Source – It just got a lot hotter on Capitol Hill. Half a block from Eastern Market, the newly opened Uncle Brutha’s Hot Sauce Emporium stocks more than 300 hot sauces on shelves along its exposed red brick walls. “From mild to wild” is how founder Brennan Proctor describes his selection of small bottles, most with brightly colored labels and not a few off-color names.
Novelty and adult-themed sauces, many with names unprintable in a family newspaper, are on hand for “the young in mind,” joked Colette Proctor, Brennan’s mother and the store’s official owner.
Looking for jerk seasoning? Choose from imported Jamaican brands such as Walkerswood ($4.89 for a 10-ounce bottle) or Baltimore-made Gracie’s Gotcha Ginger Jerk Sauce ($9.79 for 10-ounce bottle). Or, for something mild and unique, try Nor’Easter’s sweet, no-burn blend of apples and habanero chili peppers ($5.89 for a five-ounce bottle).
After slipping on a pair of protective latex gloves, Colette Proctor offered samples and guidance to a couple from Cambridge, New Zealand. Nigel Townsend likes his sauces hot; his wife Kathy favors milder flavors. They happily settle on the sweet heat of Georgia Peach and Vidalia Onion Hot Sauce ($5.39 for a five-ounce bottle), made by Peppers, a firm based in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Amid the vast selection, Brennan Proctor’s own sauces are standouts. Uncle Brutha’s Fire Sauce No. 10, a smoky, scorching blend of four chili peppers — habaneros, red and green jalapeños and serranos — took Proctor 10 years to perfect (hence the “No. 10”). His Fire Sauce No. 9 — a serrano-based chili verde laced with ginger, scallions and cilantro — sets off fewer alarms but still burns nicely (both are $4.99 for a five-ounce bottle).
The District native, 42, began bottling and selling the multi-award winning sauces at Eastern Market two years ago. His success led to the new store, which he runs with help from his mother and his sister, Brigette. Coming soon: eight more Uncle Brutha’s sauces — an eagerly anticipated heat wave.
Uncle Brutha’s Hot Sauce Emporium, 323 Seventh St. SE. Open Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Monday. Call 202-546-3473. – Make sure to tell the you saw it on the HSB!
10 responses to “Uncle Brutha’s Hot Sauce Emporium on Capitol Hill”
How excited am I to have a Hot Sauce Emporium down the street from me! Went in today. Brennan is very cool to talk toand sends his thanks to Nick and the HSB. Nice selction of local as well as collectables. Congrats!
Where is this place at?
323 7th st se, Washington, DC. Right next to Eastern Market, in fact Brennan also has a site in the Eastern Market on Saturdays and Sundays.
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There ya go Todd. Dont think that is very far from Arlington.
Back in town again and back to blogging!! I thought this was an interesting article, thanks for the read.
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I ahve to take you rword for it. Wish I could check it out myself, sounds great!
It’s about 20min. away from Arlington. I’ll be making Possible side Effects bloody marys on Sunday. Good times!
3 years ago at our first Texas show our booth was right next to Brennan and his wife. They are really nice people and have some great sauces. My bottle was gone right after the show.
Congrats Brennan on the new store!
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Get back to work!!
I ran across Uncle Brutha’s store on the way to Eastern Market today. I was in heaven. First off- I am not a personable guy but the clerk (for all I know it was the owner, chef, bum off the street, etc) and I along with another couple of strangers off the street tasted different sauces for the better part of 20 minutes and casually exchanged stories. Every person I saw enter the store left with something, including me. Ask the staff for advice; I have been a chili-head for years now and couldn’t have been more impressed by the store, the help, and the product. This will be a regular stop for me.