Almonds, Oak, and a Cooling Porch

Now that we’re solidly into fall, with winter knocking on the door, cooler evenings on the screened porch are once again becoming the norm. Heading out for an evening sip and smoke, I wondered how comfortable the porch would be.

For this evening’s smoke, I lit up a Guardian of the Farm Apollo Selección de Warped and poured a glass of Maker’s Mark 46.

The Guardian of the Farm Apollo is a Nicaraguan puro developed through a collaboration between Aganorsa Leaf (then Casa Fernandez) and Warped Cigars. Released in 2017, the cigar has earned accolades from aficionados over the years. As far as I can recall, I’d never smoked one, so I was interested in discovering what all the favorable reviews were about.

The cigar measures 6 x 44, making it a lonsdale, or long corona. The cigar is made with a blend of vintage Criollo and Corojo vintage Nicaraguan tobaccos. The wrapper is Nicaraguan Jalapa Corojo ’99, with a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 binder and fillers consisting of Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98 tobaccos. 

The cigar opens with medium-bodied flavors of almonds and roasted nuts, accompanied by woody cedar notes. Mild baking spices emerge as the smoke progresses, while a subtle sweetness remains consistent throughout.

I selected Maker’s Mark 46 for its caramel sweetness. Bottled at a modest 94 proof, the oak-finished bourbon complemented the cigar’s almond and spice notes without overwhelming its more delicate flavors.

The Guardian of the Farm Apollo Selección de Warped is a flavorful but subtle smoke. Its slender ring gauge contributes to a slow, measured smoking experience, and the cigar burned evenly from start to finish. I was surprised to get an hour and forty-five minutes out of it.

As I enjoyed the cigar and bourbon pairing, I watched the thermometer on the wall slowly creep down to 52°. It was cool, but not uncomfortable. I thought back to smoking on the porch last winter. Once the windows are closed and the heater is brought out, the temperature rarely drops below 65°, even on the coldest winter days.

I suppose it will soon be time to convert the screened porch to its winter configuration.

Cheers!