Earth Day on Avery Island

AVERY ISLAND, LOUISIANA – First of all, Happy Earth Day! Our friend John is a member of the McIhenny family, which originated the famous Tobasco sauce and still produce it all here on Avery Island, and for two days we have enjoyed his hospitality and that of his father and his aunts and uncle, a charming and entertaining group. They have treated us like good friends. You cannot beat that.

It’s pretty amazing that his now extended family has for generations successfully managed the ever-growing Tabasco product line, and the ever-growing volume of hot sauce, but equally amazing to us is the way the family has carefully managed and conserved this “island,” actually a salt dome rising out of the coastal marshlands.

An early McIlhenny took it upon himself to promote the protection of egrets threatened by hat and garment makers (he had many other biological interests, like bamboo), and the result is today’s strikingly beautiful live oak canopied gardens (pronounced “gordens” by some around here) that cover a large section of the island as well as extensive rookeries, some of the largest we’ve ever seen. All the herons and egrets are here.

Jungle Gardens

One of the Egret Rookeries
We were given the insiders’ tour of the sauce making process, which uses peppers from seeds grown here the origins of which date back to the originals, special vinegar made an old-fashioned way in neighboring Texas, and salt from the salt mines below us. All of that contributes to the prized Tabasco flavor but perhaps not so much as the process by which the crushed red tabasco peppers are fermented and aged in former bourbon barrels for a full three years.

Dave's great tour started with pepper plants.

Inspecting fermentation.

Small portion of the barrells stored for 3 years.

John and Gus at the Factory

Stirred with vinegar for 28 days.

Product!

Gus has been crazy about hot sauce since his summer in New Mexico in 1959, so this spot is his Paradise. Our thanks to John, his relatives, and the McIlhenny family wherever you are.