Coffee-Flavored Comfort: Undercrown Maduro and the Revolver

Searching for a smoke on a cool evening, I was drawn to the Drew Estate Undercrown Maduro. It’s a cigar I’ve enjoyed many times over the years, though surprisingly I hadn’t reached for one in well over a year. I pulled a stick that had been resting in the humidor for nearly 18 months — further adding to my astonishment that it had been so long since my last one.

I’ve also been on a bit of a Revolver cocktail kick lately. The coffee-forward drink feels especially fitting on a cool evening. Truth be told, I’m a fan of almost anything coffee flavored. The Undercrown Maduro has always paired naturally with a mug of black coffee, so it seemed reasonable that it would work just as well alongside the cocktail.

The Undercrown Maduro is often described as “overlooked” or “under appreciated,” though I’m not sure I agree with those labels. While smoking, I posted a photo to an online cigar forum I frequent, and within minutes several members replied with pictures of the same cigar they were enjoying at that very moment. It hardly seemed forgotten.

The cigar features a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper over a Connecticut River Valley Habano binder, with Nicaraguan and Brazilian Mata Fina fillers completing the blend. The result is a medium-to-full-bodied smoke known for notes of espresso, cocoa, earth, and creaminess.  

Even after its long rest in the humidor, the San Andrés wrapper retained a dark, oily sheen. Rich flavors of espresso and cocoa sweetness dominated the profile, while the smoke itself was thick and creamy on the palate.

For the Revolver, I used Four Roses Small Batch Select at 104 proof. The higher-proof bourbon stood up well to the cigar’s richness without being overshadowed. The coffee liqueur amplified the cigar’s espresso and cocoa notes, while the orange bitters and expressed peel added a touch of brightness that kept the pairing from becoming overly heavy.

As I had hoped, the Revolver and the Undercrown Maduro proved to be a natural match. I smoked and sipped slowly, appreciating the interplay of coffee, cocoa, citrus, and sweetness throughout the evening.

Cheers!

Blackened Whiskey and M81: A Metallica-Inspired Pairing

I recently picked up a bottle of Blackened Whiskey, curious to finally try this collaboration between the band Metallica and the late master distiller Dave Pickerell. Naturally, I paired the pour with a Blackened M81 cigar. The M81 itself is also a collaboration — this time between Drew Estate, Metallica co-founder and frontman James Hetfield, and master distiller Rob Dietrich, who has overseen Blackened Whiskey since Pickerell’s passing.

Blackened is a blended American whiskey, composed of straight bourbons, ryes, and other American whiskeys. Although it has been on the market since 2018, I had never gotten around to trying it. Interestingly, it was being served at the Metallica concert we attended earlier this year at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA — but only mixed with lemonade, with no straight pours available — so I passed.

The whiskey’s claim to uniqueness lies in its aging process. Barrels are placed in a room exposed to low-frequency, high-amplitude sound waves generated by curated Metallica playlists. These vibrations are said to increase interaction between the whiskey and the barrel wood, resulting in deeper flavor extraction.

On the nose, the whiskey presents relatively mild aromas of dark honey and caramel, along with soft sweet fruit notes. The palate delivers brown sugar, warm rye-like spice, and more sweet fruit, accented by a touch of smokiness. The long, spicy finish gradually grows sweeter as the evening progresses. Overall, I found the profile to lean toward the sweeter side, though a subtle spice keeps it from becoming cloying.

I’ve had a few Blackened M81 by Drew Estate cigars — a 5” x 43 Corona vitola — resting in the humidor since picking them up at a Drew Estate event in May 2024. These have been well-aged, as I held a couple back specifically for an eventual pairing with Blackened Whiskey.

The foot band proclaims “Maduro to the Core,” a reference to the wrapper, binder, and filler all being Maduro tobaccos, contributing to the cigar’s rich and intense character. The wrapper is Mexican San Andrés Maduro, the binder Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro, and the filler a blend of Nicaraguan Maduro and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro, including bold ligero leaf.

The cigar delivers a robust flavor profile of dark chocolate, cocoa, and espresso, with black pepper undertones throughout. Perhaps due to 18 months of rest in the humidor, this particular example seemed slightly less intense than I recall from earlier experiences, though it remained full-bodied and richly flavored. As with the prior ones smoked, the draw was on the tight side.

Going into the evening, I expected the cigar might overpower the blended whiskey, despite the creators’ intention that the two be enjoyed together. Instead, the whiskey’s sweetness softened the cigar’s pepper and density — again, possibly influenced by the cigar’s age.

In the end, I enjoyed the Blackened pairing overall. The tight draw of the cigar proved distracting and limited some of the flavor expression. I’ll happily sip the whiskey neat again, though I suspect it would pair even better with a sweeter, creamier cigar. The ongoing search for better sip-and-smoke combinations is what keeps this hobby interesting.

Cheers!

Aperol Spritz & the Liga Undercrown Shade: A Summer Pairing

They call it a “heat dome.” I call it summer in Virginia. With the afternoon sun ablaze and humidity thick in the air, bourbon — my usual standby — took a backseat to something lighter and more refreshing: the Aperol Spritz. It was Sunday leisure time, and the mood called for something bubbly, herbal, and slightly bitter.

Choosing a cigar to match the drink and mood was a bit more challenging. I wanted something on the milder side — which, frankly, isn’t a strength of my humidor. After a quick scan, I settled on the Liga Undercrown Connecticut Shade Gran Toro, figuring it was about as close to “mild” as I’d get.

This 6 x 52 Toro wears a pale Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over a Sumatra binder, with Dominican Criollo, Nicaragua Criollo and Corojo fillers. Despite its delicate appearance, the cigar was beautifully rolled and had been resting for about nine weeks.

It began with more flavor than I expected — creamy coffee, sweet nuts, and a gentle pepper tingle. I’d peg it as mild-to-medium in body at first, though as it progressed, the coffee deepened into something darker, and the pepper picked up a bit more punch. A touch of citrus zest and sweetness lingered in the background, adding complexity. By the final third, it was firmly in medium-bodied territory.

Some salty potato chips with olive and cream cheese dip rounded out the aperitivo. While the Undercrown Shade isn’t a cigar I reach for often, it paired nicely with the refreshing spritz. Still, if I’m being honest, I prefer something bolder alongside Aperol’s bittersweet character — even if I’m not enjoying it on a cobblestone patio in Italy.

Cheers!

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked & Herrera Estelí Norteño Toro Especial

For a recent porch smoke, I reached for the Herrera Estelí Norteño Toro Especial by Drew Estate. It had also been a while since I paired a cigar with a pour of bourbon, so I looked forward to revisiting an old favorite: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.

The evening was warm — one of those early Virginia summer nights that require some adjustments to the cigar setup. More fans, shorter sticks, later sessions. I’m not complaining; I love warm weather. But after five minutes on the porch, I realized I needed to crank up the fan speed. With the air moving and a playlist queued, I settled in.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is a staple on my shelf. It’s flavorful, bold, yet accessible — something I can pour confidently for both the bourbon novice and the seasoned aficionado. I’ve never had anyone turn it down, let alone dislike it.

The nose opens with rich caramel, toasted oak, and vanilla, with just a touch of ethanol tingle. The palate follows through with layers of caramel, dark chocolate, seasoned wood, and ripe dark fruit. The finish is long and warming, blending lingering sweetness with a subtle spice.

At just 90.4 proof, it’s an easy sipper — perfect for pairing with a long smoke.

The cigar had been resting in my humidor for about eight weeks. It arrived in April as part of the Luxury Cigar of the Month Club, and I hadn’t smoked the Norteño Especial in a couple of years. Truth be told, I couldn’t remember much about it, which made the revisit feel like a first-time experience.

The 6 1/4 x 54 cigar sports a rough, oily Mexican San Andrés wrapper over a Honduran binder and Nicaraguan fillers from Estelí and Jalapa. It’s softly box-pressed and had a draw slightly more open than I prefer, but it still produced generous smoke.

Right out of the gate, this is a medium-to-full-bodied cigar. No warmup required. The profile is bold and flavorful, delivering notes of black pepper, cocoa, dark-roast coffee, roasted nuts, and cedar. The retrohale brings a strong hit of black pepper, adding to the spice-forward impression.

Though robust, the Herrera Estelí Norteño Toro Especial maintains balance and complexity, never overwhelming the palate. I did find the draw became a bit too loose at times, and the smoke production dipped — requiring a few relights — but overall, the burn stayed even.

This pairing leaned heavily into bold, spicy territory. At times, it seemed the cigar even coaxed out more spice from the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Whether imagined or real, the result was a lively, well-matched flavor fusion.

This pairing featured both familiarity and rediscovery — exactly what a good evening on the porch should be.

Cheers!

Celebrating Recovery: Liga Privada H99 and Basil Hayden's Dark Rye

Friday morning, I went in for my three-month check-in with the back surgeon. Good news: I’ve been cleared to start bending and doing light lifting again — slowly and carefully over the next six weeks as I ease back into a more normal routine, realizing that full recovery could take an entire year. (The surgeon also reminded me that I’m not 20 anymore. Harsh, but fair.) He also gave me a referral for physical therapy, which I’m genuinely excited about. I’m more than ready to start rebuilding strength.

I celebrated that evening with a special — and large — cigar. The Liga Privada H99 line from Drew Estate was introduced last year. I picked up a box of the event-only 7 x 54 Corona Doble vitola  a year ago as a retirement gift to myself.

A hybrid Connecticut-grown Corojo wrapper encases a Mexican San Andrés Otapan Negro binder. The filler is a blend of tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Pennsylvania. The minimalist band leaves plenty of the beautiful wrapper on display, and the lengthy cigar makes a bold statement.

I used my PerfecPunch to open up the end of the cigar. The draw was somewhat loose at first but developed into perfect resistance as the cigar warmed up. Smoke production was plentiful throughout the long session.

Flavors opened with hints of pepper and toasted bread. Brown sugar sweetness gradually built alongside notes of dark chocolate, and graham cracker. It stayed consistently in the medium-bodied range, with occasional dips into full-bodied territory. The flavors remained balanced, smooth, and consistent throughout. Even toward the end, the Liga Privada H99 never exhibited any harshness — a flavorful and thoroughly enjoyable smoke.

I’ve only smoked a few from this box over the past year. The two-and-a-half-hour (or longer) smoking time requires some commitment. I did have to relight the cigar a couple of times when I briefly stepped away.

I paired the Liga Privada H99 with Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye — a bottle that’s been on my shelf for several years, as evidenced by the “Basil Hayden’s” label. Around 2020, the brand dropped the possessive “’s” and now goes by “Basil Hayden.”

Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye is a unique expression blending Kentucky straight rye, Canadian rye, and California port wine. The result is a dark red rye with a wine-like, fruit-forward flavor — more sweet than spicy, and at just 80 proof, very approachable.

The sweet fruit, caramel, and mild rye spice notes of the Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye made for an exceptional companion to the Liga Privada H99. While it’s never been a favorite sipper on its own, I especially enjoyed it with this cigar.

The small amount left in the old bottle wasn’t enough to last through the entire long smoke, so I eventually poured some Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon — coincidentally another bottle with just one pour remaining.

Four Roses Single Barrel is a go-to for both cocktails and sipping. Its profile — dark fruit, brown sugar, and spice — is more intense than the sweeter initial rye pairing. For this particular experience, the Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye was the better match for the H99. That said, I’ll still likely be restocking the Four Roses before replacing the Basil Hayden Rye.

Cheers!

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Between the Heaters: A Liga Privada T52 and Pikesville Rye Pairing

Even in retirement, Friday evenings hold a special excitement—they mark the perfect time to unwind. This week, I started the weekend as I often do: savoring a good cigar, a delicious whiskey, and blues music on the screened porch. The cool evening air carried a hint of the strong afternoon winds, but my two propane heaters kept the chill at bay.

Earlier in the day, I browsed my humidor in anticipation, selecting the Liga Privada T52 for the evening’s smoke. For the pairing, I chose the nearly empty bottle of Pikesville Rye—a whiskey I had been reluctant to finish, knowing how rare it is to find in Virginia. I shared one of the last pours with my wife, who reminded me we’d soon be traveling to other states where I might find another bottle to replenish my stock.

Pikesville Rye is a throwback to the Maryland Rye of pre-prohibition days. Pikesville Rye was produced in Maryland as far back as the 1890's. Though surviving that dark time of oppressive alcohol regulation, it is no longer produced in Maryland. The historical recipe is now made in Kentucky by Heaven Hill. The whiskey is aged for six years and bottled at 110 proof. The straight rye shines a brilliant copper color in the glass. Notes of caramel, honey, and vanilla waft from the glencairn glass, backed by rye spice and a hint of dark cherry.

Sipping brings a pleasant warmth to the mouth. Sweet from caramel and butterscotch start things off. Soon black pepper and cinnamon join in. The rye spiciness lingers, with black pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg contributing to a warm finish.

After a few sips of the Pikesville Rye, I turned my attention to the Liga Privada T52 from Drew Estate. The 6 x 52 Toro is cloaked in a beautifully mottled stalk-cut Habano Oscuro wrapper. This wrapper is produced by cutting the entire plant and hanging it intact to cure. This method allows the leaves to absorb more nutrients and oils, resulting in a rich flavor profile. A Brazilian Mata Fina binder and Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos complete the blend.

The smoke starts off with notes of black pepper, roasted nuts, and black coffee. As the cigar progresses a mild sweetness comes in, joined by hints of espresso. The robust spice of the start backs off slightly but remains to the finish along with hints of molasses and cocoa. The cigar, which had been resting in my humidor for three months, had a slightly tight draw but burned evenly, although it did require the occasional triple puff, and one relight, over the one hour and fifty minute smoking time.

The sweet rye spice of the Pikesville Rye was a fitting pairing for the robust Liga Privada T52. Even after taking a puff from the cigar, the flavorful finish of the rye remained on the palate.

My cozy spot between the heaters created the perfect setting for an evening of flavorful smoke and drink. I can’t wait to do it again.

Cheers!

Eight Shires Accomak Shire Spiced Rum with Blackened S84 Shade to Black

I decided on a lighter palette for my palate during a weeknight sip and smoke. A coworker had given me a bottle of Eight Shires Accomac Shire Spiced Tavern Rum on the occasion of my retirement. I do enjoy spiced rum on occasion, but had yet try this one. Admittedly, I was not familiar with the Williamsburg, VA distillery, despite its geographic proximity.

Accomac Shire Spiced Rum is described as a "Caribbean style spiced rum using 18th century style spices and molasses." I've read that the molasses is imported from a south American company that uses 18th century methods. The distillery also employs some older equipment similar to that used in colonial times. 

The 83 proof rum is a light amber color. I smell baking spices from the glass. The flavor is mild with notes of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. It's an enjoyable beverage. I could almost imagine serving it warm, with some apple slices and cinnamon sticks on a cold winter night. 

For the cigar portion of the evening I grabbed a Blackened Cigars S84 Shade to Black Toro from the humidor. This cigar came in the June Luxury Cigar Club shipment and had been in the humidor for eight weeks. The 6 x 52 cigar from Drew Estate is a followup to the popular Blackened Cigars M81. 

The smooth stick boasts an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper. A Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro binder, with Nicaraguan Maduro and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro filler leaves completes the picture. The blend appears to be the same as the M81, excepting the wrapper leaf change. The proportions of the binder and fillers are never revealed so this may or may not differ between the two blends.

The cigar is widely listed as a medium to full bodied smoke. I found it to be somewhat on the milder side. The wrapper really seems to influence the flavors. After an initial few puffs of pepper and cedar, the profile notes settled into the bread, butter, and peanut realm. There was an underlying layer of sweet milk chocolate and some mild baking spices. The burn was excellent and the smoke production steady.

I'd rate the Blackened Cigars S84 Shade to Black in the mild to medium body range. It did pair nicely with the spiced rum. I would not pair it with a more robustly flavored spirit. That said, I suspect the cigar would satisfy the fan of milder smokes who are looking for something a little different.

Cheers!

Liga Privada H99, Rye, and the Humidity

"Now everyday is Saturday." I've heard that frequently from friends since I retired. However, "the weekend" is still something I look forward to. (I no longer get the Sunday evening downer though.) We had our typical Friday planned — meaning we were staying home. Colleen enjoyed baking and I enjoyed a cigar and drink on the deck. Life is good.

After it had a three month rest in the humidor, I decided to crack open the box of Liga Privada H99 Corona Doble I picked up at the Drew Estate event in May. The hefty 7 x 54 cigar promised a long and flavorful smoke. The Connecticut River Valley Corojo wrapper is grown exclusively for Drew Estate by a single farmer in Connecticut. The leaf is a hybrid of Habano and Corojo tobaccos. A Mexican San Andrés binder and a blend of  Honduran and Nicaraguan filler completes the picture.

My whiskey shelves have gotten overcrowded of late, so I've been working on finishing off those nearly empty bottles. One such forlorn bottle was the Sagamore Spirit Sherry Finish Rye. I enjoyed a wee pour to kick off the smoke.

This Sagamore release is of a blend of four year old ryes which is aged for 18 months in PX Sherry casks. Delightful aromas of figs, cherries, and raisons greet the nose. The sherry influence on the rye comes to the forefront right from the start, along with a hint of citrus and rye spice. The 106 proof is well masked. I've enjoyed this one with a number of cigars over the past couple years and find it to be an excellent accompaniment to a rich cigar.

The Liga Privada kicks off with heavy does black pepper. The complete flavor profile quickly comes up as the cigar gets going. I get dark chocolate at the forefront as the pepper moderates. There are light brown sugar and fig notes also in the rich, thick smoke. The dark fruit and a slight sweetness complemented the Sagamare Sherry finished rye nicely. I didn't have any open bottles of another sherry-finished whiskey to pour next, so completed my smoke with a pour from a bottle of Angel's Envy Rum Finished Rye. That too paired well.

The cigar required a few touch ups to keep an even burn line, and the smoke output occasionally waned until a quick touch with my torch. I think the extremely high humidity outside, from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debbie, had an adverse effect on the performance. The Weather Bug app was reporting 98% humidity to go along with the mid-80º temperature. My drink glass was coated with condensation and I kept a paper towel nearby dry my hands after each sip.

I am extremely glad I chose to buy this special box of cigars as a retirement gift to myself. I look forward to smoking many more in the near future.

Cheers!

Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva GT20 and Heaven Hill BiB

Last Friday, I was looking forward to heading over to my local brewery to enjoy an evening cigar under the trees and listen to some live music. All while enjoying a good beer of course. That afternoon they announced that it was too hot to listen to music outside and cancelled the event. Disappointing, but I reverted to my usual spot on the deck. I took a chance and put some blues on the speaker – outdoors music despite their warning. 

I've had some Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva GT20 sitting on the humidor for about 8 weeks now. Though somewhat impatiently, I've giving them some rest after purchase at a Drew Estate event at my a local shop. After some indecisiveness standing in front of the whiskey shelf, I finally selected the Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon to complete the pairing.

The Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva GT20 is a 6 x 54 box-pressed stick. The Nicaraguan Maduro binder is smooth and glossy though somewhat unevenly colored. With both Nicaraguan binder and filler, it promises to be a robust smoke. The GT20 was created to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva. The blend used is the same as the original Antaño 1970 but the filler leaves were aged for more than five years. 

As suspected the smoke starts off robust with notes of cedar, espresso, and roasted nuts. The finish, and the retrohale, boasted white pepper spice. The cigar threatened to go out several times, and succeeded once, requiring a number of touchups to keep it going strong. The burn line got wavy at times never got out of hand due to the required lighter hits to keep a full burn. The GT20 is a full-bodied smoke from start to finish, and despite the attention needed by the burn, a quite enjoyable smoke.

Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond is a 7 year aged 100 proof bourbon. The pour is aromatic as caramel, vanilla, and oak waft from the glass. It's a flavorful sip with moderately intense oak and baking spice mixed with the oak and vanilla. Some tobacco and dark cherry join the finish. A pleasant caramel sweetness lingers for a long finish on the palate.

The Heaven Hill BiB has been an allocated item and hard to come by in our State (mis)managed stores. Just recently I noticed that VA ABC had removed the bourbon from their allocated list. That's a relief as this is an enjoyable bourbon, and at under $50, a bargain as well.

Cheers!

Liga Privada H99 - An Early Retirement Gift to Myself

With retirement just a couple weeks away, I was looking to treat myself to an early retirement splurge. Hogsheads Cigar lounge held a Drew Estate event last Friday evening, which provided the perfect opportunity to indulge myself. 

The evening featured most, if not all, of the extensive Drew Estate lineup, but the "main event" was showcasing the new Liga Privada H99. Along with the regular vitolas the line cigar, the event-only Corona Doble was available for sale as well. I had decided prior to arriving I was going to treat myself to a box of 24.

The purchase of this special box qualified me for slew of H99-themed swag to go along with it. A glass ashtray, Xikar cutter, keychain, a cigar rest, and a selection of free cigars, were all added to my bag. The hardware will be added to my shelf of other themed cigar accoutrements to make appearances as demanded.

I spent the evening at the lounge enjoying fun conversation and smoking a couple other Drew Estate cigars. I didn't win ay of the raffles of the evening, but I had my prize. I'll let the H99 cigars rest in my humidor for as long as I can resist. I am looking forward to enjoying it soon though -- and I'll have plenty of time to do that. 

Cheers!

Coffee Break: Undercrown Maduro

This coffee break supported by the Liga Privada Undercrown Maduro from Drew Estate. The temperature was in the mid-60° range -- not cool, but warm enough to not require any supplemental heat. I think I can finally bring in the portable heat sources until the fall.

The Liga Privada Undercrown Maduro from Drew Estate is one that I smoke frequently and that has been mentioned often in these Musings. The 5" x 54 Robusto has been resting in my humdor since February. It combines a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper, a Habano Connecticut binder, with Brazil Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Habano fillers. The medium-bodied smoke has rich espresso and cocoa sweetness. Some dark fruit and bitterness is also in the mix.

This is a cigar I like to keep on hand. ("Siri, remind me to pick up more Undercrown Maduro.") I almost universally enjoy it with a bourbon or a dark beer. I don't recall that I've paired it with coffee, though it seems likely I would have at some point. The dark espresso notes in the cigar contrasted with the comparatively lighter notes of the rich, black coffee. The combo was enjoyable and I poured a second cup to enjoy.

We've been under an extended period of dark and rainy days of late. As I wrapped up my smoke, though it would be setting soon, the sun finally came out from behind the clouds. It was a morning dawn -- at the end of the day. 

Cheers!

Kicking Off The Long Weekend

It seems the longest weeks are the ones leading up to a long weekend. But finally Friday arrived and preparations for the evening got underway. I finished the lawn maintenance chores early, and prepped the fire pit before dinner. 

I was looking forward trying out the Calumet Farm 10 Year Bourbon I had picked up a few weeks ago. That, along with a Padrón 1926 Serie 9 Natural were set in place, so once the fire got going the sipping and smoking commenced. 

This is my first exploration of Calumet Farm bourbon. When I was shopping out of state a few weeks ago, the store had the 8, 10, and 16 year expressions. I've read mixed reviews of the Calumet line but have been interested, so opted to go with the 10. The ten year was of average price for the age, and ten year bourbon is often a sweet spot. I was pleasantly surprised. I found moderately bold notes of charred wood, caramel, and some honey sweetness. The finish was a little spicy bit not overwhelming. My impression was of an enjoyable "classic" bourbon. Now the 16 year expression is tempting me.

Colleen inquired if I'd make a Mint Julep for her to sip while we enjoyed the fire. Of course! She had picked up a few fresh herbs for cocktails this weekend. It's a simple drink, so even when it was time for a refill, setting the cigar down to go inside and mix another didn't even require touch up to the smoke. (Even if I did accidentally use some whole ice cubes instead of chipped.)

The Padrón was a fine smoke as always. I don't smoke them frequently enough, still there are often a few in my humidor. The 1926 Serie 9 Natural is a Nicaraguan puro in a 5 1/4" x 56 box press format. It's a well-constructed cigar with a moderately firm pack. The 1926 is medium to bold smoke with creamy notes of coffee, nuts, and chocolate. The burn is razor sharp throughout with a persistent ash.

It's was a beautiful evening, and since we had an early dinner and were outside in the very early evening, we got to enjoy a lot of bird activity at the edge of the wood. It also meant there was time for another smoke and a bit more sipping. The second smoke for the evening was the Liga Undercrown 10 by Drew Estate. 

The Undercrown 10 features a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper, Habano Connecticut binder, with Brazil Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Habano leaves as fillers. The creamy smoke features rich espresso, some cocoa sweetness, and a hint of dark fruit. As a medium-bodied smoke, the cigar paired well with the bourbon also.

I don't think I could have asked for a more enjoyable evening. The weather was great, as were the cigars and drinks. Of course the company could not have been better. And there are still a few more days to do more of the same.

Cheers!

Christmases Cold and Warm

It's an old joke that if you don't like the weather in Virginia, wait a few minutes and it will change. It's also true that the weather on a any calendar day can be wildly different from year to year. This is especially true in the winter. (In the summer, you can just expect it to be hot. Period.) White Christmases are rare here, but last year, we were treated to one of those uncommon events. 

Over Christmas 2020 we experienced snow and very cold weather. That didn't stop me from enjoying the Rocky Patel A.L.R. Second Edition shown below. The full experience is recounted in this post. 

Christmas 2021 was at the complete opposite end of the weather spectrum. The day was sunny, and by the afternoon the temperature hit 71°. That meant smoking on the deck without the need for supplemental heating or winter clothing.

On this most recent Christmas afternoon I chose the new Undercrown 10 Lonsdsale with which to celebrate the day. The Undercrown Maduro is a favorite, and the new Undercrown 10 is a special release to mark the 10th anniversary of the cigar. The Starr Hill Snow Blind Dopplebock is a perennial favorite.

The difference in smoking experiences between the two years was remarkable when it comes to the weather. However, the pleasure of a good cigar is universal no matter the temperature.

Lookout Brewery, Black Mountain, NC

A couple of weeks ago we escaped to western North Carolina to disconnect for a week of relaxation. We ensconced at a bed and breakfast for the week, which made for a nice base of operations. We would eat a hearty meal in the morning, then head out for a day of hiking, sight seeing, and brewery visits. 

We were treated to an appearance by the local bird feeder bandit one evening as we enjoyed dinner on the patio. The hungry bear stepped out of the woods, stared at us for a moment, then retreated back into the trees.

Naturally, I was looking forward to enjoying cigars at local breweries during the trip. Surprisingly, the NC breweries we visited were, with one exception, less than accommodating when it came to that pleasure. Of course, there are dozens of breweries in the Asheville area, so maybe we just hit the wrong ones. As so many of our local breweries allow cigars, many even having humidors onsite, I was shocked by the restrictions at breweries in our neighboring state.

One notable exception was Lookout Brewing in Black Mountain. We stayed right outside of the town, so it was just a short drive to the brewery. That was fortunate as this was the only brewery that we opted to pay a return visit to, as much for the beer and atmosphere as the chance to enjoy a cigar.

We ordered a couple of beers, and grabbed a table on the side patio in the shade. I quickly lit a Liga Privada Sun Grown Maduro to enjoy with the Toasted Hazelnut Dunkel. The Dunkel had notes of coffee and a pleasing nuttiness. It was a refreshing foil to the rather warm temperature and as expected paired well with the cigar. The resident food truck was not open so we grabbed two delicious wood fired pizzas from the shop right across the street. (We were enjoying the leftovers at the B&B when the bear paid a visit.)

We returned later in the week for more good beer, food, and a smoke. This time the food truck was open and we gorged ourselves on some tasty, and large, hot dogs. This time I opted for Curren's Cloudbreaker Hazy IPA. For my smoke I lit one of my favorites, the Powstanie Broadleaf, in the Belicoso format.

The Hazy IPA was very well done. There was a refreshing fruitiness, without being overly sweet, and balanced with just the right amount of hop bitterness. Mouthfeel was creamy with a clean finish and the moderate 5.7% ABV made it easy to go for a refill. 

I was struck by the friendliness of the patrons at the brewery. The crowd seemed be mostly "local" rather than "tourist" like us. In fact, Lookout Brewing reminded me a lot of my favorite local haunt for enjoying beer and cigars, 1781 Brewing, where so many of these Musings originate. The patrons and staff were friendly, the beers delicious, there was food onsite, and they had no objections to the enjoyment of cigars. In fact, small ash trays were placed on many of the tables.

I talked to the bartender for a bit to express my delight with finding them, and shared how much we enjoyed ourselves. "We are just a small business trying to be welcoming," she replied. I think they are succeeding. If you are in the area, and want a break from the larger, more well-known, and crowded, local breweries you won't go wrong with a visit to Lookout Brewing in Black Mountain, NC.

Just Cigars

It's been a while since I added to these Musings. That's not because nothing's been happening. Or, truth be told, it's more like because nothing has been happening. When I'm not working, we've been doing just that — nothing.

Nothing, as in relaxing and enjoying the down time. Some of that has been necessitated by a long period of dull and wet weather. I skipped shooting last weekend for lack of desire to be running through water. Fortunately the screen porch is fit for other activities.

Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro, a humidor staple

Fratello DMV Maduro Selection (Maryland)

Fratello DMV Maduro Selection (Delaware)

Montecristo Open, a Cuban brought back
from Ireland a few years back

Liga Sun Grown Maduro

And that's the story.

There's more cigar content over at Instagram. I tend to be more active there. 

Flying Dog Barleywine & Crowned Heads La Coalición

Plans for an an early logout from work on Thanksgiving Eve didn't go exactly as hoped, but I was still able to be ensconced on the screen porch before the sun set. It was a bit on the cool side, but nothing the Big Buddy propane heater couldn't counter. I dug through the basement stash and found a Flying Dog Horn Dog Barley Wine. I am not sure how long the bottle has been sitting, but the paper label was faded and a little brittle. It's likely that this is a survivor from the beer tasting we hosted in the summer of 2013. I was confident the 10.2% ABV drink had aged well. 

The Horn Dog Barley Wine poured a translucent reddish brown color. The carbonation level was low despite the brief appearance of a beige head. The aroma was that of sweet caramel with a hint of alcohol. The flavor profile was rich with dark fruit notes like raisin and fig. A mild caramel and brown sugar sweetness lingered underneath to tease the palate. Even after some seven years, there was an aspect of booziness in the flavor still. All and all, this was an enjoyable libation. Alas, after double checking the fridge, it was the lone bottle hidden away.

The cigar choice for the before-dinner repast was the Crowned Heads La Coalición. This cigar is the fruit of a collaboration between Crowned Heads and Drew Estate. This particular stick is a 5 ½ x 50 Gordito vitola. It features a very oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over a Sumatra binder leaf. Tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua makes up the filler. The stick starts off with a spicy kick of pepper and cedar. Dark chocolate, espresso, and a sweet nuttiness make appearances throughout the smoke. The pepper notes seemed to decrease as the smoke progressed. Or perhaps that was the numbing effect of the ale.

I nursed the beer and the cigar for almost 90 minutes. The flavor combinations were enjoyable and complimentary. I have more of the La Coalición sticks on hand, and look forward to pairing them with other strong beers and whiskies.

Undercrown Maduro & Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Continuing the fire pit and power outage story… 

After rebuilding the fire, I headed inside to grab another smoke and a beer. The second cigar choice for the early evening was the Liga Undercrown Maduro from Drew Estate. This cigar has been mentioned before in these Musings and is a long-standing favorite.

I enjoy the Undercrown Maduro in the 5" x 54 Robusto size. The cigar wears a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper, a Habano Connecticut binder, and Brazil Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Habano fillers. It's a creamy smoke featuring notes of rich espresso, cocoa sweetness, and a hint of dark fruit.

Returning to the cellar, I dug out a bottle of Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout from the Winter 2006-2007 bottling. For many years we were very good about buying bottles of this brew each year to stash away. Unfortunately I've let that slip the past few years, and we've also worked through the older bottles. This 14 year old was the most senior of the stash.

The beer still maintains a rich aroma as well as good carbonation. The flavor profile retains its richness as well. There's a mildly bitter, semi-sweet chocolate overall profile. Notes of coffee, vanilla, and some nuttiness come through as well. The 10% ABV is wholly undetectable on the palate. 

The combination of the dark, semi-bitter beer, along with the espresso and chocolate notes of the cigar made for a delectable pairing. Sadly, after a few hours of the ongoing power outage, I had to leave the comfort of the fire in order to turn on the generator. Now I had the hum of generators both in the distance, and up close, disturbing the peacefulness of the evening.

Eventually the power was restored, thankfully earlier than the resolution time initially broadcasted by the power company. Leaving the fire burning, we retired to the house for a late dinner. After dinner Colleen did a little baking and I returned the yard. Not desiring the time around the fire to come to an end, I stirred that coals and put on a few more logs. Colleen soon joined me and we stared into the fire until late in the evening. And now my wood pile was suddenly very empty.

The long afternoon and evening by the fire was a great way to mark the last weekend of the summer. I do think our time spent out back disrupted some of the local deer who like to bed down in the yard overnight. I could hear rustling in the woods on occasion and the light from my flashlight was reflected back by green orbs staring back at me. At least I am going with the assumption those were deer.

The End

La Coalición and an Oktoberfest

My employer treated us to a four day weekend this holiday, so after a fun Friday afternoon spent driving country roads, just to get out of the house, I settled out to the screen porch for a beer and cigar. After a beautiful morning and afternoon, a storm was approaching but I was hopeful it wouldn't be too intense.

I grabbed a bottle of Blue Mountain 13.Five Oktoberfest to enjoy with the smoke. The beer pours a clear amber with just a wisp of head. The aroma is sweet with notes of caramel and bread. As expected the flavor is sweet malt and caramel, with just a touch of bitterness. It's a relatively light flavor profile with a thin mouthfeel. The beer was enjoyable, but lacking the heft that I personally prefer in a Märzen style beer. However, I won't pass by the rest of the six pack either.

In contrast to the beer, Crowned Heads La Coalición is a full-bodied smoke. This is one I've been looking to try for a while, but just never got around to picking it up. This 5½" x 50 Gordito was part of the August pack from My Cigar Pack and I was excited to finally try it. I got rich notes of chocolate, espresso, cedar, and a touch of pepper throughout the 90 minute smoke. The stick burned evenly producing copious smoke, although it did threaten to go out and need a touch from the torch a couple times. I was not at all disappointed in the cigar, though next time I think I'll pair it with a strong stout or a bourbon.

Eventually the skies darkened and that storm came through. The rain fell and the wind blew hard. I actually had to move away from the screen to stay out of the rain being forced through. It was a short burst of weather activity, and in a short while I was back in my normal seat enjoying the cool air and the return of blue sky.

Liga Undercrown and a Bourbon

At the end of another long work day (aren't they all?) I settled down for a quick dessert after dinner. I grabbed a Liga Privada Undercrown Maduro from the humidor, and pondered an accompaniment. Spying a bottle of Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Bourbon, I opted to pour a wee bit of the whiskey to go with my cigar.

Jefferson's Ocean Aged Bourbon matures in oak barrels for six to eight years before being placed on a ship to travel the ocean for another six months. The voyage is said to cross the equator 4 times with stops in 30 ports. Unsurprisingly, the ocean voyage affects the flavor. I found the 90 proof bourbon to be smooth and mild, with a hint of brine in the flavor. Admittedly, that was a little off-putting the first time I sipped it, but it quickly grew on me. I now find it a most refreshing drink. 

The Liga Privada Undercrown Maduro from Drew Estate is one of my "keep on hand" cigars. This cigar was from the latest batch added to the humidor a couple months ago. The cigar features a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper (another of my "favorite things"), Habano Connecticut binder, with Brazil Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Habano leaves as fillers. The creamy smoke features rich espresso, some cocoa sweetness, and a hint of dark fruit. As a medium-bodied smoke, the cigar paired well with the mild bourbon, neither dominating the palate.

The Undercrown Maduro is one that always gets smoked down to the hot nub. And then still set down with a bit of disappointment when it's done.

Interested in more cigar content? Follow me on Instagram at VA_SIGFan.

Another Weekend and More of the Same

And here we go again still. Fortunately, my work week is as busy as ever, and actually more so. There is occasional time for a beer or a bourbon, and maybe a cigar. But it's the weekend when we seek out fun and relaxation. Sadly, the options are limited given the current lockdowns, and the oppressive decrees from our state government.

On a bright note, it was the Easter weekend! A time for reflection and hope of a new beginning. Sadly, the socialist-in-charge, Governor Northam, spent this time of celebration for Christians proudly touting on social media the new attacks on freedom and democracy which he had signed into law. In an exceptional show of arrogance, he chose Good Friday to brag that he had loosened restrictions on abortion even further, paving the way for even more children, historically those of minority background, to be slaughtered in the name of "convenience." Among his other gleeful pronouncements over the Easter weekend was the signing of various bills increasing the ease of committing voter fraud, and ones making it harder for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and their loved ones, while at the same time making plans to release more criminals from prison.

All those attacks on freedom and democracy aside, I made every effort to keep it a joy-filled weekend. I did also resolve to skip any chores in the course of the Holy Feast, though I did replace a couple of defective smoke detectors in the house. Some chores must really be completed, no matter what.

Saturday afternoon I made a quick trip over to 1781 Brewing to pick up a growler of their delicious König Fruhling Doppelbock. While there, I ran into a good friend who was also picking up some tasty brew for his weekend celebrations. Despite being nearby neighbors we hadn't seem each other in a couple of months. A few minutes of catching up was one of the highlights of the day.

My beer in hand, I settled on the sunny deck and fired up a Crowned Heads Court Reserve XVII. This full bodied smoke was complimented quite well by the caramel and malty notes of the beer.

Near the end of the smoke, my beer glass long empty but not yet refilled, Colleen finished her preparation in the kitchen for the next day's Easter dinner, and joined me on the deck. "Would you pour me one of those?" she inquired. I also poured myself another glass and grabbed another stick from the humidor.

The next cigar selection was a NUb Maduro by Oliva Cigars. This 4x60 stick offers full flavors of espresso and chocolate. Again, a wonderful match for the Doppelbock and perhaps my favorite stick of the weekend.

That wrapped up the daylight part of Saturday, and we retired inside for dinner, followed by random shows on Netflix. (Another "normal" part of the day of late.)

And then it was Easter morning! Hallelujah! Reminded again that our governor has decreed public religious gatherings to be an illegal activity, we streamed the live Easter Mass into our living room. Though distant, it was still most comforting. A tasty brunch was soon being devoured, after which I realized, although it was cloudy and breezy outside, the temperature was rising into the 70's. That meant more deck time was in store.

Colleen and I went out to the screened porch for some fresh air and reading. I poured us both glasses of Bold Rock Cider. For myself, an Ave Maria Immaculata was procured from the humidor. This mild smoke features a Connecticut Shade wrapper, and Nicaraguan binder and fillers. Having been in my humidor for close to two years, it seemed even milder than I remembered. However, in combination with the cider, it was immensely enjoyable.

After that, we enjoyed a long video visit with our son and his fiancé. While we had planned on a  weekend visit from them, circumstances prevented that. After a long absence with no visits, even the virtual version was a welcome pleasure. The long chat left some dinner preparations behind schedule, so there was time for a before dinner beer and smoke.

The round two selection was another glass of the 1781 Brewing Dopplebock and a Liga Privada Undercrown Sungrown from Drew Estate. The medium bodied stick offered sweet and cedar notes, and a good long burn.

Finally we turned our attention to the roasted lamb dinner that Colleen had prepared. A newly found recipe featuring garlic, (100 cloves!) limes, and peanuts is definitely a keeper. Typically we grill our lamb outdoors, but the grill gave up the ghost a few weeks ago and has yet to be replaced. Dessert was an interesting and tasty Ricotta based cheesecake. As there was only two of us, we will get to enjoy leftovers for several days during this Octave of Easter.

So once again, that's all I know. The governor has decreed the lockdown will continue until at least June 10. (Not so coincidently, the day after our scheduled elections.) He seems to be doing his best to destroy small business and create a population dependent on government support. I will once again try to get in a trip to the outdoor range this week. It would be a welcome change of pace.