Buffalo wing chain Buffalo Wild Wings has something called the “Blazin’ Wing Challenge.” For $12.00, you get a dozen of the chain’s chicken wings, slathered in their signature “Blazin’” sauce, the top end of the heat scale in the Buffalo Wild Wings array of sauces. The challenge? Eat them all, in less than six minutes. Complete the challenge, and you get a tee shirt, and your photo on the wall of fame.
Buffalo Wild Wings’ “Blazin’” sauce weighs in at around 300,000 Scoville units, making it about 60 times hotter than a jalapeno pepper, or about in line with some of the hottest liquefied habanero peppers available. Buffalo Wild Wings treats this sauce with respect, with numerous warning labels (“Keep away from eyes, pets, children,” one sticker exclaims), and cautionary advice from the waitstaff.
But there’s more. After you sign a waiver, absolving the restaurant of responsibility in the event you should begin vomiting uncontrollably, or go blind, there are a few more details to consider. During the six minute challenge, you can’t have anything to drink. You can’t use any dipping sauces, like blue cheese, that would dampen the heat. You can’t use a napkin. You can’t use anything but your mouth to strip meat from the bone. And you can’t touch your face.
With the manager and several staff members watching (not to mention a funny little fellow in a blue tracksuit who, as you can see in the photos above, was very, very interested in the goings-on), I had a bracing shot of Jameson, and began. Things went smoothly until about my sixth wing; the sauce is spicy, for sure, but it doesn’t shut down all of your systems, one at a time, the way I expected. I hit a wall at around my eighth wing; my face turned red, my lips began to swell, and my eyes opened up and began spilling down my cheeks.
With the cheers of the people watching, I pushed on, completing the challenge in 4:06, almost a full two minutes shy of the time limit. Our waitress snapped a photo for the Wall of Fame (encouraging me to make the dreaded mid-thirties “thumbs-up” sign) through a swollen faceful of tears, and gave me a few pints of milk to cool the heat, as the few other patrons who had taken a minute away from their hockey game to watch, wandered back to their respective tables.
After mopping the sauce off my face, slurping a beer, and rolling the milk around in my mouth, I noticed that the sauce had left a chemical burn on my thumb, which you can see in the next-to-last photo. I showed the blister to our waitress, who may have summed up the entire event perfectly, with her response. “Is that from the sauce,” she asked. “Oh, that’s gross.”
About the Author: Malcolm Bedell
My first memories of cooking start in Maine at six years old, when I wore a yellow rainslicker to avoid getting spattered by the bacon I was frying in a skillet. My interest in both Mexican cooking and recreating classic New England dishes from scratch developed while living in Mexico, on a steady diet of pork and habanero peppers. You can see more of my writing and photography online on Serious Eats, the Huffington Post, BlogHer, and Foodista, as well as in print for Downeast, Indulge, and Cigar Snob magazines.
fromawaymaine
fromawaymaine
We're Jillian and Malcolm. We cook comfort food from around the world, designed to make you feel right at home, wherever you are. Join us as we explore Maine's vibrant food culture and cook New England's classic dishes, as well as our favorite recipes From Away. 
{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
We are planning on doing the blazin challenge tomorrow!
Be sure to let us know how it goes! Remember, 4:06 is your time to beat!
Oh I will absolutely be posting about it! I am a little scared. But relieved that they are only about 300,000 scoville units. (ha ha “only”) we had some sauce the other night that was 4 million scoville units, BUT I didn’t eat 12 of them Only 8…. I think I can do all 12 in 3.5 minutes
If you’re getting anywhere NEAR anything that’s 4mm Scoville units, you won’t have any trouble with this challenge. Good luck!
Did the challenge.12 wings. 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
Kristen I think whoever told you that you ate something that was 4 million scoville units was not true. The HOTTEST pepper in the world is the trinidad moruga scorpion pepper that is 1-2 million on the scale.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad_Moruga_Scorpion
The blazin’ is so good and so hot regardless of how it rates on the scale. Blisters on fingers are proof of that!
Did it on Monday………….nailed it in 2:15. Had a blast!!!
Hmm, this has me wanting to get a group together to go down and give it a try. I’d rather not be the only one with snot flowing and blistered thumbs – safety in numbers, so to speak.
I like this idea…we should organize a group trip!
In the furthest right photo in the fourth row, you look like a man full of toxins and regret.
You’re absolutely right. Those three photos are when I was really struggling.
Wow. I cannot even imagine. If I even dared try it, I’d probably die after the second wing.
I wish you would teach me to brew beer.
You look so happy and carefree … in the ‘Before’ photos.
Yes, the difference in attitude between the “before” and the “after” is pretty hilarious, I think.
WHY?
I enjoy spicy foods.
Where are some recent locations anyone has done the challenge at that still had t-shirts? My son did the challenge today on his 12th birthday in Wichita Falls, TX. The waitress said it was the 12 blazin wings in 5 minutes, so he made it in 4:22, but they didn’t do anything anymore at this location. I wanted to try to contact another location to see if they would sell me a shirt for him.
You are lucky. The wings I had came slathered in sauce AND the server hid the clock from my uncle and I so we could not tell how much time we had left. At any rate, we both failed.
There was plenty of sauce on these wings. I’m just tougher than you.
guess he didn’t see your face and thumb in the pics above…
I wonder if they still do this? I want to buy a bottle of the sauce for home use!
i done it last Friday and it only took me 2:39
Impressive!
The only warning I got was the waiter calliing me a “dumb fuck” 8 failed the challenghe to top it off I went to the bathroom afterwords (washed my hands before hand) and still got the oil on my dick. It burned so bad!!
It was worth it though best memory to say goodbye to one of my best friends!
There is no way “blazin” sauce is 300,000 scoville units. That challenge is not even a challenge. It’s just a race to eat a meal.
I did it in 2:49 with no tears involved. It was pretty easy, to be honest, and all I got was a gay headband..
You’re much tougher than I am.
My story is similar to Colin’s.took the challenge but they only gave me 6 wings but they made sure that every piece was soaking with that blazing sauce. But more the lass I breeze through the challenge like the champ I am. Went to the bathroom.made sure I wash my hand becuz the sauce was everywhere. Used the bathroom nd afterwards my dick was blazing hot..but had lots of fun..
I want to go back here again, to see if I can beat my time. Game?
Sure, I’ll even do it with you this time!
i am a survivior and i am only 14 me and my friend are SURVIVORS!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve done it 3 times. The second time was under 3 minutes. The last time about 5 minutes flat. All 3 times (twice in wichita falls TX, once in Tennessee)… no t-shirt or photo. I actually like the taste. The worst part, though, is when the wings EXIT your body….
Did this challenge in a 1:10 shattered the record at the BWW by me. Bush league challenge in my opinion but hey I like hot food
They made this challenge about 10 times more annoying at my local BWWs. The sauce is not that terrible…quite enjoyable actually. But they poured about a cup and a half on them after putting them in the basket-allowing them to just sit and soak and be COVERED when you went to eat one. I absolutely enjoyed the first 6-its the gallon of sauce they let them just sit in that makes it difficult.
Capsaicin does not cause chemical burns.
Get outta town!
Your blister was not from the sauce.
You’re pulling my leg!
I’m with Bona, I have never ever heard of Capsaicin causing chemical burns, even in allergic reactions. That said, I do believe you were using sarcasm. =P
Though, I do doubt I’d have a problem with this. We don’t have a Buffalo Wild Wings around here (I really wish we did), but 300,000 SHU is nothing for someone who eats with crushed Trinidad Moruga Scorpion pepper (2,000,000 SHU). I got over eating Habaneros a lot time ago. Before I stepped up to the Scorpion, I used a Bhut Jolokia and Habanero mix, and I can munch that stuff straight from the jar now.
Only a little bragging.
1:59 yea! No burns and I did not think they were that hot. Although I enjoy raw Habeneros. Seranos. With my meals. The record at this store was 1:56 so I’m 3 seconds off. They gave me a cheap shot glass and coupon for 6 wings, also my 12 wings were on the house. I was fun I’m 55 and have never done a challenge like this. The whole f*cking store cheered me as I walked to wash my hands. Very cool lots of fun;-)
Delightful!
Did that tonight, wow that stuff was insane! Although I am still alittle puzzled that I was not givin a weavier to sign? I did complete the challange with much time to spare and all I got was a headband and a coupon for 6 free wing I don’t even think I had my picture takin the waitress had her phone, and that’s another thi gs that puzzles me there was only 1 waitress the watched as I did the challange not a single manager was around? All in all awesome challange my stomach is on fit I would say if you like hot food do the challange!!!
I’ve managed to not tear up from eating a ghost chili. I wonder how this challenge will be. I’ve have blazin wings two times, and they’re HOT. But I think I can do the challenge.
They’re not that hot…
i don’t think i’ve ever cried, but my crap burned! lol
It is not the sauce, it is not even really that hot. it is the 12 wings! I am old I am not sure I can eat 12 wings that fast. But someday I will pop in after work and get it done.
I’ve done the challenge twice, because I lost my t-shirt. The spicy-ness of the wings didn’t really bother me, what bothered me was when I was breaking apart the wings and the steam and temp of the wings were burning my hands and mouth. I can’t believe they through the wings in microwave before they bring them out!!
I finished in 1:35 at the Liberty Tree Mall in Mass -
Okay, so one of my bartenders and I saw this sight and we just had a BWW open in our town. We decided that we are from Louisiana so how hot could they possibly be….we were in for a surprise. First the manager looked at us bc were two 100lb girls, 2nd they did not make us sign any waiver, 3rd the girl next to me gave me the tray with the biggest wings and before we start they tell you that you have 6 minutes to finish, no napkins, can’t touch your face, can’t have anything to drink, and you have to finish in 3 minutes in order to get the shirt. The shirt is the only thing I wanted so I said,”wings are already here, lets do this!” My friend looked at me like I was crazy…..the wings were shakin in blazin sauce and more sauce was slathered all over the wings. After minute 3 was over I was so mad…but I kept eating. Finally the count down 5….4…3…2…1…time. I finished every single wing but hadn’t swallowed the last bite. The manager looked at me and said,”nice try but you don’t get your picture on the wall.” I replied with,” I never wanted my picture on the wall with a red face and sauce smeared all over my head! I just wanted a shirt but you changed the rules from 6min to 3 min for the shirt, so YOU ARE GONNA GIVE ME A SHIRT!!!!!” Guess what….I got my shirt! Hahaha! If anyone tries this I highly reccommend to be hungry, don’t think about how hot the wings are, and don’t stop eating….period!
I completed it in 2:48.there t-shirt wasnt in and they didnt putt my picture on there tv.
I did it in 3.32 and I didnt get a t shirt at the lynnwood store
The dude said I had to do it inder 3mins
Wtf???
Here is my Blazin Challenge – 1:35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-QcrteEDXI
I like all the information about the challenge! I’ve done it twice. The first time was 1:14 and I saw someone with a time of 1:04 so I thought I would try it again another time to see if I could beat it. I came in the second time at 1:00 and the waitress gave me my wings for free and I got a second shirt. Only then was I told that the fastest time at that restaurant was actually 0:48. Four seconds a wing is pretty crazy. I don’t think I’ll be trying to beat that any time soon.
U call bullshit on the last guy who says he did it in 1:00 to 1:15. I call a challenge.
I don’t mind. I didn’t video either but had friends they’re abd 2 shirts for it. Maybe I’ll video it next time. The guy that had the 0:48 was about 350lb though, so I have no intention on trying to beat it… If feel bad about myself.
The sauce wasn’t hard at all.. the temperature burnt my mouth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aiskys3hoLo
I did it tonight, and sadly they didn’t make much of a big deal about it. The only t-shirts they had were 2XL and up (I’m a Small or Medium) the camera for the “Wall of Fame” had dead batteries, they forgot the waiver (which the prospect of needing a waiver enticed me) and I didn’t gather much of a crowd. I did it, and had a similar experience with hitting the wall at about 8 or 9. My best advice would be to slather on some Chapstick, I wish I had. Because the worst part for me was just how bad the sauce burns your lips. And subsequently… Your ass, when your body rejects them 3 hours later.
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