Five O'Clock Friday: Diet Advice

I won't argue with science.

Cheers!

Cappuccino and Wise Man Maduro Lancero

It was a chilly but sunny afternoon when I decided to carry my mid-day treat cappuccino out to the deck to enjoy with a cigar. The fall colors were enchanting and the thinning leaf cover let some sun shine through. 

The Foundation Wise Man Maduro Lancero is a 7 1/2 x 40 well-packed cigar. The Mexican San Andrés wrapper glistened in the sun. Along with the Nicaraguan binder and fillers, it made for a medium bodied, robust smoke. Notes of espresso, chocolate, and black pepper are predominant. As I've remarked in the past, the lancero shape seems to enhance and concentrate the cigar's flavors when compared with other vitolas of the same blend. I expected the cigar to give me about a one hour smoke. The burn was slow and flawless and after about an hour only half the stick had been consumed. I was enjoying a book while smoking so may have smoked a little slower than usual, but the cigar burn never wavered nor needed touching up.

I was tempted to step inside to prepare another cappuccino but the sun was getting lower in the trees. While it was still another 45 minutes or so until sunset, the temperature was dropping. Still bearable but the remaining sun was providing little in the way of warmth. I smoked for another 30 minutes before putting the cigar down with about a quarter left.

The rich expresso notes of the Foundation Wise Man Maduro Lancero complimented the creamy sweetness of the cappuccino well. I was not thrilled with giving up the smoke so early, but it had served its purpose and provided nearly two hours of pleasure.

Cheers!

Late Night With Basil Hayden Toast and Oliva Serie V

This was the pairing on a rare late night smoke recently. We're typically an "early to bed, early to rise" household. While perusing my whiskey shelf I spied the Basil Hayden Toast bottle sitting in the bottom corner. Its placement was reflective of how long it's been on hand -- the prime spots tend to hold more recent acquisitions. 

Basil Hayden Toast also gets overlooked most weekends due to its low proof, just 80 proof. This time I gravitated to it for that very reason. The aroma is very light, almost nonexistent. With concentration I get hints of caramel and oak. The flavor profile is also mild, but pleasant. Toffee and caramel predominate. There are cinnamon spice and brown sugar notes arriving in the finish, which lingers for a short while.

I went with an old standby for the accompanying cigar. Oliva Serie V is a smoke that I generally have on hand in several vitolas. It works well with both coffee and bourbon. It stands up to higher proof whiskeys, and at the same time doesn't overwhelm the milder ones either. The 6 x 56 Torpedo has an attractive Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with Nicaraguan tobaccos making up the binder and filler. Clipping the sharply pointed cap reveals a firm but open draw. The cigar gives flavors of coffee, creamy chocolate, nuts, and cedar. It's robust but medium bodied. 

The late night pairing was a fine end to the evening. The cigar gave nearly two hours of pleasure. The easy sipping bourbon provided the perfect nightcap. 

Cheers!

Five O'Clock Friday: It's a Budget Problem

The solution must be reasonable.

Cheers!

Remembering Blessed Miguel Pro

This was originally posted November 23, 2013, and shared nearly annually on this date. Given the growing anti-religious furor infecting our country, and world, it's worth remembering the heroes of persecution of recent memory.

November 23 is the Feast Day of Blessed Miguel Pro. Born on January 13, 1891, in Guadalupe, Mexico, Miguel Pro was ordained a Jesuit priest in Belgium in 1925. He returned to his home country in 1926, in the midst of that country's Cristeros War. After being falsely accused of an attempted bombing, Father Pro was executed by government forces without trial. 

Blessed Miguel Pro's final request was to be allowed to pray to his heavenly Father.

After which he refused a blindfold and faced the firing squad bravely, proclaiming ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

Father Pro's executioners initially failed at their task, and the deed was finished at point blank range.

I am saddened, but hardly surprised, at the ignorance of the American public regarding the persecution of Catholics, and of the Cristero War that took place in Mexico in 1926 through 1929. Some 250,000 people lost their lives in a persecution that was supported by the government of the United States with both funds and air support. Given the ever-growing intolerance towards Christians, especially Catholics, in the United States, we would do well to remember.

Christ the King, by the intercession of Blessed Miguel Pro, I beg you to answer my prayers. Give me the grace and the strength necessary to follow your heroic example and to live my Catholic faith in spite of all temptations and adversities. Amen.

Images from Wikipedia.

Happy Thanksgiving

It just wouldn't feel like Thanksgiving if the holiday didn't kick off with this. It never gets old.

"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cheers!

Quiet Solitude - Drinking and Smoking

Like many, the majority of my time enjoying cigars and adult beverages occurs either alone or sitting with my wife. Even when I am outside smoking "alone," Colleen is home and we frequently still chat. I've been accused of being an introvert, and that's probably accurate. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy good conversation and company. Cigar smoking especially lends itself well to quiet reflection. 

Recently when Colleen was out with friends for the evening I decided to venture over to the local brewery to enjoy a good beer and sit in the cigar lounge. When I arrived on the clear warm(ish) evening, I was surprised to see the parking lot mostly empty. I filled my mug with a tasty Red Ale and headed over to the cigar shop and selected a Black Works Studio Hyena to light up.

I noticed the lounge had added more seating and looked ready for a crowd. I've been there when the seats were filled and folks were standing around. This time it was empty. I figured it was still early for a Friday for many folks. So I enjoyed the solitude and watched folks trickle in and out of the brewery. 

The Hyena is a 5 1/2 x 46 Corona Gorda. It boasts a Cameroon Maduro wrapper and Ecuadorian binder, with Nicaraguan and Dominican filler tobaccos. Bold flavors of espresso, dark chocolate, and black pepper treat the palate. The malty, sweet caramel red ale offered contrasting flavors that still created an exceptional pairing.

The smoke and beer lasted about 45 minutes. It seemed no one was venturing out this evening. I debated a second round, but considered my home turf. If I di say so myself, there's an amazing selection of cigars and whiskey on hand, along with music to enjoy. That option won out. What followed was a couple more hours of pleasurable solitude.

Cheers!

Five O'Clock Friday: Coffee or Whiskey

It's a problem easily solved with Irish Coffee.

Have a great weekend.

Cheers!