Author Archive

Ash Wednesday: A Cigar and a Pint

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 19th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. Though I am well past the age when the Church requires such penance, it feels odd not to offer the sacrifice — as long as health allows. So food was minimal on Wednesday as we marked the b…



A Lenten Tale

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 18th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

It’s Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent. It’s good to add some humor to the fasting.An Irishman moves into a tiny hamlet in County Kerry, walks into the pub and promptly orders three beers.The bartender raises his eyebrows, but serves the man thr…



Winter Reprieve: Fuente Maduro & Port-Finished Bourbon

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 16th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Maybe we’re getting a small break from the deep freeze. Even if only temporary, an evening above freezing made for a relaxing stretch of time on the porch — aided by the propane heater of course. For this evening’s repast, I selected an Arturo Fuente M…



Rye and Broadleaf Against the Cold

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 13th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

After nearly two weeks of resorting to the cigar lounge for a smoke — mostly due to bitter cold temperatures — I was finally able to spend some time enjoying a cigar and drink on the porch this past week. As enjoyable as the lounge is, I prefer selecti…



Saint José Sánchez del Río: A Martyr’s Faithful Witness

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 10th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

A repost.Today, February 10, marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint José Sánchez del Río. On this day in 1928, a 14-year-old boy was executed by Mexican government forces for refusing to renounce his Catholic faith during the Cristero War. Thi…



The Bitter Giuseppe Cocktail

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 9th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

The Bitter Giuseppe is a comparatively low-ABV cocktail that’s well suited to afternoon sipping. Although I generally prefer a bourbon- or rye-based drink, I’ve been turning to this one often lately, especially as a Sunday afternoon aperitif.The Bitter…



La Flor Dominicana Cabinet Oscuro: Ligero Before Noon

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 4th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

During a visit to Winchester, VA, I dropped into the John B. Hayes Tobacconist to enjoy a morning smoke. Lately, when I’ve visited this lounge, I’ve found myself lingering over the La Flor Dominicana section of the humidor cabinets. Despite the early h…



A Great Lake of Beer: St. Brigid’s Feast Day

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 1st, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Today, February 1, is the Feast Day of St. Brigid of Ireland — a saint whose legacy is inseparable from both faith and tradition, and whose name is uniquely entwined with beer.Our family has long held a particular affection for this great saint. In fac…



The Saddest Sound a Humidor Makes

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jan 29th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Those of a certain age will remember the Nestlé Quik commercial from the 1970s that gave us the line, “That’s the saddest sound I know.” That small lament comes to mind whenever I realize I’ve reached the final cigar in a favorite box.The Oliva Serie V…



Crowned Heads La Imperiosa on a Teasing Warm Night

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jan 26th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

As so often happens, the weather turned unseasonably warm in the days before an “historic” storm was predicted. That brief tease of warmth provided the inspiration for a warm-ish sip and smoke on the porch. Looking over the Cigar of the Month drawer in…