For general purposes Cholula, various flavors, is my go to sauce. Sriracha is also a household staple. Then, for certain things, I will pickup a bottle of Nando's Peri-Peri sauce (while grabbing lunch at the same time). Tabasco is fine if nothing else is available.

I'll have to catch up with an old buddy that's ex British Army. He used to talk about your guys having a hot sauce issued with their MRE's that he and his mates were mad for. I don't remember what it was, but pretty sure it wasn't Tabasco. (I think this would have been around mid-90s).

I am really glad I posted my original question. Thanks to you guys I have expanded my knowledge immensely and really grateful to you all for sharing your experience, tips, recipes and go to ingredients; and for the laughs we have shared in the process.
Keep it coming!

BDB..Yeah mine was late 60's and M8's used to send me bottles of Tobasco from home ..but I'm sure what we did is the same as what your M8 did every one combined their rations into a helmet and slopped in the hot sauce..Military eating in the field is an art of it's own and better than some of the fast food crap around today and the company was better

It was most definitely Tobasco! Little bottles about the length from the knuckle on your index finger to the tip.

Spot on dart but there are larger sizes
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&a...e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_8om2su5tot_e

Please excuse the ad..I don't work for Tobasco or Amazon

I stand corrected, thanks gents. The reason for doubting it was Tabasco is because that is readily available over here and has been for a very long time. I can certainly remember having some in the cupboard from at least the early 80s and pretty sure my mate would have known the brand too. That said, I've never seen it here in a 128oz bottle. That's one serious habit!

The irony with the famous Tabasco is that most of the seeds used for the peppers aren't even grown on Avery Island anymore. I guess the demand has gone up so much that they have to grow the seeds in other areas.

Originally all peppers used in Tabasco sauce were grown on Avery Island. Today peppers grown on the Island are used to produce seed stock, which is then shipped to foreign growers, primarily in Central and South America. More predictable weather and readily available farmland in these locales allow a constant year-round supply.

Damn didn'y know the history but it's the only hot sauce ..but it's always been in my house.......And all this discussion has led me to head to the store and making a big batch

I went shopping Wednesday and bought all the ingredients to make some delicious cornbread. I even bought a new cast iron skillet. I had to run around a bit to find the cornmeal as I couldn't find it in the supermarkets and eventually found some in a health store.

This afternoon I found I had some time and thought I get it done and surprise my wife.
Laptop beside me to follow the recipe Russ posted above - check.
Flour, buttermilk, baking powder, etc. - check.
Skillet, ready to go - check
Cornmeal - no.
I'm sure I bought some. Perhaps I did that "man thing" of opening the cupboard and just not seeing it sitting straight in front of me. Nope, still can't find it. Damn, am I going senile?
Walk away, wait 5 and return for another look. Still not there.
OK, check wallet - yep there's the receipt for the cornmeal.
I must have put it in another cupboard. I've now started pulling everything out of the kitchen cupboards in my hunt for the absent cornmeal. Still no joy.
OMG, we've been burgled and the thief has targeted my cornmeal!
Better phone my wife.
Me: Hello, you're not going to believe this, but we've been burgled! No, they've left the TV, PC, laptops and all the high value items, but they've stolen... my cornmeal!
Wife: What's cornmeal?
Me: It's a kind of flour I was going to use to make cornbread.
Wife: Is it yellow and a bit gritty?
Me: Well, yes I suppose it is. I bought a new pack from H&B on Wednesday and thought I put it in the cupboard.
Wife: Hold on a sec. Errrhhhh, it's OK, I don't think you need the Police. The cornmeal is safe, it's sitting here next to me in my work bag. I thought I would make something with it and...

I love my wife, but there are days...

That's a great story BeeDeeBee! I got a great laugh from it.

I'll have the last laugh, she's not seen the state of the kitchen!

Sorry for not reading the entire thread, will just say that the chili that Flying J/ Pilot sell ain't half bad.