Okay, I’ll admit it—I bought this hot sauce because of the name. Dirty Dick’s Original Hot Sauce? How could I not be curious? It sounds like the kind of thing you find on the bottom shelf of a beachside novelty shop… but plot twist: this is one of the best hot sauces I’ve ever tasted.

I wasn’t ready for how good this stuff would be.

First Impression: That Name Though…

Let’s get this out of the way. The name is absurd. It’s the kind of bottle that makes your friends raise their eyebrows and say “What exactly are you into?” But once they taste it, the conversation changes to: “Where can I get a bottle?”

Dirty Dick’s doesn’t play by the typical hot sauce rules. This isn’t your sharp, vinegar-forward Louisiana style heat. This is a Caribbean-inspired, sweet-heat flavor bomb that immediately stands out from anything else on my hot sauce shelf.

Taste Test: A Tropical Punch in the Mouth

This sauce is thick, rich, and packed with flavor. The first thing that hits you is the sweetness from tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, and banana (yes, banana!). That sweetness is immediately followed by a wave of warm spice—thanks to habanero peppers, cinnamon, allspice, and just the right amount of vinegar.

It’s sweet, savory, spicy, and somehow balanced enough to be dangerously addictive. I kept going back to the bottle for “one more taste,” which turned into three or four spoonfuls.

It’s not blow-your-face-off hot. I’d call it a solid medium. But the flavor is so unique that the heat takes a backseat anyway.

What’s It Good On?

Honestly? Almost everything. Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

• Grilled chicken: Unreal. Like tropical BBQ sauce with a kick.

• Fish tacos: It added a whole new dimension.

• Breakfast burritos: Don’t knock it till you try it.

• Pizza: Surprisingly good on pepperoni.

• Cheese plate: Yep, next to the fig jam and spicy mustard. A sweet-hot masterpiece.

It’s also perfect as a glaze or marinade—just brush it on shrimp, pork, or roasted vegetables before grilling and thank me later.

Who Makes This Sauce?

Dirty Dick’s was created by Richard Westhaver, a former competitive BBQ chef and all-around flavor genius. According to his own story, this sauce started as a passion project during BBQ competitions—and eventually became a cult favorite.

Despite its novelty-shop name, this sauce has won multiple awards and consistently ranks on top-10 lists from hot sauce aficionados around the world. It’s even got a near-perfect score on Heatonist.com and made appearances in the Hot Ones community.