Archives for the ‘Blog Entries.Local’ Category

Maker’s Mark BRT-01 and My Father El Centurion H-2K-CT Pairing

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Aug 28th, 2023
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
I saw a meme recently that stated "The night before a day off is better than the actual day off." I am not sure about that, but that doesn't mean I don't look forward to Friday evening as much as I do the weekend. Leading up to Friday, my anticipation level was high. Early in the day I had already decided on what the cigar and bourbon pairing would be for the evening. I had even queued up the "albums" I planned to enjoy while smoking. 

I received some My Father El Centurion H-2K-CT cigars just a couple weeks ago. They haven't been resting all that long, but they looked too enticing to ignore any longer. The cigar's description made me confident it would pair well with some Maker's Mark BRT-01. 


My Father El Centurion H-2K-CT selected is a box-pressed 6 x 52 Toro. It sports an oily, caramel colored H-2K-CT Connecticut wrapper, which gives the cigar its name. It's said to be a Cuban-seed strain of tobacco grown in open sunlight and cultivated in the Connecticut River Valley. The binder and fillers are Nicaraguan. The decorative bands and ribbon covering the cigar provide a decorative touch, and just happen to be color coordinated with the bourbon label.

The 90 minute smoke had a pretty consistent flavor throughout. I expected a pepper kick as is so often found with My Father cigars. I found the pepper level to be quite moderate. The flavor had a creamy aspect to it. Vanilla, nuts, caramel, roasted coffee, and a dark fruit note combined for a flavorful smoke. The El Centurion does not disappoint.


The Maker's Mark BRT-01 is one of the 2022 Wood Finishing series releases. The aroma of the amber liquid has baking spices and caramel. Sipping reveals warm notes cinnamon, vanilla, and a fruit sweetness. It makes me think of a freshly embarked apple and peach pie. This is a rich and flavorful drink. The 110 proof makes itself known, but it's not obnoxious about it.

The BRT-01 and Centurion H-2K-CT pairing worked out as well, if not better, than I anticipated. It was a long smoke on a hot and humid evening. However, the somewhat oppressive weather was made quite bearable by the enjoyable flavor combo. 

For those interested, the evening's music included Tinsley Ellis' "Devil May Care" and Walter Trout's "Ride" albums.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

RVA Limpkin

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Aug 25th, 2023
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

I saw on the local birding group that a Limpkin was hanging out in 3 Lakes Park in Henrico County, about 15 minutes from home. Limpkins live in S Georgia and Florida, I have no idea what this guy is doing so far from home, but I was glad to have the oppotunity to observe him for about 20 minutes, get some photos, and check him off my life list.

photos of a Limpkin, a large brown bird native to Florida

We also got a bonus Great Egret and Osprey at the park this AM. I'm glad the big birds were out, because hearing songbirds over the cicadas would have been a challenge.

photos of an Osprey and a Great Egret


Five O’Clock Friday: Follow Your Dreams

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Aug 25th, 2023
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
I've been dreaming of the weekend all week. 


Dreams do come true.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Plasencia Reserva and Sagamore Spirit Sherry Finish Rye

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Aug 24th, 2023
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Most of my cigar smoking is solitary. A good cigar and bourbon is my ideal way to wind down and loose the stress of the day. It's also certainly more convenient than driving to a cigar lounge. Of course, enjoying alcoholic beverages is easier when there's no driving involved. While we have frequent house guests, few of them enjoy cigars. 

When a friend does come for the express purpose of smoking and drinking, I usually start out with a small exploratory tasting to decide what to pour. (I'm a believer in sticking with a single choice for an evening, rather that jumping around to different pours.) For a recent occasion, a friend and I settled on Sagamore Spirit Sherry Finish Rye. I find sherry and port finished whiskeys to be very complimentary to most cigars. I selected a Plasencia Reserva Original for our enjoyment. Colleen brought out cheese, crackers, nuts, and grapes to snack on. She's a rye fan, so she joined us on the deck as well. 


Sagamore Spirit is carrying on the Maryland Rye tradition that started before, and resumed after Prohibition. I always think of Pikesville Rye when I think Maryland Rye, but that is now produced in Kentucky by Heaven Hill Distillery. Sagamore Spirit comes from Baltimore's Inner Harbor area, though they do employ sourced distillates. 

This expression consists of a blend of four year old rye that is aged for 18 months in PX Sherry casks. The rye appears a deep burnt orange color in the glass. Aromas of dark fruit like figs, cherries, and raisons greet the nose. The opening sip brings a quick hit of cinnamon. That quickly subsides as the sherry influence on the rye comes to the forefront. The dark sherry flavors come through, with a hint of citrus and rye spice. The 106 proof is evident but not harsh or all-encompassing. I truly like this one and will be sad to see the bottle emptied, which may happen over a shorter timeline than planned. 

The Plasencia Reserva is made with all Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar is medium bodied with a rich flavor profile that compliments the sherry influenced rye very well. Espresso, cedar, pepper, dark cherry notes, and some sweet toasted bread combine for an enjoyable pairing. 

The rich flavor of the rye and the cigar prepared us quite well for the BBQ rib dinner that followed.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

J. H. Bards Port Barrel Finished Bourbon

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Aug 23rd, 2023
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
As mentioned previously, we picked up this J. H. Bards Port Barrel Finished Bourbon during a recent visit to the distillery. I bought the bottle, untasted, on a whim. Well, technically we had been given a taste, but we were drinking pineapple rich Painkillers at the time, so the flavor of the bourbon taster was pretty well overshadowed.

The limited release bourbon is made with four year old bourbon that was further aged in port barrels from the local Beliveau Farms Winery. The aroma is muted and soft, with some sweet notes over the bourbon. At just 80 proof, the bourbon is light on the palate. There's a sweet fruit touch added to the oak and vanilla. The finish is short with some lingering sweetness. Overall, I found the drink to be on the mild side, while still being enjoyable. 


With my initial taste of the bourbon before choosing a cigar told me to pick something on the milder side of the spectrum. I chose the Perdomo Twentieth Anniversary Sun Grown. The cigar is a 5 x 56 stick with a soft box press. It uses all Nicaraguan tobaccos in the blend. The wrapper leaves were aged for over 6 years, and then aged in bourbon barrels for another 14 months. The cigar gives off rich but not overwhelming notes of sweet cream, oak, and cocoa, all touched with a hint of pepper and cedar spice. This cigar is one I frequently pair with ales, and made a good match for the mild flavors of the bourbon.

The pairing was an enjoyable, low key combination. The port finished bourbon would probably not stand up to a more boldly flavored cigar. However, it does also seem like a suitable late evening sipper to be enjoyed alone, without accompaniment.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

When There’s Cigar Lounge at the Brewery

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Aug 22nd, 2023
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
It's been quite a while since I spent an evening sipping good beer and enjoying a cigar at the Olde Towne Tobacconist lounge located onsite at 1781 Brewery and Wilderness Run Vineyards. Having beer, wine, and cigars all in one spot makes an excellent outing, but still I most often enjoy my cigars in the convenience of my home. It makes partaking in a few drinks easier as well. I did venture out on a recent weekend evening for a change of scenery.


I enjoy the beers at 1781, especially their porters, dunkleweizens, and stouts. They are well-done, fresh, and pair up very well with cigars. On this evening I selected the Belsnickel Dunkleweizen. This is a low, 4.7% ABV dark wheat beer. The bready wheat and malt flavor has a good balance of sweet and bitter that pairs well with a cigar.

Speaking of old friends, as I was perusing the walk-in humidor I spied a box of La Flor Dominica La Box. I haven't smoked on of these in several years. The La Now is a 6 1/2 x 50 toro with a very dark, oily Brazilian wrapper. Under the beautiful wrapper lies a Mexican San Andrés binder and Dominican fillers. The flavor profile is rich with cocoa, espresso, and sweet nuts. While there's a strong bitter espresso component, it's balanced with a creamy sweetness. It's a full bodied and robust cigar. 


The La Nox and the Belsnickel paired very well. The cool mid 70° temperature, clear night, and friendly conversations added to the fun. Hopefully, there will be more such outings as we move into fall weather in the next couple months.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Feast of Saint Pius X

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Aug 21st, 2023
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Repost: I recently mused that Saint Pope Pius X was a fitting patron for cigar smokers. Today, August 21, is this Saint's Feast Day, so I am republishing that post.

Originally published June 28, 2023.

I was perusing the endless internet recently, questioning if there was a Patron Saint dedicated to cigar smoking. I found plenty of information related holy persons who smoked. Catherine de Ricci is referenced as the Patron Saint of the sick people, tobacco, and pipe makers, but no reason is given. Close but no cigar. 

Then I came across a story about Pope Saint Pius X. This is from a reader's letter published by Cigar Aficionado,
Reading of his [Pius X] defense of cigars as not being a vice, I was reminded of a story that a cigar smoking priest of the Diocese of Tulsa, who is now in training for the Vatican diplomatic corps, told me. When he was a seminarian in Rome, he learned that Pius X, who was the pope from 1903 to 1914, called a bishop onto the carpet to reprimand him for his scandalous misbehavior with wine, women and song, and to correct his wrongs patiently.

The pope offered the errant bishop a cigar from the papal humidor on his desk. The bishop declined the offer with the protestation, "I do not have that vice, Your Holiness," to which His Holiness replied, "If cigars were a vice, I would not offer you one, for you have quite enough vices already."

There is no way to verify if the story related is true, or simply an interesting urban legend. However, it is known that Pius X kept a cigar humidor on his desk in the Vatican. (Smoking was allowed in the Holy See until 2002 when John Paul II banned the activity.) Saint Pius X's cigar habit did not keep him from being elevated to sainthood, even if it may not be the reasoning behind it. There is little doubt in my mind that the relaxation provided helped him deal with the stress of his position.

Pope Pius X
It's easy to imagine a cigar in that hand

It's my opinion that Saint Pius X is worthy of invoking by cigar smokers. His feast day is August 21. 

BTW, Regina Cigars offers a Pius X Maduro Selection cigar. I've not tried it yet.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Happy 32 Years to Us

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Aug 18th, 2023
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

We're at Kellermans
Baby's not in the corner
Our love story is better

wedding photo

selfie from Kickers game


Five O’Clock Friday: Coping With the Demands of Life

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Aug 18th, 2023
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
It's what the weekends are made for.


Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Morning Coffee and Cigar in "The Office"

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Aug 18th, 2023
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Even working from home can be a drag if you are stuck inside, staring at a laptop. When the weather is pleasant it's get more bearable. I was sitting outside after the morning walk, enjoying my coffee before before going inside the start the work day. Then I thought, "Why go inside?" 

I refreshed my coffee, grabbed my laptop, and lit up an Oliva Serie V. The Serie V is one of my favorite smokes with coffee. Since I prefer beverages that are more sweet than bitter when smoking and I generally drink my coffee black, the cigar options are more limited. However the Serie V always works.


The 5 x 50 Robusto provided an enjoyable treat while I worked my way through the overnight emails and reports. A scheduled late morning call ended the time on the porch a little too early. Still it was a wholly satisfying way to kick off the day.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

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