my opinion and I have the right to voice it, that’s the beauty of freedom of speech. People can take it or leave it.
I think if you dangle your opinion out for all to see, the reader should be able to see from whom it’s dangling. I’m with you there, but it shouldn’t matter.
God knows I’ve said and done things that make me wish I was invisible or anonymous for that matter, but how would I learn from critiques and criticisms of those actions?
You VERY rarely see anonymous reviews in newspapers and magazines, I’m not sure why anyone would want to read them. The validity of a review should be based on the integrity of the reviewer, which goes to the whole manufacturer reviewing other manufacturers sauce I guess.
For instance, if BuckyG reviews Baboon Ass anonymously (which would never happen I know and I’m not taking a shot at you Ron) well I would have to think that review might possibly be lacking in objectivity and therefore would diminish said reviewers integrity. Am I right?
On the other hand, shouldn’t reviewers have some sort of basis/background in the industry to give an informed opinion?
Ah, there’s the rub. It’s a two edged sword this reviewing thing.
In short (too late for that):
Anonymous Reviewer: Not necessary nor do I see the need for it.
Blind Review: Good, but we should see what sauce it is at the top of the review, after all, the review is done, but I guess it makes it more exciting not to know until the end? I don’t know.
Good conversation piece though, that’s for sure.
I can’t wait to try Scorch. When’s Canada going to get it Cajohn?
yet another conflict.
No conflict. Just an opinion, same as anyone else making a comment. Good or bad, negative or positive, it’s all for the sake of discussion. Too bad when someone disagrees with something that it’s taken as a conflict.
Thanks for the feedback everyone & happy thanksgiving!
Thanks for the reply Nick. Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone from me as well.
Ok, I’m outta here. It’s been a long day here at work and I gotta go make up some fresh horse jerky.
L8R G8Rs.
I am sooo sick of the same bs comments on here about the way people think things should be done.I love the fact that Nick has done the reviews like this.If you dont like the way things are done HERE then step up get a blog and do things the way you like..If not please SHUT UP!!!!
Nick, you can only say “Oy Ve” if you are Jewish, don’t make me put a kosher whooping on ya. It should be “Oy Vay” or that is how I spell it.
I love the review format, thanks for putting up with us knuckleheads on the feedback. I sure with all good things, a few tweaks here and there and people will still fight over it. That is the sheer beauty of opinions, everyone has them.
I do wish all the good people here and there the happiest of Thanksgivings. Except my Canadian counterpart who all ready celebrated his own a few weeks ago. UB, when are we going to get a review of your wing event? Still waiting Chumpzilla.
Leroy, I wish you never got a tutor, you were much better without him.
thetruth on 11/21/2007 at 6:53 pm said:
I am sooo sick of the same bs comments on here about the way people think things should be done.I love the fact that Nick has done the reviews like this.If you dont like the way things are done HERE then step up get a blog and do things the way you like..If not please SHUT UP!!!!
Yeah ditto. He did say please.
Buddah on 11/21/2007 at 6:57 pm said:
Nick, you can only say “Oy Ve” if you are Jewish, don’t make me put a kosher whooping on ya. It should be “Oy Vay” or that is how I spell it.
![]()
I love the review format, thanks for putting up with us knuckleheads on the feedback. I sure with all good things, a few tweaks here and there and people will still fight over it. That is the sheer beauty of opinions, everyone has them.
I do wish all the good people here and there the happiest of Thanksgivings. Except my Canadian counterpart who all ready celebrated his own a few weeks ago. UB, when are we going to get a review of your wing event? Still waiting Chumpzilla.
Leroy, I wish you never got a tutor, you were much better without him.
Yeah, some video of people squirming in pain would be nice. Can you hook us up Uncle Big?
thefalse on 11/21/2007 at 7:02 pm said:
Yeah ditto. He did say please.
Love the name buddha
Nick Lindauer on 11/21/2007 at 6:22 pm said:
That’s Goonie Nick - Why do you ask?
Ummm, I thought it was a misprint because your name is also Nick but only with a different last name, and I never knew GoonieNick’s last name.
Sorry for asking..jeez.
thetruth on 11/21/2007 at 6:53 pm said:
I am sooo sick of the same bs comments on here about the way people think things should be done.I love the fact that Nick has done the reviews like this.If you dont like the way things are done HERE then step up get a blog and do things the way you like..If not please SHUT UP!!!!
Damn straight!
thetruth on 11/21/2007 at 6:53 pm said:
I am sooo sick of the same bs comments on here about the way people think things should be done.I love the fact that Nick has done the reviews like this.If you dont like the way things are done HERE then step up get a blog and do things the way you like..If not please SHUT UP!!!!
Bite me Jerky Boy!
How’s tricks?
Anthony on 11/21/2007 at 7:53 pm said:
Damn straight!
Oh my God, Anthony agreeing with TheTruth…I know it’s getting cold, but has Hell frozen over??
You can bite me too Anthony, there’s plenty to go around.
Buddah on 11/21/2007 at 6:57 pm said:
Nick, you can only say “Oy Ve” if you are Jewish, don’t make me put a kosher whooping on ya. It should be “Oy Vay” or that is how I spell it.
![]()
I love the review format, thanks for putting up with us knuckleheads on the feedback. I sure with all good things, a few tweaks here and there and people will still fight over it. That is the sheer beauty of opinions, everyone has them.
I do wish all the good people here and there the happiest of Thanksgivings. Except my Canadian counterpart who all ready celebrated his own a few weeks ago. UB, when are we going to get a review of your wing event? Still waiting Chumpzilla.
Leroy, I wish you never got a tutor, you were much better without him.
All in good time, I’m busy…Bite Me Buddah.
Happy Turkey Day everyone, even though you’re a month late!
Uncle Big on 11/21/2007 at 7:56 pm said:
Bite me Jerky Boy!
How’s tricks?
LOL whats up big things are good .. and yes there is alot to go around….but that comment was in noway aimed at you…
Have a happy turkey.I will call you next week
Big,
You making it over to TO to watch the Riders win the Grey Cup?
thetruth on 11/21/2007 at 8:05 pm said:
LOL whats up big things are good .. and yes there is alot to go around….but that comment was in noway aimed at you…
Have a happy turkey.I will call you next week
I’m just jerking your chain Dougie.
Man, I should have gotten Jerky with my THT skid!!
What the hell was I thinking?
If you get a chance to call, I’m in the shop from Wednesday on next week.
Anthony on 11/21/2007 at 8:07 pm said:
Big,
You making it over to TO to watch the Riders win the Grey Cup?
I’ll let you know Friday, I’ve got my fingers crossed.
The Rider sauces are on their way as we speak.
Are you partaking in the festivities? I wish I was there now, oh and that I still drank. It gets very “drunk out” during Grey Cup…ah those were the days.
Keep me posted!
Anthony on 11/21/2007 at 8:11 pm said:
Keep me posted!
Will do.
thetruth on 11/21/2007 at 6:53 pm said:
I am sooo sick of the same bs comments on here about the way people think things should be done.I love the fact that Nick has done the reviews like this.If you dont like the way things are done HERE then step up get a blog and do things the way you like..If not please SHUT UP!!!!
Anthony on 11/21/2007 at 7:53 pm said:
Damn straight!
Hmm, I seem to recall someone else making “calling a spade a spade” comments and bitching and moaning about things around here not too awful long ago. And even made a big deal about their anonymity. Wonder who that was? And Anthony, has your opinion changed about the multiple reviewer format? I seem to remember reading over in the Bolier Room your comments against the idea. Oh well, you guys have the same right to post your opinion here as I do. I didn’t call anyone any names, I didn’t talk about anyone’s girlfriends, I didn’t question anyone’s masculinity, I didn’t do anything except give my opinion on the review format. Truth, you and Anthony have a Happy Turkey Day. Sorry I ruffled your feathers.
thetruth on 11/21/2007 at 6:53 pm said:
I am sooo sick of the same bs comments on here about the way people think things should be done.I love the fact that Nick has done the reviews like this.If you dont like the way things are done HERE then step up get a blog and do things the way you like..If not please SHUT UP!!!!
Shut up you suk ash…….. Man sing another song…. Hey I got a thought!!! How about everyone send the truth a tube of chapstix for Christmas….lol
Happy Thanksgiving
I wrote the 3 three reviews……… I’m glad they made you laugh.
BLANE on 11/21/2007 at 11:02 pm said:
Shut up you suk ash…….. Man sing another song…. Hey I got a thought!!! How about everyone send the truth a tube of chapstix for Christmas….lol
Happy Thanksgiving
Kiss my ash…take your meds and go back to sleep!!!
DK on 11/21/2007 at 8:54 pm said:
Hmm, I seem to recall someone else making “calling a spade a spade” comments and bitching and moaning about things around here not too awful long ago. And even made a big deal about their anonymity. Wonder who that was? And Anthony, has your opinion changed about the multiple reviewer format? I seem to remember reading over in the Bolier Room your comments against the idea. Oh well, you guys have the same right to post your opinion here as I do. I didn’t call anyone any names, I didn’t talk about anyone’s girlfriends, I didn’t question anyone’s masculinity, I didn’t do anything except give my opinion on the review format. Truth, you and Anthony have a Happy Turkey Day. Sorry I ruffled your feathers.
over and over with the same comment let it go DK,,, let it go
I bet your favorite chapstix is Bubble gum?
Uncle Big on 11/21/2007 at 8:09 pm said:
I’m just jerking your chain Dougie.
Man, I should have gotten Jerky with my THT skid!!
What the hell was I thinking?
If you get a chance to call, I’m in the shop from Wednesday on next week.
Happy Turkey Day all…….Hey Doug give me a call next week we need to talk about some Jerky stuff.
will Bret Happy Turkey day to you and the family….
I thought there would be 10 tasters ….easier to find out a percentage…. lol
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Great Job Guys! Doing a blind review is infinitely more difficult than a regular review.