A Morning of Smoke and Silence

Most of my enjoyment of cigars takes place at home on the enclosed porch. In the colder months, I am usually alone (not lonely). So when I found myself sitting by myself in John B. Hayes Tobacconist in Winchester this week, it didn’t feel all that odd — surprising, perhaps, but not unusual.

When I arrived for a morning smoke, the familiar early morning crowd was present. They lingered only briefly before heading out, right on schedule. I can be confident it wasn’t me; this group tends to disperse around the same time most mornings, though there’s usually at least one other patron who remains. Even the proprietor spent most of the hour tucked away in his office, leaving the shop unusually quiet.

I selected a La Flor Dominicana Air Bender in the distinctive 6½ × 54 “Chisel” format. I hadn’t smoked anything from the Air Bender line in five or six years and couldn’t recall ever trying the Chisel vitola, so curiosity won out. The dark, oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper looked especially inviting, while the ligero-heavy Dominican binder and filler promised a suitably robust morning smoke.

The Chisel shape — flattened and wedge-like — does indeed resemble a woodworker’s tool or perhaps the mouthpiece of a reed instrument. The end comes already open, and I’ve read that some smokers simply pinch it to create a larger opening rather than cutting. I opted to cut it anyway, though airflow remained somewhat restricted. After a few minutes, I took a bit more off the tip. Even then, the thin, flattened mouthfeel never felt entirely natural — despite my brief stint with the clarinet in my youth.

The Air Bender delivered exactly what it promised: a bold, flavorful smoke that never crossed into overwhelming territory, despite it being several hours before lunch. Peppery spice led the way, joined by cedar, dark chocolate, and coffee notes in a well-balanced profile. I had stopped for a creamy, vanilla-flavored chain coffee on the way in and its sweetness paired surprisingly well with the cigar’s darker character.

After about seventy-five minutes, it was time to set the cigar down — though it easily had another fifteen or twenty minutes left — and head out for lunch with my wife and a friend before the long drive home. Sitting there in the quiet shop, cigar in hand, watching the steady rhythm of people and cars pass outside, I was struck by how refreshing the moment felt. No conversation, no distractions — just good tobacco, and a pleasant morning stillness. It was a pause that was memorable long after the smoke has cleared.

Cheers!

The Best Cigar Is the One in Your Hand

The personalized license plate on my car offers a subtle hint at my enjoyment of cigars. Recently, while pumping gas, the guy behind me called out, “What’s your favorite cigar?” I hesitated, then stumbled through a reply listing a few brands I’ve enjoyed lately. In truth, my usual answer to that question — whether it’s about beer, bourbon, or cigars — is simply, “The one I’m enjoying at the moment.” It may sound flippant, but it’s also the most honest answer I have.

In my 2025 year-in-review post, I went out on a limb and declared a couple “favorites” of the year: the El Pulpo by Artesano del Tobacco and a Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Wegmans Private Selection. If I could distinctly recall every cigar smoked and every whiskey poured over the past year, would I still choose those two? I’m not entirely sure — but they clearly left a lasting impression. Reflecting on that choice, I decided to enjoy them together as my first sip and smoke of the new year.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked store pick doesn’t appear to have been mentioned previously in these Musings, though it has shown up more than once on my Instagram feed. Compared to the standard bottling, this pick leans less on peppery spice and more toward a sweeter profile of caramel and oak. It’s an easy, enjoyable pour — and since no trips back to New Jersey are planned (or desired), I’ll be savoring this bottle while it lasts.

The El Pulpo, on the other hand, has been mentioned here before. Although it debuted in January 2023, it wasn’t until the summer of 2025 that I picked up a five-pack — and promptly followed that with a full box in the Robusto size. It’s a balanced and flavorful cigar, offering notes of dark chocolate, coffee, roasted nuts, and earth, capped by a pleasingly spicy-sweet finish.

After revisiting these two “favorites” together, I’m comfortable standing by my 2025 declarations. Still, the next time someone asks, “What’s your favorite cigar?” I'll prepared to answer a bit more quickly — with my usual reply: “The one I’m having at the moment.”

Cheers!

2025: A Year of Recovery and Small Pleasures

It’s time for the requisite year-in-review post. Although 2025 marked my first full year of retirement, it was a low-key and, at times, frustratingly sedentary one. After a previous year marked by chronic pain and ineffective treatments, I underwent back surgery — including a spinal fusion — in February. Healing from the procedure and recovering from months of severely limited physical activity has been slow and, to some degree, remains ongoing. Only in the final months of the year was I able to be a bit more active, and even now there is some lingering pain and restricted movement.

Unsurprisingly, that reality is reflected in my shooting journal. In 2025 I managed a meager four trips to the range for practice and just two IDPA matches. On the bright side, that represents a meaningful improvement over the zero outings logged in 2024. I fired my first shots since December 2023 in August and finally made a tentative return to competition in October. With luck — and continued progress — I’m truly hoping for more shooting sports participation in 2026.

Travel plans were also shaped by recovery with most travel in 2025 limited to weekend or overnight outings. We did attend several Virginia Tech Hokies football games. Weekends in Blacksburg, joined by our son and daughter-in-law, were enjoyable, even if the final scores were seldom in our favor.

We did get away for a week centered around a horticultural-focused convention that helped feed my indoor gardening passion. The event was held in New Jersey, which isn’t typically high on my vacation destination list, but I was pleasantly surprised — and pleased — to do a bit of bottle shopping and return home with a couple of excellent store-pick bourbons. Among them was a Wegmans Private Selection of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, a bottle that may well be my favorite find of 2025.

On the upside, one doesn’t need to be especially mobile to enjoy good cigars and fine whiskey. Despite other limitations, I’ve been able to maintain a fairly regular “smoke and sip” routine, usually on the screened porch that we renovated into a three-season room over the summer. That space has quickly become one of my favorite places to slow down and enjoy an evening.

The one true vacation of 2025 was a week at the beach, taking in the surf and sand, good food, and cigars by the sea. During our stay on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, I paid a couple of visits to the OBX Cigar Lounge. Being able to pair a cigar with a beer or whiskey — while smoking indoors — was a particular pleasure. Under Virginia’s nanny-state regulations, that combination is nearly impossible, save for a handful of exceptions.

We managed to squeeze in two very different musical outings this year. May brought Metallica to Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, while December closed things out with a Tab Benoit show in Leesburg, Virginia — about as big a genre shift as one could ask for.

On the blogging and social media front, I remained fairly active. Despite the limited activity, I managed 156 posts in 2025. In addition to these blog posts, I regularly share cigar and beverage pairings on Instagram. I also added an option for readers to receive these Musings by email, providing another way for readers who follow along to stay connected.

One final note for those who care about such things: my favorite cigar of 2025 was El Pulpo by Artesano del Tobacco. It’s not often I reorder a cigar while I still have some on hand — make of that what you will.

All told, 2025 wasn’t a year of big adventures or bold accomplishments, but it was a year of recovery, small pleasures, and quiet progress. If nothing else, it helped lay the groundwork for a more active and engaged 2026 — and I’ll gladly raise a glass and light a cigar to that hope.

Happy New Year!

A Post-Christmas IDPA Match

I’m not getting to the range nearly as often as I’d like. Even so, deciding to shoot the Cavalier IDPA match just two days after Christmas wasn’t an easy call. With family visiting for the holidays, it would have been easy to stay home — but instead I headed out early Saturday morning to spend the day shooting with friends.

Realizing I hadn’t fired a single live round since October’s IDPA match gave me some pause. A sore back, creaky knees, and “old man eyes” don’t help either. Still, the point is really the fun of the sport and the camaraderie — not the score. That was the mantra I repeated to myself during the morning drive.

Our squad was on the large side, and the match staff clearly set out to increase the round count. Four of the five stages featured multiple strings, which naturally extended the time required to complete each course of fire.

The first stage we shot was a straightforward “stand and shoot” skills test. Eight paper targets and four steel were arranged symmetrically. One string had us engage four paper and two steel on one side, followed by a second, separately timed string on the opposite side. As a twist, starting magazines for each string were downloaded to just five rounds.

The next challenge was the dreaded two-string, one-handed shooting stage. Standing in a shooting box, we completed the first string shooting strong-hand only (SHO), engaging four targets. The second string required weak-hand-only (WHO) shooting. One of the four targets was hung upside down, which caught more than a few shooters — myself included — sending rounds a bit too high for the -0 circle.

A not-quite-traditional IDPA stage followed. Six targets were positioned around barrel stacks — two on each side and two in the center — with three tables placed across the stage. All magazines were downloaded to just four rounds, with a maximum of four magazines allowed. One magazine was placed on each table, with the final table allowing an optional fourth. The firearm started empty and holstered.

This stage was also shot in two strings and felt distinctly USPSA-inspired. Starting a few feet behind the first table, we loaded at the table, engaged the associated target array, then moved to the center table to reload and engage the center targets, repeating the process at the final table. The second string reversed the direction of travel. The unconventional format brought plenty of smiles, laughter, and good-natured ribbing — especially as shooters hurriedly reloaded magazines off the clock between strings.

The next-to-last stage was a “sit and shoot” course. The loaded firearm and all magazines were placed on a table and all shots were from a seated position. A tall table and low chair made for some awkward positioning. Again shot in two strings, the first required engaging four targets with two body shots each. The second string required one head shot on each of five targets. A couple of overlaid non-threats added an extra layer of difficulty.

My final stage of the day was a full movement course. Fourteen targets were arranged along a curving path behind a mix of low and upright walls. All targets were oriented sideways, representing a pack of attacking animals. They presented varying amounts of exposed head and body, with occasional non-threats mixed in. Unfortunately, I neglected to grab a photo of the setup.

The stage brief required each target to be neutralized with either one head shot or two body shots — shooter’s choice. I opted for the body-shot option, reasoning that more rounds but faster shooting would benefit in the end, though a fair number of shooters chose the 14-shot head-only route. I really enjoyed this stage, particularly the opportunity to shoot on the move.

Overall, I was pleased with how I shot. Though I no longer consider myself competitive, I still enjoy the activity. I had a few misses, but I’ll gladly take the small victories: no non-threat hits and no procedural errors. Best of all, I got to reconnect with some old friends, including a few I hadn’t seen or chatted with in many years.

Normally, this is where I’d say I’m already looking forward to the next match. Unfortunately, the host club announced that the monthly match is moving to a different weekend, one that conflicts with another long-standing commitment. As a result, opportunities to shoot this particular match will likely be few and far between.

Though longer-than-expected, the day was thoroughly enjoyable. Despite a late-afternoon return home, there was still time for dinner, a couple of football games on the TV, and the continuation of holiday time with family. All in all, it was a good way to spend a winter Saturday.

Cheers!

Christmas Evening with a Padrón 1964 and Woodford Reserve

We don’t often have a white Christmas in this part of Virginia, and that “tradition” held firm this year. In fact, the temperature soared to over 60 degrees by midday. After a late-afternoon dinner — highlighted by a standing rib roast cooked to perfection — I headed out to the screened porch to digest the feast, with a sip and a smoke, of course.

I had picked up a few Padrón 1964 Anniversary Torpedo Maduro cigars a few weeks earlier on a whim and decided one would be my Christmas Day celebratory smoke. Turning my attention to the bourbon shelf, I settled on Woodford Reserve Double Oaked as a fitting pairing for such a bold cigar.

The sharply box-pressed torpedo is composed entirely of Nicaraguan tobaccos. Dark and slightly oily, the cigar tapers to a very sharp point, much of which is clipped off before lighting. Bitter-sweet cocoa and espresso lead off the experience. As the smoke progresses, the profile shifts to include molasses-like sweetness and hints of dark fruit, while a peppery spice steadily builds through the finish. The 1964 Anniversary Maduro is a full-bodied smoke, delivering a flavor experience entirely in keeping with its dark appearance.

The Woodford Reserve Double Oak met the challenge of the bold cigar with aplomb. Sweet caramel, dark chocolate, dark fruit notes all assist in standing up to the cigar's depth. A long wood and spice finish coats the palate in a fitting match to the cigar's lingering pepper and roasted finish. 

Despite the unseasonable — though not entirely unusual — warmth, the setting sun eventually brought a chill, so I fired up one of the porch heaters on low, just enough to take the edge off without reaching for a jacket. Christmas-themed blues drifted from the speaker, adding a relaxed, festive tone to the evening. In time, with the cigar burned down to a nub and the whiskey glass emptied, it was time to head back inside and rejoin the family — just in time for a sweet tiramisù dessert and the quiet close of a thoroughly satisfying Christmas Day.

Cheers!

The Joy of Christmas

When the angels went away from them to heaven,

the shepherds said to one another, 

“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem

to see this thing that has taken place, 

which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, 

and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this,

they made known the message

that had been told them about this child.

All who heard it were amazed

by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things,

reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God 

for all they had heard and seen, 

just as it had been told to them.

-- Luke 2:15-20

At last it begins. After an Advent of preparation, the joyful season of Christmas is finally here. The last piece of our holiday decorations — the Christmas tree — was completed on Christmas Eve. While the trimmings, both inside and out, are set in place over the course of several weeks, the tree remains the capstone, traditionally finished just in time for the Feast itself.

Our celebration will continue through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, as it always has. Each year, I find it a small but familiar disappointment to see lights and decorations vanish the day after Christmas. It seems that many no longer regard the birth of Our Savior as an event worthy of more than a single day of rejoicing. Christmas is not a day, but a season — one worth celebrating fully.

"Adoration of the Shepherds" by Gerard van Honthorst. (OSV News photo/Bridgeman Images)

I wish all of you a very merry and blessed Christmas. May the joy of Christmas remain with you throughout the year.

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

A Christmas Eve Eve Smoke: Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary

It’s the calm before the storm. The evening before Christmas Eve is a moment I especially look forward to and savor. Once the Feast of Christmas arrives, the house comes alive with activity — family, food, drink, and all the merriment that accompanies the celebration. On this “Eve of the Eve,” I try to slow things down with a relaxing cigar while anticipating the days ahead. It’s also a reminder that there are still a few gifts left to wrap, though that’s only a brief distraction.

This Christmas Eve Eve, I decided to crack open a box of Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada that I’d picked up last month. I’ve always enjoyed the Serie V line, and this anniversary release offers a fun variation.

The 135th Anniversary is a limited-edition take on the standard Serie V, released to honor the Oliva family’s 135-year legacy in tobacco farming, which began in Cuba. First released in November 2021, the cigar is now a recurring limited release. The 5 1/2” x 54 vitola features a tapered foot, with the ring gauge narrowing from 54 down to roughly 30 at the tip. The blend remains familiar: an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos, just as in the regular-production Serie V.

I paired the cigar with a seasonally appropriate Christmas Ale from Bell’s Brewery. Styled as a traditional Scotch Ale, it delivers rich toasted malt and caramel notes. Despite its lighter appearance, the beer is full-bodied and warming, clocking in at a robust 7.5% ABV. It’s a fitting sipper for a cool winter evening, and one I look forward to picking up each year. Its malt-forward profile stands apart from the spiced “Christmas Ales” that dominate the shelves this time of year.

An 80-minute burn time lined up perfectly with the pacing of the Christmas Ale. The cigar burned evenly, if a bit faster than expected. While milder at the outset, the Serie V 135th Anniversary quickly settled into its familiar richness. Notes of cocoa, coffee, and roasted nuts paired perfectly with the beer’s deep malt character.

A special cigar, a seasonal beer, and the quiet anticipation of the holiday combined for a relaxing and flavorful smoke and sip. With the rush of Christmas just around the corner, it was an ideal way to wind down before ramping up.

Is Christmas Eve Eve officially noted on the calendar? It certainly should be.

Cheers!

Smoke and Stillness at Advent’s End

Advent unfolds with a familiar rhythm — candles lit, days counted down, anticipation slowly building. And yet, when Christmas week arrives, it always seems to come sooner than expected.

Here we are, just a few days out from the big day. Despite the usual last-minute to-do lists, there’s still time to pause and enjoy a good smoke and sip. Even the weather is cooperating — at least by December standards — with comparatively warmer temperatures.

From the humidor, I selected a Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend in the Corona Largo vitola. The Bishops Blend line is one of my all-time favorites, and my humidor typically holds a selection of sizes. This 6 1/4″ × 46 cigar offers an enjoyable 90 minutes or more of flavorful smoking.

Released annually in limited numbers, the Bishops Blend consistently hits my preferred flavor profile and often finds its way into these Musings. The blend features an Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper, an Ecuadorian Habano binder, and a filler combination of Nicaraguan tobacco along with Connecticut and Pennsylvania Broadleaf. Medium-full bodied, the cigar delivers rich, complex notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, pepper, and espresso, balanced by a touch of sweet earthiness.

The accompanying pour for the evening was a Virginia ABC single-barrel selection of Sazerac Rye. This is a rye I frequently use in Old Fashioneds and other rye-forward cocktails. It’s budget-friendly, moderately spicy, and also quite enjoyable neat. This particular single barrel carried the familiar Sazerac profile, though I noticed a distinct spearmint-like note on the finish.

With Advent nearly complete and Christmas close at hand, the brief stillness lingered as the evening came to a close — offering a moment of reflection and relaxation before the season turns fully toward celebration.

Cheers!