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It’s here, it’s here! Well… more like, it’s finally available to buy! First annouced here on the HSB on March 12th and followed by the announcement of a collector’s edition on March 30th, Steve Burnham is finally ready to sell Blue’s BBQ Reserve to the masses! And boy has he ever done that! Hot Shots has picked up his sauce and I’m sure Peppers won’t wait around too long before picking it up either.
I’ve talked with Steve for quite some time, since writing the review for the Original Carolina Pepper Sauce and I’m very pleased to see that all of the feedback that he reached out for from chileheads around the globe has made it’s way into Blue’s Habanero Reserve. (Little known fact: It was originally named Blue’s Habanera Reserve) In fact, back in November of ‘06, I sent the following feedback to Steve:
Steve -
Just gave v2 another whirl, here are my “back of the envelop†notes:
- Color & Appearance: Looks like a Bloody Mary mix.
- Smell: I smell tomato sauce with a bit of spice.
- Thickness; Notably thicker then the original version, but still fairly thin.
- Taste: First, the taste of tomatoes/tomato sauce hits your tongue. Then it’s followed up by the full flavor of the sauce – spices and all.
- Heat: Does not seem to be as hot as the first version, but my tasters could be off today.Overall: I like this sauce – I think you’ve got a winner on your hands. I would like the heat to be a bit hotter, since you are going for a Habanero theme – I think the heat needs to hit the back of the throat a bit more. Maybe reduce the tomatoes and add a few more habaneros. But all that being said, I’m still going to finish off this bottle!
Ingredients: Lemon Juice, Cider Vinegar, Fresh Red Savina(tm) Habanero Peppers, Tomato, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Pepper, Black Pepper, Sugar, Salt, Garlic, Xanthan Gum.
So how does the final product compare to what I tried in November? I don’t have that bottle to do an exact comparison, but judging from my notes above, the final version is an improvement of great magnitude.
- Color & Appearance: Deep red color with visible evidence of peppers (seeds) and black pepper
- Smell: The first thing I smell are the red savina peppers, followed by a lemon scented vinegar wave and then the additional spices & seasonings.
- Thickness: This sauce pours very well but doesn’t go all over the place. The consistency is perfect - pourable, yet it holds steady on food - none of that running all over mess.
- Taste: Now I see why it’s called “Habanero Reserve” - Steve estimates that there are at least 10 red savinas in each bottle (in a 150 gallon run, 265lbs of red savinas are used). The first taste is of the habaneros, followed by the lemon & vinegar and then the additional spices (just like the smell).
- Heat: With red savinas being the first thing that you taste - it’s not the full force, knock you off your chair type of heat, but more along the lines of the sit back and enjoy the pleasant burn heat. I’d give it a 7 on the HSB Heat Scale
Overall: Blue’s Habanero Reserve isn’t just habs - it has what I could only describe as a “Blues” BBQ element to it. When you first taste it, yes, you get the full flavor of the red savinas, but they are quickly mellowed by the other elements in the sauce and all of the ingredients play together to create a nice melody for your mouth. Steve has stepped beyond the SAS (specific application sauce) that was the Original Carolina Pepper Sauce and created a hot sauce that I’m more the happy to use on anything that I come across. If you haven’t gotten yourself a bottle of Blue’s Habanero Reserve yet, then head on over to BluesBBQ.net and drop Steve a note on the “Let Us Know” page of the site. Just make sure to order 4 or more bottles (1 to keep and 3 or more to eat)!
Blue’s BBQ, INC.
1260 Boswell Court
Concord, NC 28027
Chilehead Comments:
Posted by: Nick Lindauer - Categories: Uncategorized
Permalink: Review: Blue’s BBQ Habanero Reserve Hot Sauce
One year ago: Review: Capitol Punishment's Red Roasted Gar-Banero Hot Sauce
Two years ago: Restaurant Review: Dinosaur BBQ Redux
- Related Posts:
- Blues BBQ Habanero Reserve - Collector’s Edition
- Coming Soon: Blue’s Habanero Reserve
- Too Many Hot Sauce Blues
- Review: Blue’s BBQ Habanero Reserve Hot Sauce
- House of Blues Hot Sauce
32 Comments »
Haven’t tried the sauce yet - but I have always liked the design of the labels! Really catchy!
I work about a mile from Steve’s house. He was nice enough to deliver a few bottles of this and his Original Carolina Pepper Sauce to me one day a couple of weeks ago after I got off work. This sauce hadn’t even been released yet so I got first crack at it. Wow, I love both his sauces. They taste combination caught me a little of guard at first, being more accustomed to carrot based sauces lately but now I’m hooked. Order some of his stuff ASAP if you haven’t already. Steve is a very cool and down to earth guy and a pleasure to talk to. You’ve gotta give this guy props being able to do this on the side since his full time job is being a pilot with a NASCAR organization. Bravo, Steve!
I meant “the” not “they”.
Jay Stirewalt on 5/24/2007 at 7:29 pm said:
I meant “the” not “they”.
I applaud your commitment to grammar. English is a dying language.
weszeb on 5/24/2007 at 8:16 am said:
Dave Lutes at Hot Shots must be loving this!
Why
Congrats Steve! Always nice to see what the truly creative people can do with my chiles 
Bret! I’m coming to JJ’s on Tuesday. Can I get a tour of “Oscars”?
Newman on 5/24/2007 at 9:37 pm said:
Bret! I’m coming to JJ’s on Tuesday. Can I get a tour of “Oscars”?
You will get the VIP Tour. If you know about what time no big deal. I go hide between 2 and 3. See you then
Update….Weekend of fire..I’m adding Booths. We can add about 10 to 15 more We are now up to 54 booths sold.
Bret on 5/24/2007 at 9:53 pm said:
Update….Weekend of fire..I’m adding Booths. We can add about 10 to 15 more We are now up to 54 booths sold.
Sorry FKS we move you to the Bar is that ok….LOL
Bret on 5/24/2007 at 9:50 pm said:
You will get the VIP Tour. If you know about what time no big deal. I go hide between 2 and 3. See you then
I’m not sure what time…I have some business at River Downs that could take between two min., and six hours. But I’ll let you know. I’ve never been a VIP before… not sure how to act.
Newman on 5/24/2007 at 10:03 pm said:
I’m not sure what time…I have some business at River Downs that could take between two min., and six hours. But I’ll let you know. I’ve never been a VIP before… not sure how to act.
It’s Dope man!
Bret on 5/24/2007 at 9:50 pm said:
You will get the VIP Tour. If you know about what time no big deal. I go hide between 2 and 3. See you then
Dont use up all the gas in the Fire Engine !!!
CaJohn on 5/24/2007 at 10:13 pm said:
It’s Dope man!
my catchphrase is catching on!
Newman on 5/24/2007 at 10:27 pm said:
my catchphrase is catching on!
Now that we know you exist!
CaJohn on 5/24/2007 at 10:30 pm said:
Now that we know you exist!
Lurking got old.
Bret on 5/24/2007 at 9:55 pm said:
Sorry FKS we move you to the Bar is that ok….LOL
LOL - I can live with that! Is it all I can drink 
I just ordered 4 bottles! I am always trying new sauces and this sounds like a good one to try! Can’t wait for them to arrive
weszeb on 5/24/2007 at 8:16 am said:
Dave Lutes at Hot Shots must be loving this!
Whats Hot Shots??? The only store that matters is JJ.. right?
Point Taken. I’ll Rephrase That. Dave is the only one who has the savce right now. ( to my knowledge ). That must make Hot Shots pretty proud to be sitting on that.
Hi Folks:
Hot Shots will be getting the Blue’s Habanero Reserve and Carolina Pepper sauce out to the masses.
HotSauceMomma.com has both product also. They are very good folks out of Quincey, IL. They have been great to me and I wanted them to have the products first. They have taken a dollar off retail prices for the Habanero Reserve for initial sales. Check em out.
Blue’s
Hey Blue’s…you left out Nick who just spread the word to the masses.
…Good job on the sauce Blue, looking forward to trying it.
Steve Burnham on 5/25/2007 at 7:23 am said:
Hi Folks:
Hot Shots will be getting the Blue’s Habanero Reserve and Carolina Pepper sauce out to the masses.
HotSauceMomma.com has both product also. They are very good folks out of Quincey, IL. They have been great to me and I wanted them to have the products first. They have taken a dollar off retail prices for the Habanero Reserve for initial sales. Check em out.
Blue’s
I got mine from somebody
thetruth on 5/25/2007 at 6:17 am said:
Whats Hot Shots??? The only store that matters is JJ.. right?
Thanks little buddy. Hope everything is good with you.
Just ordered my bottle from Hot Sauce Momma, only 5.95 plus 1.46 shipping. Can’t wait!!
Hay Scott you got off easy. I had to order a case from HSM my buddies were breathing down my neck. lol
Got my bottle today and I must say I love it!! I had it on meatloaf that my wife made (which is great by itself) and this sauce is delicious!! I can not wait to eat it on more varieties of food. I think this sauce will go great with almost anything. Thanks Steve Burnham and the crew of the Blue’s BBQ Sauce!!
Scott you got me drooling, your’s came befor mine…and that is exactly what I had planned to do when It came…Meatloaf a la Blue’s……. how
does it go….. Great Minds Think Alike!!!…..lol
My case came..eating meatloaf sandwich a la Blues….This S…is really good!!!!!……….Thanks Steve
Thank you Wes:
I am working on a new recipe: Meat Loaf a la Blue’s. I Plan on making a Habanero Reserve glaze for a topping. I’ll post on my site when finished.
Wow..the sky is the limit here…lol..lol..lmao
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Dave Lutes at Hot Shots must be loving this!