Luci & Pharaoh x Bar Burrito Northern Reaper Hot Sauce Review

Alright, let’s spice things up a bit more, shall we? Today, we’re delving into the fiery world of Northern Reaper, a hot sauce crafted by the dynamic duo Luci & Pharaoh exclusively for Bar Burrito.

Now, this sauce isn’t messing around—it’s advertised as seriously hot, and let me tell you, it lives up to the hype, especially for something you’d find at a fast-food joint. What’s in it, you ask? Well, it’s all about the Carolina Reaper and Habanero peppers, bringing that intense heat that’ll make your taste buds dance. And the rest? Just your usual suspects—spices and vinegar, keeping it simple but effective.

So, with expectations set high, let’s dive into this saucy adventure and see if Northern Reaper is worth the burn.

Introducing: Northern Reaper by Luci & Pharaoh x Bar Burrito

Luci and Pharaoh, hailing from Vaughan, Ontario, are the brains behind Northern Reaper, a hot sauce that’s making waves in the spicy scene. This duo specializes in crafting Egyptian-inspired sauces with intriguing names like Dark Prince, Babylon, and Thebes.

I stumbled upon their creations when I tried Northern Reaper at BarBurrito, and let me tell you, it was an eye-opener. This sauce isn’t just hot—it’s “sign-a-waiver” hot. Yep, BarBurrito makes you put your John Hancock on a disclaimer before you dive into the fiery goodness. It’s a bit of a gimmick but, one tiny spoonful had my tongue singing and my forehead sweating.

Made with Carolina Reaper Mash, Habanero peppers, and a Pepper Extract, Northern Reaper delivers a sharp, long-lasting burn that’ll have you reaching for the milk. The label warns: “use this product one drop at a time.” And they’re not kidding. While I’ve encountered hotter sauces in my spicy adventures, there’s no denying that Northern Reaper brings the heat.

But here’s the catch—it comes at a price. A 120mL bottle will set you back around $15CAD at your local BarBurrito. Sure, it’s a bit steep for the size, but for those who crave the burn, it might just be worth it.

Manufacturer: Luci & Pharaoh
Made In: Ontario
Heat Rating: 9/10
Size: 118mL
Price Range: $15

Ingredients: Carolina Reaper Mash, Red Habanero Pepper, Apple Cider Vinegar, Distilled Vinegar, Garlic, Spice, Sea Salt, Sugars, Pepper Extract, Xanthan Gum

Appearance

When it comes to looks, Northern Reaper doesn’t mess around. This bad boy comes in a sturdy 120mL apothecary-style bottle, short and squat, but packing a punch.

The label wraps snugly around the bottle, featuring a menacing red skull front and center, proudly displaying the name and BarBurrito branding. Now, let’s talk about readability—here’s where things get a bit tricky. The ingredients and nutritional info are printed in tiny, slightly blurry font, making it a bit of a challenge to decipher.

But once you crack open that bottle, you’re greeted with a sight to behold. The sauce itself is a striking blood-red hue, almost perfectly uniform, with just a few seeds and pepper bits adding texture. And here’s the kicker—it doesn’t separate. Nope, this sauce stays beautifully homogenous, flowing effortlessly from the bottle for easy application.

Smell

Hold onto your hats, folks, because we’re diving into the horror that is Northern Reaper. Brace yourself, because this sauce doesn’t hold back. As soon as you pop the cap, you’re hit with a wave of pepper extract that’ll have you questioning your life choices.

It’s intense, to say the least, almost overpowering the tang of vinegar that sneaks in underneath. But amidst the chaos, there’s a subtle nod to its Carolina Reaper roots—a faint, earthy aroma that hints at the fiery journey ahead. If you’ve ever encountered a bottle of Da Bomb hot sauce, you know what I’m talking about. The kind of smell that makes you break into a sweat before you’ve even tasted it.

Now, is it appetizing? Well, not exactly. But it’s not off-putting either. Consider it a friendly warning sign, letting you know that you’re about to embark on a wild ride of heat and flavor.

Taste and Flavour

Alright, it’s the moment of truth—the taste test. Armed with a bottle of sriracha as my trusty sidekick for tongue-cooling duties, I dive into the fiery depths of Northern Reaper. And let me tell you, it’s a journey.

The first thing that hits you is the tanginess, sharp and assertive right off the bat. But then, boom—the pepper extract swoops in and takes center stage. It’s intense, overpowering, leaving little room for anything else to shine through.

Sure, there might be a whisper of real pepper flavor hidden beneath the chaos, but it’s hard to discern amidst the onslaught of extract and tang. This isn’t your go-to sauce for flavor exploration, folks. Nope, this one’s all about the heat.

So, I’ll spare you the lengthy descriptions and keep this section short and spicy—just like the sauce itself.

Heat Level

Let’s talk about the heat level of Northern Reaper—brace yourselves.

On my personal scale, I’m giving this one a solid 9 out of 10, and let me tell you, it’s no joke. This sauce brings the heat, and it brings it hard, courtesy of that sneaky pepper extract. I’m not kidding when I say I was breaking a sweat just from the smell alone.

But when you take that first daring taste, it’s like your tongue is engulfed in flames, followed by a relentless stinging sensation. And don’t even get me started on the sweat—cheeks, hairline, you name it, it’s all fair game. My nose was running like a leaky faucet, and I found myself resorting to deep breaths just to cool down my poor, singed tongue.

Now, let’s talk real talk—extract sauces like this are always a bit too much for me. Northern Reaper is no exception. It had my stomach doing somersaults, even when I tried it straight off the spoon without any food. This sauce is seriously hot, maybe a bit too hot for my liking. And if I’m being honest, I can’t help but feel like the heavy reliance on pepper extract is a bit of a cop-out. Give me the real heat of peppers any day, none of this concentrated stuff.

Conclusion: Overall Thoughts

In conclusion, Northern Reaper by Luci & Pharaoh is not for the faint of heart. This sauce is all about the heat, with little regard for flavor.

While the base created by Luci & Pharaoh shows promise, it’s unfortunately overshadowed by the overpowering heat and artificial taste of the pepper extract.

For me, this sauce was simply too intense, and I’ll likely reserve it for adding a fiery kick to soups or other dishes where its extreme heat can be diluted.

However, if you’re one of those brave souls who craves the ultimate heat and appreciates the concentrated punch of pepper extracts, then Northern Reaper might just be your ticket to spicy nirvana.

In my opinion, it’s the Canadian equivalent of Da Bomb hot sauce, right down to the similar bottle design. Approach with caution, folks—this one’s not for the faint-hearted.

Please remember that taste is subjective and everyone will experience hot sauce uniquely. These reviews contain my own thoughts and opinions. If you think you’ll enjoy a hot sauce then you should definitely try it out.