It's taken a while, but I've finally found a bottle of Frank's RedHot Sauce I can appreciate. Frank's RedHot, which was introduced by Cincinnati businessman Jacob Frank in 1821, was always flat-tasting and wimpy to me — a poor imitation of Tabasco.

        That's until Frank's, now based in New Jersey, introduced Frank's RedHot Xtra Hot this month. The new sauce is five times as fiery as the regular Frank's, but still not gaggingly hot like some of the sauces on the market. Thick and brick red, the Xtra Hot offers a tangy, garlicky depth, with cayenne pepper flavors that begin fresh and green-tasting and end with a lingering prickly bite resembling black pepper.

        Frank's RedHot Xtra packs a little more heat than Tabasco, but with similar rich flavors as the famous Louisiana sauce.

        Finally, Mr. Frank's sauce is no longer second class. About 99 cents per 5 ounces.

— Chuck Martin

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