Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is my favorite fish sauce, by far. My experience and opinion of Red Boat formed in the context of having used other fish sauces in the past, so I'm reviewing this one by comparing it to those. Tiparos used to be my go-to brand. It has a classic flavor—salty, savory, not subtle, but not strong. It's no accident that so many other brands have names similar to "Tiparos". It was one of the first mass produced brands and is familiar to many people around the world. Its agreeable flavor and value lend it a broad appeal. It works well in a wide variety of uses: as a light seasoning, as the mainstay of a cooked sauce, or as a raw dipping sauce (as in nam prik). Three Crabs is more pungent than Tiparos. It's good if you want a stronger, more savory flavor. It's not subtle, rather fishy, and maybe overpowering in raw form. It's easily one of the cheapest brands, so you get a lot for your money. Red Boat reminds me of Tiparos more than Three Crabs, in that it strikes a very nice balance in the strength of its flavor. One the one hand, it's powerful enough to retain plenty of flavor when it's cooked. On the other hand, it's mild enough that it still works really well in raw form. More than either of the other brands, Red Boat has an incredible depth and complexity of flavor. It's highly distinctive. Having entrained my palate to Red Boat, whenever I try another brand, it's never quite as satisfying. This one deserves all the praise it's given. I have absolutely no misgivings about paying more for it. To conclude, I draw an analogy to wines. Tiparos is like a Merlot—pleasant, medium bodied, highly versatile, but very simple. Three Crabs is like a Malbec—strong, dark, and unforgiving. Red Boat is like a fine Bordeaux—a bouquet of flavors, a medium-to-full body, deserving of appreciation on its own, but getting along splendidly with others.