Valley man has the world's largest hot sauce collection

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KSAZ) - One Valley man's love for hot sauce has led him to create his own collection, which he likes to call a museum. In fact, his collection has been named the world's largest.

Vic Clinco has spiced up his dining room with shelves and shelves of hot sauce, over 8,600 bottles to be exact, and they're all from around the world.

"It's honestly everywhere I go it turns into let's go see if we can find something," said Clinco.

Clinco says he's loved spicy food ever since he was six or seven-years-old, but the idea of collecting came to mind about 20 years ago. He received a pack of hot sauces as a gift from his wife and picked up a book called "The Great Sauce Book".

"It really just opened my eyes to the world of hot sauce that was out there and there were collectors around the world too who had that same love," explained Clinco.

You would think with thousands of bottles, how can you keep up?

"I'm pretty crazy remembering what I have, don't have, it's a weird thing with me, I don't' know what it is," says Clinco.

It's a passion that's kept Clinco busy on the side. When he is not working his 9 to 5 job, he is writing about hot sauces.

"I do articles on sauces and how to make sauces and how to incorporate sauces into your food," said Clinco.

Clinco says he enjoys the reaction from people who see his collection for the first time.

And when asked if he's done?

"I don't know what the ceiling is on this," said Clinco. "I just don't know what I want to do just yet because I love waking up in the morning and just seeing this, it's fun you know."

NewsUs