2nd Half – Review of Texas Hold’em All In – No Limit Hot Sauce (& PBR’s “Buck Off” Hot Sauce) – Tasting and Scoring

Part 2 of 2 – Part 1 Here

Packaging – 8.5 out of 10
The marketing text on the label is professionally colored and appropriate for the name of the sauce. But what does the State of Texas logo have to do with Texas Hold’em? I don’t know.

The back label of the box states, “This sauce will make you fold your “nuts” at any Texas Hold’em table.” They are referring to what gamblers call the “nuts”, or the best possible hold’em hand. If you hold the “nuts”, you know you cannot lose. (Of course, the “nuts” on the flop may turn into a losing hand on the river).

I like when a sauce labeler uses lingo.

Of course it also states some crap like, “Habanero chili peppers harvested from Hell itself gives this a heat that only the surface of the sun could match! Don’t be fooled by the soon to be legions of wannabes and imitators.” The sauce is not as hot as the sun and there not legions of wannabes, only one. (the imitator on the left)

The sauce comes with a novelty tee shirt and casino chip keychain. I don’t think anybody would wear the tee too often, but it’s made of good quality cotton. The keychain will eventually break if you use it with your everyday car keys.

The bottle is flask-style which allows 3 more ounces of sauce than a usual sauce bottle. They print a ‘use by’ date on the bottle and it is easily seen through the window of the box. I like this so a full bonus point is added to the score.

All in all, the packaging is focused on getting the product off shelves and into your fridge. Like I mentioned in my 1st Half Review, you should see this sauce in Texas and Las Vegas airports. It should attract tourists, gift-givers and gamblers. (I was in Arizona once, and I bought a sauce called “Arizona Hot Sauce.” Same marketing premise.)

Coloring / Temperament – 7 out of 10
It is possible and easy to properly “shake well before using”, even before opened. The sauce has a natural red tomato color. Suspended in the tomato paste and water are a few little habanero seeds and mirco-bits of granulated garlic. I find them pleasing to the eye.

I do not like the smell; not appetizing at all. If this sauce was a wine, I’d have the waiter return the bottle after I smelled the cork.

Consistency – 10 out of 15
It incorporated well after shaking and does not separate inside the bottle. The honey helps the sauce coat food, but it is still too runny. It pours fast out of the bottle. I’d take some of the water out and add some habanero mash, not more cornstarch. (M*A*S*H makes a terrific orange habanero mash at amazing wholesale prices.)

Heat – 18 out of 25
The lemon juice and honey controls the habanero’s heat. There is a “stinging heat” after a strong tomato base. The heat at point of impact is strong, and then moves from the middle of the tongue to the front, but it hardly makes the lips feel tingly. It’s not very hot. I can certainly hold on to my “nuts” if gambling with this sauce.
Anybody saying this sauce is too hot probably does not like spicy food. It’s drinkable and the heat compliments the taste.

Taste – 29.5 out of 40
The taste is much better than the smell. The sauce tastes like the Spanish-style soup called gazpacho, only with a little heat, less garlic and some cornstarch added. If you’ve had gazpacho and liked it, you’ll like this.

I’m pleased with the amount of red wine vinegar. It is not over powering at all.
There’s too much water in the sauce.

Final Impressions – Total 73 out of 100
This sauce is above average. I love the packaging. It’s a great additive for ketchup and can add a lot to a spaghetti sauce. It has a strong tomato taste, so it would be good over fresh stuffed banana peppers, pork, lamb, and chicken wings. You can add this sauce to a recipe that has mozzarella as a topping. Take it straight from the bottle, if you like gazpacho.

I wouldn’t use it on seafood, beef, or Chinese food.

Texas Hold’em No Limit – All In Hot Sauce could not compete against my top 20 sauces, but if you receive this as a gift, it’s very usable.

PBR’s “Buck Off” Hot Sauce would have scored lower in packaging.

Next up for review: Jay Frano and Sons, Inc. dish towels.

-thakswet

(((No stinging feeling on the way out)))