When cleansing your palate, it is important to know what you want to taste. The most common palate cleansers include bread, sorbet, pickled ginger, and water. These are all neutral substances that scrub lingering flavors off the tongue. Sorbet, not to be confused with sherbet, is a frozen dessert that contains no dairy and is made of fruit and water. The sharp flavor and lower temperature stimulate the taste buds for future flavor reception. Bread can be used in many forms to cleanse the palate as long as it is not flavored. Crackers also fall under the bread category and should be used with the same restrictions of being unflavored. For optimal tasting experience, certain foods and beverages should be avoided. Any dairy, such as butter, will coat the taste buds and trap previous flavors.

It is important to remember that anything you ingest can subsequently affect how future flavors are perceived. If you are wanting to taste finer nuances and complexities, a clean palate will be your best bet for tasting as many dimensions of a flavor profile as possible.

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“So what is bourbon?”

-Your friend, when you tell them you drink bourbon

This may be one of the most common questions you get from your non-bourbon friends. You know that it tastes good and you like it, but you also want to be able to give your curious friends an intelligent and informed answer. Lucky for you, there are some very specific and easy-to-remember criteria for what makes bourbon bourbon.

“All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.”

The first thing to know is that bourbon is a type of whiskey, which means that it is derived from fermented grain. However, bourbon is special because there are certain standards that need to be met and specific steps that need to be taken when making it. So here’s what you need to know:

• Bourbon must be produced in the United States
• Its mash bill must contain at least 51% corn
• It must be aged in new, charred oak containers
• It cannot be distilled over 160 proof
• It cannot enter an aging barrel at more than 125 proof
• It must be bottled at 80 proof or more

These are legal requirements laid out by the Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits. While bourbon can be made anywhere in the U.S., it is primarily made in the south, centralized around Kentucky (because, you know, the corn).

But you may be even more curious and want to know why these requirements exist. Obviously the most important factors that affect taste are items number 2 and 3. Much of the law revolving around bourbon comes from tradition, but there is a little more to it than that. Originating and being centralized in Kentucky, corn was and still is the easiest grain to come by, so that’s what was used. In my personal experience, and many would agree, corn gives whiskey a sweeter and fuller flavor as opposed to the spice of rye or barley.

The importance of charred, new oak barrels lies in the aging process. Much of the sweetness that is expected in bourbon actually comes from the oak during aging. Sugars from the wood are carmelized and brought to the surface when charred, and these sugars seep into the spirit. Oaks also contain unique compounds that add to the flavor of the whiskey. Different barrels can affect the flavor of bourbon due to variations in tannins, lactones, and vanillin; and varying aging times can affect how prominent these flavors are. The combination of a high-corn mash bill and the use of charred, new oak barrels are what give bourbon its unique and loved flavor.

There’s a reason bourbon is so coveted in the United States. It requires high standards and specific ingredients to generate a full, flavorful, sweet alcohol that is unique and memorable. Those extra steps make a world of difference in making the drink you love.

Sources:

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

Bourbon / Tennessee Whiskey

Bourbon Barrels: Why Exactly Must They Be New?

How Bourbon Gets Its Beautiful Flavor

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From my first interaction with Uhle’s, they were very warm and receptive to meeting me and showing me their operations. I was excited to see where my favorite blend came from and meet the folks who ran the place.

Uhle’s is a wonderful gem located on the edge of the Milwaukee River and catches the eyes of passersby amidst the beautiful Renaissance and Victorian architecture that adorns the skyline of Milwaukee. Passing the Allen-Bradley Clock Tower, City Hall, and viewing the Mitchell Building sitting just across from Uhle’s were just a few perks of my visit. The sign reading “UHLE’S TOBACCO COMPANY – FINEST CIGARS AND TOBACCO” floats over the smooth, green brick façade and expansive open windows displaying all sorts of tobacco antiques and memorabilia, pulling patrons toward the entrance as the faint waft of tobacco smoke gets stronger and stronger the closer one gets.

As soon as I stepped through the threshold, I knew that I was not in your average tobacco shop. Uhle’s is not just a tobacco shop – it is a tobacco lounge, which are very few and far between these days. The smell of cigar and pipe smoke permeated the shop as I was enthusiastically greeted by Scott, who was working the register, and Jeff, who was sitting at one of the lounge counters with a half-smoked Maduro in his hand. Jeff was eager to show me around the shop and discuss our shared love of tobacco.

Jeff Steinbock, owner and President of Uhle’s Tobacco Company, is a gentleman’s gentleman. Originally from Des Plaines, IL, Jeff moved to Wisconsin in 1974 and started working for Jack Uhle. He became store manager in 1979 and, along with his brother, bought the store from Jack in 1982. Jeff has been in the business a long time, which he makes very apparent with his articulate knowledge of not only his products and how they’re manufactured, but also of the business and how it has changed over the years.

“I don’t have a walk-in humidor,” Jeff told me. “I used to buy wine and I’d go into a cellar and see all these different wines, and it was overwhelming. So I just stuck with what I knew. You never step out of your comfort zone. But with a display like this,” he said, gesturing toward the numerous humidified cases that sprawled across the front of the shop, “you get to talk to people. Make suggestions. Sometimes they might find something better than what they’ve always liked.”

It became quite apparent very quickly that the goal of Jeff’s business is to keep its customers engaged, which is perpetuated by his employees. Uhle’s isn’t just about pushing as much tobacco as it can, it’s about giving its customers an experience.

Jeff showed me his wall of fame, with signed headshots of Jerry Seinfeld, Lionel Ritchie, Jim Babjak, Bill Cosby, and many others. The authenticity of his business was fortified as he showed me his warehouse, which included a well-used workbench for hand-blending tobacco.

“It’s all hand-blended right here. We buy tobacco in bulks, whether it’s Burley, a Virginia, something like that. The recipes are all according to weight. We weigh it out and blend it. The oldest one is Blend 255 which goes back to 1937. It even predates Uhle’s. That’s when Jack took over and went to the 300, and back then it was pretty much all Burley.”

Coming out of the warehouse, up the staircase into the shop, we broke off into another lounge that included Jeff’s guitar collection – some of which he hand-made himself. He let me play one guitar in particular that was made out of old tobacco display cases.

“And we got this one. Pat Simmons from the Doobie Brothers signed it. Jim Babjak signed it. That was pretty cool – Pat Simmons doing riffs on my homemade guitar.”

When I asked Jeff about his plans for the future of Uhle’s, he said that he really enjoys running the business and plans to be there as long as he can, but his son Dave is next up to take over the business. Dave currently works for Uhle’s and is a pipe aficionado.

“We’ve got a really good staff here – and not a lot of turnover. Like last year when we had to shut down, we were able to keep Scott and Dave here during that time. And the others came back.”

Jeff is no stranger to challenges, as the tobacco industry has weathered a slew of regulations over the years – and not just limited to cigarettes. “We’ve had a lot of challenges. Taxations and regulations. In 2015, I used to be on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Tobacco Outlets. The FDA was considering outlawing flavors in tobaccos, and I told them that by doing that, they would be eliminating the entire pipe tobacco market because most pipe tobaccos have some sort of flavoring in them. In 2008, roll-your-own and pipe tobacco were both federally taxed at $1.10/lb. We were told pipe tobacco might double, and roll-your-own might go up to $5.00-$6.00/lb. Pipe tobacco went up to $2.83/lb and roll-your-own went up to $24.78/lb. I told ‘em, ‘You put the decimal in the wrong spot!’”

As Jeff looked through a few articles on our website, he noticed my review of OHM Menthol. “You see, that OHM is actually a roll-your-own. It was a little harsh, wasn’t it?” he said, chuckling a bit. Many roll-your-own tobaccos eventually ended up switching to calling themselves pipe tobacco just to avoid the taxes and regulations imposed on them.

Jeff’s employees uphold his customer-centric approach. I talked with Scott, who has recently been building a presence on social media using the moniker Cigar Shop Scott. His content includes products sold at Uhle’s and how-to videos for cigar and pipe smoking. Scott represents Uhle’s superbly with his extensive knowledge of cigars. After offering me a Uhle’s house brand corona, Scott couldn’t help but correct me on my cigar-lighting technique.

“If you point it down, you have a chance of getting smoke in your eyes and it puts too much heat on the inside of the cigar. If you go straight across, you have a better chance of just getting that tip on fire instead of getting the inside heated up. Turn it around, blow on it, check your work.”

Scott’s impressive knowledge of cigars and tobacco comes from a life spent around tobacco products, including the five years he’s worked at Uhle’s. “My dad owned a different cigar shop. It’s now Metro Cigars Brookfield, but it used to be Jack’s Tobacco. My first job was when I was like twelve or thirteen; I was bagging pipe tobacco for my dad. Weighing it out using the triple beam scale and everything. I grew up in cigars so I knew the stuff pretty well before I smoked it.”

Part of Uhle’s secret to success is its seamless ability to connect to its customers in all facets. Scott demonstrated the staff’s devotion to its customers when I asked him what his favorite part about working for Uhle’s was: “We’re gonna try to learn your name. Like come in two or three different times, on the third time, I’m gonna be like…’David!’ When you get people to come back repeatedly and they feel like they’re a member, that’s great. One of my favorite things is helping someone with their first time smoking. Or when they’ve smoked like two cigars and they don’t know what they’re doing.”

As I sat in the lounge and smoked my Uhle’s corona while I jotted down some notes, I chatted up one of the other patrons, Steve, who was a regular to Uhle’s. He was relatively new to smoking, but loved the support that Uhle’s had to offer.

“I started smoking cigars probably like, three months ago. I only really like to smoke pipes or cigars here. I don’t really smoke when I’m at home. I mainly smoke here because I just like the people and the atmosphere. It’s just a lot better than when I’m by myself.”

Hearing that from another customer is what sealed my opinion of Uhle’s outstanding customer relationships.

I spent a fair amount of time sitting in Uhle’s lounge, looking at the glass cases full of pipes and hunks of briar sitting on the shelves, listening to the chatter of staff and patrons, appreciating the lack of news on the TV’s (which Jeff is very particular about), trying to think of how exactly I could convey the atmosphere, friendliness, and outstanding quality of this family-owned tobacco lounge in my article. It’s a tough job because there’s nothing quite like visiting a brick-and-mortar shop that is so evidently driven with passion for the product and customers.

With that, I urge the reader – if you are ever in the Milwaukee area, take the time to visit Uhle’s and say hello to the staff. It is absolutely worth the experience. And tell them Bourbon Tobacco Wine sent you!

With the structure of today’s society leaning so heavily on cold, accessible corporate merchandise, it is easy to forget that at the heart of America’s capitalism exists family-owned businesses that are unique and impassioned.

I’ve spent many visits to mediocre tobacco outlets where I am either not greeted or pestered throughout the store, so I was unsure what my visit to Uhle’s would hold for me. And I must say, my trip inspired a new recognition and appreciation for enthusiastic, devoted, brick-and-mortar, family-owned businesses.

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Cigar Name: Uhle’s Honduran Corona

Brand: Uhle’s

Price Point: Budget, $3.25-$4.25

Origin: Honduras

Wrapper: Honduran Connecticut Seed

Shape: Corona

Length: 5.25”

Gauge: 45

Strength: Medium

Flavoring: None

Taste: Dry twigs, oak spice, light earth

Room Note: Light and pleasant

Smoke Time: Somewhat quick

Bottom Line: An excellent value cigar that holds a quality well above its price range. Full-bodied and flavorful, it would serve as an excellent gift or a quick smoke on a cool evening.

During my trip to Uhle’s, I picked up this cigar as an affordable house brand cigar that I could smoke in the lounge while preparing my article. Before I left, I ended up purchasing a few more. You can also purchase these cigars on Uhle’s website.

Cigar Shop Scott commented on my choice, “It’s very easy-going. Nice, good smoke. Corona size is probably our best-seller. It’s nice and crisp. Smoke it at 95° outside, 80% humidity, it’s not gonna make you sweat.” And I must say, his upsell was spot on.

This cigar was surprisingly flavorful for the price and maintained a very nice quality with a solid construction. The smoke was full-bodied with a forestry taste like dry twigs and earth enveloped in a spicy oak. There was a very light sweetness to it that I pegged down as vanilla.

The cigar burned smoothly and evenly throughout my smoke and remained cool, just as Scott had said it would. It didn’t deviate from its flavor for the half an hour I smoked it for and provided a mild nic hit.

I highly recommend trying these cigars. They are a great value and make for an excellent gift – or just keep a few on hand and offer one to a guest to smoke with on a cool summer evening.

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Alcohol Name: Dreaming Tree

Alcohol Type: Pinot noir

Alcohol Content: 13.5%, 27 Proof

Price Point: Low-Mid, $10-$12, available at most retailers

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, red berries

Flavor Profile: Toasted oak, cherry

Bottom Line: This is a surprisingly complex Pinot noir that would be great for pairing but manages to work as a standalone just fine.

Dreaming Tree is a collaboration between California winemaker Sean McKenzie and Dave Matthews. I usually tend to stay away from collaborations like this because they often increase the price of wine without any increase to quality. This wine does not follow that pattern on either account.

For the full body that this wine has, it comes off very smooth and light. The color is a dark ruby red and the nose is filled with caramel, vanilla, and red berries like strawberry and cherry. The flavors are just as pleasant as the nose with notes of juicy cherry and a finish of toasted oak.

I admit that Pinot noir is not normally a wine that I drink without a meal. To me it makes a wonderful pairing wine, but usually falls short alone. Dreaming Tree has opened me up to trying other Pinot noir wines as it is more complex than I expected in the best kind of way.

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Now, growing up, there were certain aspects of my life that I enacted rebelliousness upon, but for the most part I was an exceptionally “lawful” adolescent. I remember specifically on one of my walks home from school with my older brother, as I was approaching my beginning year of high school, he said to me quite pointedly, “If you ever do drugs, I’m going to beat you up.” And not only did I believe him, but for some reason that interaction stuck with me and it had the exact effect on me that he intended. I told myself that I would refrain from drug and alcohol use throughout high school – and that’s precisely what I did.

When I was 19, which I always attribute as the age when my judgement was poorest, the rebel in me was at full throttle. This rebel was in a great wrestling match with the lawful child in me, and the result was a heavy and unnecessary guilt I carried as the burden of my insurgent behavior. During this internal struggle, I hid from my parents that I had picked up smoking cigars. The longer I went keeping my shameful secret, the more nervous I became about their reaction when they found out.

Around this time, my wisdom teeth decided to shift in some very uncomfortable ways, and as with most young adults, I had to get them removed. I have had a turbulent relationship with my teeth, so mouth surgery was not a foreign concept to me. Because of the nature of my surgery – which, by the way, I ended up having six wisdom teeth removed – I opted for anesthesia.

On the day of my wisdom teeth removal, my mom was the one who drove me. We checked in, they walked me back and put me in a chair, and I had the pleasure of getting that gigantic, terrifying needle stuck in my arm. In a matter of seconds I was out cold.

Fortunately everything went well with the surgery. I don’t remember waking up and I don’t quite remember the drive home. I vaguely remember taking gauze out of my mouth to slurp down a giant shake. When it was apparent that the anesthesia had worn off and my cognitive functions were mostly restored, my mom asked me if I remembered what I had said to her when I woke up from the surgery. I dumbly replied, “Uh… No.”

“You told me that you started smoking cigars.”

I stared at her, dumbfounded. Apparently I had been so laden with guilt that my subconscious took over in my doped up stupor to relieve me of my burden. “Oh. I’m sorry. Are you mad?”

She just laughed. “No, you goof. I don’t care if you smoke cigars.” She thought it was hilarious that I had worried so much about what her and my dad would have thought about me smoking. She even offered a couple suggestions and invited me to smoke a cigar with her sometime.

It was at that moment that I realized how ridiculous I had been for worrying about my parents’ reactions. The guilt and shame I had carried was all for naught; there had been no reason for me to hide my personal choices from them.

But that’s how my mom has always been. I have made my fair share of mistakes in my life – even well into my adulthood – and my mom has always been understanding. She tells it straight and doesn’t make excuses for me, but she’s always supportive. I feel very lucky to have her as my mom.

I have a twinge of sadness as I talk about how great my mom is because I know that not everyone is given the same fortune. Nobody is perfect, but I like to think that most parents try their best to do right by their children. Even so, I know too many people who are estranged from their parents or have lost them. I hope that you, reader, have had the blessing of a mother figure who has cared for, guided, and loved you the way mine has for me.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

There comes a time in our journey where we meet someone who is just stepping onto the path. Perhaps the most important lesson that can be shared is that there is no wrong way to whiskey. Just enjoy what you like and share it with whomever will tolerate your ramblings. That being said, there are preferable ways to introduce newcomers to the water of life.

First start with whiskey, something that is of a relatively low proof, not crazy expensive, and “smooth.” You want a bottle that is easily recognizable but will not elicit any adverse reactions from that one time where bad life choices were made. If you have multiple whiskeys for your guest to try, do your best to start with the most friendly and mild bottle and work your way up in complexity and proof. There are some people who are naturally drawn to bold and vibrant flavors but that is not always the best plan for introductions. 

If you are on your home turf when introducing someone new, feel free to break out your preferred glassware – Glencairn. The nose is quite possibly the most important of the introductions. It will be the first impression of the whiskey and there is a good chance the alcohol will play Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots with the newbie’s nose. It is important to ease them in at this point by wafting the glass by the nose in a similar fashion to a science class. 

Your first sip should be similar to taking a sip of hot coffee; just swallow the whiskey and don’t think too much of it. This sip is to acclimate your palate to the alcohol content of the whiskey. After that sip, continue to nose the glass – you will be able to discern more smells and tastes as you acclimate to the alcohol. 

Water, ice, and mixers or cocktails are all options to help explore a whiskey. Water is probably the best to use to open up and explore the whiskey in the glass while ice will suppress some of the alcohol burn and flavors. A cocktail is an excellent way to introduce whiskey to someone who may not be interested in whiskey as a standalone beverage. It is also nice to have a few cocktails up your sleeve to round out your whiskey knowledge.

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“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien

In this famous quote, Bilbo is, in a very roundabout way, saying that he wished he had gotten to know more of the folks in the Shire and he feels that they deserved to be liked more than he likes them.

This year, we’re making a commitment to travel to some of our favorite suppliers and manufacturers, meet with them to learn their story, and put a spotlight on all the wonder they have to offer by writing articles about their operations. We’re hoping to make some new friends along the way; and we believe that small businesses play a crucial role in heightening the human experience by bringing together folks from all walks of a life and giving them common ground to meet and exchange interests. Without friends and human interaction, life would be a hollow venture.

Our first story brings us to our friends at Uhle’s Tobacco Company in Milwaukee, WI. We’re excited to show you the wonderful gem we dug up by visiting the Uhle’s group! Keep an eye out for this very special article this month – this exceptional tobacco shop is really something.

Also keep an eye out for our Mother’s Day article – we’ve got a story that will be sure to make you call up your mom and tell her that you love her.

As always, keep an eye out for all of our fresh content each week! If you own a business and would like us to do a story on you, please feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to chat and visit with anyone and everyone!

The more the merrier!

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Tobacco Name: Butternut Burley

Brand: Scotty’s

Contents: Burley, Cavendish

Availability: Link to Pipes and Cigars

Cut: Ribbon

Strength: Mild

Flavoring: Butter/vanilla

Taste: Smoky wood, butter, vanilla, creamy nut

Room Note: Tolerable

Pipe Used: Mr. Brog “Old Army”

Bottom Line: A pleasant but not quite memorable aromatic. It’s  buttery sweet and smooth with little bite and light flavor. Would be great as a background smoke.

I got my Butternut Burley in a 1 oz. bag simply out of curiosity and wanting to try something new. This tobacco comes in a standard ribbon cut with a few stems present. The ribbons have a slightly sweet and buttery but mostly woody and nutty scent to them.

The ribbons packed easily and lit with little effort. I had a few relights, but I believe that to be my own fault from packing too tightly. This tobacco classified itself as an aromatic, but I found it to be quite light on the aromas. Not that they weren’t there, but it was definitely a lighter flavoring than some of the other in-your-face aromatics I’ve tried.

This smoke opens up with a smooth, mellow flavor that’s woodsy in nature – like a small campfire. As I worked my way through it, the smoke opened up to a sweet and buttery vanilla flavor that had just a hint of creamy nuttiness. It provided a steady smoke that was satisfying but not overpowering. The finish left me with a straightforward tobacco flavor with a hint of the smooth butteriness.

Overall, this was a relaxing and enjoyable smoke, but certainly not my most memorable. It’s the kind of tobacco I would smoke on a summer evening while chatting with a friend. It doesn’t demand my attention, but provides a nice atmosphere and could certainly be an all-day smoke.

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Alcohol Name: Aldi Chianti Adventure Series

Alcohol Type: Chianti

Alcohol Content: 12%, 24 Proof

Price Point: Budget-Friendly, $5.50, available at Aldi stores 

Nose: Red berries, floral notes

Flavor Profile: Dark cherry, blackberry

Bottom Line: For the price, this is one of the safest choices. It is simple in every way and easy to pair with.

When it comes to wine, most people think that Winking Owl is the only brand Aldi has to offer. This is not at all true. Aldi has a line of international wines, among which is a Chianti – an Italian wine. Most of these wines are labeled with a DOC, or DOCG tag. These tags are to verify that the percentages of grapes are from specific areas within Italy. What makes the Chianti from Aldi so appealing is its price. This bottle is usually half the price you would pay for any DOCG Italian wine. 

The profile of this wine is very tame. It comes in at a 12% alcohol content, making it a medium-bodied red. It does not have much to offer in the nose or flavor profile – both of which are simply dark berries. In my tasting, I was mostly able to pick out the cherry. The simplicity of this wine makes it very easy to drink and pair with. 

If you are looking for a safe option or introduction to wine, this is a great bottle. On the other hand, if you are looking for a complex bottle to pick apart and taste, you may want to try something different.

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