Tom’s Roid-Rippin’ Hot Sauce – Scorpion’s Shadow

Welcome back, folks!  John Scrovak here with the final entry on today’s Scroturday, featuring Tom’s Roid-Rippin’ Hot Sauce.  Earlier today, I published the review of Tom’s Sweet Mesquite BBQ Sauce.  This evening, I bring you a super special bottle I received at the New York City Hot Sauce Expo.  I have in my hands, fresh from his kitchen, a bottle of the brand new Scorpion’s Shadow.

 

Ingredients:

Raspberries, Strawberries, Strawberry Jelly (Corn Syrup, Strawberry Juice, ALLERGENS: Sulfites), Apple Jelly (Corn Syrup, Apple Juice, Malic Acid, ALLERGENS: Sulfite), Apple Cider Vinegar, Water, Pineapple Juice, Soybean Oil, Scorpion Peppers, Vanilla Extract, Onion Powder, Lime & Lemon Juice, Garlic Powder, Ginger.

Appearance:

You know, I can’t remember the last time I reported on the appearance and actually based some of it off the ingredients list, but that’s what I’m about to do.  Why?  Because it sounds goddamn delicious, that’s why.  All those fruit juices and jellies trailed by a scorpion pepper booster sound absolutely delightful.  Heck, I can even see strawberry seeds dotting the inside of the bottle.  Turning the bottle over and over, the lethargic fluidity in this bottle is reminiscent of a jar of jelly that was left in the sun all day – wet and fluid, but with a little something that lingers.  Here’s to hoping that lingering is the scorpion’s sting!  Uncapping the bottle, however, the ambient scent is a little less than exhilarating. The smell is not very strong at all, and nothing in particular stands out to catch my attention.  So let’s dive in!

Ratings:

FIRE	FLAVOR

The texture of this sauce makes it.  It really does.  Lolling this sauce around my tongue, with bits of seed playing with my teeth every now and then, it really adds to the hot jar of jelly in the sunshine.  You have the texture.  You have the heat!  And true to the Shadow name, the scorpion peppers come out to play, with a medium-sized bite.  Then, they taper off into the background, where they hang out in the shadows of your tongue.  Almost vanishing.  Almost.  And I have to say, this sauce is extremely unique.  How unique, you ask?  Let me ask you this: how many hot sauces have you tried and thought ‘Hmmm.  You know, that would taste great on pancakes!’  This one does.  You could use it as a syrup replacement, or you could pour your batter onto the griddle and, just before flipping the pancake, drizzle some of this sauce across it.  Then flip.  BAM!  Scorpion’s Shadow infused pancakes.  You’re welcome.  Heat: medium, though it strikes at a high medium, it tapers off fairly quickly.  Flavor:  Notable.  This sauce.  Breakfast will never be the same.