Taste & Learn

Spicy Oils & Balsamics

Flavors from around the world, with heat levels for every palate. From a mellow smoky warmth to a full-on five-alarm challenge — there's something here for every peppery person in your life.

😌 Mild Smokey Chipotle
😏 Medium Jalapeño · Serrano · Gochujang
🥵 Hot Harissa · Calabrian · Baklouti
🔥 Extra Hot Cayenne Chili
For the Heat Lovers

Global Heat, Premium Base

Every spicy product we carry starts with the same ultra-premium extra virgin olive oil base — or in the case of our spicy vinegars, our aged balsamic foundation. The heat is real, but so is the quality underneath it. These aren't novelty products. They're seriously good oils and vinegars that happen to bring the fire.

Whether you're a "just a little kick" kind of person or someone who genuinely tests their taste buds for sport, this collection has something for you — and for the spicy lover in your life, these make genuinely unforgettable gifts.

The Full Lineup

Meet Your Heat

Nine products, nine flavor personalities. Here's what each one brings to the table — and what to do with it.

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Smokey ChipotleOlive Oil

Mild · Smoky

The gateway spicy oil. Smokey Chipotle delivers a warm, deep smokiness with a gentle heat that builds slowly — never aggressive, always delicious. Made from smoked dried jalapeños, it has that unmistakable BBQ character that makes everything taste like it just came off the grill. Perfect for people who love flavor but aren't looking to break a sweat.

Grilled meats Tacos Guacamole Eggs Roasted vegetables
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HarissaOlive Oil

Hot · North African

Inspired by the classic North African chili paste, Harissa Olive Oil brings a complex, aromatic heat — earthy, warm, and deeply flavorful. It's not just hot, it's layered. Think cumin, coriander, and roasted red pepper alongside the fire. A staple in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking that works equally well drizzled over hummus, stirred into couscous, or used as a bold marinade.

Hummus Couscous Lamb Flatbreads Roasted carrots
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JalapeñoOlive Oil

Medium · Fresh Heat

Bright, fresh, and punchy — Jalapeño Olive Oil captures the clean, green heat of fresh jalapeños in a premium EVOO base. It's the most familiar of the spicy oils and one of the most versatile. Great for anyone who loves the flavor of jalapeños but wants it woven through a dish rather than sitting on top of it. A drop or two in a quesadilla, drizzled over nachos, or used in a spicy vinaigrette is all it takes.

Nachos Quesadillas Salsa Spicy vinaigrettes Fish tacos
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Serrano HoneyVinegar

Medium · Sweet Heat · Vinegar

The sweet and spicy one. Serrano Honey Vinegar leads with natural honey sweetness and finishes with the slow, building heat of serrano pepper — a combination that's genuinely addictive. It's one of the most versatile products in this collection, working beautifully as a glaze, a cocktail mixer, or a dipping sauce base. The perfect gift for anyone who thinks they don't like spicy food.

Glazes Cocktails Cheese boards Spicy lemonade Chicken wings
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GochujangOil

Hot · Korean-Inspired

Inspired by the iconic Korean fermented chili paste, this oil brings a deep, savory, slightly sweet heat that's completely different from anything else on this list. Gochujang's complexity — umami-forward, fermented, and rich — translates beautifully into oil form. Incredible in noodle dishes, ramen, stir-fries, and anywhere you want serious flavor depth alongside the heat.

Ramen Stir-fry Korean BBQ Rice bowls Dipping sauce
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CalabrianPesto

Hot · Italian

From the toe of Italy's boot, Calabria is known for producing some of the most fiery and flavorful chili peppers in the world. This pesto captures that tradition — fruity, intensely spiced, and deeply Italian in character. It's the kind of heat that builds gradually and keeps you coming back. Phenomenal stirred into pasta, spread on pizza, or used to punch up a tomato sauce in ways that a plain dried chili flake never could.

Pasta Pizza Bruschetta Tomato sauce Antipasto
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Baklouti Green ChileGOLD MEDAL WINNER

Hot · Award-Winning · Tunisian

This one is truly special — and the gold medal says it all. Made from the rare Baklouti pepper, a unique chili grown only along the Barbary Coast of North Africa in Tunisia, this is the only example of this fruity, mildly spicy green chili oil in the world. It's fused oil — meaning the fresh Baklouti peppers were crushed directly with the olives at harvest — giving it an integration of flavor that simply can't be replicated. Fruity, aromatic, and surprisingly bright for a spicy oil. An absolute must-try and one of our most talked-about products.

Salsas Fish tacos Shrimp Green chili dishes Marinades
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Cayenne ChiliFused Olive Oil

Extra Hot · Fused

The one for people who mean business. Cayenne Chili Fused Olive Oil is made by crushing twelve pounds of fresh, ripe cayenne chilis with 7.6 pounds of 100% organic extra virgin olive oil — then fusing them together for two hours before decanting. Cayenne chilis check in at 40,000 Scoville heat units, and this oil makes no apologies for it. The heat is intense and immediate, but it's clean and purposeful — not just burn for burn's sake. Use it where you want real, serious heat.

North African dishes Harissa Couscous BBQ Chili
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Aged JalapeñoWhite Balsamic

Medium · Spicy Balsamic

The spicy balsamic that surprises everyone. Starting from the same aged white balsamic base as our regular white balsamics — crisp, naturally sweet, complex — then finished with real jalapeño for a heat that's bright and clean rather than heavy. It's equal parts sweet and spicy, with the kind of balance that makes it incredibly versatile. Pair it with our Baklouti or Chipotle oil over shrimp, fish tacos, or chicken for a combination that customers rave about.

Shrimp Fish tacos Spicy vinaigrette Chicken Cocktails
In the Kitchen

Make the Heat Work for You

Spicy oils and balsamics aren't just for "spicy food people." Here's how to use them to add depth, complexity, and excitement to everyday cooking — at whatever heat level works for you.

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Sauté & Cook

Swap your regular olive oil for a spicy one when sautéing vegetables, proteins, or aromatics. The heat infuses into everything in the pan without any extra effort.

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Finishing Drizzle

A drizzle of Calabrian Pesto over pizza or Gochujang oil over a rice bowl right before serving adds a punch of heat and flavor that takes the dish to another level.

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Marinades & Glazes

Serrano Honey Vinegar or Jalapeño oil make incredible marinades for chicken, shrimp, and pork. The heat tenderizes while the flavor soaks in.

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Spicy Dressings

Use Jalapeño White Balsamic with any olive oil for a dressing with a clean, bright heat. Great on Southwestern-style salads, grain bowls, and slaws.

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Cocktails & Drinks

Serrano Honey Vinegar is exceptional in spicy margaritas, spicy lemonade, and cocktails. A small splash adds sweet heat that mixologists charge good money for.

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Dips & Sauces

Stir into hummus, guacamole, or yogurt dip for instant heat and complexity. Harissa or Chipotle oil transforms a plain dip into something guests will talk about.

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The Perfect Gift

For the Peppery People in Your Life

Know someone who puts hot sauce on everything? Has a collection of chili flakes that would make a grown adult cry? Considers themselves a heat connoisseur? This collection is made for them. Our spicy oils and balsamics make genuinely thoughtful, unique gifts — something they've never tried before, at a quality level that will genuinely impress. Ask us about our gift basket options — we can put together a custom heat lover's set at any price point.

Ready to Turn Up the Heat?

Come in and taste the full spicy lineup at our tasting stations. We'll help you find your perfect level — whether that's a gentle warmth or a full five-alarm experience.

Find your flavor

With more than 60 tasting stations, oils from 16 countries, and balsamics aged in Modena, choosing can feel like a lot. This is the help you would get at our counter, wherever you happen to be. Answer six quick questions and we will point you to the bottle we would hand you in person.

Start below
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Olive 'n Vinnie's
Michelle's Picks

Let's find your flavor

Six quick questions, the same ones Michelle would ask you at the tasting counter.

Question 1 of 6

First things first, who am I helping you shop for?

Question 2 of 6

How well do they know olive oils and balsamics?

Question 3 of 6

Want a tried-and-true favorite, or should I surprise you?

Question 4 of 6

What flavors do they lean toward?

Question 5 of 6

How will they actually use it?

Question 6 of 6

Olive oil, balsamic, or should I surprise you?

Pulling something off the shelf for you…

How to choose a bottle

It comes down to three questions, the same ones we ask at the counter. Answer these and you are most of the way there.

The use

How will you use it?

A cooking oil is your everyday workhorse for heat. A finishing oil is a condiment, added at the end where its flavor can come through. The same goes for balsamic: everyday bottles for dressings, thick aged ones for drizzling.

The flavor

What flavors do you love?

Bold and peppery, bright and citrusy, rich and earthy, or sweet and fruity. There is no wrong answer, and it is the fastest way to narrow sixty bottles down to a few worth tasting.

The person

Who is it for?

Something approachable for a friend new to all this, a hidden gem for the person who has tried everything, or a workhorse for your own kitchen. The finder steers by who you have in mind.

Questions we hear a lot

What is the difference between dark and white balsamic?
Dark balsamics are aged longer and taste deeper and sweeter, with notes of fig and molasses. White balsamics are lighter and brighter, with more acidity and less sweetness, and they will not darken a dish. Reach for a dark balsamic over strawberries or a cheese board, and a white balsamic on a green salad or fish where you want the color to stay clean.
Which olive oil is best for cooking versus finishing?
For cooking with heat, use a milder, sturdier oil so you are not wasting the delicate flavors that break down in the pan. Save your best, most flavorful extra virgin oil for finishing, added at the very end over pasta, soup, grilled vegetables, or bread. Having one of each is not fussy, it is just using the right tool for the job.
How long does olive oil last once opened?
Olive oil is freshest within a few months of opening. Keep it away from heat and light, use it rather than saving it for a special occasion, and buy a size you will realistically finish while it is fresh.
Can I cook with extra virgin olive oil?
Yes, it's one of the best oils for the job. Extra virgin holds up beautifully to frying, sautéing, poaching, dressing, and baking thanks to a high smoke point around 410°F.
Can I substitute olive oil for butter in baking?
Yes, though keep in mind butter is solid and oil is liquid, so your baked goods may come out with a slightly different texture. Swapping one liquid fat for another is a much more even trade.
Are your olive oils Kosher, gluten-free, and dairy-free?
Yes to all three. Our EVOOs and custom blends are Kosher certified (Pareve), and every olive oil we carry is gluten-free and dairy-free. Ask our team in-store for a copy of any certificate or allergen statement.
Is your butter olive oil dairy and soy free?
Yes. The butter flavor comes from a plant-based essential oil, not dairy, so it's completely dairy and soy free.
Are your balsamic vinegars gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan?
Yes across the board. None of our balsamics contain gluten, dairy, or any animal-derived ingredients or processing aids.
Are your balsamic vinegars Kosher?
Not currently, no. Our balsamic vinegars are not Kosher certified at this time.

Taste with us in Glen Ellyn

The finder is the next best thing to standing at our counter, but nothing beats tasting for yourself. Stop by, sample across more than 60 stations, and let us help you find your new favorite.

Olive 'n Vinnie's 449 N Main St, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(630) 534-6457
Mon - Fri10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sat10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
SunClosed