Straight out of the dry and barren desert of Arizona comes this low frills, down to basics HOT [tag]hot sauce[/tag]. Jack Penrod of Penrod Pepper Productions and doing business on his eBay store the Arizona Pepper Company brews and bottles all of his hot sauces in a restaurant he rents after hours in Scottsdale, Arizona. Like so many small start up enterprises, Jack followed the endorsements of co-workers, friends, and his family to bottle, package and sell his hot products. Now this little venture is taking off for a wild ride and he’s just holding on and enjoying every hard earned minute of it.
“YES FOLKS, THIS IS THE HOT SAUCE THAT HAS BEEN GETTING RAVE REVIEWS FOR OVER 2 YEARS NOW, SEARCH WAYYYY BACK INTO OUR FEEDBACK TO SEE SOME FROM BUYERS, I BLEND THIS HOT SAUCE RIGHT HERE IN MESA ARIZONA, HOMEGROWN HABANEROS,CARROTS,AND GARLIC OTHER SECRETS I CAN’T EVEN MENTION”
Ingedients: Carrots, Peppers, Spices, Vinegar, Salt
When you break the seal the first whiff is the Vinegar base, then the glorious [tag]Habaneros[/tag] make their first appearance and are followed by the faint aroma of the Carrots. This sauce is fairly thick, it’s almost the consistency of a puree with a lot of seeds swimming through it. A beautiful deep orangish-red, the spices and flecks of the peppers are very evident and visible. But the big sell of this sauce is it’s taste, the Habanero’s pack a good sized punch and the heat is proud and very noticeable very quickly. Jackson’s Death In The Desert is not a killer, it’s a pleaser! It’s not going to blow your doors off, but the burn is steady and holds on for awhile not letting up.
I doused one of my favorite meals, a Tijuana Flats Blackened Chicken Mega-Juana Burrito, all the way with extra Jalapeno’s and covered with Queso Cheese. The Death In The Desert was a perfect compliment to the burrito, they held hands and danced around my plate like old pals.
Conclusion: Habanero lovers everywhere will absolutely enjoy this sauce completely, a very basic and simple sauce that offers the burn the Heat-Seekers desire along with a taste that is enjoyable. Not flashy, the label could be considered basic- but the graphics are cool and it’s an eye catcher. To me, more focus was put “into” the sauce then put “out of” the sauce, instead of the other way around that faults a lot of sauces and their producers. The Arizona Pepper Company got it right on this sauce, like Jack says above- read his feedback, some of you are in there. Simply put: “Try it, you’ll like it”.
Packaging/Label: 7 out of 10
Aroma: 9 out of 10
Taste: 9 out of 10
Heat: 9 out of 10
Overall: 9 out of 10
Jack Penrod Pepper Products &
Arizona Pepper Company
Mesa, Arizona
Written by Vic
Nick Lindauer founded Hot Sauce Blog in 2004, making it one of the internet's very first hot sauce review sites. After 20+ years of tasting, reviewing, and attending every major fiery foods event in the country, he's back behind the keyboard covering the hot sauce world he helped build.
49 responses to “Review: Jackson’s Death In The Desert Habanero Hot Sauce”
OUTSTANDING job on the review Vic. THX
Jack it’s a pleasure for me to see you doing well with your products, and I appreciate your emails. Keep up the great work!
BTW..last time I spoke with Vic, he had a mouth full of your jerky! Said that he loves it! 🙂
Nice review Vic. This sauce sounds right up my alley. I love a simple sauce and when its made with Habs, I know its a sauce I could use on a variety of foods. We need a Tijuana Flats in Jersey! My mouth is watering at the sight of that dish.
How do I order a bottle of that heat?
This is definitely a good all around sauce. I’ve had it in my fridge for months. Plus mines a big bottle – even better!
[Comment ID #51386 Quote]
Jeff, use the red links above to oder, if you like Habanero then you will like this sauce.
I have this sauce, but have never tried it.
The 2 bottles I have are signed / numbered, and I believe are numbered ## of 144. Not sure of the difference, maybe I will have to e-mail them and find out.
[Comment ID #51402 Quote]
Here too chrisk, I have two of their Illegal Aliens #’s 12 & 14 / 100 and # 5 / 24 of their Extreme DITD.
[Comment ID #51407 Quote]
Thats cool. Im not sure of the specifics on the signed / numbered stuff.
Hey Vic !!!
Thank you for the fantastic review, lol, I’m humbled for sure, 9/10 from a pro? WOW
To clear up the label confusion: ChrisK , wow, you have the very 1st batch of 144 bottles I ever made for sale, old home printed label , same sauce tho. Huvason, we only made 50 of the 10oz woozys, old label also.
The bottle Vic posted was the mid run label, we just went to a pro printer last week and the new labels have a barcode and a product description on them now, and they are now in stores out here and a few other places as well.
MSK has the #1 and #2 of the DITD, first batch ever sold and he asked us to sign them, I had never heard of that before , signed bottles.
I will soon put up and auction for the INSANE DITD #1 and donate proceeds to Jim Campbell, who was so kind as to sell us 10gal of his Red Savina mash, thats going to be a fun project in itself.
Hope this clears up any confusion.
See you all at ZF !!
Thanks gang
[Comment ID #51430 Quote]
I love the 10oz bottle I think I have 2 more unopened (and signed). Still need some of the “EXTREME” version. I’ll shoot you an email later.
“you have the very 1st batch of 144 bottles I ever made for sale, old home printed label , same sauce tho”
Cool,
I have to unpack them and see what #’s they are.
Thanks for the info Arizona Jack 😉
[Comment ID #51438 Quote]
Sounds like my filing system 😀
[Comment ID #51439 Quote]
Most of my sauce is packed away in boxes and has been for a couple years. Alot of old stuff, but I remember pretty much whats there 😉
Hey gang,
I’m going to whip up a batch for ZF 06 using Jim Cambell’s Red Savina. All of you who have helps us grow will get a special collectors bottle signed from me at ZF.
Any suggestions on the label? It will be a DITD type sauce, but all Red Savina.
Thank you all so much for the support!!!
AJ
1 More note then I will get out of the way.
Although the Ebay store has helped us tremendously, they are biting the hands that feed them. As many of you know, I started out on ebay a cpl years back and it has helped us develop a great customer base.
Yesterday, I reveived an email from Ebay stating that rates and commisions were going up %500% !!!!! Yes, you read correctly, 500%
Many of us here run ebay stores, I spoke with Tracy at Cape Fear Pepper Company, and they are also livid and sick about this.
Although I will continue to post my jerky ” Buy it Now”, and a few single bottles to attract more customers, SCREW EBAY. If you want this sauce, just get in touch thru here. I can fill all orders and lower your price by eliminating GREEDBAY commisions.
My new .com will be up in a week or so and I’ll post a link when it’s up.
Sorry to bring any negativity into the forum, but we all have to look out for each other.
See you all in Texas next month !!
Aj
[Comment ID #51455 Quote]
Your not in the way AJ. Post all you want.
I can become addicting though 🙄
We didnt mention the 1000 club secret handshake yet
(didnt want to scare you)
And if that not enough, the 2000 is even better, just ask huvason. 😉
That sucks, as if ebay doesnt get (take) enough already. I know, I know, they help you reach millions and its still cheaper…blah blah blah…
Guess T-man is all fired up now, watch out ryan, we will have an angry pirate running round here real soon 😉
[Comment ID #51456 Quote]
AJ, i hear ya, definately stay and post. I got my first sauces from you recently and look forward to more. Will see you in Texas, and talkin to you about supplying my up and comong store too.
E-bay has gotten out of hand, and they have no protection again SPAM, i get so many garbage e-mails daily! But infortunately it is a good way to reach the masses as Chris pointed out.
Yep, It’s a bitter pill to swallow. I have to admit, I would not have found HSB if not for ebay. BigShow, I would be honored to be part of your inventory. We are really stepping it up a notch and have some great products. I appriciate your vote of confidance. Well have a beer in Texas and discuss it!!
[Comment ID #51460 Quote]
ZZZZZZZ Huh….. Did someone say beer?
[Comment ID #51460 Quote]
Sounds good, I’m even heading to AZ after, albeit Phoenix though.
[Comment ID #51461 Quote]
LOL, Huv, we know that always wakes you up!
[Comment ID #51461 Quote]
sorry huv they are having it in Texas 😉
[Comment ID #51464 Quote]
Damn them then!!!!! 😀
Arizona Jack, haven’t heard from you lately, but I do love that Jerky
you make and I’ll be getting some more shortly. The write up on your
sauce–I second it– Great product– I also haven’t opened your numbered bottles, I did know to buy the extras to use. Also, if it was
not for E Bay I would not have known about you or your Jerky/Sauce(on a positive note)
Jackson was kind enough to inform me of this review.
The review was right on and the honesty appreciated, Especially to me… being the graphics guy for DITD. As Jack said that’s an old label so I’d be concerned if that was considered “good”. I’d be curious what you think of the new package when you see it.
Regardless 9/10 is an awesome introduction to this industry and I am very pleased with this. I’ll be at ZF with Jack and look forward to meeting everyone who is going.
Once again my sincere thanks
Rich
I have seen this product many times on ebay but passed it by. After reading this review by Vic I will definately get a bottle. Sounds right up my alley, a good habanero vinegar sauce. THANKS!!
[Comment ID #51455 Quote]
Preach on brother! 🙂 I know getting it offf your chest helps. Can’t wait to shop your new site when it’s up. We’re a little ways behind you on the conversion to total .com land, but with some assistance from a few generous chileheads that are already well established in the industry, we’ll be there sooner than we had anticipated.
Press on!
Its a bummer you wont be at the show, but Tracy, I’ll set you aside a ZF 06 bottle, and ship it along with a Hab jerky.
[Comment ID #51471 Quote]
Hey Rich, welcome to the blog man, listen it was easy to give a 9 / 10- I love and am very partial to a good Habanero Sauce. I give credit where credit is due, with any type of sauce, but tend to fall for the hot ones! Story of my life I guess.
Welcome Rich, glad to see you here !!!
An announcment:
We are cringing from pain but heres the truth. How can it possibly happen ( Murphy’s Law) that all things will break when you need them most.
We lost our Hobart meat slicer today and our vac packer died within minutes. Therefore, we will not be able to meet the deadline to enter the FF compitition. I cannot order replacements fast enough to ship to Texas on time.
One good note tho, this will give everybody else a chance at 1st place in the jerky catagory, lol. Wow, the pain that comes with rapid expansion, huh, Im sure many of you know this all too well.
I am limited to bringing 4oz retail packs to Texas and will give them out as samples.
It’s beer thirty here gang, goodnight all.
Aj
[Comment ID #51516 Quote]
Dont forget me! I’m not going to ZF either! NEed that ZF 06 bottle 😀 PLEASE
[Comment ID #51597 Quote]
ME, ME, ME! Don’t forget me! JK, I will have you some jerky ready soon Arizon Jack. 🙂
[Comment ID #51597 Quote]
What happened huv, as of 6:00 pm yesterday things looked good?
I’ve got mixed feelings on the red savina sauce. It’s nice to get our hands on this and I’m very confident that AJ will definately put it to good use. My only problem is I’m going to be a “taster” for it and I think that a normal hab is hot enough… O boy. I’m thinking this is gonna be interesting : ). Any of you heat addicts have a pair of taste buds I can borrow or a week?
Also our “official” site should be up in the next week or so. It’s turning into a intense thing for our webguy and I… I’ll keep you informed when it’s up and running.
[Comment ID #51559 Quote]
Jack, sorry to hear that man! Hopefully some how it all comes together and you can submit for the competition. Good Luck.
[Comment ID #51597 Quote]
Nice we get to watch Huv beg! Come on Huv, you’re supposed to talk the misses into letting you go….
I’ll be there to get my bottle in person 🙂
[Comment ID #51641 Quote]
Always willing to be a guinea pig for taste testing..just ask Defcon Creator. .5 and .4 wings. Next…lol
[Comment ID #51641 Quote]
LOL – i’m with thebigshow, i’ll taste! Just watch when you pour the RED SAVINA(R) from the bucket. I did it Sunday and got a big splash right in the eye!
[Comment ID #51656 Quote]
I figured you were in Huv! How are ethe eyes doing? How much did spend on goggles after that one?
[Comment ID #51661 Quote]
Eyes are fine! I don’t need no stinkin’ googles 😀
[Comment ID #51664 Quote]
lol, why did i expect that 🙂 but you can google for goggles…lol
so, are you for texas? going to hillsborough instead?
[Comment ID #51665 Quote]
LOL
To answer your question: yes 😀
[Comment ID #51666 Quote]
Well enjoy Hillsborough, should be a good time too. I’d tried to represent FKS for you, but not sure I could drink enough…lol
Dont worry gang, 10 gal of Red Savina mash is going to make lots of sauce. I think I’m going to limit the ZF 06 special to 100 bottles, I’ll make sure you all can get in on it, I understand not all can attend.
Aj
[Comment ID #51516 Quote]
Thank You Jack!! 🙂 I’ll come up with something for you as well. TC
Henry
I got your email, yeah I’ll set you up dude !!
I am a little buzy, but I’ll get you your sauce and jerky soon. My jerky op has come to a grinding halt untill the weekend when I can get a new slicer and vac packer.
All HSB’rs that contact me get 1st jerky free, you just pay shipping.
Later gang
Aj
Please tell me where I can go more of the Arizona Jack Jerky? I have been looking for some for about 1 1/2 years. My brother came out to Arizona from New Jersey and bought $500.00 of it and took it back home and everyone wanted some so I want more it is toatally GREAT.
Thank you
[Comment ID #109966 Quote]
Send me a pvt message….