A Rainy Morning at John B. Hayes Tobacconist

I found myself in Winchester, VA this week with some time to spare, so I decided to stop by John B. Hayes Tobacconist in downtown Winchester. After a long drive through heavy rain, my luck seemed to turn — I found an open metered spot just around the block. Even better, I already had the ParkMobile app on my phone, so the absence of coins in my car wasn’t an issue.

I browsed the cabinet humidors for a few minutes while the proprietor helped another customer. Once he was free, he retrieved my selections, and I settled into one of the large leather chairs to finally enjoy a long-anticipated smoke.

The shop’s “old school” charm made an immediate impression — everything from the furnishings to the display of umbrellas and walking sticks evoked a bygone era. John B. Hayes Tobacconist is a long-standing institution in the DC Metro area, known especially for catering to pipe enthusiasts. While the cigar selection isn’t the most extensive I’ve seen, it’s more than adequate, with plenty of appealing options. In fact, I ended up buying more cigars than I had time to smoke.

Though I didn’t have quite as much time to unwind as I’d hoped, I still enjoyed a satisfying break after a two-hour morning drive. The dry shop on rainy morning offered a peaceful interlude with a good cigar, a comfortable chair, and a city sidewalk to watch. I’ll definitely keep John B. Hayes Tobacconist in mind for future visits to Winchester.

Cheers!

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Review: Rocky Patel Dark Star Toro

The Rocky Patel Dark Star was released in 2023, but despite being a longtime fan of Rocky Patel cigars and always looking forward to new releases from the brand, I never got around to trying this one — until now. I picked up a few in the Toro vitola this past January, and after a four-month rest in the humidor, I finally lit one up over the weekend.

Part of my initial hesitation may have come from how different this cigar is compared to Rocky Patel’s typical offerings. Rocky himself described it as "Cubanesque, but mild to medium-bodied" — a profile I usually find a bit unexciting. While I’ve smoked and enjoyed some Cuban cigars, they often come off as a little too subtle for my taste.

The 6 x 52 Toro features a delicate Honduran Corojo wrapper over a Mexican San Andrés binder, with filler tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua. Notably, the filler includes a Honduran-grown leaf from Paraguayan seed — a first for Rocky Patel — which adds an unusual twist to the blend.

The cigar I smoked had a minor cosmetic issue as the wrapper was slightly damaged near the midpoint, with a few flakes peeling away. I do recall having dropped it during a dig through the humidor not too long ago. Fortunately, this didn’t affect the burn or draw, and the burn remained even throughout. Smoke production was excellent right from the start.

Upon lighting, I was greeted with abundant smoke and an initial flavor of toast and cinnamon. Soon after, a mildly sweet nuttiness emerged, followed by notes of creamy coffee and chocolate. While individual flavor components stood out, the overall profile was somewhat elusive and difficult to pin down. The overall experience was surprisingly complex, with roasted nuts and cinnamon taking the lead in the mild to medium-bodied smoke.

At times, a fleeting mineral-like note crept in, though it never lingered long enough to be distracting. In the end, the Rocky Patel Dark Star delivered a unique and enjoyable smoking experience — not bold or intense, but flavorful enough to keep my interest. Maybe Rocky really did capture a bit of that "Cubanesque" character he was aiming for.

Cheers!

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After the Roar: A Porch, a Pour, and a Cigar

We did something a bit out of the ordinary this week: we traveled to Blacksburg, VA, to take in the historic Metallica concert at Lane Stadium. I’m not a huge fan of heavy metal, but I enjoyed the energy and sheer scale of the event. After a busy yet fun week, I looked forward to a quiet evening on the porch with a bourbon, a cigar, and some good ol’ blues music.

I poured a glass of Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength Bourbon and lit up a Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva GT20. The pairing was intentional. I wanted a long, satisfying smoke, and the 124-proof bourbon would be perfect to chase away the springtime chill.

The 6 x 54 box-pressed Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva GT20 had been resting in my humidor for just shy of a year. This Nicaraguan puro features a dark, chocolate-hued Corojo Oscuro wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers aged for over five years.

Medium to full-bodied, the smoke opens with notes of cedar, espresso, and roasted nuts, finishing with a warm white pepper spice. The profile is smooth and balanced, with no harshness, and the spice gently lingers on the tongue. The flavor held consistent throughout the experience, which, as predicted, lasted just about two hours.

The Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength is a wheated bourbon, with proof varying between 110 and 124.6 depending on the batch. My bottle comes in at 124 proof. It opens with a mouthwatering aroma of butterscotch, maple, and honey. On the palate, it reveals notes of charred oak, dark cherry, plum, molasses, and cinnamon. The finish is long and warm, with a lingering heat balanced by rich, dark sweetness. It’s a bold, full-flavored pour ideal for slow sipping.

Together, the Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength Bourbon and the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva GT20 created an exceptionally satisfying flavor pairing. Each offered lingering spice and depth, with just enough body to complement and stand up to the other.

The couple of hours spent on the quiet porch, with classic blues playing in the background, offered a stark contrast to the energy and chaos of the Metallica show. Whether it’s the roar of a packed stadium or the hush of a spring evening, memorable moments can be found in both. Adding a good cigar and a strong bourbon to the setting makes it even more pleasurable.

Cheers!

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Five O'Clock Friday: The Most Essential Element

You can't make beer, or whiskey either. So there it is.

Cheers!

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Sunday Deck Cocktails: Mandarin Bourbon Smash

With the return of pleasant weather, our tradition of Sunday cocktails on the deck is back in full swing. While I generally prefer my bourbon neat, I always look forward to these afternoons of relaxed conversation with my wife. Recently, I came across a recipe for the Mandarin Bourbon Smash. It sounded both tasty and, just as importantly, simple to make — so I saved it for later use.

Mandarin Bourbon Smash

• 1 Mandarin Orange
• 1 tsp. Sugar
• .75 oz Lemon Juice
• .75 oz Aperal
• 2 oz Bourbon
• Club Soda

Muddle the mandarin orange (retaining one segment for later) and sugar in mixing glass. Add the lemon juice, Aperal, and Bourbon and shake over ice. Strain into a rocks glass with ice. Top off the glass with Club Soda, stir gently, and garnish with the Mandarin slice.

For this cocktail, I selected Belle Meade Sour Mash Straight Bourbon. The light, citrus-forward profile of the drink seemed to call for a “soft” bourbon, and this 90.4 proof whiskey—with its mild character and touch of spice — fit the bill. While I don’t find the Belle Meade particularly compelling as a straight sipper, it performs well here.

We found the Mandarin Bourbon Smash to be an enjoyable and refreshing cocktail. I expect it’ll make more appearances this summer, especially on hot afternoons.

As a snack, we kept things simple with some potato chips. Their saltiness paired nicely with the citrus and bitter notes of the drink. Chips are, after all, a staple when enjoying an apéritif at bars in Italy.

I also enjoyed a cigar with the drink — as usual. I initially lit a Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year 10th Anniversary from my humidor, but it turned out to be a poor pairing, and lacking in flavor overall. I set it aside and reached for a trusted favorite: the Crowned Heads Le Caréme, specifically the limited edition Pastelitos LE 2023. The Le Caréme proved to be a far more satisfying match.

Cheers!

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An Evening with Perdomo 30th Anniversary Maduro and Henry McKenna

I’ve been working through some of the older cigars in my humidor lately. The medium- to full-bodied cigars I prefer tend to lose a bit of their zing after too long a rest. However, this past Friday evening was an exception. Some of my newer acquisitions were calling to me — specifically the Perdomo 30th Anniversary Maduro, which I picked up in mid-March. After a seven-week rest in the humidor, I decided it was time to light one up.

The Perdomo 30th Anniversary Maduro is a stick I’d been eager to try. They’re somewhat limited and not easy to come by. Released in 2023 to commemorate Perdomo Cigars’ 30th anniversary, this cigar joins the ranks of the brand’s other celebratory smokes. I’ve previously enjoyed the 10th and 25th Anniversary releases and had high expectations for this one.

The softly box-pressed Robusto measures 5 x 54. It features an attractive, dark brown Nicaraguan maduro wrapper that’s been aged in bourbon barrels for 15 years. The binder and filler are also Nicaraguan, with some of the tobaccos aged up to 15 years as well. A large, colorful band with gold accents enhances the cigar’s festive presentation.

The smoke opens with rich notes of espresso and dark chocolate, underscored by a touch of black pepper. As the cigar progresses, a background spiciness of pepper and cedar lingers. Soon, flavors of dark fruit join the mix, complementing the chocolate and bitter espresso. Later in the session, a creamy sweetness emerges. The Perdomo 30th Anniversary Maduro delivers a balanced and thoroughly enjoyable smoking experience.

To accompany the cigar, I poured a glass of Henry McKenna 10-Year Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. My current bottle was barreled on October 17, 2012, and purchased in April 2023. It had been a while since I last poured from it, but it’s a bourbon I always enjoy..

At the mandated 100 proof, this Bottled in Bond bourbon opens with aromas of caramel and vanilla, with a hint of fruitiness. The palate follows through with a pleasant blend of caramel and vanilla sweetness, balanced by a peppery rye spice that keeps the sweeter notes in check. Henry McKenna fits right in to the textbook "classic bourbon" profile.

Being a single barrel product, flavor can vary between bottles, but I’ve enjoyed every one I’ve tried. There was a time when it sold for around $25 a bottle. After it won Best in Show Whiskey at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, its popularity surged and availability dropped — despite the fact that bottles on shelves weren’t likely from the (unnamed) award-winning barrel. For years, it was an allocated selection in Virginia. Nowadays, expect to pay around $60 and up.

The spring evening weather was perfect — mild and pleasant, with low humidity — which only enhanced the enjoyment of the cigar and bourbon. I cherish these early warm evenings in Virginia. The Perdomo 30th Anniversary Maduro was such a pleasurable smoke that I nearly forgot about my bourbon — though it, too, was a delight. The cigar lasted just over an hour, though it felt like much less. I smoked it down to the nub I could no longer hold, still wishing for just a bit more. 

Cheers!

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Bourbon Independence Day: A Toast to America’s Native Spirit

On May 4, 1964, Senate Concurrent Resolution 19 (S. Con. Res. 19) was passed, declaring that bourbon “is a distinctive product of the United States.” With that resolution, Bourbon Whiskey joined the ranks of other regionally protected spirits such as Scotch Whisky, Cognac, and Canadian Whisky — each of which must be produced in their respective countries of origin.

Although bourbon may have originated in Kentucky — then still part of Virginia — and the vast majority of it is still produced there today, bourbon is now made in all 50 U.S. states.

So, raise a glass (or two) and celebrate Bourbon Independence Day with your favorite pour!

Cheers!

Image from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-78/pdf/STATUTE-78-Pg1208-2.pdf

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Five O'Clock Friday: Decision Time

When it's finally the weekend, but you're undecided.

*randomly collected internet image -- credit will be given upon request

Cheers!

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