The Karma Sauce Company announces exclusive sauce developed for HEATONIST

The Karma Sauce Company, creator of small-batch hot sauces and condiments in New York’s Finger Lakes region, announces a new custom sauce developed for HEATONIST, the Brooklyn-based purveyor of fine hot sauces. 

In 2017 HEATONIST co-owner Tyler McKusick and Karma Sauce founder Gene Olczak began collaborating on the idea of creating a custom sauce. “At HEATONIST we are always on the lookout for high quality hot sauces that are a bit more unique and that push the boundary of what hot sauce is traditionally considered. With this particular collaboration, we wanted to put fennel in the spotlight and knew Karma Sauce was the right pairing" says McKusick.

Fennel is a fragrant spice native to Mediterranean coasts known for its mild licorice aroma and sweet undertones. The challenge was how to highlight fennel’s sweetness without it completely overpowering other ingredients.

“When Tyler initially asked Karma Sauce about creating a custom product I was really excited,” says Olczak. “Then the fennel aspect threw me for a loop.”  

According to Olczak, “The recipe idea was pretty open-ended. I worked up combinations of our heirloom tomatoes and Urfa biber peppers for example, but the prototype I sent to Tyler ended up with a completely different vibe.” 

After receiving the prototype sauce, “We were pleasantly surprised by some of the ingredients, like strawberries and bergamot oil,” says McKusick, “we suggested the addition of fig balsamic vinegar as a finishing touch.” 

The resulting fusion is Fennelo, a medium-heat hot sauce that celebrates Italy’s Alpine harvest season along with some of The Karma Sauce Company’s homegrown habanero peppers. 

According to Bill Moore, the hot sauce and spicy product reviewer renowned among chile heads for his YouTube channel Bill Moore’s Hot & Spicy Reviews, “The flavor profile on this hot sauce is just outstanding.” In his review of Fennelo, Moore continues: “…I love where hot sauce makers are going -- they’re getting very, very creative with flavor profiles, with herbs and spices, peppers, and fruits, and this is a fantastic example of that.” Moore went on to name Fennelo as one of the top 35 products that he reviewed during the year in an episode published on Dec. 19, 2017.

Since launching its product line in 2010, this is The Karma Sauce Company’s first collaborative development of an exclusive sauce. While Fennelo can be purchased only at www.heatonist.com/products/fennelo, the entire line of The Karma Sauce Company’s award winning hot sauces, mustards, katsups, and salsas is available for online purchase or at various retailers in New York state and beyond. To place an online order or to find an up-to-date list of Karma Sauce Company retailers, visit www.karmasauce.com.

Contact Information

Olivia St. Denis

Production Specialist

The Karma Sauce Company LLC

(1) 585 264 1100

olivia@karmasauce.com