February 5, 2025
Local Entrepreneur Joe Ott Spices Up Central Florida with Hand-Crafted Hot Sauces
By Kyle Coppola
Local Entrepreneur Joe Ott Spices Up Central Florida with Hand-Crafted Hot Sauces
MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – For Joe Ott, hot sauce is more than just a condiment—it’s a craft. As the founder of Mr. Joe Hot Sauce, Ott has turned his passion for bold flavors into a thriving small-batch business, specializing in locally sourced and handcrafted hot sauces that put flavor first.
(Joe Ott is a local in Lake County. His hot sauces are all very unique and if you are a fan of spices they are something you need to try.)
Dissatisfied with mass-produced hot sauces that prioritize heat over taste, Ott set out to develop a line of sauces that deliver both rich, complex flavors and a range of heat levels. From mild to extremely hot, Mr. Joe Hot Sauce offers something for every spice lover, featuring ingredients like raw local honey, fresh onions, tomatoes, and an array of chili peppers.
“We wanted to create something that enhances food, not just burns your taste buds,” said Ott. “By using whole, natural ingredients, our sauces bring out the best in every meal.”
(Mr. Joe Hot Sauces come in a variety of flavors and heat levels.)
Mr. Joe Hot Sauce is available every Sunday at the Merritt Island Farmers Market at the Eagles, where Ott and his team showcase their products from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The company also operates an online store, offering convenient ordering and free local delivery.
What sets Mr. Joe Hot Sauce apart is its use of unique chili varieties, including jalapeño, habanero, Scotch bonnet, and rare peppers like chocolate abyss and Ethiopian brown. Unlike many commercial brands that rely on artificial additives and pepper extracts, Ott’s sauces maintain a clean and natural taste with no chemical aftertaste.
(All the hot sauces are locally sourced and locally hand-crafted in small batches for the ultimate taste.)
To ensure compliance with state regulations, Ott has secured all necessary permits, as Florida no longer classifies hot sauce under the Cottage Food Law. This commitment to quality and safety reinforces his mission to provide customers with fresh, responsibly crafted sauces.
As word spreads, Mr. Joe Hot Sauce is quickly becoming a favorite among Central Florida’s heat-seeking food enthusiasts. Whether at the farmers market or through online orders, Ott’s handcrafted creations are bringing a flavorful kick to kitchens across the region.
For more information or to place an order, visit mrjoehotsauceS.com.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
