Archives for the ‘Blog Entries.Local’ Category

Summer Skies, a Bourbon Spritz, and a Fine Cigar

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jul 20th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
For our Sunday afternoon aperitivo, Colleen’s usual warm-weather choice is an Aperol Spritz. I’ll often join her in that selection, but this time I was looking for something a bit bolder while still retaining the refreshing character of the classic. Enter the Bourbon Aperol Spritz.

I already had the ingredients assembled for the Aperol Spritz, so all I needed to do was reach for the bourbon and adjust the proportions slightly.


Bourbon Aperol Spritz
  • 1½ oz bourbon
  • 1 oz Aperol
  • 2 oz Prosecco
  • 1 oz club soda
  • Orange slice
Build the drink over ice, stir gently, and garnish with an orange slice.

The very first sip struck me as slightly out of balance, but the flavors quickly came together, perhaps helped by the slight dilution from the melting ice. With each sip, the drink became more harmonious and increasingly refreshing.

The finished cocktail is lighter and brighter than an Old Fashioned or even a Boulevardier, making it especially enjoyable during the summer months. The bourbon contributes notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak that are balanced nicely by Aperol’s bittersweet orange character and the effervescence of the Prosecco and club soda.

Naturally, I needed a cigar to accompany the spritz. Turning to the humidor, I selected an Oliva Serie V Melanio in the Robusto vitola.

This cigar was the last remaining from a box purchase and had rested loose in the humidor for more than two years. It showed a bit of damage to the foot and cap but was otherwise in excellent condition and performed flawlessly.



The Serie V Melanio proved an excellent companion to the cocktail. Its notes of cedar, cream, toasted nuts, and baking spices complemented the bourbon beautifully while allowing Aperol’s bittersweet orange character to remain prominent. The cigar’s creamy texture also paired especially well with the bourbon’s sweet vanilla and caramel notes.

As we sat and enjoyed our aperitivo, the skies alternated between bright sunshine and dark summer clouds, tempering the July heat. A brief shower finally arrived — lasting only a few minutes — but it cooled the air just enough to make the afternoon even more enjoyable. The Bourbon Spritz, the Oliva Serie V Melanio, and, of course, the light snacks alongside them all combined to make for a thoroughly pleasant afternoon on the porch.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

The Dave Kline Band with Senator Tim Kaine

Author: From https://chrisod.weblog.lol • Jul 19th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

The Dave Kline Band with Senator Tim Kaine

After Friday night's less-than-stellar experience, we tried again. Yep. It was a two-concert weekend for us. The day got off to a good start as I completed my first Bird Friendly Habitat Certification (not counting my own yard). So now we have two certified yards in Sandston! We got whacked by a severe thunderstorm around 4 PM and lost power around 4:15 PM. After a couple of hours with no power, I fired up the generator and plugged the fridge into it. It handled the fridge and saved me the hassle of trying to fill up coolers with ice and food. The power came back after about 5 hours while we were out.

So, back to the band. The Dave Kline band is an insanely talented jazz/blues/funk band, and I have no idea how Senator Kaine hooked up with them, but they play a few shows together every year. Kaine plays harmonica and sings, and he isn't bad. The theme for the night was celebrating Nelson Mandela's birthday, so all the songs centered around the concept of freedom. They started with Dave Kline doing his electric violin version of Hendrix's version of the National Anthem. Then they jumped into Kaine singing lead on a CCR tune before Abena Koomson-Davis took over for a couple of spirituals, which, as Tim pointed out, were songs that presented as gospels when what they were often singing about 175 years ago was freedom from slavery. We also got a Tim Kaine original, and the show finished up with a Stevie Wonder cover followed by Takin' It To The Streets by the Doobie Brothers.

It was an insanely good and uplifting night of music that cost me 1/2 of what Friday night cost. So yes, we did spend a lot of money this weekend. YOLO! Also, to tie the night to Friday in one other way, Michelle got wine dumped on her when the couple who we were sharing the 4-top knocked her full glass of wine over while attempting to be friendly and shake hands. Weirdly, they did not offer to replace the glass of wine, but the bartender replaced it gratis because the staff at Révéler is just that awesome.


Robert Jon & the Wreck at The Tin Pan

Author: From https://chrisod.weblog.lol • Jul 18th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Robert Jon & the Wreck at The Tin Pan

I have lived in RVA, and before that Fredericksburg, for over 20 years. I have looked at shows at The Tin Pan on multiple occasions. Every time I passed, because the idea of seeing a loud rock and roll show in a dinner club atmosphere just didn't appeal to me.

A couple of months ago, Robert Jon, one of my favorite artists, announced a show at the Tin Pan. He doesn't tour the East Coast that often, so I didn't think twice about buying tickets. In fact, I bought them a couple of days after going on sale. The Tin Pan only seats about 200 people. It's an intimate space, and there are not any bad seats. Only bad relative to the better seats in the place. It's allegedly first come, first served. The earlier you buy, the better your seats. Watch the video below. Does that look like one of the best seats in the house? The people we were sharing a 4-top with bought tickets at the last minute. Since they had the outside of the table, they had a better sightline than I did. I don't know why we were seated at one of the worst tables in the place, but clearly, they will play games with the first-come, first-served thing. So be warned if you ever plan to go to a show there.

The tickets were $45 each, $54 after fees. And then they impose a $15 minimum per person. I have no issue with minimums when there is no or a small cover charge. But if I've spent over $100 after fees to walk in the door, I do have an issue with a minimum. If I want to drink water all night after dropping $100 to get in the door, there should be no issue with that. Since we were forced to spend at least $30 there, we had dinner there. It was fine. You probably would not go there just for the food, but the portions were reasonable and the prices were slightly high but justifiable. More annoying was draft beer being $10 each.

My initial instincts about seeing a rock and roll show in a seated dinner theater atmosphere were right. The inability to get up and move with the music just put a damper on the feel of the night. The band was awesome. And I will give the Tin Pan credit for having a top-notch sound system. As a place to see a jazz trio or a girl at a piano, it would work fine. For a loud rock and roll show, it doesn't work. At least not for me. Robert encouraged us to "break the rules" and get up and dance for the encore song, and that song had the best vibe of the night.

Also, they auto-add a 20% service charge. I would have tipped 20% anyway, even if the server did dump food and water and my wife (she did.) My wife also witnessed a woman get her face smashed in the bathroom when someone pushed the door open, and it whacked some poor woman in the side of the head.

In summary, I spent $175 for us to see one of our favorite bands, and I'm not feeling great about that decision today. I don't think we'll be back to The Tin Pan.


A Sweltering Evening with Southern Draw and Montenegro

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jul 16th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
The news and social media are full of reports about the extreme heat affecting much of the country, Virginia included. For my part, I accept that it’s July in Virginia. Temperatures approaching 100° are neither unusual nor unexpected. However, with “feels like” temperatures nearing 110° predicted over the next couple of days, I decided to get an early start on watering the lawn while enjoying a cigar on the screened porch, when the actual temperature was only 92°.

I searched for a light, refreshing digestif and settled on Amaro Montenegro. I’ve been slowly acquiring an assortment of amari. These Italian herbal liqueurs are crafted from a variety of botanicals infused or macerated in alcohol. Although bitterness lies at their core, they offer a wide spectrum of flavors ranging from sweet citrus and floral notes to warming spices and earthy herbs. They are typically served neat as a digestif, though many also shine in cocktails.



Amaro Montenegro is one of the gentlest and most approachable of the amari. With a restrained bitterness, it offers notes of candied orange peel, vanilla, and honey. The floral sweetness balances bitterness without being cloying or syrupy. 

I selected a Southern Draw Evening Primrose for the cigar accompaniment. I've had some in the 5½ x 54 Robusto size in the humidor since June 2025. The cigar features an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper, an Indonesian Sumatra binder, and fillers from several growing regions of Nicaragua. Though the cigar features a moderate pepper component, it is balanced by a subtle floral sweetness layered with cedar, toasted nuts, citrus, and delicate floral aromas.

It was that underlying floral sweetness that led me to pair the Evening Primrose with the Amaro Montenegro.

The initial draw delivered a substantial burst of pepper and cedar, which briefly gave me pause about the pairing. Almost immediately, however, those bold flavors were tempered by notes of toasted bread and a creamy floral sweetness. I spent several minutes simply enjoying the cigar’s balanced complexity before reaching for the amaro. The combination of gentle pepper, toasted bread, roasted nuts, soft spices, and sweet citrus was thoroughly enjoyable on its own.



Taking my first sip of the amaro confirmed that I had made the right choice. Despite their contrasting flavor profiles, the pairing was remarkably complementary. Montenegro’s orange and honey notes softened the cigar’s early pepper, making the smoke seem creamier. As the cigar developed richer cedar and toasted nut flavors, the amaro contributed hints of vanilla and baking spice that seemed to emerge naturally from the cigar rather than stand apart from it.

The floral interplay between the two was particularly striking. The Evening Primrose’s subtle floral nuances were gently elevated by Montenegro’s delicate botanicals, bringing those notes to the forefront and lending the cigar even greater elegance.

As the hour-long smoke drew to a close, the cigar developed deeper roasted flavors. Amaro Montenegro’s restrained bitterness and honeyed sweetness refreshed the palate between puffs, allowing the cigar’s complexity to continue unfolding. Rather than overwhelming the cigar, the amaro accentuated its more delicate flavors, creating a balanced and sophisticated after-dinner pairing.

Despite the oppressive heat and humidity that pushed the “feels like” temperature close to 100°, the complementary flavors of the Southern Draw Evening Primrose and Amaro Montenegro provided a refreshing counterpoint to the evening. As I settled into the pairing, time passed quickly, and the summer heat seemed almost an afterthought.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Bright Hops, Dark Tobacco

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jul 13th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
On a recent warm evening, I got a hankering for a nice cold beer — or two — to accompany my cigar. I still had some Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA in the refrigerator left over from a recent gathering with friends, and the thought of that citrusy ale had my mouth watering in anticipation.

First, I needed to decide on a suitable cigar accompaniment. After making several passes through the humidor shelves, I finally settled on the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva GT20, with high expectations for the pairing.



The Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA is not a delicate IPA. The beer pours a deep and bright orange color with a big frothy white head — I was relieved I chose a glass of sufficient size. It opens with strong, pithy citrus notes. Resinous, piney hops come through as well. The use of whole-cone hops for dry hopping contributes a fresh, grassy profile. Though a touch of piney resin lingers in the finish, the flavor profile ultimately leans toward bright, fresh citrus. At 7.2% ABV and roughly 65 IBU, it delivers a firm, refreshing citrus bitterness supported by floral hop character and a solid caramel malt backbone.

The Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva GT20 had been resting in the humidor for just over two years. The 6 x 54 softly box-pressed stick is a Nicaraguan puro with a glossy maduro wrapper. The filler tobaccos are reportedly aged for more than five years before the cigars are rolled.



The cigar began with the cedar, espresso, and roasted nut flavors I remembered from earlier smokes. After another two years of rest in the humidor, it offered an exceptionally balanced smoke with all of those notes present but none truly dominating. The white pepper finish noted in the past was diminished but not gone.

The pairing flavors provided an interesting array of contrasts. The Torpedo IPA’s grapefruit and pine notes tended to moderate the darker notes of the rich Nicaraguan cigar. Each sip cleansed the palate, allowing the cigar’s flavors to reintroduce themselves with every draw. Especially during the final third, when the Antaño Gran Reserva GT20 became richer and heavier, the Torpedo IPA seemed to emphasize the cedar and spice, making the cigar feel more vibrant and energetic. At the same time, the coffee and cocoa from the smoke soften Torpedo’s hop bitterness.

When I pulled a second bottle of the IPA from the fridge, the freshly chilled beer provided a sharp change to the pairing balance. The citrus aspect of the beer took even more of the limelight over the malt backbone experienced with the prior warmer sips. The pairing became even more engaging as the colder beer pushed the citrus character to the forefront.



After about 90 minutes, both the cigar and my two glasses of beer were finished. The sun was still nearly two hours from setting, yet the temperature had become pleasantly comfortable. We’ve been enjoying a stretch of lower-than-average humidity despite frequent afternoon showers, making for especially pleasant evenings outdoors.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

My last 5 books – July 2026 edition

Author: From https://chrisod.weblog.lol • Jul 12th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

My last 5 books - July 2026 edition

This is a new feature in which I will copy and paste my recent book reviews from my books page These are the last 5 books I have read. I will update in a month or 2 when I've read 5 more.

I'm Starting to Worry About this Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin
Rating: ****

Uber driver and terminally online gamer Abbot gets offered $200K to drive a woman and her large black box from LA to DC, no questions asked. What results in the book is a madcap odd-couple road trip story crossed with a dark satire on online culture mixed with some very insightful commentary about what the black boxes of doom in all our pockets are doing to us. This is the YTD leader for my book of the year. I enjoyed it that much.

Relegated by Todd Smith
Rating: ****

Todd Smith runs a landscape supply shop in MN. He is also a big soccer fan. So it's poetic that the US equivalent of the "blue-collar soccer fan" took a couple of months off and wrote a book based on his travels through the upper and lower echelons of the English soccer system. From Liverpool to Grimsby, we see what the local soccer club means to their supporters at every level of the soccer tables. From immaculate pitches to barely level meadows, pubs and meat pies to pick up soccer games, it's a whirlwind tour that very effectively captures the special sauce that makes football fandom different.

Note: The author of this website is a Southampton supporter. I am all too familiar with relegtion.

The Faith of Beasts by James S. A. Corey
Rating: ****

In book two of this epic space opera centered on the enslavement of about 4000 humans (all that they spared when they attacked), the story again mostly builds on survival. The Carryx are brutal. Animals that don't prove to be useful will be exterminated. The parallels to slavery in US history are pretty damn obvious here. All the "Why didn't the enslaved rebel" questions have the same answer in US history that they have in this book. Likewise, just because you don't see a rebellion brewing doesn't mean that there isn't one brewing. I'm looking forward to book 3, which I think is supposed to wrap up the series.

The Midnight Train by Matt Haig
Rating: ****

Haig returns to the somewhat familiar landscape of what happens when you die. In this book, you get on a train that runs you back through the most important moments of your life to allow you the chance to really know yourself before you head off into eternity. You are just an observer. But what if you realized you screwed up badly in life and blew the only love you ever had? What if you decide to ignore the rules and try to change the past, to give yourself the life you should have had? And what if the price of that effort is losing your shot at eternity? Would you trade eternity (whatever that is to you) for another shot at an earthly life with the one you love?

Would you take that trade?

Trailed by Kathryn Miles
Rating: ****

We spent the July 4th weekend camping just two miles off the Appalachian Trail. I did an 8-mile hike mostly on the AT. Back at the campsite, I read this book in less than 24 hours. It's the story of Lollie Winans and Julie Williams, a young couple that was brutally murdered while on an AT section hike in 1996. The book is beautifully written, with lots of backstory on the victims and a detailed account of just how badly the FBI and Park Police screwed up the investigation. The book details how the FBI fixated on one guy and ruined his life, a guy they never had any real evidence on, even though they went to great lengths to manufacture something useful to their case. The book ends suggesting a serial pedophile from NC might be the real perpetrator, but he was killed by police in the commission of another crime. In researching updates since the book was published in 2022, I learned that a private lab using newer DNA tech was able to tie yet a third serial killer to the crime, but he died in jail in 2018, so even though the FBI has named him the killer, we will never know for sure.

In other news, what's up with all the serial killers hanging out on the AT in the late 90s?


Five O’Clock Friday: Benefits of a Clean Palate

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jul 10th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
A fresh palate is important.


Just sayin'.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Worth the Wait: Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon & L’Atelier LAT56

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jul 9th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Between a busy — but enjoyable — travel schedule and uncooperative weather, opportunities to sit back with a cigar and whiskey pairing have been few over the past couple of weeks. When I finally had the chance to relax this week, I opted for a long smoke and a bold pour.

For the whiskey, I reached to the back of the shelf for Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon. I picked up this bottle back in December 2024, and it hadn’t seen much attention lately. For the cigar, I selected the 6½ x 56 L’Atelier LAT56. Coincidentally, it had been resting in the humidor for nearly as long as the bourbon had been on the shelf, having been added in August 2024.



Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon is a distinctive release that showcases the craftsmanship behind its production. Even the specific corn seed used in the mash bill was selected for this bottling. With a mash bill of 52% corn, 35% wheat, and 13% malted barley, it contains significantly more wheat than most wheated bourbons, which typically use around 20% wheat or less. The whiskey is aged for six years and bottled at a robust 121 proof.

The bourbon opens with an inviting nose of brown sugar, toasted oak, and cinnamon. On the palate, it arrives with rich caramel and sweet vanilla before layers of cinnamon and baking spices build across the tongue. I’ve often remarked that it reminds me of a spicy Christmas cookie.



The L’Atelier LAT56, produced by Pete Johnson at Tatuaje, feels even larger in the hand than its dimensions suggest, perhaps because of its substantial weight and firm pack. It features an Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The cellophane had developed the characteristic golden-yellow tint often associated with a well-aged cigar. The Sancti Spiritus wrapper is a hybrid developed by the Oliva tobacco family from Pelo de Oro and Criollo seed, created specifically for the L’Atelier line. Even after nearly two years in the humidor, the reddish-brown wrapper remained soft, supple, and oily.

The cigar opens with notes of cedar, nutty cocoa, and toasted bread. As the smoke progresses, darker cocoa and espresso emerge, supported by an underlying earthy sweetness that adds balance and complexity throughout the experience.



After a few sips, I added a few drops of water to the bourbon. The slight dilution softened the alcohol and tamed the spice just enough to let the sweetness of the wheat shine through. The LAT56’s refined profile of cedar, cocoa, and subtle sweetness allowed the bourbon’s unique high-wheat character to remain the focal point without overwhelming the palate. In return, the bourbon seemed to accentuate the cigar’s creamy wood and cocoa flavors while gently pushing its pepper and spice into the background.

The pairing continued to evolve over the course of the smoke, gradually taking on an almost dessert-like character. With the L’Atelier LAT56 providing nearly two hours of smoking enjoyment, there was ample time to appreciate the uniquely sweet yet peppery personality of Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon. It proved to be exactly the prescription I needed after a hectic couple of weeks.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Grayson Highlands Camping 2026

Author: From https://chrisod.weblog.lol • Jul 6th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Grayson Highlands Camping 2026

A heatwave hit the east coast just in time for the July 4 weekend. It was over 100F (38C) in RVA. Luckily we were 240 miles away and 1 mile up camping, where the 80F (27C) temps also constitute a heat wave, but one I can handle.

We arrived on Thursday, July 2, meeting up with friends for the weekend. After our traditional arrival night dinner of WaWa subs, we retired to the campfire with our friends.

On Friday I took everyone out to see the wild ponies that are the star of the show here. There was only 1 mare and her goal in the first half-mile where most people go to see the ponies. My wife and our friends headed back to camp after that, and I continued on towards Mt. Rogers, the highest peak in VA. Ultimately I stopped short of the peak at an AT shelter and turned around there, turning the planned 9-mile hike into an 8-mile hike. I've bagged the Mt. Rogers peak several times, and there is no view from the top, so that final climb seemed pointless on a hot and sunny day.

Photo collage from Grayson Highlands - ponies and campsite

Mountain view from Grayson Highlands State Park

I've done this hike 5 times in the last 20 years, and it gets more difficult each time. What's up with that? While on the trail, I saw more than enough examples of poor decision-making to fill up a couple of bad hiker bingo cards. I hope there were no rescue calls on Friday, but if there were, I probably saw the victims (of their own bad decisions) earlier in the day.

Once I got back to camp, a shower and nap were my priorities, in that order.

While headed back, my wife saw and heard a Vesper's Sparrow, which would be a lifer for me.

On Saturday we took our time getting up and going, eventually going out birding, searching for another Vesper's Sparrow. We didn't find one. That afternoon we explored more of the park, including the homestead of the farm that was here originally. There are several original buildings still standing.

Photo collage from Grayson Highlands - AT and park

On Sunday our friends headed back home, so we decided to drive into Damascus for lunch and a beer before they continued on home. There is not much in Damascus, so after lunch and browsing (and buying) at a couple of outfitters, we headed back. The road from the camp to Damascus is 24 miles of switchbacks. It was a fun drive, but I'd had enough by the time we returned. The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging at camp. I mostly read, finishing my book, a true crime novel about an unsolved murder of two young women on the Appalachian Trail. Did I mention that my hike on Friday was mostly on the AT, although the murders occurred over 100 miles north? Maybe not the best choice for reading material, but it is very well written, and the multiple failures by Park Police and the FBI mean that the families will never get real closure.

Photo collage from Grayson Highlands - AT and Damascus

The new camper that rolled in across from us on Sunday had an Escape, which is made in British Columbia and is on my short list of possible upgrades from the Ascape someday. It's slightly larger and has 1 of the 2 features we lack today that I'd like in our next camper, a bed separate from the dining area. The other feature is a dry shower/bathroom, but that may be a stretch if we want to stick with small campers. He came over to say hi as he had looked at Ascapes when buying, and I got a tour of his camper.

The drive home on Monday was uneventful, just the way I like my drives.


The Saint with Cigars in His Pocket

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jul 5th, 2026
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Yesterday, July 4, marked the first celebration of the feast of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati following his canonization by Pope Leo XIV on September 7, 2025.

Known simply as Pier Giorgio among his friends, he was born into an affluent family on April 6, 1901, in Turin, Italy. An avid outdoorsman, he was athletic, adventurous, and rarely seen without a smile. Tragically, he contracted polio and died on July 4, 1925, at just 24 years of age.

During his brief life, he became known for his quiet generosity, frequently giving away money, possessions, and even his own clothing to those in need. The full extent of his charity became apparent only after his death, when thousands of the poor and marginalized whom he had helped lined the streets of Turin for his funeral.

His life of joyful charity earned him the title “Man of the Beatitudes,” a description given by Saint John Paul II, who saw in Pier Giorgio a remarkable embodiment of Christ’s love for the poor and those in need.




Though often depicted with climbing gear and a pipe, Saint Pier Giorgio’s enjoyment of cigars is also well documented. FrassatiUSA, a website devoted to his life and legacy, preserves several delightful anecdotes that reveal another facet of his warm and engaging personality.

One comes from a story titled Pier Giorgio’s Last Christmas, recounted by his friend and teacher, Gian Pietro Ravera:
Christmas 1924 was celebrated according to the Club’s tradition, and in fact about fifteen members gathered that night in a private chapel at 9 Via Ormea where Canon Bues celebrated Mass. I was among those who were invited by Pier Giorgio, who went on and on about how beautiful the Mass would be, as well as the gastronomic delights that would follow. Pier Giorgio and Carlo Pol served the Mass, and I remember how it was difficult to move in the chapel because it was standing room only.

Pier Giorgio had some cigars in his suit coat pocket, and they started to fall out when he was making a genuflection. He blushed deeply as he stuffed them back into his pocket. Then, turning toward my side of the chapel and seeing that I had seen everything that had happened, he made a face as if to excuse himself and he suppressed a smile, returning to his prayers with greater intensity than before.

I continued to watch him, and the longer the Mass went on, and the more intense and spiritually delightful it became, the more I was moved to see that group of university students follow the liturgy of the Mass with such devotion. 

Another story recounts the last gift Pier Giorgio received from his sister on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, his name day:
... we know that the last gift he received from his sister was a cigar case that he chose for himself that day while they shopped together.  Later, he joked with a maid, “Two cigars.  Today you have to give me two cigars: one for St. Peter and one for St. Paul; it's a double feast today!”




In honor of his canonization, Regina Cigars released the PGF ST-090725, a cigar bearing Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati’s likeness on its band. I had the opportunity to review the cigar earlier this year.

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati lived only 24 years, yet he left an extraordinary mark on the Church and the world. He loved the mountains, cherished his friends, appreciated the simple pleasures of life, and possessed a joyful sense of humor. Above all, he devoted himself to Christ by serving the poor with humility and generosity. These small stories about cigars remind us that holiness does not erase our humanity, but perhaps even enhance it.


Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati Ora Pro Nobis!



[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

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