It tastes like Christmas……

While Santa’s elves rush about the North Pole this time of year, assembling the dream-gifts of so many children, I wonder “What about us?”.

What about the adults? The holidays mean a little less of that Christmas magic for those of us over 18 (well shoot, usually over 12, but for legal purposes, I’ll stick with that whole legal-to-smoke age reference). A little less magic and a whole lot of crowded shopping centers, never-ending register lines, and a frantically shrinking pocket book.

Not that I’m a grinch. I love getting wrapped up in the spirit of giving, cooking, baking, and snow ball fighting. But it’s rare that some unrelated person puts a lot of effort into a thoughtful gift for those of us on the “Nice” list.

Wait, wait! Uhle’s does!

Down in Uhle’s own South Pole, months before that one soft-rock radio station becomes “All Christmas, All the Time”, a certain someone, with a familiar twinkle in his eye (and a familiar Kringle forename to boot), begins his gifting journey.

First, he ponders the holiday taste he’d like to honor. Pie? Maybe. Sweets? Getting warmer. Mashed Potatoes? Yeah, about that…..

Dish or treat decided, he peruses the tobaccos available, ordering samples with which to “cook”.

Much like any art form, this next step is the most trying: pinning down the perfect recipe. To get it right, he must work through trial and error. His cohorts are put to the task of joining in this sampling-go-round. With the proper feedback and sampling under belt, he finalizes the recipe in pen. Orders the necessary ingredients. And waits.

The wait isn’t long, as much is still needed. Phone calls are made to a beloved printer. Her part is none too small. By her hand, labels are designed, postcards are printed, and the project can continue.

Tobacco in hand, Mr. Kringle blends, packages, and labels hundreds of gifts for his loyal tobacco-smoking following. The postcards are mailed, and the season of giving begins.

Our gift to you, our adult followers: Uhle’s Christmas Blend 2010 tobacco! This year’s blend was fashioned after the seasonal Mozartkugel chocolate. It’s a nice balance of sweet and indulgent. And it’s yours if you want it, “Naughty” or “Nice”. Consider it a stocking stuffer from the Uhle’s South Pole.