FBurgNews » Blog Entries.Local

A Patronal Feast Day for Cigar Smokers

Author: David From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Aug 21st, 2024
Category: Blog Entries.Local

Repost: Last year I suggested honoring Saint Pope Pius X as the Patron Saint for cigar smokers. Today, August 21, is the Saint's Feast Day, so that post is reprinted today in a slightly edited form.

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. 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

Smoking was allowed in the Holy See until 2002 when John Paul II banned the activity. I was thinking of Saint Pius X when I was seen enjoying a Tuscano cigar just outside the Vatican City boundary last year.

It's my opinion that Saint Pius X is worthy of invoking by cigar smokers. I intend to honor the Saint with a fine cigar today, perhaps with a glass of Italian wine, or a classic Negroni.

Cheers!

Camping at Loft Mountain in Shenandoah National Park for our Anniversary

Author: Chris ODonnell From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Aug 20th, 2024
Category: Blog Entries.Local

Trip:46
Nights: 154-155

Several weeks ago I asked my wife what she wanted to do for our anniversary. She answered with "go camping." If you had predicted that conversation 5 years ago I would have taken it to mean something terrible happened and I was married to somebody else 5 years in the future.

Anyway, it's been 33 years and she still is not tired of my shit. So I got that going for me.

photo of us today and 33 years ago

Loft Mountain is a quick 2:15 drive from home. It's the southern most campground in Shenandoah National Park. The south end of the Park is the least developed section of the park. Other than the camp store, and a wayside with a snack bar and gift shop just outside the campground, there isn't anything but wilderness between the two most southern entrances to the park.

We got in Friday after work, and after setting up camp we had the classic camping meal of hot dogs for dinner. Then that evening we did the campfire and chill thing before heading in to the camper for Gin Rummy and Yahtzee. Do I know how to treat a girl or what?

On Saturday we did a short 3.2 mile hike to check out the Doyle River Falls. There has been a lot of rain the last couple of weeks so they were flowing nicely. The hike is 1.6 miles down then 1.6 miles back up, with a total elevation gain of 1000 feet. So not a challenging hike at all, but it wiped us both out. We both had our 3rd round of COVID a couple of weeks ago, so I guess that was the issue. Anyway, it was a beautiful 75F day so back at the campground I settled into a chair to read/nap. I accomplished both before a passing thunderstorm chased us into the camper, where I both napped and read again. I managed to finish my book, Treasure Island, before dinner.

That night we were too tired to mess around with a campfire, so it was more Gin Rummy and Yahtzee before going to bed rather early. You may think this sounds like a boring anniversary weekend, but really, it was kind of perfect.

photo collage

Eight Shires Accomak Shire Spiced Rum with Blackened S84 Shade to Black

Author: David From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Aug 17th, 2024
Category: Blog Entries.Local

I decided on a lighter palette for my palate during a weeknight sip and smoke. A coworker had given me a bottle of Eight Shires Accomac Shire Spiced Tavern Rum on the occasion of my retirement. I do enjoy spiced rum on occasion, but had yet try this one. Admittedly, I was not familiar with the Williamsburg, VA distillery, despite its geographic proximity.

Accomac Shire Spiced Rum is described as a "Caribbean style spiced rum using 18th century style spices and molasses." I've read that the molasses is imported from a south American company that uses 18th century methods. The distillery also employs some older equipment similar to that used in colonial times.

The 83 proof rum is a light amber color. I smell baking spices from the glass. The flavor is mild with notes of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. It's an enjoyable beverage. I could almost imagine serving it warm, with some apple slices and cinnamon sticks on a cold winter night.

For the cigar portion of the evening I grabbed a Blackened Cigars S84 Shade to Black Toro from the humidor. This cigar came in the June Luxury Cigar Club shipment and had been in the humidor for eight weeks. The 6 x 52 cigar from Drew Estate is a followup to the popular Blackened Cigars M81.

The smooth stick boasts an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper. A Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro binder, with Nicaraguan Maduro and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro filler leaves completes the picture. The blend appears to be the same as the M81, excepting the wrapper leaf change. The proportions of the binder and fillers are never revealed so this may or may not differ between the two blends.

The cigar is widely listed as a medium to full bodied smoke. I found it to be somewhat on the milder side. The wrapper really seems to influence the flavors. After an initial few puffs of pepper and cedar, the profile notes settled into the bread, butter, and peanut realm. There was an underlying layer of sweet milk chocolate and some mild baking spices. The burn was excellent and the smoke production steady.

I'd rate the Blackened Cigars S84 Shade to Black in the mild to medium body range. It did pair nicely with the spiced rum. I would not pair it with a more robustly flavored spirit. That said, I suspect the cigar would satisfy the fan of milder smokes who are looking for something a little different.

Cheers!

Eight Shires Accomak Shire Spiced Rum with Blackened S84 Shade to Black