The Best, Award-Winning Hot Sauces of 2025
If you're looking for all of this year's award-winning hot sauces, you're in the right place. We've gathered a list of the winners from the biggest and longest running national competitions. We'll be updating this every year, and will be adding in previous years to the archive over time. If you're looking to find a new sauce to try, or to give someone as a gift, you can't go wrong with any of these.
Fiery Food Challenge
ZestFest
These are the #1 winners of the Golden Chile Award, in each category of "consumer ready" hot sauces. The winners at selected at ZestFest every year. Second and third place ribbons are also given out. The best overall receives the Golden Chile trophy.
These are the #1 winners of the Golden Chile Award, in each category of "consumer ready" hot sauces. The winners at selected at ZestFest every year. Second and third place ribbons are also given out. The best overall receives the Golden Chile trophy.
2019 — 1st Place
American Style - Hot/X-Hot
Fruit Based - Hot/X-Hot
Exotic - Hot/X-Hot
Exotic - Mild/Medium
Chipotle Style - Hot/X-Hot
Caribbean Style - Hot/X-Hot
Caribbean Style - Mild/Medium
Asian Style - Hot/X-Hot
Asian Style - Mild/Medium
Guacamole Style
American Style - Mild/Medium
Pepper Blend – Hot/X-Hot
Pepper Blend – Mild/Medium
Ultra Hot
Extra Hot
Hot
Medium Hot
Mild
Best Hot Sauce
Trinidad Pepper Sauce
Reaper Pepper Sauce
Ghost Pepper Sauce
Spicy Sweet - Hot/X-Hot
Spicy Sweet - Mild/Medium
Latin - Hot/X-Hot
Latin - Mild/Medium
World Hot Sauce Awards
WorldHotSauceAwards.com
"The World Hot Sauce Awards are a celebration of spicy sauces and food with the awards ceremony in the historical center of Hot Sauce production—Louisiana." Judging is done by a group of food industry professionals using blind tasting methods. Entrants into the contest send in their sauce(s) for evaluation. In 2019 the winners were broadcast live.
"The World Hot Sauce Awards are a celebration of spicy sauces and food with the awards ceremony in the historical center of Hot Sauce production—Louisiana." Judging is done by a group of food industry professionals using blind tasting methods. Entrants into the contest send in their sauce(s) for evaluation. In 2019 the winners were broadcast live.
2019 — 1st Place
Medium Hot
Asian Style
Chipotle
Fruit
Indian Style
Latin
Louisiana-Style
Pepper Blend
Ultra Hot
Extra Hot
Mild
Scovie Awards
National Fiery Foods Show
The Scovies may be the most well-known award in the industry. It's common to see products advertising that they have won this prestigious award, often with a badge—sometimes adorning the packaging of the bottle or jar.
They are voted upon by a panel of tasters at the National Fiery Foods show. First, second, and third place awards are given out in a slew of categories, including condiments, barbeque, salsa, hot sauces, rubs/seasonings, wing sauce, and more. To keep things short, these are the 1st place winners in the various "Hot Sauce" sub-categories.
The Scovies may be the most well-known award in the industry. It's common to see products advertising that they have won this prestigious award, often with a badge—sometimes adorning the packaging of the bottle or jar.
They are voted upon by a panel of tasters at the National Fiery Foods show. First, second, and third place awards are given out in a slew of categories, including condiments, barbeque, salsa, hot sauces, rubs/seasonings, wing sauce, and more. To keep things short, these are the 1st place winners in the various "Hot Sauce" sub-categories.
2019 — 1st Place
Louisiana-Style
All-Natural
Fruit Based - Mild/Medium
Hot
World Beat
XXX Hot
Verde
Fruit
Unique
Specialty Chile
Medium Hot
Habanero
Screaming Mi Mi Awards
New York City Hot Sauce Expo
This award is given out at the New York City Hot Sauce Expo. This expo is one of the longest running—since 2013, and attracts a large crowd. It has since expanded, hosting another event in California. The Screaming Mi Mi award winners receive a golden trophy, shaped like a flame.
This award is given out at the New York City Hot Sauce Expo. This expo is one of the longest running—since 2013, and attracts a large crowd. It has since expanded, hosting another event in California. The Screaming Mi Mi award winners receive a golden trophy, shaped like a flame.
2019 — 1st Place
Habanero
Jalapeno
Pepper Blend - Hot
Pepper Blend - Mild
Asian Style
Caribbean Style
Chipotle
Fruit
Fruit Based - Hot/X-Hot
Louisiana-Style
Reaper Pepper Sauce
XXX Hot
Chicken Wing
Spicy BBQ Sauce
