Post-Game Pleasures: My Father Blue, Perdomo Legacy, and Maker’s Mark

We traveled back to Blacksburg, Virginia this past weekend to take in another Virginia Tech football game. Perhaps we’re gluttons for punishment, but even when the Hokies lose, college football weekends are usually a good time. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t much to watch — the Hokies lost, and neither team seemed capable of playing particularly good football, so the entertainment was limited.

On the bright side, it was an afternoon game, which left the evening open for a couple of cigars after dinner. The hotel patio lights were bright, but the setting was otherwise pleasant — quiet, with little traffic or passing headlights to disturb the ambiance.

I was in the mood for a beer to follow the one I’d had with my steak sub at dinner. Alas, the hotel’s best option was a Goose Island IPA. I lit a My Father Blue as I settled in. The cigar was every bit as flavorful as I remembered, though the beer was less than satisfying. About a third of the way through the cigar, I swapped it out for a generous pour of Maker’s Mark Bourbon from the hotel bar for an instant improvement.

When the My Father Blue finished, I still had a good bit of bourbon left and decided to light up a second cigar, the Perdomo Legacy. Another robusto-sized smoke, I thought of it as simply the second half of one long, relaxing cigar. Having enjoyed it recently, I was looking forward to revisiting it, and it didn’t disappoint.

The hour grew late, and with an early start ahead, I set the cigar down a little sooner than usual. Still, it was a fine finish to the night.

This particular hotel has become our go-to spot in Blacksburg, and I’ve noticed that the ashtray on the patio always holds the remnants of previous cigars. The staff rarely seem to bother with it, so I usually empty it before settling in. Oddly, though, I’ve only been joined by another smoker once. I thought Imight have company this evening when I saw a man heading out with a cigar travel case — but he was on his way to dinner and never returned while I was outside.

After so much time on the road lately, I’m looking forward to enjoying the comfort of my own deck — and my own bourbon selection — for a while, anyway.

Cheers!