Duff’s Famous Wings

About half a year ago I was introduced to Duff’s Famous Wings. How I didn’t know about it before is pretty shocking! A friend of mine offered to take me and pay for dinner if I could finish off their hottest
If you want to read some history about Duffs Famous Wings you can read it here: www.duffsfamouswings.ca/home.html
But for a quick breakdown of their heat levels it is as follows:

So we get to the place and it was packed. They could easily double the size of the restaurant and still have a line-up – their wings are that famous. We sit down and go over the menu and I choose the Armageddon wings and my friend goes for Death Wings. Throw in some celery sticks, dill and blue cheese dressing and a pitcher of beer.
The waitress warned me about the Armageddon wings and I told her not to worry. After about 15 minutes a siren goes off and flashing lights are spun over head. My
This is where I question their Scoville Rating. I asked what was used for their ingredients and they refused to tell me. Apparently it is a close guarded family secret. I asked if they used any extract and they said it was just peppers used. No extract. I believe what they do is total the combined heat rating of their peppers to come up with the 850,000 Scoville rating. Unless they have acquired the mysterious Indian Tezpur there is no way that 850,000 can be achieved without the aid of extracts. I honestly think that their Armageddon wings are more in the 300,000 – 400,000 range. They are brutally hot but not 850,000 hot. As for their death wings which are rated at 500,000… well I could eat them without breaking a sweat. Even my fiance had no problems trying the Armageddon sauce and she actually enjoyed the Death Wings.
If you are ever in Buffalo or Toronto I would suggest paying a visit. The wings are huge, meaty and delicious. If I could actually consume 40 of these wings I would no doubt be added to their wall of pain. Perhaps there is some here willing to take that challenge.
Do they have a Duff’s place in New York? I am meeting a load of mates from Wales in Feb and I want to take the lads to a real good wing place as they are not as popular back home as here (Vancouver). Does anyone know for somewhere similar? Many thanks!
Yes!! Depends where in New York you are. If you go to Duff’s web-site it will give you the address in Buffalo.
Good Luck!
Why didnt I think of that!? Thanks mate.
Ha, the guy who wrote this article must have dead or dying tastebuds, because all of my friends, and I included, love spicy foods, but when I ate 5 Armageddon wings, I thought my tongue and lips were literally on fire. I had finished 2 pitchers of water and ice just to put out the fire in my mouth. Every bite was followed with great agony. My whole face turned red, my eyes watery, and my body was shaking and convulsing. After 5 wings I couldn’t even think of going near those Armageddon wings. My stomach felt like there is something cooking in it. I will never go through the torture of the Armageddon wings again. Ever. Not even for $50 (which I got from my friends after finishing the 5 wings 🙂 )
same here, they are made with carolina reaper and boy are they hot. i found i could go through a pound quickly (only way to do it without dying) and then was forced to smash down a pound of honey garlic wings as even the beer and milk was having no effect on the flames shooting from my mouth
I’ve had the Armageddon wings a few times, but prefer the Death. Armageddon weren’t too hot to eat, but a bit hotter than optimum for enjoyment.
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Hahaha – I wrote the article. Yes the wings are hot. I just disputed how hot they actually were. They are closer to 400,000 Scovilles than 850,000 SHU. I had a conversation with one of the owners and told them that their calculation of the SHU was wrong. I do suspect some extract in there though. In that case 850,000 is plausible. But still doubtful. Almost no one would be able to eat one if it was 850K. I have eaten the Armageddon wings quite a few times and find the heat vicious yet pleasant.
i had the hottest wings that they serve–suicidal in buffalo..they were excellent and i strongly recommend them to anyone who is up for a challenge
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Anthony,
how do they compare to the Oblivion prototype sauce I sent ya.?
Does it need to be hotter?
Scotty B
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Scotty, the Oblivion is in between the Death and Armageddon.
Don’t change the Obliveon it is pretty much perfect (I recently finished off the massive bottle you sent me).
So no – dont make your Oblivion hotter. The taste and heat is perfect. One of the best super hots out there!!! And it is definately HOT!!!!!!!!
I have eaten at Duff’s many, many times over the years and I have to say that the Armageddon wings are really not all that they are made out to be. They are hot but they are very manageable. That being said, I have been eating chiles since I was about 9-10 years old (I’m now 38) so I do have somewhat of a tolerance. My friend who works in a lab that does many different kinds of food testing (and is also a chile head) has done testing on all of the sauces and none of them rate any where near what Duff’s claims. The Armageddon came in well under 400,000 (I think it was around 325,000). I know of several places that claim Scoville heats of a high number but they add all of the Scovilles of all the chiles they use. This is cheating in my book.
There is actually a hot sauce you can get, which is Called Blairs 16 Millon, and it is indeed fact 16, Million SHU. It compares that to eating of it, to that of a coke high.
Alec
I had Duffs Death last night … very tasty and great wings. No way however they are 500,000 scoville units – they seemed maybe twice the heat of Defcon 1 – I have a 500,000 scoville sauce at home and that’s much hotter and wouldn’t be tolerable on a full food order. That said – I do recommend them – its a very nice heat with lots of flavour.
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I agree. I actually called them on it. They played dumb (but the owners are nice guys). Also if you try their Armageddon wings, it smells EXACTLY like MegaDeath (which rates at 550,000SHU). They say they don’t use extract but its pretty obvious they do.
I put their Death Wings at around 100,000SHU. Still plenty hot and very tasty. The one thing I have to say is that they definately know how to cook the wings properly.
I’ve had Duff’s Armageddon wings (in Toronto) a few times. The first two were a couple of years back. I do remember them being scorching hot. I think I had to cap it at 3 wings after my entire mouth was on fire, and was sweating buckets. I went to Duff’s again last night and could EASILY eat 5 of their Armageddon wings. I’m actually upset I didn’t order more Armageddon (me and my buddy ordered 10 Armageddon, and 20 Hot to split). While he showed the usual symptoms of Armageddon wings, I wasn’t phased one bit! I was able to eat my 5 without breaking a sweat, and without the slightest bit of a runny nose. I’m either a champion, or Duff’s has lowered the heat in their wings. Still a great meal though. Next time I’m there I will definitely do 10+ Armageddon. Like the author of this topic said, if I could physically eat 40+ of these wings, I’d be on their wall.
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I have also noticed that they have also removed the scoville ratings of their wings. The owner and I had a big conversation about how they came up with the SHU. I also suspected extract in there as well. Either way the wings were not the reported 850,000 SHU but closer to 400,000 SHU.
Regardless of that, they make some of the best wings ever.
I haven’t been in awhile – been meaning to check out their new location at Bathurst and College.
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Hmm…when I was there last night they definitely had the SHU’s posted. I’m referring to the Bayview/Eglinton location.
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That’s the one I usually go to. I guess they only took the SHU’s off their web-site. http://www.duffsfamouswings.ca/home.html
Too bad you missed the Toronto Defcon Day. It was incredible.
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When and where will the next one be? I’d definitely like to go!
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Don’t think there will be an “official” Defcon day for the next while.
I can always contact Bishop and the Belcher where the first one was held and see if they would want to hold another one though. Would also have to get in touch with the Creator and see his thoughts.
You can always drop by Taste the 4th Sense on the Danforth and pick some Defcon Wing Sauce up! Tell them the HSB sent you!
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Cool deal. Will definitely swing by there. Thanks!
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We will probably be doing another one next year. The last one was a lot of fun, and by the looks of everyone there, the feeling was mutual. I have tried to get a hold of Gerry at “Taste”, as I’ve been told he is out of stock, but no reply as of yet.
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Creator, you should also get in touch with Stephen at the Instant Caterer.
So how does Defcon Zero stack up with Duff’s Armageddon?
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Defcon 0 was much hotter!!!
If you really like the Armageddon sauce, try Blair’s Mega Death sauce. They are almost identical.
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I’ve gone ahead and ordered Blair’s Jersey Death, and a few extracts to get my collection started. Aside from hsb.com, where can a newb like myself go to learn more about the more popular super hots?
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Your best bet would be to visit Taste the 4th Sense on the Danforth. You can sample anything you want there and there collection is quite good.
Also The Instant Caterer in the Lower Level of the St. Lawrence Market has an excellent amount of sauces. Unfortunately you can’t sample them (except for Saturdays).
If there is something particular you are after let me know.
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Do you mind sending me your email? I would love to discuss things. kidkutz@hotmail.com
How about an HSB aft at Duffs to hold us over till the next deathmatch! I’d be up for a Sat lunch sometime.
[Comment ID #115927 Quote]
Ken,
I think that is a great idea! I am going to post this in the forum and see what the interest is like. I am sure Sporto and Darryl would be in on this. Perhaps we can do and HSB Armageddon team challenge and get the HSB on the wall of pain.
You can get a hold me at anthony at hotsauceblog dot com.
You really need to update your web site. All of your wing sauces should be listed other than the traditional variety of hot! I love Duffs and all you have to offer!!!
Their hot wings are hot enough. I’ve had them many a time
Love Duff’s wings! I haven’t found a place in TO that has matched it. Medium is the way to go if your are there for the first time to try the spiciness of their wings, Medium is still pretty hot. I will not go above “death”. After 2 wings of “death” i was sweating profusely and had to take 5 minute breaks between each wing.