A legendary fermented lineup, an inside look at small-batch flavor building, and an exclusive taste of a secret, unreleased bottle sent straight to the studio.

In this episode of Fire & Flavor, we are sitting down with the creator behind Spanky’s Sauces (Covington, KY) to break down how they craft their exceptional, flavor-first fermented hot sauces. If you want to know what separates a slow-fermented masterpiece from a basic, vinegar-forward supermarket sauce, this interview is a complete masterclass.

We put their lineup to the test; Including the bright, citrusy warmth of Freya, the stealthy green heat of Jolene, and the complex, savory depth of Big Nick. Plus, we get a first look at NOVA—a highly anticipated test batch that hasn’t even hit the market yet.

🌶️ THE TASTING LINEUP:

🍊 Freya: Fermented Fresno chiles, Mandarin orange, garlic, ginger, green onion, and honey.

🟢 Jolene: A unique green profile blending tomatillo, jalapeño, lime, cilantro, and a kick of 7 Pot Primo.

🥥 Big Nick: A multi-pepper blend balanced with coconut milk, ginger, and turmeric.

🧪 Nova: The top-secret, unreleased test batch!

IG 📸: spankys_sauces

Web 🌐: https://spankyshotsauce.com

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🔥 If you love hot sauce then subscribe & turn up the heat! 🔥 Available on all major streaming platforms! 🎧

#hotsauce #spicy #foodie #hotsaucelover

In this episode of Fire & Flavor, I sit down with Anti Spice, the creator of a buttermint made to help cool the burn after eating spicy foods.

We talk about how a love for spicy food, baking, and chemistry turned into a real product after more than 16 variations and seven months of testing. Anti Spice was created as a way to potentially help with the oral discomfort, or stomach cramps that come from consuming capsaicin, the compound that gives spicy food its heat. We get into the story behind the invention, the testing process, the patent and trademark journey, and how different types of spicy food lovers are using these mints.

Of course, I had to put them to the test. Before trying the mints, I ate Pepper X Taco Sauce from High River Sauces to bring the heat and see how well Anti Spice worked afterward.

IG 📸: anti_spice

Web 🌐: Anti Spice can be purchased off of Amazon / Etsy

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Follow on IG 📸: fire.and.flavor

🔥 If you love hot sauce then subscribe & turn up the heat! 🔥

Available on all major streaming platforms! 🎧

#hotsauce #spicy #foodie #hotsaucelover

Manchester, New Hampshire is home to some incredible artisan creators, and this week we are diving deep into the lineup from Retro Burn Hot Sauce. Known for their 70s and 80s throwback aesthetic and commitment to small-batch quality, the makers sit down with Fire and Flavor to talk about their culinary philosophy, local roots, and how they balance intense heat with complex flavor profiles.

Instead of chasing extreme shock value, this interview focuses entirely on the craft. We put three of their standout creations to the test, exploring how unique ingredients come together to create a true flavor bomb.

Sauces Tasted in This Episode:

🍹 Sunday Bloody Mary (00:20:50): A savory, brunch-inspired profile that redefines what a breakfast sauce can be.

🌿 It Takes 2 (00:43:27): A beautiful combination of Thai chili and Thai basil that delivers a sharp, aromatic punch.

🍍 Smoke on the Pineapple (1:00:43): A masterful balance of sweet fruit heat and deep, smoky undertones.

Whether you are a Queen City local looking to support small businesses or a craft sauce enthusiast who appreciates flavor over pure brutality, this conversation delivers an inside look at the New England specialty food scene.Subscribe to Fire & Flavor for more deep dives into the artisan hot sauce community.

Find Retro Burn Hot Sauce:

IG 📸: retroburnhotsauce

Web 🌐: https://retro-burn.com

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Follow on IG 📸: fire.and.flavor

🔥 If you love hot sauce then subscribe & turn up the heat! 🔥

Available on all major streaming platforms! 🎧

#hotsauce #spicy #foodie #hotsaucelover #ManchesterNH #CraftHotSauce #ArtisanMade #SmallBatch #HotSauceReview #SupportLocal #QueenCity