A Leisurely Pairing: In Cold Blood and the Belgian Blue

I’m always on the lookout for an interesting cocktail recipe to try. By “interesting,” I mean it’s preferably bourbon- or rye-based, easy to make, and requires just a few ingredients. Those ingredients should also be things I already have on hand — or can easily find — not obscure items that end up gathering dust because they’re only useful in one drink.

Not too long ago, I came across a cocktail called In Cold Blood. It checked all the boxes and sounded quite delicious, so we mixed up a couple this weekend.

In Cold Blood

• 1 oz Rye Whiskey 
• 1 oz Cynar 
• 1 oz Sweet Vermouth 
• 1 Pinch Salt

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a rocks glass over a single large cube and garnish with a small twist of lemon rind.

Simple, right? For this round, I used the Bulleit 12 Year Rye I had on hand.

The cocktail delivers a pleasing balance of spice from the rye and sweetness from the vermouth, with a touch of herbal bitterness from the artichoke-based Cynar. It’s a fun riff on the Boulevardier (whiskey, sweet vermouth, Campari), a drink I’ve been enjoying frequently of late.

I sipped my In Cold Blood alongside one of my favorite cigars from Crowned Heads, the 2024 Belgian Blue. This full-bodied cigar offers a rich balance of pepper, caramel, and roasted nuts, pairing beautifully with the cocktail — neither overpowering nor being overshadowed.

A few shortbread cookies on the side rounded out a most pleasing, leisurely afternoon on the screen porch.

Cheers!

Accidental Harmony: L’Atelier LAT56 and Calumet Farm 10 Year

It seems to happen frequently — though never intentionally — that I end up pairing cigars and libations with color-coordinated labeling. One recent example was the Calumet Farm 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey alongside the L’Atelier LAT56 cigar. I didn’t even notice the matching aesthetics until I was taking the requisite Instagram photo.

In truth, the choice had nothing to do with appearances. Both had simply been sitting around far too long without the attention they deserved. I smoked one of the LAT56s shortly after picking them up in August of last year, and the bourbon bottle had been gathering dust since mid-2023.

The Calumet Farm bourbon was one I purchased on a trip a few years ago and enjoyed before it eventually migrated to the back of the shelf. Pulling it out again reminded me how pleasant it is. Bottled at 100 proof, this 10-year-old bourbon offers a well-balanced mix of vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch as its core flavors. A mild spice with hints of honey and fruit sweetness rounds out the sip. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable “classic” bourbon profile.

The L’Atelier LAT56, a creation of Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame, is a hefty 6 ½ x 56 cigar that somehow feels even larger in hand. This limited-production stick features an Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus wrapper — a hybrid of Criollo and Pelo de Oro — over Nicaraguan binder and filler. The smooth roll and gold band give it an understated elegance.

The cigar opens with a mix of pepper and nutty cocoa and maintains that flavor balance consistently throughout the smoke. It’s a solid medium-bodied cigar with a steady burn and satisfying smoke output. 

The pairing of the LAT56 and the Calumet Farm bourbon proved to be an unexpectedly delightful match. By the end of the nearly two-hour session, I decided both deserved a spot closer to the front of my stash so they wouldn’t be forgotten again anytime soon.

Cheers!

Two Years Later, Back to Shooting Competition

After a break of twenty-two months, I finally made it back to an IDPA match this weekend. To say I was excited would be an understatement — and to say I was nervous would be entirely accurate. Recovering from my back issues was a long, hard-fought battle, and except for a few instances of dry-fire practice, I hadn’t handled a gun in that time until just a few months ago.

It was a cool, sunny morning when I checked in at the range. Greeting friends I hadn’t seen in nearly two years filled the time before shooting began, with more catching up throughout the morning. When it was my turn to step up to the line — in this case, sit in the chair — I felt surprisingly relaxed. 

The first stage had me seated at a table with my firearm and magazines in front of me. Downrange were seven targets, each with sections painted as “hard cover.” All were engaged while seated. An eighth target was hidden behind a column, to be engaged after running toward the chain in front. I dropped a few points on most of the targets but finished with a smile. The “first stage jitters” were behind me.

The next scenario placed us in the bed of a pickup truck. A couple of targets on either side were shot while standing. Then we knelt to engage a few more and bent even lower to hit a pair below a wall. I thought, This looks fun. When the shooting order was called, I was up first.

And indeed, it was a fun stage. The trickiest part was navigating the small ladder to climb in and out of the truck bed — and that low crouch for the final shots.

By the third stage, I felt relaxed; it almost seemed like the long absence had never happened. I wasn’t overthinking strategy or stage planning, just focusing on shooting each target. I was squadded with some very skilled shooters and tried, mostly successfully, to ignore their speed and game plans. I kept reminding myself: Just don’t skip any targets.

Next came a standards stage. Once again, the gun and all magazines started on the table. Nine targets — a mix of full and partials — were arranged in three rows and shot in priority. One target required a single head shot; the rest got two hits each. The narrow shooting area and a couple of non-threats made careful aim and some leaning necessary. One non-threat had so many pasted holes from earlier squads it almost looked like a valid target! Two of the closest targets were placed so that a shot could easily pass through into a penalty target. I figured a careful head shot was safer than the easier body shot.

I managed a clean -0 on all scoring targets, but one round still passed through to a non-threat despite my best effort at angle control. Even so, I was pleased with my accuracy.

The next stage was a classic field course — a maze of walls and fault lines. An added twist had the gun and a downloaded magazine on one table, while the other magazines were staged in a separate “room.” Every target required a single head shot.

On the final course of the day we had the option to start on either side of the symmetrical stage layout.  There was a door in the center with a through which a couple of targets were shot. Passing through the door we encountered to surprise targets in the open before advancing to an array of four final targets engaged over a low wall. The stage allowed for shooting on the move and finished with a fast string of close-up shots. I had my best run of the day here — a great way to end the match.

I shot neither fast nor with perfect accuracy, but I drove home with a grin on my face, already thinking about the next match. I couldn’t feel bad about any part of the day — not my performance, not my score. Hardly anyone seems to shoot Stock Service Pistol (SSP) anymore; Carry Optics dominates the field. But within that small SSP crowd, I finished 4th out of 8 shooters.

Blue skies, friends, and the sound of gunfire made for a fantastic morning, capped off with lunch at a local restaurant with a friend.

I’ve missed the shooting sports deeply over the past couple of years and at times wondered if I’d ever get back to competition. As I write these notes the next day, the excitement is still there. I’m already looking forward to the next match — after a bit more dry fire and range time, of course.

Cheers!

Tatuaje Tattoo and Russell’s Reserve: Autumn Comforts

Fall is here, bringing with it cool evenings. Cool is better than cold, and I’m taking advantage of that while I can. I grabbed the redundantly named Tatuaje Tattoo in the 6 x 50 Universo vitola and poured a glass of Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Bourbon to enjoy as the sun set.

The Tatuaje Tattoo is a remarkably tasty budget smoke. In an age when so many premium cigars start at $12–$15, the Tattoo Universo can still be found for around six dollars or less. And this is no gas-station throwaway. Made by My Father Cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua, it features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The smoothly rolled cigar delivers full-flavored notes of creamy cocoa and black pepper spice. Paired with the caramel, vanilla, and oak tones of the 90-proof Russell’s Reserve, it made for a satisfying combination.

Much of my recent smoking time has been spent experimenting with the ventilation and heating on the new “three-season porch.” Before heading out, I let the propane heater take the chill off the closed space. Once I lit up, I opened a window at each end and set an oscillating fan in motion.

With the heater on low and the ceiling fan running, the setup worked nicely. The outside temperature dipped to about 58°, while inside stayed a comfortable 69°. The open window behind me allowed the occasional cool breeze to drift through without disrupting the pleasant warmth. The smoke dissipated easily, never clouding the room.

I’m sure once real cold weather arrives, keeping it comfortable will be a greater challenge. But after years of enduring winters on the old open screen porch, any improvement is a welcome retreat.

Cheers!

Quiet After the Clatter: Belgian Blue and 1792 12 Year on the Porch

It’s been a long, busy week — and a cigar-less one at that. Even Friday’s usual smoke was delayed until well after dark by contractors working at the house. Who knew roofers worked so late? When the noise finally subsided and I settled in on the porch with a Crowned Heads Belgian Blue LE and a pour of 1792 12 Year Bourbon, I felt like I’d been up on the roof myself all day.

I had chosen the cigar and bourbon early in the evening, just waiting for a little peace and quiet. The cigars have been resting in the humidor for about 11 months now. I remember smoking a few shortly after release and was looking forward to revisiting it.

Named for a particularly muscular breed of Belgian cattle, this limited-edition cigar was released in November 2024. The 6” x 54 box-pressed stick — its only shortcoming, in my opinion — features a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper over an Ecuadorian binder, with a Nicaraguan and Dominican filler. Impressively, 75% of the filler consists of ligero leaves, the strongest part of the tobacco plant, which gives the cigar its bold character and rich flavor.

The Belgian Blue opens with a pleasant peppery kick that quickly balances into a medley of mocha, caramel, a touch of sweetness, and an earthy foundation. The medium- to full-bodied smoke is smooth and creamy, without a hint of harshness. After nearly a year in the humidor, some of the bolder edges seem to have mellowed slightly, but it remains a flavorful and thoroughly enjoyable cigar.

The 1792 Aged Twelve Years Bourbon was a VA ABC lottery “win” from 2021 — meaning I won the right to purchase it. Despite its modest $49.99 MSRP (at the time), it’s a bourbon that easily drinks above its price point. Bottled at 96.6 proof, it’s rich yet smooth, offering notes of caramel, vanilla, and cherry up front, followed by a pleasantly warming rye spice on the finish. Despite its age statement, it’s not overly oaky or tannic.

Together, the 1792 12 Year and Belgian Blue made a wonderfully complementary pairing — both full of depth, balance, and nuanced layers of sweetness and spice.

It was a cool evening on the porch, peaceful at last. I brought out one of the propane heaters to take the edge off the chill. As I like to say, “I’m not cold, I just like to be comfortable.” We converted the screen porch this summer into more of a three-season room, so I’m just beginning to experiment with balancing warmth and ventilation. It’s a process I’ll enjoy perfecting in the coming weeks.

Cheers!

A Perfect Match: Le Carême and Eagle Rare on a Fall Evening

When I unboxed the July Cigar of the Month package from Cigar and Pipes and saw the Crowned Heads Le Carême, I smiled. The Le Carême is one of my all-time favorite smokes. Then I noticed the enclosed cigar was the 6 ½ x 48 Hermoso No. 1 vitola, and I realized it was one of only two Le Carême releases I had never tried, the other being the 2018 Belicosos Finos Limited Edition. After letting it rest in my humidor for eight weeks, I decided it was time to light it up this weekend.

The Hermoso No. 1 features the familiar Le Carême blend: a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. The box-pressed stick sported an oily wrapper and was quite firm — especially toward the cap end. The draw was tight at first, limiting smoke production.

By the halfway point, the draw became even more restrictive. I spent some time gently massaging the cigar until it lost most of its box-pressed shape and began to resemble a traditional round cigar. The effort paid off, as the draw loosened and flavorful smoke began to flow more freely. It’s a constant source of wonder to me why so many manufacturers are so enamored with box-pressing their cigars these days. Interestingly, the Limited Edition Le Carême releases are not box-pressed, though the core line is.

To pair with the creamy cocoa, sweet chocolate, caramel, and espresso notes of the Le Carême, I poured a glass of Eagle Rare Bourbon. The 90-proof bourbon complemented the cigar beautifully. Vanilla, honey, and dark fruit led the flavor profile, with a pleasing spice emerging toward the finish. A long, sweet aftertaste lingered just long enough to meet the next puff of the Le Carême in perfect harmony.

The crickets in the woods were especially vocal on this cool fall evening, and I soon drowned them out with a little blues playing from the porch speaker. The seventy-minute smoke was entirely satisfying, though it reminded me that it’s nearly time to bring out the porch heater for the season. But, as they say, needs must.

Cheers!

Talking Cigars — Or Not Talking at All

The George Thorogood song “I Drink Alone” goes like this: 

I drink alone

Yeah, with nobody else

I drink alone

Yeah, with nobody else

Yeah, you know, when I drink alone

I prefer to be by myself

That chorus runs through my head often when I’m sitting on the deck with a bourbon and a cigar. It’s not a sad thought — I’m perfectly content left to my own reflections. In truth, I suspect most cigar smoking happens this way: quietly, contemplatively, and in solitude.

That said, I sometimes do miss the Friday nights at our local brewery cigar lounge, which unfortunately closed in May 2024. Those hours spent chatting with fellow enthusiasts were always time well spent. It’s no secret that I enjoy a good conversation about cigars.

A few recent lounge visits reminded me just how different those experiences can be. The two lounges I frequent most often are friendly places — as most cigar lounges tend to be — and I’ve shared plenty of pleasant discussions there. But more often than not, people are content in their own thoughts, perhaps finding the same quiet satisfaction I do.

My recent visits to the OBX Cigar Lounge were a pleasant change of pace. The atmosphere there was conversationally lively — even “robust.” Both times, I found myself caught up in easy, engaging talk that seemed to make my cigar last longer simply because I was puffing less!

By extreme contrast, a visit to another lounge this past week was the opposite experience. Besides the shop employee, three others were present when I arrived. For most of the 75-minute smoke, three were glued to their phones and the fourth to a crossword puzzle. Apart from a polite entrance greeting and the occasional crossword answer, silence ruled the room. It was morning, so perhaps that explained the subdued mood.

Where do you enjoy your cigars — in company or solitude?

Cheers!

Marking Eighteen Years of Musings Over a Barrel

It’s hard to believe, but today marks eighteen years since I clicked “publish” on the very first post of this blog. What began as a simple outlet for thoughts on the emerging craft beer scene — then called Musings Over a Pint — has grown and evolved into a space where I now share reflections on cigars, whiskey, beer, faith, family, shooting sports, with the occasional detour into other interests.

Over time, this blog has become part journal, part review, part reflection — and yes, at times, a bit of rambling. Some posts have been serious, others lighthearted, and many written simply because the words needed to get out of my head and onto the page. Along the way, I’ve connected with fellow enthusiasts, kindred spirits, and friends I might never have met otherwise.

Eighteen years is a long stretch in “internet years,” and I’ve occasionally wondered if it was time to stop. Yet each time I consider stepping away, something draws me in again — a good pour, a fine cigar, a day at the range, or a story worth recording. And so, 3,641 posts later, the musings continue.

To those who’ve read, commented, or quietly followed along over the years: thank you. Here’s to more sips, more smokes, and more reflections still to come.

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Cheers!