Vendor Highlight – Don Horne Hot Sauce

By Sarah Golden, Staff Writer

Some like it hot, and some do not. Fortunately, when you’re sampling Don Horne hot sauces, you have the option for either one. Dan Horner, the owner of Don Horne, has been making hot sauce for 15 years and growing some of the world’s hottest peppers in his own backyard. He was producing so many peppers that he was giving away almost 200 bottles of hot sauce a year to friends and family. After spending money on bottles and labels and not seeing anything in return – except for the gratitude and smiling faces of his friends and family, of course, he decided to take his product to the market.

Photos courtesy of Dan Horner

A lot about Don Horne’s stands out when compared to the average bottle of hot sauce. First, the bottles are eye-catching; each flavor features a little character on the label that somehow embodies the flavor. For example, their take on Sriracha, Donhorn Leghorn, is a nod to the rooster associated with the world’s most popular Sriracha brand, as well as the popular 1950s cartoon character.

In addition to the unique look, finding the same kind of flavors and textures at a grocery store or restaurant is unlikely. Horner incorporates fruits like kiwis into his sauces, resulting in complex, round flavors that are unique crowd-pleasers. One of the most popular items, Purple Reign, features a blend of Fresno, Serrano, and Trinidad Scorpion peppers, garlic, and blueberries.

For customers conscientious about consuming fresh foods need not be concerned. Don Horne used fresh peppers from Mt. Olympus Farms outside of Fredericksburg, VA, avoiding dehydration or mash. Furthermore, all processing and bottling is done at a non-profit farm co-op in Farmville, Virginia, keeping Don Horne’s whole development and production process fresh and local.

Photos courtesy of Dan Horner

Although Horner enjoys selling at Lake Anne in the Reston Farmers Market, as well as markets in Ashburn and West Virginia, he hopes to branch into the retail market. He recognizes there is still so much to learn, so he’s enjoying this time when he can make more in-person connections with customers.

Horner wants customers to know that his sauces are not meant to smother an otherwise bland meal. They’re best enjoyed coupled with thoughtfully paired protein, veggies, and spices. Each bottle of Don Horne’s has food pairing recommendations on the back, making it easy to craft a delicious, and sometimes spicy, at-home culinary experience.

To learn more about Don Horne and to purchase sauces, visit hornesauce.com. Find more pairing recommendations on Instagram: @donhornesauce. Horne will be at the Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne on Oct. 19 with hot sauce samples.

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