Coming Soon: FARE Idaho Hot Sauce!

Photos courtesy of Spike Connelly

Moscow-based Irish Spike’s Unique Hot Sauces raises funds with all-local flavor

Story by Lex Nelson

You’ve heard of limited-edition beers, action figures, and video game consoles — but what about limited-edition hot sauces? 

Not only does the concept exist, it’s available right here in Idaho. The Moscow based company Irish Spike’s Unique Hot Sauces specializes in short runs of 100–300 bottles of seasonal, local sauce along with year-round offerings. And this summer, owner and flavor mastermind Spike Connelly is bringing a FARE Idaho sauce to market. 

“I’m pretty sure this will do really well because of the classic Medditeranian flavors,” he said. “I’m using things that are pretty standard: dill, garlic, garbanzos, lemon, and vinegar. This [jalapeno]sauce will be more on the mild side.” 

The FARE Idaho sauce was inspired by the nonprofit’s mission to advocate for Idaho’s independent restaurants, farms, retailers, and food and beverage producers. As an homage to FARE’s local-focused mission, Connelly’s recipe will feature 100% local Idaho products. When we spoke in mid-February, the only thing he still needed to track down were the lemons.

“Lemons in Idaho are a hard one to get. I know they do exist, I just have to find out where to source them. I won’t need a ton, so that will help!” Connelly said. 

The sauce will debut as a partnership between the two hot sauce companies Connelly runs, Irish Spike’s Unique Hot Sauces and Vandal Pepper Sauces. All of the proceeds will go directly to FARE Idaho. An Idaho artist is already hard at work on the label art. Both the unique flavor and support of the local arts scene are characteristic of Irish Spike’s. Its online shop features bottles like “Red Eye” (a whiskey and coffee-based sauce) and “Unicorn Blood” (a combination of chipotle and blood orange). It also has an entire page devoted to its artists, whose work adorns each colorful bottle. If the FARE Idaho flavor sells out, Connelly said he’ll probably bring it back every summer. 

“We have a pumpkin sauce that comes out in October that’s really popular, the Pumpkin Reaper. We only do it during that time, and when it comes out we always sell out and the last few bottles become kind of coveted bottles,” Connelly said, adding that he’d love to see another sauce follow that pattern.

To make sure you don’t miss the FARE Idaho sauce’s debut, follow Irish Spike’s on Facebook and Instagram, or make plans to visit its website in late summer.