9 Across

NYT Mini • September 20, 2025

Hot sauce that comes in tiny bottles

Answer:

TABASCO

Hint:

This fiery Louisiana-made condiment is aged in white oak barrels and often paired with seafood or Bloody Marys.

Explanation:

This clue points to Tabasco, a famous brand of hot sauce known for its small, iconic bottles with red caps. The reference to "tiny bottles" is a direct nod to how the sauce is typically packaged—compact and easy to carry. Tabasco is widely recognized in restaurants and kitchens, making it a go-to answer for spicy condiments in crosswords. The name itself is also tied to the Mexican state of Tabasco, where the peppers used in the sauce originally come from.

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General solving tip

Match the clue's grammar: plural with plural, past with past. If the clue ends in 's' or uses a past-tense verb, mirror that form in the entry.

More tips → General Hints