A fine discovery was River Valley Pepper Sauce. I had it at The Old South diner in Russellville, Arkansas. It's an historic diner. I think. I didn't see a plaque, but the menu claims they've got the designation. I'll take them at their word. It did have flavor, as did its customers, including the one in the parking lot who good naturedly proclaimed of that nice old diner that it was "nothing a couple of bombs wouldn't take care of." He grinned, jabbed an elbow, and walked in for breakfast.

I digress. Instead of the usual Tabasco, they served up the River Valley stuff. Superb! Of that type of hot sauce--made with vinegar in a small jar--it's one of the very best. So good, that I made three stops on the way out of town to get a bottle. Finally found it at Price Chopper, or Price Slasher, or Price Murderer or one of those. You can order it directly from them for $3.25, and be pleased because you'll be eating some great hot sauce that absolutely no one will recognize (well, if you're in LA like me) and you'll earn huge style points. Great stuff. I think it's the lime juice combined with less vinegar than a lot of the competition that makes it. My big complaint with Tabasco, Tapatio, and all those is that there's too much vinegar flavor. They're also not very hot. My Pepper isn't super hot, but the flavor is wonderful, and flavor will always trump heat in my book. This one's a winner.