Archives for the ‘Blog Entries.Local’ Category

From Screen to Smoke: Martin Kove’s The Prodigal Son Cigar

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 17th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Actor Martin Kove, best known for The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai, is an avid cigar smoker. In collaboration with Paul DiSilvio, founder of La Casa Grande Cigars, and Sanj Patel, owner of Sanj’s Smoke Shop, Kove has developed a cigar line called The Prodigal Son. Named after an upcoming television series and a four-part comic book in which Kove is involved, the cigar was announced earlier this year but has seen only limited availability so far.

As I learned earlier this year, my brother-in-law happens to know Martin Kove and, through his acquaintance with both Kove and Paul DiSilvio, managed to obtain some of the new cigars. He generously sent a few my way, and I’ve had them resting in the humidor for about a month to recover from their travels.



The cigar’s blend remains undisclosed. Beyond the collaborators, the only concrete details are that the cigars are produced at Tabacalera Jurarip in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. The initial release consists of a single 6 × 52 Toro, with distribution limited to just three retailers: La Casa Grande Cigars (Bronx, NY), Sanj’s Smoke Shop (Bloomfield, NJ), and Smoke Inn locations in South Florida. Wider availability is reportedly planned for 2026.
    
Given that Martin Kove is himself a cigar aficionado and had a hand in approving the final product, it wasn’t a huge leap of faith to have high expectations. I’ve smoked a couple over the past week and have not been disappointed.

The cigars are well made, featuring an even pack and a smooth, oily maduro wrapper. The draw on both samples was spot-on, the burn consistently even, and the smoke output plentiful. Immediately upon lighting up, I detected a distinctly Dominican tobacco character, marked by medium-bodied woodiness and an underlying chocolate-like sweetness. As the cigar settled in, notes of cedar and mild pepper began to coat the tongue and mouth — perhaps hinting at some San Andrés influence. The profile is complex without overwhelming the palate.

Approaching the final third, I noticed a marked increase in strength along with the faintest hint of a nicotine rush. This was unexpected, given the cigar’s medium-bodied profile and the fact that I rarely feel nicotine effects, even from cigars rumored to be exceptionally strong. The spice character evolved as well, picking up touches of cinnamon and added sweetness, evoking thoughts of Christmas cookies — that impression perhaps influenced by the season.



The first time I smoked The Prodigal Son, I sipped only water. With the blend undisclosed, I wanted a clear sense of the cigar’s flavors before choosing a pairing. For the second cigar, enjoyed a few days later, I poured a glass of J.H. Bards Skipper’s Select Toasted Barrel Bourbon. It had been about a year since my last pour from this limited-release bottle, but memory suggested it would be a good match.

Skipper’s Select is one of several whiskies produced by the Blacksburg, VA distillery to benefit the Triumph NIL fund for Virginia Tech athletes. This expression honors Skipper, the iconic cannon fired by the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets whenever the Hokies score a touchdown at Lane Stadium.

The toasted barrel bourbon offers classic aromas of caramel and vanilla, enhanced by a mild char. On the palate, it delivers smooth fruit and sweet caramel notes with a pleasant wood-char finish. While the finish is relatively short-lived, it’s an enjoyable sipper at a mild 93 proof and paired nicely with the cigar.



Both The Prodigal Son cigars I’ve smoked thus far have been 2+ hour smokes — two very enjoyable hours indeed. I’ll admit to being somewhat cynical about celebrity-branded products, and I’d read plenty of pre-release hype surrounding this cigar. Once I was fortunate enough to have them resting in my humidor, I even hesitated before lighting one up. After all, I “know a guy who knows a guy,” and I hoped I’d be able to offer a genuinely positive review. After smoking a couple, I believe the line will be a hit with smokers, assuming it eventually becomes more widely available.

The Prodigal Son is a well-balanced, thoughtfully made cigar with a complex flavor profile. I’ll be watching with interest to see how the line develops. In the meantime, I’ll be happily enjoying the stock I have.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

From Screen to Smoke: Martin Kove’s The Prodigal Son Cigar

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 17th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Actor Martin Kove, best known for The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai, is an avid cigar smoker. In collaboration with Paul DiSilvio, founder of La Casa Grande Cigars, and Sanj Patel, owner of Sanj’s Smoke Shop, Kove has developed a cigar line called The Prodigal Son. Named after an upcoming television series and a four-part comic book in which Kove is involved, the cigar was announced earlier this year but has seen only limited availability so far.

As I learned earlier this year, my brother-in-law happens to know Martin Kove and, through his acquaintance with both Kove and Paul DiSilvio, managed to obtain some of the new cigars. He generously sent a few my way, and I’ve had them resting in the humidor for about a month to recover from their travels.



The cigar’s blend remains undisclosed. Beyond the collaborators, the only concrete details are that the cigars are produced at Tabacalera Jurarip in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. The initial release consists of a single 6 × 52 Toro, with distribution limited to just three retailers: La Casa Grande Cigars (Bronx, NY), Sanj’s Smoke Shop (Bloomfield, NJ), and Smoke Inn locations in South Florida. Wider availability is reportedly planned for 2026.
    
Given that Martin Kove is himself a cigar aficionado and had a hand in approving the final product, it wasn’t a huge leap of faith to have high expectations. I’ve smoked a couple over the past week and have not been disappointed.

The cigars are well made, featuring an even pack and a smooth, oily maduro wrapper. The draw on both samples was spot-on, the burn consistently even, and the smoke output plentiful. Immediately upon lighting up, I detected a distinctly Dominican tobacco character, marked by medium-bodied woodiness and an underlying chocolate-like sweetness. As the cigar settled in, notes of cedar and mild pepper began to coat the tongue and mouth — perhaps hinting at some San Andrés influence. The profile is complex without overwhelming the palate.

Approaching the final third, I noticed a marked increase in strength along with the faintest hint of a nicotine rush. This was unexpected, given the cigar’s medium-bodied profile and the fact that I rarely feel nicotine effects, even from cigars rumored to be exceptionally strong. The spice character evolved as well, picking up touches of cinnamon and added sweetness, evoking thoughts of Christmas cookies — that impression perhaps influenced by the season.



The first time I smoked The Prodigal Son, I sipped only water. With the blend undisclosed, I wanted a clear sense of the cigar’s flavors before choosing a pairing. For the second cigar, enjoyed a few days later, I poured a glass of J.H. Bards Skipper’s Select Toasted Barrel Bourbon. It had been about a year since my last pour from this limited-release bottle, but memory suggested it would be a good match.

Skipper’s Select is one of several whiskies produced by the Blacksburg, VA distillery to benefit the Triumph NIL fund for Virginia Tech athletes. This expression honors Skipper, the iconic cannon fired by the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets whenever the Hokies score a touchdown at Lane Stadium.

The toasted barrel bourbon offers classic aromas of caramel and vanilla, enhanced by a mild char. On the palate, it delivers smooth fruit and sweet caramel notes with a pleasant wood-char finish. While the finish is relatively short-lived, it’s an enjoyable sipper at a mild 93 proof and paired nicely with the cigar.



Both The Prodigal Son cigars I’ve smoked thus far have been 2+ hour smokes — two very enjoyable hours indeed. I’ll admit to being somewhat cynical about celebrity-branded products, and I’d read plenty of pre-release hype surrounding this cigar. Once I was fortunate enough to have them resting in my humidor, I even hesitated before lighting one up. After all, I “know a guy who knows a guy,” and I hoped I’d be able to offer a genuinely positive review. After smoking a couple, I believe the line will be a hit with smokers, assuming it eventually becomes more widely available.

The Prodigal Son is a well-balanced, thoughtfully made cigar with a complex flavor profile. I’ll be watching with interest to see how the line develops. In the meantime, I’ll be happily enjoying the stock I have.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Blackened Whiskey and M81: A Metallica-Inspired Pairing

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 15th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
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!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Blackened Whiskey and M81: A Metallica-Inspired Pairing

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 15th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
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!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Weekend Update 34

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Dec 14th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Next weekend is the last weekend before Christmas. Are you done supporting destructive capitalism, uh, I mean buying gifts for friends and family? I am done. I even wrapped a few presents today. We used to go way overboard but have dialed it way back in the last dozen or so years. We actually have two budgets, the number my wife and I agree to spend on each other and the kids, and that number times 1.4, which is the number in my spreadsheet.

The big news this week was that I got an email on Friday informing me that I've been accepted into the 2026 training cohort of the Virginia Master Naturalist program. So once I complete the 35 hours of classes, plus field work, plus 40 hours of volunteer work, I'll get the title, and the secret handshake.

Watching

This week's overly sweet Christmas movie was A Princess Switch, with Vanessa Hudgens as both the Chicago baker in a fictional European kingdom for a baking competition, and the soon to be married Dutchess doppelganger. I'm not spoiling anything by telling you they switch lives for two days and baker Vanessa falls in love with the Prince and Dutchess Vanessa falls in love with Baker Vanessa's guy friend. Shockingly, they live happily ever after. I think. There are apparently two sequels but I'm probably safe in assuming they too have happy endings.

Given the state of the world I will not be surprised if Hallmark type Christmas movies are having a moment this year.

We also watched the Knives Out flick, Wake Up Dead Man. I don't know how to talk about without spoilers, so I'll just say I was entertained, but it ran about 15 minutes longer than it needed to.

And, on the recommendation of author John Scalzi, we watched Strictly Ballroom, an early 90s Australian flick set in the overly competitive world of ballroom dancing. It far more entertaining than that plot has any right to be.

Reading

The only notable thing that happened to my TBR pile is that I gave up on A Farewell To Arms. I forced myself to about 1/3 done, but that is as far as I'm going to get. Add it the pile of uncompleted classics, with Moby Dick.

Listening

I got nothing to talk about musically this week. I just streamed That Station, which has added Christmas tunes to is usual awesome mix of tunes.

Links

This 15 minute video on the history of Gopher is fascinating. One of the lead guys ended up at Duke, and I'm fairly certain I met him a few years ago. I wish I could remember for sure.

Did you know that NASA has a bunch of free ebooks available? Get them now before the Trump administration realizes that there they are there.

Cory Doctorow's long explanation of what is really happening with AI is worth reading.

Stephvee.ca on deleting Spotify reminded me of a similar article I wrote a few years ago.

I wouldn't normally link to Yahoo Entertainment but I was amused to learn that Mila Kunnis is President of her HOA, and she is dealing with the same shit I deal with. It'll give me something to open with if I ever run into her in an airport or something.

And that is it for this week. Remember, in a world where you can choose to be anything, you can choose to be kind.


Weekend Update 34

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Dec 14th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Next weekend is the last weekend before Christmas. Are you done supporting destructive capitalism, uh, I mean buying gifts for friends and family? I am done. I even wrapped a few presents today. We used to go way overboard but have dialed it way back in the last dozen or so years. We actually have two budgets, the number my wife and I agree to spend on each other and the kids, and that number times 1.4, which is the number in my spreadsheet.

The big news this week was that I got an email on Friday informing me that I've been accepted into the 2026 training cohort of the Virginia Master Naturalist program. So once I complete the 35 hours of classes, plus field work, plus 40 hours of volunteer work, I'll get the title, and the secret handshake.

Watching

This week's overly sweet Christmas movie was A Princess Switch, with Vanessa Hudgens as both the Chicago baker in a fictional European kingdom for a baking competition, and the soon to be married Dutchess doppelganger. I'm not spoiling anything by telling you they switch lives for two days and baker Vanessa falls in love with the Prince and Dutchess Vanessa falls in love with Baker Vanessa's guy friend. Shockingly, they live happily ever after. I think. There are apparently two sequels but I'm probably safe in assuming they too have happy endings.

Given the state of the world I will not be surprised if Hallmark type Christmas movies are having a moment this year.

We also watched the Knives Out flick, Wake Up Dead Man. I don't know how to talk about without spoilers, so I'll just say I was entertained, but it ran about 15 minutes longer than it needed to.

And, on the recommendation of author John Scalzi, we watched Strictly Ballroom, an early 90s Australian flick set in the overly competitive world of ballroom dancing. It far more entertaining than that plot has any right to be.

Reading

The only notable thing that happened to my TBR pile is that I gave up on A Farewell To Arms. I forced myself to about 1/3 done, but that is as far as I'm going to get. Add it the pile of uncompleted classics, with Moby Dick.

Listening

I got nothing to talk about musically this week. I just streamed That Station, which has added Christmas tunes to is usual awesome mix of tunes.

Links

This 15 minute video on the history of Gopher is fascinating. One of the lead guys ended up at Duke, and I'm fairly certain I met him a few years ago. I wish I could remember for sure.

Did you know that NASA has a bunch of free ebooks available? Get them now before the Trump administration realizes that there they are there.

Cory Doctorow's long explanation of what is really happening with AI is worth reading.

Stephvee.ca on deleting Spotify reminded me of a similar article I wrote a few years ago.

I wouldn't normally link to Yahoo Entertainment but I was amused to learn that Mila Kunnis is President of her HOA, and she is dealing with the same shit I deal with. It'll give me something to open with if I ever run into her in an airport or something.

And that is it for this week. Remember, in a world where you can choose to be anything, you can choose to be kind.


Weekend Update 34

Author: From https://blog.odonnellweb.com • Dec 14th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Next weekend is the last weekend before Christmas. Are you done supporting destructive capitalism, uh, I mean buying gifts for friends and family? I am done. I even wrapped a few presents today. We used to go way overboard but have dialed it way back in the last dozen or so years. We actually have two budgets, the number my wife and I agree to spend on each other and the kids, and that number times 1.4, which is the number in my spreadsheet.

The big news this week was that I got an email on Friday informing me that I’ve been accepted into the 2026 training cohort of the Virginia Master Naturalist program. So once I complete the 35 hours of classes, plus field work, plus 40 hours of volunteer work, I’ll get the title, and the secret handshake.

Watching

This week’s overly sweet Christmas movie was A Princess Switch, with Vanessa Hudgens as both the Chicago baker in a fictional European kingdom for a baking competition, and the soon to be married Dutchess doppelganger. I’m not spoiling anything by telling you they switch lives for two days and baker Vanessa falls in love with the Prince and Dutchess Vanessa falls in love with Baker Vanessa’s guy friend. Shockingly, they live happily ever after. I think. There are apparently two sequels but I’m probably safe in assuming they too have happy endings.

Given the state of the world I will not be surprised if Hallmark type Christmas movies are having a moment this year.

We also watched the Knives Out flick, Wake Up Dead Man. I don’t know how to talk about without spoilers, so I’ll just say I was entertained, but it ran about 15 minutes longer than it needed to.

And, on the recommendation of author John Scalzi, we watched Strictly Ballroom, an early 90s Australian flick set in the overly competitive world of ballroom dancing. It far more entertaining than that plot has any right to be.

Reading

The only notable thing that happened to my TBR pile is that I gave up on A Farewell To Arms. I forced myself to about 1/3 done, but that is as far as I’m going to get. Add it the pile of uncompleted classics, with Moby Dick.

Listening

I got nothing to talk about musically this week. I just streamed That Station, which has added Christmas tunes to is usual awesome mix of tunes.

Links

This 15 minute video on the history of Gopher is fascinating. One of the lead guys ended up at Duke, and I’m fairly certain I met him a few years ago. I wish I could remember for sure.

Did you know that NASA has a bunch of free ebooks available? Get them now before the Trump administration realizes that there they are there.

Cory Doctorow’s long explanation of what is really happening with AI is worth reading.

Stephvee.ca on deleting Spotify reminded me of a similar article I wrote a few years ago.

I wouldn’t normally link to Yahoo Entertainment but I was amused to learn that Mila Kunnis is President of her HOA, and she is dealing with the same shit I deal with. It’ll give me something to open with if I ever run into her in an airport or something.

And that is it for this week. Remember, in a world where you can choose to be anything, you can choose to be kind.


Five O’Clock Friday: Booker Noe on Bourbon

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 12th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
I find this to be true myself.


Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Five O’Clock Friday: Booker Noe on Bourbon

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 12th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
I find this to be true myself.


Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Cranberry Gin Spritz for a Snowy Day

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 10th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
We enjoyed this festive before-dinner cocktail on a recent snowy day. It was inspired by a recipe I came across online and adapted based on what I had on hand.
Cranberry Spritz
  • 1.5 oz. Gin
  • 1 oz. Cranberry Juice
  • 0.5 oz. Simple Syrup
  • 0.5 oz. Lemon Juice 
  • Prosecco
  • Rosemary sprig, whole cranberries for garnish
Combine the gin, cranberry juice, and lemon juice in a glass over ice. Top with Prosecco and garnish with a rosemary sprig and a couple whole cranberries.



A “classic” spritz typically uses Aperol as the base. Swapping Aperol for gin creates a drier, more herbal, and crisper drink — and it also boosts the ABV substantially.

The cocktail is light and refreshing and, like most spritz recipes, quick and easy to make. This festive twist paired perfectly with the first snowfall of the season.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

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