Hermanos de Armas Sentinel: The Last One on the Shelf

During a recent visit to the Slow Burn Cigar Lounge, my intent was to grab a Hermanos de Armas Sentinel Limited Edition cigar that I’d been reading about on social media. It had been a few weeks since I’d visited the lounge, and I was hoping they still had them in stock. When I arrived, I headed directly to the HDA shelf and saw the box — with a lone cigar left.

Relieved, I grabbed the cigar, picked up a bottle of locally made cream soda, and settled in to enjoy a new smoke.

Hermanos de Armas Cigars (HDA) is the creation of two U.S. military veterans with a deep passion for cigars. The name, which translates to “Brothers in Arms,” reflects both their bond and their background. So far, the company produces three core lines, along with the occasional limited release. Sentinel is the newest limited edition from HDA and began shipping in late July of this year.

The 6 x 50 Toro sports a dark, oily Mexican San Andrés wrapper, with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Lighting up, my palate is initially greeted by rich, sweet chocolate. There’s a bit of peppery spice, but it stays in the background. The chocolatey sweetness remains consistent throughout the cigar. As the smoke progresses, the spice notes become more noticeable, providing balance without ever taking over.

As I smoked, another patron came in and sat down. He looked over at my cigar and remarked, “You got the last one.” He said he was also hoping to try the Sentinel and regretted sitting in his car talking on the phone. Indeed, I had seen him in the parking lot when I arrived. One man’s loss …

The production of the Sentinel was limited to only 600 boxes of 20 cigars. While chatting with Slow Burn proprietor Len, he told us that he had spoken with Zack from HDA the other day and confirmed that there were no more boxes to be had.

Maggie’s Cream Soda is the product of a local eatery in downtown Fredericksburg. Made with all-natural ingredients, the soda is minimally sweet, with a much lower carbonation level than many sodas. It made for a light, refreshing drink that allowed the cigar’s flavor notes to remain at the forefront.

The Hermanos de Armas Sentinel developed into a flavorful medium-to-full-bodied smoke. It combines rich dark chocolate, cocoa, natural sweetness, and restrained spice to create a rich but easygoing cigar. I don’t know if I’ll come across any more, but if I do, I won’t hesitate to grab a few.

Cheers!

September 11, 2001 and the Ongoing Threat

It has been twenty-five years — a quarter of a century — since followers of a demonic Islamist ideology attacked our nation and murdered nearly 3,000 people. For some Americans, memories have faded. Others choose to forget or forgive. Some never experienced the savagery of that day. Someone who was five years old on 9/11 is now 30. Someone born that day will turn 25. Roughly 26 million Americans alive today were five years old or younger on 9/11.

Still, the events of September 11, 2001 brought a horror to our shores that the world must never be allowed to forget.

On the one hand, it’s easy to understand why so many remain blissfully ignorant of the events of September 11. On the other hand, it points to a serious shortcoming in an American education system that may fail to adequately emphasize the most horrific terrorist attack on our shores in American history. Too often, I see the subject of 9/11 avoided out of concern that an honest discussion of what happened — and the Islamic ideology that motivated the attackers — might offend someone. However, it's impossible to defend America if we are afraid to name the enemy and the ideology that inspires him.

For a sad example of ignorance about 9/11, watch this video of uninformed students at the prestigious George Mason University.

This summer we visited the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA where the heroes aboard that plane fought back against their hijackers, causing the aircraft to crash there rather than reach its presumed target in the nation’s capital. I was genuinely surprised at the emotions and memories it evoked for me. I can honestly say I was not the only person dabbing at their eyes while walking through the museum. I hadn’t expected a place I had known about for 25 years to affect me that way. 

The same ideology that fueled those attacks still continues to inspire violence and terrorism around the world, including here in the United States. And yet, many remain complacent, blind, or willfully ignorant. 

Today we remember the nearly 3,000 victims of the terrorists, the first responders who ran toward danger, and the families whose grief has never faded. Their sacrifice and suffering deserve not only our remembrance but also our resolve.

Remembering isn’t merely looking backward; the ideology behind the attacks still requires vigilance. We must remember what was done to us on that bright September morning. We must stand firm against the ideology that inspired it. Be vigilant, for the evil one and his minions have not relented. The threat endures.

New York City, September 11, 2001

The Pentagon, September 11, 2001

Shanksville, PA, September 11, 2001

NEVER FORGET

St. Michael the Archangel,

defend us in battle.

Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,

and do thou,

O Prince of the heavenly hosts,

by the power of God,

cast into hell Satan,

and all the evil spirits,

who prowl about the world

seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

International Buy a Priest a Beer Day

September 9 is celebrated as International Buy a Priest a Beer Day. This lighthearted tradition reminds us that priests are real people who enjoy good company and a good beverage. The celebration was originally dreamed up by the folks at The Catholic Gentlemen.

This festive holiday traces its origins back to the pious deed of St. Hopswald of Aleyard, the first man to buy his priest a beer. The legend goes that St. Hopswald, a master brewer by trade, was a Teutonic pagan who was converted and baptized by a zealous Catholic priest.

One day, St. Hopswald committed a grievous sin. Without wasting a moment, he ran quickly to his priest and confessed. Later that day, as he was particularly enjoying the peace of a clean conscience, St. Hopswald was so filled with gratitude for his priest’s sacramental ministry that he rushed to the rectory and offered to buy his priest a beer.

Okay, if you haven’t figured it out by now, St. Hopswald wasn’t real, but your priest is, and without priestly ministry, getting to heaven would be well nigh impossible!

Believe it or not, priests are real people, and they enjoy socializing over good food and drink as much as anyone. They also have a thankless and difficult job, a job that we couldn’t get to heaven without. Priests are the lifeblood of the Church, and they deserve some appreciation.

Even if you aren't able to buy a round or two for your favorite priest today, raise a pint today in honor of the men who devote their lives to the Church.

The late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrates his 88th birthday.

International Buy a Priest a Beer Day originally started out as a moveable feast, celebrated on the second Monday of September. Apparently, keeping track of a moveable feast involving beer proved too difficult. It has since been decreed that IBAPABD will henceforth be celebrated permanently on September 9.

Cheers!

Foundation Wise Man Maduro Meets the Revolver

I’d been eyeing my last Foundation Wise Man Maduro, which had been aging in the humidor for about 16 months. I’m not sure how it managed to avoid consumption for so long, but its time had finally come. Thinking about a beverage accompaniment, my mind was drawn to the Revolver.

I’ve enjoyed the Wise Man Maduro many times, paired with bourbon, stouts, coffee, and even cream soda, so the Revolver offered something different. Despite the warm day, a coffee-flavored cocktail still seemed inviting.

The Wise Man Maduro is a standout smoke from Foundation Cigar Company. The 6 x 52 Toro features a dark, reddish Mexican San Andrés wrapper over Nicaraguan binders from Estelí and Jalapa, with fillers from Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa. Medium to full in body, it opens with bittersweet chocolate and bold espresso, accompanied by a subtle red-pepper spice. As the smoke progresses, the chocolate becomes creamier and a dark-fruit sweetness emerges, adding depth and a dessert-like quality to the profile. The spice gradually builds, shifting toward cedar before developing into more pronounced black pepper in the final third.

I initially questioned my desire to pair the cigar with a Revolver. The drink usually comes to mind as an evening cocktail rather than something I’d reach for on a hot afternoon. The combination of bourbon, coffee liqueur, and orange bitters creates a drink that is rich and concentrated. I used an extra dash of orange bitters, along with expressed oil from an orange peel, to lighten and brighten the drink. After mixing it over ice to chill it thoroughly, I served it over a large ice cube.

I was even more pleased with the pairing than I had anticipated. The coffee element reinforced the cigar’s espresso character, while the orange bitters added a welcome contrast to the richness of the combination. A dark coffee-bean note complemented the cigar’s chocolate sweetness in a dramatic fashion. At times, the pairing brought to mind memories of the Chocolate Orange ball candy I enjoyed so often over the Christmas holidays.

The Foundation Wise Man Maduro is a cigar I’ve enjoyed many times in the past, yet it never gets boring or uninteresting. It continues to prove its versatility when it comes to pairing options. The Wise Man Maduro is one of those cigars that, when I finish one, leaves me thinking, “I should get more of these.”

Cheers!

On the Road Again: Bourbon, Cigars, and Football

It may still feel like summer, but college football is kicking off, signaling the arrival of fall. This past weekend, we made the first of several planned trips this season to Blacksburg, VA, for Virginia Tech football. As much as I enjoy the weekends with family and watching the Hokies play, I also greatly look forward to enjoying good drinks, food, and cigars outside of my usual environs.

Our first stop was a Friday afternoon visit to J.H. Bards in downtown Blacksburg. The cocktail menu at J.H. Bards always features some interesting drinks, along with variations on the classics. Their Rye Old Fashioned is one we enjoy regularly.

On this visit, I tried a cocktail called the Archetype. This riff on the Old Fashioned adds Averna to the mix. The amaro brings dark caramel, orange, and bitter herbal notes to the usual sweetness. It was quite enjoyable — I made a note of the ingredients and watched the bartender make several — and I’ll be experimenting with this one soon.

After enjoying a few drinks at J.H. Bards, we caught up with our son and his wife for pizza at another “every time” stop, The Beast. After filling up on food and beer, it was time to return to the hotel. While the rest of the family rested, I headed outside to enjoy a relaxing cigar on the hotel patio.

Along with a generous pour of Maker’s Mark from the hotel bar, I settled in with an Oliva Serie V Maduro Robusto.

Knowing the hotel bar’s selection was quite limited, with Maker’s Mark the usual option, I brought along the Serie V specifically to go with the bourbon’s sweet wheat, vanilla, caramel, and soft spice. Combined with the cigar’s rich coffee, dark chocolate, and earthy profile, the pairing produced a satisfying, dessert-like combination.

The parking lot was active with families arriving for the weekend and college students coming and going as they picked up food orders from nearby restaurants. Despite the activity, the atmosphere was relaxing. It was the perfect way to unwind after the long drive — and a bit of quiet time before the excitement of the game the next day.

And for those following along, the Hokies took care of business the next day, beating VMI 73–3.

Cheers!

A Bold Cigar, A Gentle Bourbon

I’ve had a few of the new Rocky Patel Sapphire cigars in the humidor for about five weeks. I pulled one out on a warm evening recently to enjoy with a glass of Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Bourbon.

The Rocky Patel Sapphire was introduced in June 2026. The brand continues the “jewel” theme established with the Gold Label and Emerald cigars introduced previously. A Mexican San Andrés wrapper surrounds two binders — one from Estelí, Nicaragua, and the other from the Jamastrán Valley of Honduras. The filler is Nicaraguan, with tobacco from Estelí, Jalapa, and Condega. Much of the filler was aged six to seven years and, except for the wrapper, all of the tobaccos used were grown on farms owned by Rocky Patel.

As with so many of his cigars, Rocky Patel hides much of the cigar beneath a decorative sleeve. Removing the adornment reveals a dark brown, slightly rough wrapper encasing the sharply box-pressed stick.

Upon lighting, the smoke begins with dark coffee and espresso. The initial flavor is bold and sharp, but caramel and sweet chocolate soon join the mix. The overall profile is smooth and balanced, with the darker flavors of coffee, espresso, and chocolate countered by caramel and sweet spice. Solidly medium-bodied to start, the cigar creeps into the medium-full range later in the smoke. Smoking time was longer than expected, lasting about 75 minutes in total.

At a moderate 91.4 proof, Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Bourbon is a relatively soft and well-rounded bourbon. It offers a classic bourbon profile of mellow caramel, vanilla, and stone fruit. Not an overwhelming bourbon, Michter’s allows the Sapphire to take the flavor lead. The cigar’s coffee and espresso notes blend particularly well with the bourbon’s caramel and vanilla.

The darker, more robust flavors of the cigar took center stage in the pairing, but the bourbon held its own and provided a pleasant counterpoint. Still, I came away thinking the Sapphire could handle — and perhaps even benefit from — a more assertive bourbon. That’s an experiment I look forward to trying in the future.

Cheers!

Taming the Full Proof: Liga Privada H99 Meets 1792

The Liga Privada H99 Corona Doble is not a cigar that I smoke on a whim. The 7 x 54 stick is a two-hour commitment. This hearty cigar rewards a little anticipation and pairs especially well with a flavorful bourbon. It’s the sort of cigar I’ll think about earlier in the day, knowing that two hours of pleasurable smoking awaits. I’ve often enjoyed it with a moderate-proof bourbon, but for a recent smoking session, I decided to step things up and reach for something with a bit more punch. After some deliberation, I settled on 1792 Full Proof Bourbon.

The 1792 Full Proof is a VA ABC selection I picked up back in 2022. It’s not a bottle I reach for often, but I always enjoy it when I do. Like the Liga Privada H99, it’s not something I reach for casually.

1792 Full Proof is bottled at 125 proof. That’s the same proof as the distillate when it entered the barrel for aging and is the highest proof currently offered by 1792. The aroma has brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, and baking spices in abundance. A slight alcohol burn emerges with a closely held nose, though it is surprisingly restrained for a bourbon at this proof.

But 1792 Full Proof is more than a powerhouse. Bright caramel and vanilla mingle with cinnamon and baking spice, while dark fruit and oak add depth. The finish is long and warm, with lingering caramel sweetness and spice.

After a few sips of the high-proof bourbon, I lit the H99 and settled in. 

The Liga Privada H99 Corona Doble features a shiny H99 Connecticut Corojo hybrid wrapper, from which the cigar gets its name. The leaf is a hybrid of Habano and Corojo ’99 tobaccos, grown in the Connecticut River Valley by a single farm specifically for Drew Estate. A Mexican San Andrés Negro binder encases filler tobaccos grown in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Pennsylvania.

All the examples I’ve smoked have had moderately loose draws, especially during the first half of the smoke. The cigar is on the mildly spicy side, with pepper and lightly toasted bread. As the smoke progresses, the cigar develops a richer chocolate and coffee character, with a sweet earthiness underneath.

As I began alternating between drink and smoke, the rye spice aspect of the bourbon initially stood out. But as the cigar developed, its rich chocolate, coffee, earth, and sweetness seemed to emphasize the bourbon’s fruit, caramel, and vanilla notes while softening the sting of the alcohol on the tongue.

As the cigar entered the final couple of inches, it developed a more noticeable dry leather and earth profile, with less sweetness and chocolate. In those concluding moments, something unexpected happened. Despite the cigar becoming drier and more earthy, the bourbon seemed to brighten rather than become heavier. Its familiar fruit, caramel, and vanilla notes suddenly became more vivid and pronounced. The flavors hadn’t changed so much as become more clearly defined. Once the cigar was finished, its effect on the bourbon lingered as I poured myself one final sip.

I’ve smoked the H99 in smaller vitolas, but I’ve always enjoyed the Corona Doble the most. The long smoking time offers more opportunity to appreciate its transitions and its interactions with the paired beverage. The H99 and 1792 Full Proof made for an exceptional pairing and a most enjoyable two hours. 

The H99 doesn’t require a high-proof bourbon — I’ve enjoyed it with lower-proof whiskeys in the past — but it certainly seems well suited to one with enough proof to keep up with it. At the same time, the cigar isn’t merely standing up to the 125-proof bourbon; it may actually be helping to tame it.

Cheers!

A Sweet Counterpoint: Micallef Green and Barrell Mizunara

Looking for a quick after-dinner smoke, I reached for a Micallef Green in Robusto. The Green is a flavorful cigar featuring a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper over a Mexican San Andrés Negro binder, with Nicaraguan tobaccos in the filler. At 5 x 52, the Robusto feels small in the hand and suggests a shorter smoking time — just what I was looking for.

I decided on a small pour of Barrell Cask Finish Series: Mizunara Bourbon to accompany the early evening smoke.

The Micallef Green begins with notes of cocoa, coffee, and a subtle, sweet earthiness. There’s an underlying creaminess and sweet nuttiness to the profile. Medium-bodied, the cigar offers enough complexity to maintain interest without becoming a demanding smoke.

At 116.42 proof, the Mizunara Bourbon is rich in flavor but doesn’t overwhelm the cigar. The initial sip is spicy and warming, followed by notes of raisin, black cherry, caramel, vanilla, and honey. A woody spice emerges on the finish, adding another layer of interest.

The Barrell Cask Finish Series: Mizunara Bourbon and Micallef Green proved to be a delightful pairing. Rather than simply echoing one another, the contrasting flavors complemented each other. The cigar’s coffee, cocoa, and nutty notes provided an enjoyable counterpoint to the fruit, sweetness, and spice of the bourbon. Its underlying creaminess seemed to tame the bourbon’s spice, making the Mizunara finish feel sweeter and more approachable. The result was a pairing in which neither component dominated, allowing each to retain its own character.

The Green finished in just about 50 minutes. The smoking time was exactly what I was looking for after dinner, although the combination was enjoyable enough that those 50 minutes seemed to pass even more quickly than the clock measured.

Cheers!