An Undiminished Devotion: Reflections on America’s 250th Anniversary

Today, and indeed this entire year, patriotic Americans celebrate the foresight, wisdom, and courage of our Founding Fathers in declaring independence from an oppressive government. As our nation marks the 250th anniversary of its founding — the American Semiquincentennial — Independence Day carries an even deeper significance. It is both a celebration of freedom and a solemn reminder that liberty must be vigilantly protected.

Our forefathers were explicit in their intent: our rights are granted by our Creator, not by government. Political power is legitimate only when it derives from the consent of the governed. These timeless truths laid the foundation of a nation built on freedom. Yet today, those principles face challenges — not only from foreign adversaries, but also from those within our own society who misunderstand, disregard, or seek to redefine them.

Enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and secured through the Constitution is the conviction that all people are endowed with unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These founding principles remain as relevant today as they were in 1776. But freedom is not self-sustaining. It depends upon citizens who possess the character, courage, and resolve to uphold it.

Celebrating this great gift of liberty does not require ignoring the threats against it. Some, under a distorted understanding of “freedom” or in pursuit of ideological causes, seek to silence dissent, erase history, redefine language, and shame those who hold differing views. Such attitudes reveal not confidence in their ideas, but hostility toward the principles of open debate and individual liberty that have long defined our republic.

Yet hope abounds. Millions of Americans are growing weary of division, hostility, and caricatures that portray their beliefs as dangerous or extreme. They continue to stand by the values enshrined in our founding documents: freedom, faith, personal responsibility, and equal rights under the law.

Even amid uncertainty and division, the light of liberty has not been extinguished. Many Americans seek a renewed commitment to the principles of 1776 and the constitutional order that followed. Their efforts are driven not by hatred, but by love — love of country, love of liberty, and love for future generations who deserve to inherit a free and united nation.

Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Roger C. Weightman on June 24, 1826, reflected on the significance of this day:

“For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.”

I, for one, am proud of my country. I will not quietly accept efforts to restrict religious liberty, diminish the right of self-defense, or replace the principles of a free society with ideologies that history has repeatedly shown to be destructive.

As America marks its Semiquincentennial year, may we renew our appreciation for the principles that gave birth to this nation and recommit ourselves to preserving them. Celebrate America. Celebrate freedom. And above all, prepare to defend and preserve these blessings for those who will inherit the nation we leave behind.

Happy Independence Day!

From Washington’s Notebook to the Taproom

It’s well known that early American colonists drank a great deal of beer. In an era when much of the available drinking water — especially in cities — was unsafe, beer provided a safer alternative. One popular style was “small beer,” a low-alcohol brew typically ranging from 1 to 3 percent ABV.

While serving as a colonel in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War, George Washington wrote down his recipe for small beer:

“Take a large Sifter full of Bra Hops to your Taste -- Boil these 3 hours. Then strain out 30 Gall. into a Cooler put in 3 Gallons Molasses while the Beer is scalding hot or rather drain the molasses into the Cooler. Strain the Beer on it while boiling hot let this stand til it is little more than Blood warm. Then put in a quart of Yeast if the weather is very cold cover it over with a Blanket. Let it work in the Cooler 24 hours then put it into the Cask. leave the Bung open til it is almost done working -- Bottle it that day Week it was Brewed.”

The resulting beer would have been a dark, unfiltered ale. The generous amount of molasses likely imparted a noticeable sweetness, producing a flavor profile quite different from what most beer drinkers are accustomed to today.

As part of its America 250 celebration, the New York Public Library asked the New York-based Talea Beer Co. to brew a couple hundred bottles based on Washington’s original recipe for internal events. The brewery also used the recipe as inspiration for “Liberty Lager,” which is available at its taprooms in New York.

History often feels distant, preserved in books and museums. But occasionally it finds its way into our glass. George Washington’s small beer is more than a curiosity — it’s history you can taste, offering a small but tangible connection to the daily lives of those who helped shape America.

Image courtesy of the Mount Vernon website. 

Cheers!

Five O'Clock Friday: Budget? What Budget?

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars.

Cheers!

Welcoming Summer with a Kentucky Colonel

The first day of summer coincided with Father’s Day this year, making for a fitting occasion to spend a relaxing afternoon on the porch with a drink and a cigar. The weather was delightful with warmth and relatively low humidity.

Recently, while looking for simple bourbon cocktails, I came across the Kentucky Colonel. The drink is essentially an Old Fashioned that swaps the traditional sugar for a measure of Bénédictine, adding herbal complexity and honeyed sweetness.

Kentucky Colonel

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 1/2 oz Bénédictine
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Lemon peel for garnish

Add bourbon, Bénédictine, and bitters to a mixing glass. Combine bourbon, Bénédictine, and bitters in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir to chill. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over ice, preferably a single, large cube. Express the lemon oils over the drink and drop in the twist.

I selected Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year Old for the bourbon component. The high rye mash bourbon has strong notes of oak and dried fruit. There’s enough spice to stand up to the Bénédictine without overpowering its herbal and honey notes. The cocktail offers a pleasing melding of bourbon caramel, vanilla, and oak with the honeyed sweetness and herbal complexity of the Bénédictine.

I decided to pair the Kentucky Colonel with the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary cigar. All of the Oliva Serie V varieties are versatile cigars that pair well with all manner of beverages. The irregularly released limited-edition 135th Anniversary maintains the familiar blend of an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The 5 1/2” x 54 vitola features a tapered foot, with the ring gauge narrowing from 54 down to roughly 30 at the tip. Due to the unusual shape, the cigar evolves noticeably throughout the smoke, offering subtle shifts in flavor while maintaining the familiar Serie V profile overall.

The pairing was as enjoyable as expected. The cigar’s pepper, cedar, and cocoa played nicely against the bourbon’s rye spice and the herbal sweetness of the cocktail. The Kentucky Colonel softened some of the cigar’s peppery edges without muting its distinctive character.

I’ll be adding the Kentucky Colonel to my summer cocktail rotation. It’s flavorful and refreshing without feeling heavy, and I suspect it would pair equally well with chocolate-, espresso-, and coffee-forward cigars that carry a touch of sweetness — flavor profiles that are firmly in my wheelhouse.

The combination of the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary and Kentucky Colonel made for an excellent way to welcome summer: a flavorful cigar, a well-crafted cocktail, and a leisurely afternoon enjoying the screened porch and the season’s pleasant weather.

Cheers!

Bishops Blend, Heaven Hill, and a Cool June Evening

Scanning the humidor for an interesting smoke on a cool, almost-summer evening, my eyes settled on a Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend in the Corona Larga vitola. I knew the cigar had been resting there for quite a while, and when I checked my inventory in the Cigar Scanner app, I discovered I had acquired it exactly one year ago. I took that as a sign.

My thoughts immediately turned to the bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond sitting on the nearby shelf. I knew it would make a fitting companion.

The Bishops Blend has earned frequent mentions in these Musings. It’s one of my favorite cigars when I’m in the mood for a full-flavored smoke. The Robusto is usually my preferred vitola, and I make a point of picking up a few from each year’s release, setting some aside for long-term aging.

The blend features an Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper over an Ecuadorian Habano binder, with fillers from Nicaragua complemented by Connecticut and Pennsylvania Broadleaf tobaccos. Medium- to full-bodied, the cigar delivers rich notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, pepper, and espresso, balanced by a touch of sweet earthiness.

The closed foot and pointed cap are among the cigar’s distinctive features. They also add a bit of complexity to the lighting process. With the sharply pointed cap, it can be difficult to judge the draw before the foot is fully lit. On this Corona Larga, the draw remained somewhat snug even after the foot burned open. Annoyingly, the resistance persisted through much of the smoke, requiring frequent double puffs to coax out the cigar’s full flavors.

Despite the draw issues, I was able to enjoy the cigar’s rich profile, which paired wonderfully with the Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond. This reasonably priced bourbon is aged seven years and bottled at 100 proof. From the first pour, aromas of caramel, vanilla, and oak rose invitingly from the glass.

On the palate, robust oak and baking spice lead the way. Sweet vanilla and hints of dark cherry arrive early before giving way to a lingering caramel sweetness on the finish. The 100 proof stands up well to the dark richness of the Bishops Blend. I found the bourbon’s caramel and vanilla notes softened the cigar’s bitter espresso and pepper while still asserting its own oak and spice character.

The balanced robustness of the pairing perfectly complemented the cool evening. Even after the cigar was reduced to ash and the bourbon glass stood empty, I lingered on the screen porch, listening to music and savoring the quiet relaxation.

I recently saw reports that this year’s release of the Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend will be shipping soon. With another release just around the corner, I suspect I’ll once again be setting aside a few for future evenings like this one.

Cheers!

An Unexpected Encounter with Abraham Bowman Rye

This past week I attended a “Whiskey & Cigars” event hosted by Locovore, a new restaurant in downtown Fredericksburg. The gathering was held on the restaurant’s rooftop bar and, unlike the event I attended the previous week, the weather fully cooperated.

The local A. Smith Bowman Distillery was one of the featured participants. As Bowman is one of my favorite producers, I was especially looking forward to sampling some of their special releases.

As it turned out, the evening was quite different from what I had expected — less a whiskey tasting and more a rooftop cigar social with some excellent bourbon available at the bar. 

When I arrived, I joined a couple of other attendees at a table. While we waited for the event to begin, I ordered an Old Fashioned from the bar to ease into the evening. With no sign of the program starting, a couple of us wandered over to where Olde Towne Tobacconist had set up a table displaying a nice selection of cigars. Nearby, the Bowman representative was handing out an assortment of distillery swag.

We asked if there would be a presentation or guided tasting of the bourbons and were told there would not. We were simply to order whichever Bowman expression we wanted from the bar. The representative was available to answer questions, but he wasn’t there to lead a tasting.

At that point, I grabbed a couple of cigars to smoke that evening. My table companions decided to leave in search of food when they learned they could only order from a limited appetizer menu, although I later saw diners being served other dishes as well. As bourbon enthusiasts rather than cigar smokers, they seemed a bit disappointed that the evening lacked the guided tasting or presentation they had expected.

I lit a Padrón 3000 Natural to enjoy while I finished my Old Fashioned. The 5½ x 52 Nicaraguan puro is a mild-to-medium bodied smoke with notes of cocoa, coffee, and wood. It proved to be a pleasant companion to the cocktail. The cigar lasted only about 40 minutes, but that brief smoke was fine as I was ready to move on to something a bit more exciting now that I understood the evening was going to be more of a casual cigar gathering than a guided whiskey tasting.

The menu listed four Bowman products: John J. Bowman Single Barrel, Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished, Abraham Bowman Rye, and A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength. The first two are readily available expressions, but I was especially interested in the rye.

Abraham Bowman Special Release #26 Rye Whiskey is a new and limited release from the distillery. To my knowledge, it has only been available through the distillery’s lottery system. Unfortunately, I was not selected in the most recent drawing held in May. In fact, the rye does not even appear on Virginia ABC’s website.

Aged for 11 years and bottled at 110 proof, the rye is exceptionally smooth and easy to sip. Notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and stone fruit are accompanied by a subtle sweetness. While there is a hint of rye spice on the finish, it remains gentle and supporting, allowing the butterscotch and fruit notes to take center stage.

I sipped the Bowman Rye while enjoying a Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro. I expected the cigar to pair well with the whiskey, as it has complemented a variety of spirits for me in the past. The Nicaraguan maduro wrapper is aged in bourbon barrels for about 14 months, while the binder and filler are also Nicaraguan. The flavor profile features cocoa and dark chocolate, espresso, and spicy cedar that grows more prominent toward the latter stages of the smoke.

My prediction proved accurate. The Abraham Bowman Rye paired beautifully with the Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro. The whiskey’s maple sweetness and mature oak intertwined with the cigar’s cocoa and espresso notes. Toward the end of the smoke, the cigar’s growing pepper spice might have challenged the rye, but I had long since finished the glass by that point.

The folks at the event seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the cigars from Olde Towne Tobacconist appeared quite popular. However, there seemed to be limited interest in the whiskey tasting aspect of the evening. I saw a couple of people order flights of the four Bowman expressions, but they were entirely self-guided. Most others appeared content to explore the bar’s cocktail menu.

While the lack of the advertised guided tasting was somewhat disappointing, I was especially excited for the opportunity to enjoy the hard-to-find Abraham Bowman Rye. Had I realized the format of the evening beforehand, I probably would have started with the rye, skipped the Old Fashioned, and tried the A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength as well.

The event may not have been the whiskey-focused experience I anticipated, but it did provide a rare chance sit with a pour of the elusive Abraham Bowman Rye while enjoying a good cigar. For that opportunity alone, the evening was worthwhile.

And now, Abraham Bowman Special Release #26 Rye Whiskey has moved to the very top of my wish list.

Cheers!

Five O'Clock Friday: Happy Thoughts

A weekend state of mind. 

Thinking of cigars helps too.

Cheers!

An Evening with Weller: Bourbon, Cigar, and Birdsong

I spent a relaxing evening on the deck recently enjoying a special cigar-and-bourbon pairing: the Weller by Cohiba cigar and its inspiration, W.L. Weller Antique 107 Bourbon.

The Weller by Cohiba series is a collaboration between the premium cigar brand Cohiba and the Weller bourbon brand from Buffalo Trace Distillery. The annual releases come in a 6 x 50 Toro vitola and are packaged in individual aluminum tubes. Despite their premium price, the cigars are highly sought after. They are typically released in the fall, and I’ve managed to pick up a few each year since 2023, including the 2025 edition featured here.

I’ve had the 2025 Weller by Cohiba resting in my humidor since October 2025. The cigars were removed from their aluminum tubes upon arrival. This edition features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and a Broadleaf binder aged in Weller Antique 107 barrels. The filler blend combines tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The bands, aluminum tube, and box all reflect the deep crimson-and-gold branding associated with Weller Antique 107.

Before lighting the cigar, I enjoyed a few sips of the Weller 107. It’s a wheated bourbon — often credited as one of the first bourbons to replace rye with wheat in the mashbill — and it displays the expected wheat-driven sweetness. Bottled at a hearty 107 proof (53.5% ABV), it also delivers a warming heat that can linger on the tongue and occasionally overshadow the sweeter notes. Layers of caramel and toffee add further complexity. I enjoy Weller Antique 107 immensely, though I rarely reach for it because of its scarcity. Interestingly, despite being moderately difficult to find, its MSRP remains around a relatively modest $50. (I refuse to participate in the secondary bourbon market.)

Upon lighting the cigar, I found the draw more snug than I prefer, and smoke output was somewhat limited at first. Like many cigars that begin with restricted airflow, it opened up as it warmed, though it never quite reached the balance of resistance and openness that I favor.

The medium-bodied smoke offered balanced notes of cedar, cocoa, and vanilla, along with subtle touches of sweetness and baking spice on the finish. It began creamy and smooth, with the spice gradually increasing as the cigar progressed. Aside from that evolution, the profile remained remarkably consistent from start to finish.

As I smoked, the spicier aspects of the Weller 107 began to overpower the cigar’s more delicate flavors. Adding just a few drops of water to my glass restored the balance. The sweeter side of the bourbon emerged, allowing more of the cigar’s cocoa, cedar, and leather nuances to come through without being overwhelmed by the alcohol intensity.

So much of the enjoyment of a cigar comes not only from the cigar itself and its beverage pairing, but also from the setting. Whether shared with friends or enjoyed alone, the experience is shaped as much by ambiance as by smoke and spirits. During this Weller-inspired evening, I was particularly struck by the peacefulness of the outdoors. There was no distant hum of lawn equipment — only the occasional aircraft passing high overhead.

Most noticeable was the abundance of birdsong coming from the woods in the early evening. The avian chorus included Ovenbird, Carolina Chickadee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Great Crested Flycatcher, American Robin, and Chipping Sparrow. Together they formed quite an orchestra, one that was as beautiful to the ear as the bourbon and cigar were pleasing to the palate.

As always, Weller Antique 107 was thoroughly enjoyable and provided a satisfying accompaniment to the cigar. The Weller by Cohiba was likewise an interesting and rewarding smoke. Although it was created specifically to pair with Antique 107, I can think of several bourbons that would complement it equally well. I still have a few Weller by Cohiba cigars on hand from several past releases, and I look forward to enjoying them — perhaps next time with a bourbon that is a little less scarce.

Cheers!

A Toast to Old Glory and America’s Native Spirit

As noted previously, June 14 is a day marked by not one, but two all-American celebrations. It’s the day we honor our Nation’s flag and also recognize bourbon as a truly American spirit. I settled into the sunny afternoon for a modest celebration of both occasions.

I marked the day with a pour of Eagle Rare bourbon enjoyed alongside a CAO America 250th Anniversary cigar, while admiring and contemplating our flag and the freedoms it represents.

The CAO America 250th Anniversary is a special limited edition of the original CAO America, released in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and our nation’s semiquincentennial.

Instead of using tobaccos from a number of countries, including the U.S., as in the original blend, the 250th Anniversary is an American puro, using exclusively American-grown tobacco. The barber pole wrapper is composed of U.S. Broadleaf and U.S. Connecticut Shade leaves. The binder is U.S. Havana Connecticut, while U.S. Broadleaf and Pennsylvania tobaccos make up the filler. The cigar is offered in a single vitola, a box-pressed 5.5 x 55 Robusto.

My box of the 250th Anniversary cigars had arrived just two and a half weeks earlier, but I was anxious to try one, so I lit up sooner than I normally would after a shipment arrives.

The cold draw was earthy with a dry, dusty quality. The CAO America 250th Anniversary opens with woody oak and cedar notes. Mild dark chocolate emerged along with a delicate sweetness as the cigar progressed. The burn line needed a few touch-ups during the smoke, and I did have to relight it once. I’m inclined to attribute the burn issues to the cigar’s limited rest time after shipping. In a surprising twist, I detected a bit of nicotine strength in the second half. I am intrigued to find out whether that was an aberration or a consistent characteristic of the cigar. I’ll be smoking another after it has spent a bit more time in the humidor.

The Eagle Rare bourbon seemed a fitting companion to the occasion. The easy-drinking 90-proof bourbon, served over a large ice cube, was perfect for the warm afternoon. With notes of toffee, honey, dark fruit, and mild spice, the bourbon paired delightfully with the medium-bodied cigar. The soft oak notes shared by both the cigar and bourbon tended to reinforce their respective profiles.

Despite a few performance issues, I thoroughly enjoyed the CAO America 250th Anniversary. The pleasure came not only from the flavorful cigar and, of course, the bourbon. Smoking a cigar made entirely of American-grown tobacco on the day we honor our flag made the occasion especially fitting.

Cheers!

Stars, Stripes, and Bourbon

Today, June 14, is truly a “Made in America” day of celebration. It’s Flag Day, the day we honor our nation’s flag and all it represents. Remarkably, on this same day we also celebrate National Bourbon Day, recognizing bourbon as America’s “official” native spirit.

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress resolved: “That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” Over the centuries, that first flag evolved into the one we proudly fly today, with its 13 stripes and 50 stars. I have always considered it the most striking national flag in the world. While opinions about our country and its symbols may differ, the flag remains a powerful emblem of the freedoms and opportunities that generations of Americans have worked to preserve.

National Bourbon Day came much later. On May 4, 1964, Congress declared bourbon a “distinctive product of the United States.” I am not sure when the national holiday itself originated, nor why it came to be celebrated on June 14. Tradition — or perhaps legend — holds that June 14 marks the first time bourbon was distilled, though it is difficult, if not impossible to prove. The date likely owes as much to distillery marketing as to historical fact, but who could object to such a celebration? There is certainly an argument to be made for pairing it with Flag Day, given bourbon’s uniquely American heritage.

So fly the flag, enjoy a sip of bourbon, and take a moment to appreciate both.

Cheers!

Peruvian Tobacco, Scottish Ale, and a Gathering Storm

On Thursday evening I attended a cigar event at The Port Oysteria and Brewery in downtown Fredericksburg. I had not yet visited the combination brewery, seafood restaurant, and raw bar, so I was interested in finally checking it out in addition to enjoying a cigar. The event was held, appropriately enough, in the restaurant’s outdoor beer garden. The cigars were provided by Uptown Smokes, a mobile cigar lounge.

I stopped first at the cigar table to pick out a smoke for the evening. Alongside a selection of familiar offerings, Uptown Smokes carries several Peruvian and Panamanian cigars. Intrigued, I selected a cigar called Rebirth of Crunk from Boogie Down Cigars.

The Rebirth of Crunk is a 7 x 60 Torpedo. The dark maduro wrapper was very rustic and rough in appearance. Details on the blend are somewhat vague, and I found very little information online. Writing on the box states “100% Peruvian,” though some references specify only a 100% Peruvian Maduro wrapper without mentioning the binder or filler. Boogie Down Cigars appears to be a boutique brand founded by cigar enthusiasts with roots in New York’s hip-hop culture. The company has only a modest online presence, and its cigars are not widely distributed.

The cigar felt light in the hand, and the draw was quite open. There were a few loose bits of wrapper at the cap and near the mid-section, but they were easily removed without issue. While the cigar is described as full-bodied, I found it much closer to medium in strength. The initial flavor profile offered a light sweetness accompanied by cedar notes. As the smoke progressed, coffee, dried fruit, and raisin-like flavors emerged, along with a mild spice that added balance and interest.

The very dark wrapper, presumably a heavily fermented Peruvian leaf, occasionally burned more slowly than the filler, resulting in an uneven burn that required several touch-ups with the lighter. The cigar never tunneled or went out, however, and smoke production remained plentiful throughout. Despite the burn issues, it provided well over two hours of smoking enjoyment.

I paired the cigar with Port Oysteria Scottish Ale. The dark amber beer displayed an enjoyable balance of caramel sweetness and light roasted malt notes that complemented the cigar’s sweet and coffee-like flavors. The event also coincided with happy hour, so in addition to discounted drinks, the $1 oysters on the half shell caught my attention. A dozen of the briny delicacies proved to be a tasty and welcome addition to the evening.

The Rebirth of Crunk provided an interesting smoking experience. Peruvian tobaccos remain uncommon in a market crowded with Nicaraguan- and Dominican-focused blends. While the burn required periodic attention and never achieved perfect symmetry, the balanced, satisfying flavors compensated for the cosmetic imperfections.

Toward the end of the evening, the skies darkened dramatically and the wind began to pick up. Seeing black clouds advancing in the distance, I decided to leave the final inch or so of the cigar unfinished. The drive home took me through an intense downpour, validating my decision to make an early exit.

Cheers!

From Negroni to Averna: A Tale of Two Días de Gloria Cigars

The Días de Gloria cigars are long-standing stalwarts among the many blends from AJ Fernandez. Introduced in 2019, the line is said to have been influenced by the flavor profile and character of the classic Cuban cigars that inspired the prolific blender. The Días de Gloria catalog was expanded in 2024 with the introduction of the AJ Fernandez Días de Gloria Brazil. Recently, I lit up both cigars on back-to-back days, providing an opportunity for a direct comparison.

The original AJ Fernandez Días de Gloria is a Nicaraguan puro, featuring tobaccos from four different Fernandez farms in Nicaragua. Once the cedar sleeve and foot ribbon are removed, the deep chocolate-colored wrapper glistens in the sun, its appearance enhanced by the decorative gold, yellow, and red bands.

After spending four months in the humidor, the smoke begins earnestly in the medium-full-bodied range. Notes of cedar, coffee, and cocoa predominate. I found a surprising fruit sweetness underlying the bolder flavors, adding a pleasing balance. On the retrohale, additional sweetness softened the black pepper spice. I found myself retrohaling far more than usual just to revisit that intriguing note.

This afternoon smoke was paired with a classic Negroni and enjoyed on the sunny deck. Perhaps not the most obvious pairing choice, I found the cocktail’s bitter orange notes complemented the cigar’s cedar and spice. The drink’s dry, bitter finish also cleansed the palate between draws, allowing the nuances of the cigar — especially the sweetness — to stand out.

The AJ Fernandez Días de Gloria Brazil, enjoyed the following evening, had been resting in my humidor since September 2024, not long after it reached store shelves. It’s a cigar I’ve enjoyed frequently in the ensuing years. The Brazil version substitutes a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper for the original Nicaraguan leaf, while retaining Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Again, the cigar sports a cedar sleeve and foot ribbon, with green accents replacing the red found on the original bands.

The Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper is dark and oily. While the binder and filler remain largely the same, the wrapper has a profound effect on the cigar’s flavor profile. The overall experience is richer and darker. Bitter chocolate and espresso predominate, while dark fruit and baking spice notes arrive with authority. The retrohale delivers black and red pepper in abundance.

The Días de Gloria Brazil was enjoyed as an evening digestif with a pour of Amaro Averna. Both the cigar and the amaro occupy a similar flavor space, rich and layered with notes of cocoa, coffee, spice, and dried fruit. The cigar’s espresso and dark chocolate intertwined beautifully with Averna’s caramel and herbal sweetness. I couldn’t help but imagine that a slice of dark spice cake would have completed the dessert-like combination.

Both cigars are exceptional smokes, sharing a common heritage while delivering distinctly different experiences. The original Días de Gloria impressed me with its balance of sweetness, cedar, and spice, making it an excellent companion for a bright afternoon and a Negroni. The Brazil, by contrast, leaned into darker, richer flavors that paired naturally with an after-dinner pour of Averna. Rather than choosing a favorite, I found myself appreciating how each cigar excelled in its own setting — proof that a single wrapper change can transform not only a cigar’s flavor profile, but also the occasion it best complements.

Cheers!

Memories of Italy: Cigars and Spicy Cocktails in Venice

Venice was the final stop on our recent vacation in Italy. The group tour included a two day stay, and we extended our visit by another two. It was fun spending extra time exploring on our own, and we quickly grew surprisingly comfortable navigating the maze-like city.

An added benefit of the extended stay was enjoying two sunny days, as the first two had been plagued by intermittent rain — not unlike our previous visit, when our lone day in Venice was spent mostly taking cover from torrential downpours.

Of course, the pleasant weather also provided more opportunities to enjoy a cigar. Our hotel, the Palazzo Veneziano, was a beautiful four-star property that also boasted an excellent bar. Not only was it exceptionally well stocked, but the specialty cocktail menu was particularly impressive. What caught my attention most was the extensive selection of Negroni variations, several of which I happily returned to a few times during our stay.

The featured cocktail, however, was the Santa Margherita. The spicy drink is made with Altos Tequila Blanco, locally produced Select Aperitivo, lime and orange juice, agave syrup, and a Tajín-spiced rim. When the bartender first served one, he remarked, “There’s a straw, but I recommend you don’t use it.” Wanting the full experience, I followed his advice — and ended up enjoying several Santa Margheritas over the course of our stay.

On our final evening, the patio furniture at the hotel entrance had finally dried out after the earlier rains. After ordering another Santa Margherita from the bar, I settled in outside with a cigar. Fortunately, I had brought along a suitably spicy companion: the AJ Fernandez New World Decenio Robusto.

The Decenio opens with the rich, dark flavors typical of AJ Fernandez blends. Bold notes of dark cocoa and espresso, accented by a lively black pepper spice, remain consistent throughout the medium-to-full-bodied smoke. The cigar paired particularly well with the spicy cocktail, though I found myself using the straw for most sips, only occasionally drinking from the seasoned rim so as not to overwhelm the cigar’s flavors.

After finishing the flavorful pairing, we enjoyed one final sunset stroll through the streets of Venice. The evening light shimmering across the canals and the quiet, narrow streets provided a fitting finale to our visit. Though weary from sixteen days of touring, it felt bittersweet returning to the hotel for one final round of packing before our flight home the next morning.

It’s hard not to smile in Venice

Cheers!

Memories of Italy: Beer, Cigars, and the Alpine Charm of Bolzano

During our Italian vacation, we spent two nights in Bolzano, in South Tyrol. Situated at the gateway to the Dolomite Mountains, Bolzano has the look and feel of an Alpine village, with spectacular mountain views in every direction. Making the region even more intriguing is the strong German influence in its culture, food, and architecture — at times, it feels more like Austria or Bavaria than Italy.

The area was part of the Austrian Empire for centuries before becoming part of Italy after World War I. After the war, Mussolini’s Fascist government attempted to “Italianize” the region by encouraging Italian migration and suppressing the German language. Those efforts largely failed, and the people of South Tyrol still proudly maintain their German heritage and language today. The result is a fascinating blend of cultures where espresso bars and aperitivo traditions coexist alongside Alpine customs, German dialects, and Austrian-style mountain cuisine.

The bar in our hotel offered a couple of locally made, German-style beers, and naturally I was eager to try them. On the first evening, I joined some fellow travelers to enjoy pours of Felsenkeller Bier from Birra Forst. Served in a tall chalice, the cloudy, unfiltered, and unpasteurized beer delivered notes of sweet bread, yeast, and a touch of banana. It was remarkably refreshing and easy to sip.

On another late evening, after a day spent hiking wooded trails and wandering the city streets, I settled into the hotel’s outdoor garden to enjoy another local beer — this time paired with a cigar. I selected the V.I.P. Pils, also from Birra Forst. The crisp pilsner, brewed in the German tradition with a notably dry finish and refined bitterness, proved especially refreshing in the cool Alpine evening air. I paired it with a Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2025 LC52 that I had packed from home.

I’ve long enjoyed the annual Las Calaveras releases from Crowned Heads. The 2025 version features a mid-priming Mexican San Andrés wrapper that shows a lighter appearance than the darker maduro tones usually associated with San Andrés tobacco. Beneath that wrapper are Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The cigar treated the palate to notes of coffee and espresso, touches of cocoa, and mild pepper. Underlying it all was a gentle sweetness that softened the richer flavors.

Ideally, the cigar might have paired even better with a darker ale, perhaps a German Dunkel or Bock. However, that wasn’t an option at the time, and I found the combination thoroughly satisfying nonetheless. The crisp bitterness and clean, dry finish of the V.I.P. Pils highlighted the cigar’s cocoa and espresso notes without adding competing sweetness. The cool evening air and tranquil garden setting only enhanced the relaxing atmosphere.

The region’s German influence is readily apparent in the food as well. During a stroll through the market area of Bolzano, we stopped at a vendor’s cart to enjoy some Weißwurst. The sausages were served on paper with a generous dollop of spicy mustard and a hard roll — simple fare, but immensely satisfying.

One evening, we enjoyed dinner at Batzen Häusl, a local brewery and restaurant — not exactly the experience we had expected to find in Italy. I ordered a Batzen Bräu Bock alongside a South Tyrolean bratwurst platter. The beer was rich with dark caramel malt flavors and a mild sweetness.

The sausages were equally delicious, served with roasted potatoes and sauerkraut. I especially enjoyed the creamy sauerkraut, which struck a pleasing balance between sweet and sour flavors.

The food, the beer, the architecture, and the dramatic scenery of the Dolomites towering above the town — not to mention the ever-present German dialect — often made it easy to forget we were in Italy at all. Yet that unique blending of Italian and Germanic cultures is precisely what makes Bolzano and South Tyrol such a memorable destination. It’s a place where Alpine traditions and Italian hospitality coexist seamlessly, creating an atmosphere unlike anywhere else we visited during the trip. For this beer enthusiast, it was like two vacations in one.

Cheers!

The Celebration That Almost Slipped By

The day almost slipped by unnoticed. Monday marked the second anniversary of my retirement. Unlike that first year, which was heavily shaped by back problems and the surgery that followed, this past year has felt much more normal. The routines have settled in, and retirement has begun to feel less like an adjustment and more like a way of life.

To mark the occasion, I opened a bottle of Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked Bourbon that I recently picked up. I’m a longtime fan of the standard Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, and this special expression takes an already excellent bourbon to another level. After the regular Double Oaked bourbon has fully matured, it spends an additional year in a second heavily toasted, lightly charred new oak barrel, creating a whiskey with remarkable depth and richness. Once available only as an annual distillery-exclusive release, this special bourbon now enjoys limited national distribution.

The bourbon’s deep, maple-syrup color immediately reflects the influence of that extended oak aging. Rich aromas of maple syrup and caramel rise from the Glencairn glass, while notes of butterscotch emerge as it opens up. The dark, inviting profile continues on the palate. Waves of caramel and maple lead the way, followed by hints of dark cherry and gentle spice. Taken as a whole, Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked is dessert in a glass.

After savoring the bourbon for a while, I lit a Rocky Patel DBS. The 5 x 50 Robusto features dual Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf binders along with dual Honduran and Nicaraguan Broadleaf fillers. “DBS” stands for “Double Broadleaf Selection,” an appropriate name for a blend built around broadleaf tobaccos. Completing the package is a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper.

The DBS opens with black pepper layered over bold cocoa and nut flavors, supported by subtle wood and vanilla sweetness. This cigar had been resting in my humidor for nearly a year, and while it remained full-bodied, it seemed slightly less intense than earlier examples I smoked closer to release. One characteristic that remained unchanged, however, was the draw. Although the cigar never appeared overly packed, every DBS I’ve smoked has drawn like a thick milkshake through a straw until about the first third, when airflow finally begins to improve. Draw issues aside, it remains a cigar I consistently enjoy.

The Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked and Rocky Patel DBS proved to be fitting companions. From the start, the bourbon’s caramel and maple notes complemented the cigar’s vanilla and wood flavors. As the pairing progressed, espresso, cocoa, and dark fruit characteristics from both began to intertwine, creating seamless transitions across the palate. Near the finish, the cigar seemed to coax additional pepper and baking spice from the bourbon, adding another layer of complexity.

The evening of slow sipping and leisurely smoking provided plenty of time for reflection. It has taken a while, but it feels as though we’ve finally found our rhythm in retirement. The freedom to set our own schedule, whether for travel, social gatherings, household projects, or simply relaxing, is a reward earned through decades of work.

Perhaps the best indication that retirement suits me is that it took two days to find the time to sit down and write these thoughts. Boredom, it seems, is not a problem.

Cheers!

Spring Sunshine, a Spritz, and a Cigar

After a record-breaking streak of rainy days, the sun finally shone brightly this weekend. We spent a good part of it attending our 45th (!) college reunion. It was a blast seeing old classmates and even meeting a few people I hadn’t known back then. When Sunday rolled around, we recovered by enjoying the spring weather and an afternoon aperitivo on the back deck.

While Colleen prepared a selection of snacks, I mixed up a couple of Aperol Spritzes. A trip to the humidor yielded a Crowned Heads Blood Medicine Limited Edition 2026 B Positive Toro to complete the afternoon’s indulgences.

The Blood Medicine Limited Edition 2026 B Positive is a reimagining of the popular 2025 Blood Medicine release. It features a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper, an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. The 6 x 54 Toro’s reddish-brown hue glistened in the afternoon sunlight.

The Blood Medicine B Positive had been resting in my humidor for just seven weeks. It probably could have benefited from a bit more time to acclimate after shipping. I’ve often found that newly released cigars, especially those shipped quickly from retailers, improve with additional humidor rest. Still, I was eager to give this one a try, and I have several more waiting.

The burn was somewhat wavy, requiring a few touch-ups, and the ash was a bit flaky. Those minor annoyances aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the cigar’s flavor profile. Starting out medium bodied, the Blood Medicine B Positive delivered a balanced array of notes, including dark cocoa, espresso, cedar, and black pepper. In the second half, the profile picked up in strength, pushing firmly into full-bodied territory.

The bright, bittersweet notes of the Aperol Spritz were somewhat overshadowed by the darker notes of the cigar, which took center stage on the palate. While the deeper vegetal bitterness of a Cynar Spritz might have made a more complementary pairing, the warm spring afternoon seemed to call for a lighter drink.

I found myself alternating slowly between smoking, sipping, and enjoying bites of food. That approach allowed me to better appreciate each element on its own rather than forcing the pairing to compete for attention.

An amazing chorus of birdsong filled the air throughout the afternoon, occasionally interrupted by the distant din of leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and pressure washers. Though the thick woods surrounding our home hide the neighbors from view, the sounds still detracted somewhat from the otherwise peaceful atmosphere. I’ve long believed that Sundays are meant for rest and relaxation, though that apparently isn’t a universally shared philosophy.

Our table was decorated with floral arrangements brought home from Friday evening’s reunion gathering. A visiting Swallowtail butterfly seemed to enjoy the flowers as much as we did, adding another touch to the bright spring ambiance.

Cheers!

The Cynar Spritz - An Italian Inspiration

I’ve been making a few cocktails lately using Cynar as an ingredient. The artichoke-based amaro has a gentle vegetal and earthy bitterness that I find especially enjoyable in an afternoon cocktail. During our recent trip to Italy, I spotted a sign outside a Venice café advertising a Cynar Spritz. This variation on the Italian spritz tradition is said to have originated in Northern Italy around Venice and Padua. Intrigued, I made a mental note to try one at the first opportunity, and I soon found myself enjoying the aperitif several times during our travels.

Like most Spritz cocktails, the recipe is simple.

Cynar Spritz

2 oz Cynar

3 oz chilled Prosecco

1 oz soda water

Lemon wedge or olive for garnish

Fill a wine glass with ice. Add the Cynar first, followed by the Prosecco and finally the soda water. Garnish with either a lemon wedge or olive.

In Italy, I enjoyed versions garnished with both lemon and olives, though I found I preferred the olive. The drinks there appeared to use Castelvetrano olives, which is what I used at home.

Like many Cynar cocktails, the presentation is not the most visually striking, with a color with a deep cola-like hue reminiscent of a ‘Jack and Coke.’ Compared to the more popular Aperol Spritz, the Cynar version is less citrusy and offers more herbal and savory notes.

To my delight, the Cynar Spritz paired exceptionally well with medium-bodied cigars, especially darker maduro blends. I recently enjoyed one alongside an Umbagog Bronzeback from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, accompanied by a platter of meats and cheeses as a late afternoon aperitivo.

The earthy, cocoa, and leather notes of the cigar complemented the drink beautifully. While the bitterness of the Cynar muted some of the Umbagog Bronzeback’s pepper notes, it seemed to amplify the cigar’s cocoa and espresso characteristics. Taking a sip immediately after a draw brought out even more herbal and root-like bitterness in the bubbly cocktail.

I have many fond memories from our trips to Italy, and enjoying this new-to-me cocktail helps bring back those wonderful experiences.

Cheers!

Memories of Italy: A Negroni Evening in Santa Margherita Ligure

It’s no secret to visitors to these Musings that I frequently enjoy pairing a Negroni with a cigar. Naturally, I sought out the same combination during our vacation in Italy.

We spent a few nights at the Hotel Metropole in ‎⁨Santa Margherita Ligure⁩. The hotel features a large outdoor dining area where I enjoyed the classic cocktail — with a cigar, naturally.

Among the cigars I packed for the trip was a Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust 10th Jubilee that had been resting in my humidor since mid-March. I had smoked one from the box a few weeks earlier and was looking forward to revisiting it.

The Negroni was excellent, crafted with a rich vermouth and local gin that made for an especially refreshing rendition of the classic cocktail. As daylight faded over the Ligurian coast, the leisurely pace of the evening seemed perfectly suited to the drink and cigar alike. The comfortable patio, bordered by a lovely garden setting, added to the relaxing evening ambiance.

The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust 10th Jubilee commemorates ten years since Steve Saka launched the company in 2015. The 5 5/8 x 48 Corona Gorda is wrapped in a smooth, dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Beneath the wrapper is a Mexican San Andrés binder surrounding four Nicaraguan fillers sourced from the country’s major growing regions: Estelí, Jalapa, Condega, and Ometepe.

Though somewhat dark and foreboding in appearance, the 10th Jubilee delivers a medium-plus-bodied and nuanced smoking experience. The flavors are dynamic yet subtle, offering notes of baking spices, molasses, cedar, and earth, all occasionally accented by hints of black pepper. It is a cigar well-suited for quiet reflection.

The bitter cocktail added even more depth and enjoyment to the experience. The Jubilee’s balanced medium-bodied profile allowed the Negroni’s herbal complexity to remain expressive alongside the cigar. Combined with the warm evening air and birds singing in the garden, the pairing contributed to what felt like a quintessentially Italian evening.

Cheers!

Memorial Day and the Defense of Freedom

As we mark the unofficial beginning of summer, we should take a moment to reflect on and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms. While many of us gather with family and friends to enjoy the holiday with food, fellowship, and celebration, we do so with gratitude and remembrance for the true meaning of Memorial Day.

The courage and selflessness of our fallen heroes played a vital role in securing the liberties we cherish today. As we pause to honor their memory, may we also reaffirm our commitment to upholding the values they fought to protect and remain vigilant in preserving the freedoms they so bravely defended.

It is a sobering reality that those freedoms are increasingly challenged by people who view our nation and its founding principles as flawed or oppressive. Here in our own Commonwealth, debates over constitutional rights and individual liberties continue to intensify, with career politicians at the highest levels of government pursuing policies that openly and knowingly infringe upon long-established protections guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Whatever our political views, Memorial Day should remind us that the freedoms we debate so passionately were secured at a tremendous cost. Honoring the fallen means not only remembering their sacrifice, but also treating the principles for which they served with the seriousness and respect they deserve.

“The purpose of all war is ultimately peace.”

--Saint Augustine

Memories of Italy: Toscano Cigars

In early May, we spent 16 days touring several of Italy’s northern regions. Beyond the great food, historic sites, and stunning scenery, I always look forward to the relaxed attitude toward enjoying a cigar in Italy.

Naturally, I packed a travel humidor full of cigars for the trip. I always bring more than I expect to smoke — I never know what I’ll be in the mood for when the time comes to light up. Early in the journey, I also picked up a few Italian Toscano cigars to enjoy whenever the moment felt right.

A Late Afternoon Smoke in Stresa, Piedmont, Italy

The dry-cured cigars are ubiquitous in the many tabaccherie found along nearly every street. In addition to Toscano cigars, a typical tabaccheria sells cigarettes, pipe tobacco, lighters, bus and train tickets, postage stamps, and the occasional souvenir. A few I visited also carried modest selections of Cuban and New World cigars.

Toscano cigars are distinctive for their use of dark-fired Kentucky tobacco rather than the Caribbean-style tobaccos common in Cuban or New World cigars. Much of the tobacco is grown in Italy — especially in Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto, and Campania — with additional Kentucky tobacco sourced from North and South America.

The cigars require no humidor storage and are intentionally rustic in appearance — think Clint Eastwood in the old Spaghetti Westerns.

Prosecco in ‎⁨Piazza del Campo⁩, ⁨Siena⁩, ⁨Tuscany⁩, ⁨Italy⁩
 -- site of the famous Palio di Siena 

Toscano cigars provide a relatively quick smoke and pair wonderfully with a morning cappuccino, an afternoon espresso, or a pre-dinner aperitif. Their smoky, woody character delivers notes of earth, charred oak, and subtle sweetness.

During a tour of Lucca in Tuscany, our guide mentioned that the city was the home of Toscano Cigars. That bit of trivia sparked even more cigar conversation among my fellow travelers, many of whom had already become familiar with my cigar affections.

The Toscanos are rolled as slim panatelas, roughly six inches long and tapered at each end. They are often smoked “ammezzato” — cut in half — for a shorter session. Historically, they were frequently split and shared, earning them the nickname “friendship cigars.” Most of the Toscanos I enjoyed on this trip were smoked ammezzato alongside a coffee or aperitif.

Morning Coffee in ‎⁨Campo Santo Stefano⁩, ⁨Venice⁩, ⁨Veneto⁩, ⁨Italy⁩

Lighting up a Toscano — or any cigar — is a simple pleasure easily enjoyed in Italy’s outdoor cafés and courtyards. Most tables already have ashtrays available and, if not, one is quickly offered. People simply seem less bothered by the occasional waft of cigar smoke drifting through the air.

While in Venice, a cappuccino at a café in Campo Santo Stefano was especially memorable. The square bustled that Saturday morning with both tourists and locals. A brief rain shower passed through, but under the café umbrellas it caused little disruption. I lit a cigar as we talked and sipped our coffees, enjoying the lively rhythm of the café and the surrounding piazza. It made for a refreshing and relaxing pause during our morning stroll through Venice.

While we were in Bolzano, I stopped into a tabaccheria that offered an especially extensive selection of Toscano cigars. There, I picked up a box of Toscano del Presidente 20th Anniversario. The special edition commemorates the twentieth anniversary of the Toscano del Presidente cigar. These cigars are aged for 20 months instead of the usual 14 and come packaged in a commemorative box of 20 that includes a ceramic tray bearing the anniversary logo, which also serves as an ashtray.

Since the cigars and presentation box are sold exclusively in Italy and unavailable online, I figured they would make a fitting souvenir — albeit a somewhat bulky and heavy one for a carry-on bag.

With these new Toscano acquisitions, along with the selection already resting in my humidor, perhaps I can partially recreate the memories of smoking, eating, and drinking in Italy — at least until the next trip.

Cheers!

A Year Later: Revisiting the Yohtron YC-488 Humidor

It’s been nearly a year since I acquired my new Yohtron YC-488 humidor, which makes this a good time for a follow-up report.

The humidor has performed well, and my cigars have been stored without issue. Some have been in the unit since day one, while others are more recent arrivals. A few have now transitioned from a “tuppador” to the NewAir unit and finally into the Yohtron, and all remain in excellent condition. I’ve also noticed that new arrivals seem to acclimate more quickly than under my previous storage setups. I suspect the larger cabinet is less affected by frequent door openings than smaller units, which likely contributes to both stability and quicker acclimation.

Although the humidor is still well below capacity, it now holds significantly more than it did a year ago — especially in terms of boxes. At first, boxes occupied the first two shelves, but those acquisitions recently expand onto a third shelf. Some cedar trays placed on a lower shelf allowed me to stack the singles to better make use of the space.

One minor annoyance is that loose cigars tend to slide front to back when the drawers are opened and closed. Yohtron also offers adjustable dividers for some models, though I haven’t explored obtaining them.

I’ll admit I initially spent far too much time monitoring minute humidity variations. I started with three Govee sensors placed at different levels, along with a digital hygrometer. The Govee units are highly sensitive and react quickly, measuring to 0.1%. Once I confirmed that temperature and humidity were consistent throughout the cabinet, I removed all but one. That remaining unit serves primarily as an alert system on my phone in case of any real issue. I still keep a digital display hygrometer inside as well.

Over the past year, I’ve adjusted the humidity setting a couple of times and have settled on 66% as my preferred level for both short- and long-term storage. One observation has changed since my initial review: the unit’s display reads about 1.5%–2% lower than the set point — the opposite of what I noted previously. Currently, the unit is set to 68%, with the display averaging 66%, reflecting the actual humidity in the cabinet. Both the calibrated hygrometer and the Govee sensor show similar readings, though they fluctuate within a roughly 3% range. The Govee app, however, consistently reports a 66% average (±0.1%) across hourly, daily, and weekly views. While the unit responds quickly to setting changes, it takes about a week to fully stabilize.

The only real maintenance hiccup came around the six-month mark, when I replaced the filter pad in the water tank. I noticed a small amount of black mold, and the manufacturer recommends replacement at that interval anyway. When I looked on Amazon, the original filters were unavailable. Yohtron support confirmed this and suggested a compatible option from another brand. I tried it, but after a couple of weeks I wasn’t satisfied with the humidity performance. I eventually found a third-party replacement that appears identical to the original and has performed well. I do wonder what Yohtron is currently including with new units.

As an aside, I’ve contacted Yohtron support several times and have consistently received responses within a day.

I had some initial concerns about noise, since the unit sits in our dining room. Even after a year, it remains remarkably quiet. The most noticeable sound is a low hum when the cooling cycle engages, though it’s quieter than the NewAir unit it replaced. There’s also an occasional click as it shifts modes, but it’s barely noticeable. The unit cycles between heating and cooling to maintain humidity, along with internal fans circulating air from the reservoir. In most cases, any sound blends into the background — I often can’t tell whether it’s the humidor, the refrigerator, or the coffee maker.

Water usage has been surprisingly minimal. Aside from topping off after the filter change, I’ve only added distilled water twice over the past year, and even then the tank had not dropped below roughly three-quarters full.

After nearly a year, I remain very pleased with the Yohtron YC-488. While I sometimes question the extravagance, when I get tempted by another box purchase or a particularly good deal, storage capacity is no longer a limiting factor. More importantly, I’m confident that my cigars are being kept in a stable, reliable environment for the long term.

Cheers!