Archives for the ‘Blog Entries.Local’ Category

Thoughts on a cold Sunday morning

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Feb 1st, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

It's Sunday morning, February 1st. These are 10 things I'm thinking about.

  1. It's fucking cold here. It's 19F (-5C) as I type this. I live in the South. I do not remember this kind of extended cold streak in my 28 years in Virginia. We are into the 2nd week of brutally cold temperatures. We are expected to at least get above freezing this week.

  2. I spent the morning cleaning up the document directory on my PC. I create many spreadsheets. Are too many spreadsheets possible? I'm not sure that it is. My brain apparently works in columns and rows.

  3. The federal government is a hostile adversary and should be treated as such until such time that we get new leadership that respects the Constitution and the rule of law.

  4. It's February 1, and there is still no healthcare deal out of the Senate. I'm sure that Schumer has written many sternly worded emails, though.

  5. It's an Indigo Girls morning. They are awesome.

  6. I spent yesterday vacation planning for the fall or early winter. I was all set on a 7-day Texas road trip centered around camping at Big Bend National Park. Then, as I dug into looking at campground reservations in the park, I learned that the Chisos Basin area will be off-limits effective June 1 for construction that could last two years. Some of the most iconic hikes and sights are there, and it doesn't make sense to plan a trip if we'll miss so much of the park. I think we've settled on a 7-day birding road trip through Florida. Big Bend will have to wait.

  7. Texas is a stupidly large state.

  8. I'm feeling increasingly optimistic about my business this year. Stuff is happening, and it's all good. Last year I wrote a business plan, and so far it's all going according to plan. Now I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because the other shoe always drops. Also, I feel a little conflicted about feeling good about any part of my life with everything happening in this country.

  9. I wonder how many non-US-based Drupal folks are passing on DrupalCon North America this year because they are afraid to cross our border? Catching up with Drupal community folks from far-flung locations is one of the best things about DrupalCon. I fear it'll be almost 100% Americans this year.

  10. I'm only working two days this week as we are going to a birding festival in South Carolina. I need the break. I worked every weekend in January. Hopefully I'll see some payback in Q2 from the extra effort in January. Also, the weather looks nice for the festival: 50°F (10C) and sunny every day.


The Saddest Sound a Humidor Makes

Author: 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 Melanio is very much one of those favorites. I almost always keep a box — or at least one of the Serie V variations — tucked away in the humidor. It’s a reliable, versatile smoke that seems to fit just about any occasion, whether paired with a drink or enjoyed on its own. So it was with some disappointment that, while perusing the humidor inventory recently, I discovered I was down to my very last Melanio.

All is not lost, of course. Sitting nearby is an almost full box of the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary, a worthy and celebratory cousin that softens the blow considerably. Still, there’s something about seeing that final Melanio resting alone that feels like a small ending.

Nonetheless, I suppose the solution is obvious — and inevitable. Another box of Serie V will be finding its way into the humidor soon enough.


Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Crowned Heads La Imperiosa on a Teasing Warm Night

Author: 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 the humidor, I spied a Crowned Heads La Imperiosa. Received at the beginning of November, the cigar had been resting for about ten weeks — enough time to settle in.

Sporting an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper, the cigar presents a rustic appearance, with visible veining throughout the roll. A Nicaraguan binder and fillers hint at a bold smoking experience from the 6 3/8 x 50 “Double Robusto” vitola.



When the cigar opened with a firm kick of pepper and spice, I suspected my bourbon selection — Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series BRT-01 — would be a fitting companion. Leather, dark chocolate, and espresso dominated much of the cigar’s length, while wood char, dried nuts, and a subtle sweetness emerged toward the second half of the smoking time.

The Maker’s Mark BRT-01 was released in 2022 as part of the distillery’s Wood Finishing Series. A cask-strength Maker’s Mark base was finished with ten virgin toasted American oak staves in a secondary barrel and bottled at 109.4 proof.

Baking spices and caramel greeted the nose upon pouring — and lingered while setting up the requisite photo. Warm notes of cinnamon and vanilla coated the palate, followed by lingering fruit and spice that put an exclamation point on the sip. After a few moments enjoying the cigar and whiskey pairing, I added a few drops of water to the glass. This opened up brighter fruit sweetness while muting the spice, resulting in a better-tuned balance with the cigar’s subtle sweetness and wood.

The Crowned Heads La Imperiosa Double Robusto delivered an enjoyable two-hour smoke as I sipped the bourbon, listened to music, and contemplated the colder evening smokes waiting just ahead.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Hermanos de Armas Descending Shadows — Notes from a Late Evening

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jan 24th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
I picked up a selection of cigars from Hermanos de Armas back in June of 2025. I’ve smoked several of them over time, but — with one lone exception — haven’t mentioned them here. That omission is due solely to a lack of effort on my part, not any shortcoming in the cigars themselves. Often, I enjoy a cigar without feeling compelled to “put pen to paper.” In that same vein, this essay sat for a week before I finally got around to putting the finishing touches on it.

On a recent evening, I fired up a Hermanos de Armas Descending Shadows. After eight months of rest in the humidor, it was more than ready to be lit. The 6 x 54 Toro is wrapped in a glistening Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper, with Nicaraguan binder and filler. The cigar is smooth, evenly rolled, and nearly seamless. Hermanos de Armas cigars are produced at the Oveja Negra factory in Nicaragua — the same factory behind Black Label Trading Company and Black Works Studio.



A solid medium-to-full-bodied smoke, Descending Shadows opens with earth and spice. As the cigar develops, notes of brown sugar, black coffee, and dark chocolate begin to emerge. An undercurrent of sweetness runs throughout the experience, keeping the darker flavors in balance. The burn was even from start to finish, and the well-constructed cigar produced plentiful clouds of flavorful smoke.

As it happened, we had plans for a late night watching the College Football Playoffs, so I opted for a cup of dark, hot coffee with my pre-game cigar. The coffee had a subtle mocha note, which proved to be an excellent complement to the smoke. Still, I very much look forward to enjoying another Hermanos de Armas Descending Shadows paired with a rich, sweet bourbon in the future.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Done by 10 AM

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Jan 23rd, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

I've noticed that by about 10 AM most days I am done with the news. I'm deleting unread email newsletters and skipping over blog posts or Mastodon posts that have anything to do with current events. I just can't take it anymore. Then I feel guilty about not staying up to date. But really, how is an article about yet another ICE atrocity in Minneapolis going to make my life better? I'm already at maximum outrage.

Speaking of Minneapolis, can I just say how fucking proud I am every single person resisting in that city. What little hope I have left for the future of this county is hanging on primarily because of the actions of the people of Minneapolis. You folks fucking rock. Keep on resisting. You way outnumber the Nazis and you can wear them down. As a resident of a state capital with a newly elected Democratic Governor I'm wondering if we are next. If we are, I hope I can live up to the example that set by the people of Minneapolis.

In other news, I'm officially a Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer. I attended my first class last week. It's a long road to getting the Master Naturalist title but I expect to do it before the end of the year. The volunteer opportunities are amazing. There are so many opportunities to do cool stuff outdoors in support of conservation around RVA. The hard part is picking what to do. I want to do it all.

We went out for dinner tonight because we don't expect to leave the house again before Tuesday. We are hunkered down for the incoming winter storm. I've got a camp stove for cooking if we lose power, and I'm going to fill up the bathtub with water this evening so that we have flush water if a local water main blows. That happened last year and we were totally unprepared. This time we've got a stock of drinking water in the garage and the bathtub water for flushing the toilets. I've also got a generator, but I realized too late today that I never replaced the portable space heater that died last year. The house is well insulated, I think we'd be fine with extra layers if it comes to that. We live in a new neighborhood with underground utilities, so really we only lose power if something more central goes, and those issues tend to get fixed first since they affect a larger number of people.

Bring it on SnowMageddon 26. We are ready for you.

Also, check of my friend Ryan's interview over at the People and Blogs series. I was interviewed last year.

If you are in the path of the storm this weekend please stay safe, and warm.


Done by 10 AM

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Jan 23rd, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

I've noticed that by about 10 AM most days I am done with the news. I'm deleting unread email newsletters and skipping over blog posts or Mastodon posts that have anything to do with current events. I just can't take it anymore. Then I feel guilty about not staying up to date. But really, how is an article about yet another ICE atrocity in Minneapolis going to make my life better? I'm already at maximum outrage.

Speaking of Minneapolis, can I just say how fucking proud I am every single person resisting in that city. What little hope I have left for the future of this country is hanging on primarily because of the actions of the people of Minneapolis. You folks fucking rock. Keep on resisting. You way outnumber the Nazis and you can wear them down. As a resident of a state capital with a newly elected Democratic Governor I'm wondering if we are next. If we are, I hope I can live up to the example set by the people of Minneapolis.

In other news, I'm officially a Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer. I attended my first class last week. It's a long road to getting the Master Naturalist title but I expect to do it before the end of the year. The volunteer opportunities are amazing. There are so many opportunities to do cool stuff outdoors in support of conservation around RVA. The hard part is picking what to do. I want to do it all.

We went out for dinner tonight because we don't expect to leave the house again before Tuesday. We are hunkered down for the incoming winter storm. I've got a camp stove for cooking if we lose power, and I'm going to fill up the bathtub with water this evening so that we have flush water if a local water main blows. That happened last year and we were totally unprepared. This time we've got a stock of drinking water in the garage and the bathtub water for flushing the toilets. I've also got a generator, but I realized too late today that I never replaced the portable space heater that died last year. The house is well insulated, I think we'd be fine with extra layers if it comes to that. We live in a new neighborhood with underground utilities, so really we only lose power if something more central goes, and those issues tend to get fixed first since they affect a larger number of people.

Bring it on SnowMageddon 26. We are ready for you.

Also, check out my friend Ryan's interview over at the People and Blogs series. I was interviewed last year.

If you are in the path of the storm this weekend please stay safe, and warm.


When the Sun Lies: An Afternoon at the Cigar Lounge

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jan 22nd, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
I don’t mind sitting with a heater on the enclosed porch on a cool evening to enjoy a cigar. Sitting there with a heater running while the sun is shining in the afternoon, however, generally doesn’t excite me. Maybe my brain automatically equates sunshine with warmth and refuses to accept cold but bright days. To work around that disconnect, I headed back to Hogshead Cigar Lounge this week for an afternoon smoke.

For the occasion, I lit up a My Father Blue in the Toro vitola. I’ve smoked several of the Blues in Robusto and always enjoyed them, but a visit to the lounge calls for a longer, more leisurely cigar.



My Father Blue is something of a milestone for the brand, as it’s the first My Father cigar made in Honduras, and it has already found its way onto a number of “Top 25” lists. The Toro is a 6 x 54 box-pressed cigar wrapped in a dark, reddish Connecticut Broadleaf Rosado, with Honduran Corojo and Criollo tobaccos from the García family’s own Finca La Opulencia farm making up the binder and filler. After years of producing everything in Estelí, the García family opened a new factory in Honduras in 2024, finally putting that long-cultivated tobacco to use.

Flavor-wise, the cigar comes out swinging with cocoa and cedar, backed by a gentle sweetness and plenty of richness from the first draw. As the smoke develops, notes of espresso and roasted coffee join in, but the overall profile remains steady and satisfying all the way to the finish.

After roughly a 90-plus-minute smoke — though I wasn’t watching the clock — the cigar burned down to a warm nub, and it was time to head home. The flavorful cigar, the warmth of the lounge, and the easy conversations with fellow smokers all combined to make for a thoroughly pleasant afternoon.

Now, with the first major winter storm of the season apparently on the way, it’s time to make sure the propane heaters are topped off for some cold-evening smokes on the porch.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

A Pour Too Cold

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jan 19th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
My disdain for the frosted beer mug, in most situations, is no secret. Recently, however, I encountered its lesser-known but equally misguided cousin: the frosted whiskey glass.

We were enjoying beer and pizza at a restaurant in Blacksburg, Virginia. The place also boasts a large and surprisingly interesting whiskey menu, with prices that are remarkably budget-friendly. I decided to order a pour of E.H. Taylor Small Batch. When I made my request, the server asked, “On ice, or on the rocks?”

My mind went blank for a second before I replied, “No ice. In either form.” He laughed, realizing his slip, and confirmed my request.

When the pour arrived, I could only stare in amazement.



The glass was neither on ice nor on the rocks — the glass itself was frosted, rimmed with ice on the outside.

After wiping it down and letting it warm, the bourbon was, thankfully, quite enjoyable. In hindsight, the bar menu does feature a wide assortment of “shooters,” so perhaps, in their world, all whiskey is meant to be consumed quickly — and cold, like a shot.

Still, good bourbons deserve better than a deep freeze.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

A Good Day for an Indoor Smoke

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jan 15th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
It had been a while since I spent time at my local cigar lounge. I’d often intended to head over to Hogshead Cigar Lounge for some indoor smoking pleasure, but, if we’re being honest, convenience often won out. Why drive when I can simply step onto my enclosed porch and enjoy a cigar? Still, the simple luxury of smoking indoors — with other cigar lovers — is worth the extra effort now and then.

When I rolled in one early afternoon this week, a few patrons were already settled in with their smokes, even if the angle of the photo failed to capture them. Before long, the lounge filled and the room buzzed with lively conversation.



Since it had been a while since my last visit, I made a few leisurely circuits of the humidor before settling on an Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Toro. This Nicaraguan puro features a Corojo ’99 wrapper over binder and filler tobaccos also grown in Nicaragua. The 6 x 52 cigar had a satisfying heft without feeling over-packed, and the draw was spot on.

It opened with a touch of pepper, though the spice stayed on the milder side. As the cigar settled in, a pleasant sweet woodiness emerged, supported by abundant smoke production that only enhanced the full-flavored experience.

The Supreme Leaf delivered nearly two hours of relaxed smoking. When I finally stepped outside, the cold felt noticeably sharper than it had when I arrived. Sitting in my car as the wind rocked it gently, I was reminded just how welcome the warmth and comfort of indoor cigar smoking can be in the heart of winter.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Good Cigars and a Week That Forgot It Was January

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jan 11th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
What is one to do when January temperatures climb into the 60s? Spend time outside, of course. Last week’s weather offered a welcome break from the usual winter chill (yes, I know the real cold is still lurking). Along with some refreshing walks around the neighborhood, I took advantage of the mild evenings by spending time on the porch — often without the need for a supplemental heat source.

I decided it was a good opportunity to work through some of the Cigar of the Month selections I’ve received over the past few months from Cigar and Pipes. I enjoy these packages and have discovered some excellent new smokes, but the cigars do tend to “back up,” especially when I’m also adding to the humidor through regular purchases.

One of the cigars I smoked this week was the La Gloria Cubana Los Gloriosos. This 6 x 50 Toro, received last September, features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It was crafted by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo for the La Gloria Cubana brand he helped establish. The smoke delivered notes of leather, espresso, and cocoa, and its smooth, medium-bodied profile paired especially well with a glass of DOM B&B as an evening digestif.



As the warm spell continued, another evening found me lighting up a November COTM selection: the Partagás Y Nada Más Santiago. This 5 x 50 Robusto is part of a lineup introduced at the 2025 PCA Trade Show. It features a Habano 2000 wrapper, a Sumatra binder, and a complex filler blend of Piloto Cubano, Corojo, Ecuadorian, and Broadleaf tobaccos. The cigar was milder than I expected, drifting into the mild-medium range at times. The draw was very open and airy, which likely contributed to its muted profile, though there were pleasant notes of cream and cocoa throughout.

I paired it with a pour of Four Roses Small Batch Select, though I waited until about a third of the way in before sipping, hoping the cigar’s flavors might build a bit. The bourbon brought dark fruit, vanilla, and oak, along with lingering sweetness and spice, adding a welcome flavor boost to the pairing.


These two cigars were new to me, which is exactly why I maintain a COTM subscription. It’s fun to receive cigars I might not have tried otherwise. Occasionally one doesn’t quite click, and other times I enjoy a cigar so much that I end up buying more. From time to time, one arrives that I’ve already smoked before — such was the case when the Black Works Studio Killer Bee showed up in October. Still, seeing it in the package made me smile; it’s a cigar I truly enjoy.



The Killer Bee Robusto is a 5 x 50 stick wrapped in dark Ecuadorian Maduro leaf. The cap is accented with thin stripes of lighter tobacco, giving it the bee-like appearance that inspired its name, while the foot is neatly and tightly closed. Inside, aged Nicaraguan tobaccos make up the binder and filler.

From the first draw, the medium-to-full-bodied smoke delivers white pepper, dark roasted coffee, and cedar spice. The burn is razor-sharp and consistent, producing thick, aromatic clouds that fill the space around me. By the second half, the cigar has settled into a fuller expression without becoming harsh. Despite its strength, I stuck with water for this after-dinner smoke.

Those pleasant January temperatures gave me the chance to enjoy several good cigars over a few days and make a dent in my Cigar of the Month backlog. And yet, as I write this, the next shipment has already arrived on my doorstep.

Ah, the struggle continues.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

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