Here are your judges (l-r): Jessi Cape, Emily Burns, Kristin Collins, Alejandra Rodriguez, Nahika Hillery, Lenny Dewi

There was no outdoor festival of shared sauces this year for obvious reasons, but commercial bottlers of spicy concoctions submitted their best in the hopes of taking home bragging rights. And the winners are:

Here are your judges (l-r): Jessi Cape, Emily Burns, Kristin Collins, Alejandra Rodriguez, Nahika Hillery, Lenny Dewi

Red

1st: Texas Texas – Taco Truck Style
2nd (tie): Ghost Scream – Original
2nd (tie): Haitan Heat – That is the One

Honorable Mention:
Kester’s – Aunt May’s Red
Game Day – Bernard’s Firecracker Salsa
Mom’s Family Kitchen – Spicy Salsa

Green

1st: Mikey V’s – Sam Sauce
2nd: Ghost Scream – Green Reaper
3rd: Jaime’s Spanish Village – Hot Green

Honorable Mention:
Yellowbird – Serrano Condiment
Crenshaw’s C6 Salsa – Tequila Lime
Kester’s – Aunt May’s Green No Pepper Seasoning

Pepper Sauce

1st: Ghost Scream – Chili Garlic Paste
2nd: Phaya Naga – Vatsana’s Seafood Hot Sauce
3rd: Crenshaw’s C6 Salsa – Ghost Chili

Honorable Mention:
Kester’s – Aunt May’s Yellow Pepper Baja Sauce
Yellowbird – Habanero Condiment
Mikey V’s – Crack of Don

Special Variety

1st: Texas Texas – Picklelicious
2nd: Mikey V’s – Garlic Scorpion
3rd (tie): Evil Cowboy – Smokin’ Ghost
3rd (tie): Casa Verde – Serrano Salsa Cremosa
3rd (tie): Bravado Spice – Black Garlic & Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce

Honorable Mention:
Salsa Maya – Habanero Aioli

This article appears in August 28 • 2020.

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James graduated from Columbia University in 2000 and moved to Austin a year later. Ever since, he has followed the arts and video game scene in ATX, editing and writing stories for the Chronicle along the way. Over his more than 20 years with the paper he has climbed the "corporate" ladder from lowly intern to managing editor.