Founded in 1868 by the McIlhenny family, TABASCO is the hot sauce brand name known by eaters across the world for its combination of tabasco peppers, vinegar, salt and its three year white oak barrel aging process.
Every year, a portion of the finest peppers grown on Avery Island, Louisiana (home to TABASCO headquarters) are hand-selected by members of the McIlhenny family based on their superior color, texture and robustness. These peppers are then mashed with a small amount of Avery Island salt, and aged beyond the standard three year process in white oak barrels, sometimes up to eight years.
The Family Reserve pepper mash is then blended with premium white wine vinegar, strained and bottled as a small independent batch traditionally been available only to McIlhenny family members and close family friends. On occasion, a limited edition of this "full-bodied" sauce is specially packaged and made available to the public in a 5 oz. Bottle. ($24.95 @ Tobasco Country Store)
