Review: Hak's Chipotle-Bourbon BBQ Sauce (pic)

[PatioDaddio]

Review: Hak's Chipotle-Bourbon BBQ Sauce



I was recently given the opportunity to review a new unique barbecue
sauce from Sharone Hakman, a competitor in season one of Fox's reality
cooking show, MasterChef.

"The most delicious BBQ sauce EVER made..."
- Chef Gordon Ramsay

Wow! That's quite an endorsement from an exceptional chef. Comments
like that, and the following made me anxious to try it.

"This burger is electric chair food, do you understand? If I was
going to the electric chair I would want that burger."
- Anonymous trucker, in reference to a burger smothered in
Hak's sauce

The first thing that struck me about this sauce is the packaging. It's
bottled in a 12-ounce whiskey flask-style bottle with a distinctive modern
flat black and orange label. Beyond looking sharp, it's fitting, given that the
sauce is dubbed as masculine and refined, and it's made in small batches
like fine whiskey.

As always, I next turned my attention to the ingredient list. I was very
pleased at what I saw, and what I didn't see.

Apple cider vinegar, tomato paste, molasses, brown sugar,
onion, garlic, less than 2% of each of the following: salt,
spices, ground dried chili peppers, mustard flour, black pepper,
natural flavors, soybean oil

When I cracked the bottle open for a small sample the color and
consistency make it very apparent that this sauce is special. It has a dark,
deep, and rich mahogany color. The consistency is very thick, with
plentiful flecks of onion and garlic running through it.

I found that it smelled and tasted exactly how it's described in the PR
release that came with the sauce, with the possible exception of the
comparison to scotch. I've never thought of scotch as being sweet or
tangy. Other than that, the description is spot-on.

"... embodying the layers of sweet and tangy akin to a
perfectly aged scotch. Punctuated by caramelized onions, a
deep smack of bourbon and smoky roasted chilies ..."

For the true taste test I seasoned some thick pork chops that I brined and
seasoned with some simple season salt and black pepper. I grilled the
chops and applied a thick layer of the sauce just a minute or two before
they came off of the grill.

The flavor was bold and sophisticated with a great balance of sweet
smokiness and a bourbon undertone that really works. The heat starts
gently and builds to a nice intensity that is short of too much. This is not
for those with tender palettes. The "masculine" description is apropos.

Overall I was very pleased with this sauce. I'd call it a "boutique sauce". It
isn't likely to be your go-to sauce for most applications, but it's a great
choice for hearty cuts of meat where you want something truly special.

The price reflects the fact that this is a small-batch sauce. A 12-ounce
bottle will run you $8.00, plus $2.99 for shipping. It's available exclusively
at the Hak's BBQ site.

Hak's future plans include Thai Chile Tamarind and Habanero Pineapple
releases later this year, and eventually a line of BBQ rubs and marinades.

Obligatory Disclaimer: The sauce was provided to me free of charge for
the purpose of this review. I was not compensated for the review, and I
have no affiliation with Hak's BBQ.

-----
John

[deguerre]

Dang John. Great review.

[chambersuac]

John, thanks. Do you have pictures of the finished chops?

[PatioDaddio]

Originally Posted by chambersuac

John, thanks. Do you have pictures of the finished chops?

Unfortunately, no, but I have a before shot.



John

[chambersuac]

Wow, that picture makes me wanna order some of that sauce right now!!! :)

[powerpig]

OK, I'll bite. Where does the Bourbon flavor come from?

[PatioDaddio]

Originally Posted by powerpig

OK, I'll bite. Where does the Bourbon flavor come from?

It's one of the "natural flavors".

John

[Mister Bob]

Originally Posted by powerpig

OK, I'll bite. Where does the Bourbon flavor come from?

I was about to ask the same thing, I didn't see anything in the ingredient list...

[Mister Bob]

Originally Posted by PatioDaddio

It's one of the "natural flavors".

John

Got it, thanks!

[powerpig]

Originally Posted by PatioDaddio

It's one of the "natural flavors".

John

Thanks. So it must be Bourbon Extract. I use Bourbon in one of my sauces and it comes to more than 2 perecent of the ingredient list.

[PatioDaddio]

Last night I tried the sauce on a monster meatloaf sandwich with Swiss
cheese and a mess of sauteed onions, and it was outstanding!



Please excuse the craptastic cell phone pic.

John

[Ryan Chester]

Very cool. I like there branding!