Spring’s First Pour: Barrell Cigar Blend Bourbon

At last, spring has sprung. Friday marked the first official day of the season and, surprisingly, it actually felt like it. The day began warm and sunny — accompanied, of course, by a healthy dose of pollen. I spent the morning spreading mulch around the beds, and I’ll admit, I enjoy stepping outside and catching that sweet, earthy aroma of fresh mulch in the air.

After a much-needed afternoon nap, I was refreshed and ready for an evening on the porch. As luck would have it, my bottle of Barrell Craft Spirits Cigar Blend Bourbon arrived that very afternoon, and I eagerly cracked it open for the evening’s sip and smoke.

Barrell Cigar Blend is a blend of whiskeys aged 7.5 to 18 years, finished in Madeira, Armagnac, rum, and Hungarian oak casks. The few early reviews I've seen were favorable and I was curious to see if the 111.2-proof whiskey would live up to the early hype.

Poured into a Glencairn, the nose offered aromas of dark fruit and baking spices, complemented by a deep copper hue in the glass. The first sip carried a hint of the proof, but it quickly gave way to rich notes of dark, sweet cherry. With subsequent sips came additional layers — dates, figs, and a gentle mix of cinnamon and spice on the finish. A subtle hint of sweet tobacco lingered in the background, while the mouthfeel proved creamy and pleasantly viscous.

The Rocky Patel A.L.R. Second Edition I chose for the pairing is no stranger to these Musings. Featuring a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Honduran binder, and fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua, it delivers notes of coffee, espresso, and a dark fruit sweetness that complements the bourbon beautifully.

Together, the pairing was thoroughly enjoyable. The Barrell Cigar Blend melded seamlessly with the cigar’s sweet undertones. I’ve long appreciated Barrell's blends, and this release only reinforces the brand’s reputation. It seems others agree — within days of placing my order, the Cigar Blend had already sold out on Barrell’s website.

The tranquility of the spring evening was interrupted — twice — by the roar of the generator as brief power outages rolled through. A passing rainstorm, with its gusty winds, was likely to blame. The main supply lines to our neighborhood run along the edge of National Park Service land, where tree trimming is minimal, so these occasional blips come with the territory.

Even so, the evening remained a delight. The soft breeze drifting through the screened porch added to the sense of calm after a day of yard chores. A good bourbon and a fine cigar only made it better.

Cheers!

A Sunset Smoke: Tatuaje Cojonu 2018 and Amaretto

Sunday marked the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. We moved the clocks forward, taking an hour of light from the morning and adding it to the evening. Of course, the length of the day itself isn’t affected and nothing is truly “saved,” but it’s a welcome change in my book. I don’t mind drinking my morning coffee in the dim light of early day, and I certainly appreciate enjoying my evening smoke before and during sunset — or at least getting a good start before darkness settles in.

With temperatures in the low 70s after the Sunday evening meal, I grabbed a Tatuaje Cojonu 2018 Broadleaf from the humidor, poured myself an Amaretto digestif, and stepped outside to enjoy the fading day.

The Cojonu 2018 had been resting in the humidor for the past three months. I’m a fan of Tatuaje cigars, and frankly I’m a bit surprised it sat that long. The 5 5/8 x 54 stick features a rounded box press and is cloaked in an oily, USA-grown Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Nicaraguan tobaccos make up the binder and filler. The blend reportedly contains a generous amount of ligero and higher-priming wrapper leaves, adding both body and strength.

The smoke begins with a robust mix of cedar, espresso, and dark cocoa. As the cigar settles in, an undercurrent of sweetness emerges to balance the profile. By the end of the roughly 75-minute smoke, the pepper note moves back to the forefront. The cigar delivers full body, yet remains balanced and flavorful throughout.

The almond sweetness of the Disaronno Amaretto contrasted with the opening notes of the Cojonu 2018 — though not unpleasantly. As the smoke progressed, I found the sweet liqueur softened the cigar’s peppery edge somewhat, making for an enjoyable and flavorful pairing.

As I savored the drink and cigar, the sun slowly slipped below the horizon and the low-angled light warmed the porch in its final moments. While enjoying the spring-like weather, I couldn’t help but notice the grass around the house beginning to green. At the same time, our local deer herd strolled in to nibble on the fresh shoots.

Such is the cycle of spring.

 

Cheers!

Daffodils, Negronis, and a Sunday on the Porch

The signs of Spring continue to reveal themselves in small but welcome ways. I was delighted last week to see the first daffodils sprouting from the ground.

Even more welcome was the return of our Sunday Aperitivo on the porch.

It has been some four months since we moved our Sunday tradition indoors for the winter. While the drinks and pre-dinner snacks remain the same, enjoying them outside allows me to enjoy a cigar at the same time. For the new season’s opening salvo, I paired a Negroni with the My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petit Robusto. The shorter smoking time was a concession to the remaining chill in the air.

Soon those daffodils will bloom and outdoor dining will resume in earnest. It can’t happen too soon.

Cheers!

Saturday Beer, Food, and Smoke

After our morning shooting outing, we headed over to 1781 Brewing to enjoy the pleasant spring weather. We claimed a table out back overlooking the vineyards. It was a pleasant view even if the fields were still barren. Both Colleen and I ordered pints of the brewery's Dunkelweizen. I am a fan of this style in general, and I enjoy 1781's version when I can. The low 4.7% ABV, the nutty, slightly sweet caramel and toasted bread flavors make for an easy sipper. I suspect it will be going off the tap list in the coming weeks as they bring on the summer selections.

Full disclosure, one of the motivating factors for the visit was a posting on Facebook about the weekend's food option; The Turkish Kabob & Gyro Food Truck. After a lengthy viewing of the menu decided on the Chicken Kabob Wrap and a Chicken Gyro Sandwich. The food was served promptly and warm. There was a mix up and I ended up with a Beef Gyro instead of the chicken, but I decided to try it instead. Both the meals were quite tasty. We'd certainly check out this vendor again.

I made the decision that it was time to finally enjoy a cigar, for the first time since December. I had brought along my travel case with three options, just in case the urge came. I settled on the Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Bon Chasseur, with another serving of the Dunkelweizen. The medium bodied smoke with cocoa and coffee notes was a satisfying "first" smoke.

It was such a pleasurable afternoon that we ended up sitting for a bit longer than we had planned. The evening's musician arrived and was setting up as I finished my beer and smoke. We listened to few songs before finally deciding we couldn't sit at the picnic table bench any longer — next time I'll actually bring the folding chairs from the car!

March 20, 6:29 AM EDT

Spring has sprung. There's still some cold weather ahead, but it's not too optimistic to say we've turned the corner. Not a minute to soon for my tastes.

Soon, there will be more late afternoons on the range, time for good beer on the porch in the evenings... And sun!

Spring Flowers on the Range

Colleen sent me this photo she took at the range from a few years ago. The plant is a native orchid called "Showy Orchis" or Galearis spectabilis. I actually remember quite clearly the day we saw the blooms when were shooting and she stopped to take some pictures.

The blooms appear in April and May. I don't recall seeing the plants last time I was at the range, so I wonder if they survived some recent range renovations. Perhaps I'll just have to go shooting after work today to check it out.

Spring "Flowers" on the Range

While looking through photos for a previous post, I was struck by the similarities of these pictures. Colleen captured the Dogwood blossoms at the range. The target "blossoms" were created during the same outing.

Go Home Mother Nature, You're Drunk

And this morning (Tuesday) the radar indicated snow over us.

The Coming Spring Equinox

The Spring Equinox is Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 12:30 AM EDT local time.

So what's all this talk about a Nor'easter?

Sights and Sounds of Spring

Even though we've enjoyed some warm(ish) weather, it's often felt like the Spring, and all that accompanies it, would never arrive and stay. However, Tuesday the skies were clear, and the temps in the 80's. So we went out for some of this:

We worked up a sweat in the sun, so later we treated ourselves to this:

Yep, it was a good day.

If you don't like the weather...

... wait a few days.

It's Virginia.

Spring Colors on the Range

We had just finished setting up the targets for some late afternoon shooting, when Colleen observed "Looks like Easter!"

Seasonal Changes

Yesterday I made a run to the "candy store" to pick up the newly arrived Tröegs Nugget Nectar. I look forward with much anticipation to this intense citrus hop delight every year. Not only do I immensely enjoy this beer, for me, it's also my sign that Spring is not far behind. (The 72° temperature was also a hint on this day.)

As I made my way to the register to check out I spied a stack of New Belgium Snow Day. The "out of season" beer was marked down in order to clear it out. We tried this beer for the first time a few months ago, and enjoyed it very much. So how could I resist? Interestingly, the first time I bought Snow Day it was an impulse purchase, and it was again this time. Do you think I need to work on better impulse control? I don't think so either.

So there it is — a beer run that resulted in both a replenished supply of an excellent Winter beer to get us through the remaining cool days, and the first (at least) case of my favorite Spring beer to herald the approaching warmer weather.

There was a side benefit of the impulse purchase as well. Adding in some other random purchases, my beer store tab was actually greater than my gas bill to fill up the car later that day. That sort of takes some of the sting out of the rapidly increasing price of gasoline.

These Gnomes Will Keep the Goblins Away

It's never too early to start thinking about Spring gardening projects.

The seller's site on Etsy has more defensive Gnomes.

A Sight For Sore Eyes

Readers of these Musings will know that I am no fan of winter in Virginia. I do love those "winter beers" which my favorite breweries release. Those special beers help to make the season bearable. However, "cold, wet, and dark" are more welcome as beer descriptors, than when used to describe winter in these parts. Imagine my delight when I walked out of my office this morning and was greeted by the sight of the fosythia blooming.

Yep, made my day!

"Spring is God's way of saying, 'One more time!'"

--Robert Orben

Signs of Impending Spring

We're in the middle of Winter in Virginia. The whole of the month of February is ahead of us, and this month can bring serious Winter weather. But there are signs around us that the Spring weather is approaching.

Some folks look to Punxsutawney Phil for hope. The groundhog saw no shadow but that doesn't convince me. Yesterday's anomalous temperature of 67° was a taste of thing to come, but it was short lived. For me, the surest sign that we're on the road to Spring is when I see the stacks of Tröegs Nugget Nectar make an appearance at the local beverage store. Sure this beer is released in the midst of Winter, but I've always considered it the first of the Spring beers, rather than the last of the Winter beers.

The only thing that will top the excitement finding this Tröegs seasonal in the store, is when I have poured a glass at home and I am enjoying the aromas and flavors of this hop-rich nectar.

Spring Cleaning

I've been doing a bit of Spring Cleaning recently. We found ourselves with a lot of singles in the beer fridge. These consisted of the one, occasionally two, remaining bottles from numerous 6-pack purchases. I'm sure I'm not alone in acquiring new beers before having finished what's on hand. Before you know what's happened, there's big collection of one-offs in the refrigerator. So, for the past month or so, I've not bought any new beer, but have been working my way through the older beer in the fridge. It's been fun to revisit some of these beers. The downside is there's usually only one bottle of each, so some evenings we might enjoy an eclectic mix. On the upside, none of the beer has been old enough to have gone bad. And there's been a nice surprise or two. After I thought I had consumed my last one, I found one more bottle of Clipper City Winter Storm. Ooh! I see a Slaapmutske Triple Nightcap tucked in the back.

We've pretty much worked our way through all the leftovers now. There are still plenty of big beer singles, but that's a different story all together. And the really exciting news is I'm ready to go shopping!

Old Dominion Spring Buck

Spring Buck Blonde Ale is the latest release from Old Dominion Brewery in Ashburn, VA. Though the bottles of Old Dominion's Spring release tout a new name and design, and the beer a new recipe, the six-pack carrier they are packaged in bears the "Spring Brew" name and logo from previous years. Since the brewery promotes this as a Spring beer, as with the Tröegs Nugget Nectar mentioned previously, I'll go ahead and claim this is an early harbinger of the approaching Spring. The release party for this brew was held at the brewery on January 9, which also is the bottling date stamped on the bottles I picked up today.

The Old Dominion web site describes Spring Buck as a "full-flavored Blonde Ale has a crisp spiced finish with hints of chamomile and orange." Spring Buck pours a bright amber-gold color with a white head that drops rapidly leaving a ring, but little lacing. The beer is very effervescent, with a never-ending stream of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. The aroma is honey, with some faint hints of pepper, clove and banana. There's a slight yeastiness noted as well. The flavor is predominately honey, orange, and a typical Belgian spice flavor palette. The mouthfeel is moderately thick with a creamy feeling, though the visible carbonation isn't felt in the mouth. The aftertaste leaves a lingering but light pepper bite. A Belgian Blond Ale, Old Dominion Spring Buck weighs in at 7.5% ABV.

I totally missed Old Dominion's Winter 2007 release, so I jumped on this one as soon as I saw it. That it showed up in the grocery store so quickly must be a result of Anheuser-Busch becoming the master distributor for Old Dominion in 2007. Old Dominion Spring Buck Blonde Ale is a nice example of the style. There's nothing extreme about it, and given the recent success of Belgian-style beers from the large macro-breweries, this one could be a hit with consumers as well.

Tröegs Nugget Nectar, the Slide Into Spring

Yes, we're only a month into Winter, and we had 3 inches of snow yesterday, but Tröegs Nugget Nectar hit my favorite beer store today. I tend to associate this particular nectar with Spring. Matt let us know this afternoon that it was in stock, and I stopped by for my first batch a short while later.

I was going to try and write my impression of this hoppy brew, but it turns out Lew Bryson over at the Seen Through a Glass blog had just posted his impression:

Mostly, it's hoppier than blazes. It's like grapefruit pith, it's piney, it's...okay, it's got a kind of cat's piss smell that's weirdly appealing. I can't believe I'm going to leave that in, but I am, because it's true. The amazing thing about this beer -- one amazing thing about this beer is how the bitterness doesn't hook into your tongue and linger forever: it's like wasabi, it hits WHAM and you stagger a bit, and it's gone. Which means it's time for another swallow, another mouth-squeezing taste, a blast of lupulin freshness -- hmmm, the cat's piss is gone -- and that's the other amazing thing about this beer: it's bitter, it's jam-packed with flavor, it's ... gone. Way too drinkable, which ain't a bad thing, just something you have to keep your eye on.

Well, that pretty much sums it up. I won't even try to top such eloquence. Read the entire post here. Then, stop reading about it, and go pick some up for yourself!