Some of the Best Evenings Aren’t Planned

It’s no secret that cigar smokers, in general, are a friendly lot. Discovering another cigar enthusiast in a crowd can turn a chance meeting into an enjoyable conversation. Sometimes, running into fellow smokers when you least expect it can be the start of a memorable evening.

Recently, we attended a barbecue fundraiser for a local private school. The event was held at a supporter’s farm and included an open bar, a catered meal, hayrides, and a bonfire. As we were leaving the house, I decided to grab a couple of cigars to take along, just in case.

While enjoying cocktails before dinner, I noticed a gentleman arrive carrying a distinctive black cigar travel case. I approached him and asked if he’d brought cigars. He confirmed that he had, and we chatted for a few minutes. It looked as though I’d have an opportunity to smoke later in the evening.

During dinner, I was talking with another guest at the table when he mentioned that his brother, sitting at a nearby table, was also a dedicated cigar smoker. Apparently, his brother had been pressing him to include a smoking room in the house he was building. It seemed I was in good company.

After dinner, as the sun set, the bonfire was lit. Before long, my new acquaintance and I were standing outside enjoying our cigars. Soon, four or five other guys joined us, all looking to enjoy a smoke as well.

It turned out that the gentleman was well-known among his friends as the cigar guy. He apparently brings cigars to many of the school’s events and generously shares them with others. Had I known all this in advance, I would surely have brought more cigars to share. As it was, I did have something useful to contribute. Someone was having trouble with his lighter, so I was able to provide fire for several of the group.

The unexpected gathering added to what was already an enjoyable evening. The conversation naturally included cigars, but it ranged well beyond our shared hobby. We talked about airplanes, travel, retirement, farming, careers, and a variety of other subjects. Before long, we were doing what people seem to do whenever a group gets together over a few drinks and a common interest: solving the world’s problems.

Most of my cigar smoking is done alone. There’s a particular pleasure in settling into a chair with a good cigar and a drink, enjoying some quiet time without much of an agenda. Other times, I smoke at places where meeting fellow enthusiasts is part of the plan, whether at a cigar lounge or a bourbon and cigar event.

But there’s something special about these unexpected gatherings. You arrive at an event with no particular expectations beyond enjoying the evening, and a chance encounter leads to an entirely different experience. The cigar provides an easy introduction, but the conversation and camaraderie are what make the occasion memorable.

I went to a school fundraiser, brought along a couple of cigars just in case, and wound up spending part of the evening with a group of fellow enthusiasts I hadn’t known that afternoon. It’s a reminder that some of the most enjoyable experiences aren’t the ones we plan. Sometimes, all it takes is a little tobacco, a light, and a willingness to strike up a conversation.

Cheers!

Toscano Duecento and Amaro Averna

The Toscano Duecento is one of a line of Italian cigars made with fire-cured tobacco. Released in 2018, the Duecento celebrates the 200th anniversary of Toscano cigars. Duecento means “two hundred” in Italian.

The cigar is considerably larger than many traditional Toscano cigars. Listed at 7¾ x 46, the tapered perfecto has an uneven diameter along its length. My example also exhibits a slight curve. The dark wrapper is made from U.S. fire-cured Kentucky-seed tobacco grown in Tennessee, while the filler consists of Italian and U.S. fire-cured Kentucky tobacco. The cigar is rough in appearance and tightly packed.

Unlike most premium cigars, which rely on air-cured tobacco, Toscano uses fire-cured Kentucky tobacco. I store all my Toscano selections separately from my other cigars to keep their distinctive smoky, charred aromas from permeating the humidor.

I enjoyed the Toscano Duecento with an after-dinner digestif of Amaro Averna. Toscano cigars are often cut in half and smoked as two shorter cigars, a practice known in Italy as ammezzato. The choice largely depends on how much time one has available. Smoking a cigar ammezzato is a traditional way to enjoy a quick smoke with a morning cappuccino or an afternoon Negroni. I’ve enjoyed both during my vacations in Italy.

On this evening, I opted to smoke a cut Duecento with the Averna. This amaro has a rich caramel, bitter orange, and herbal character that nicely complements the toasted tobacco and smoky notes of the Toscano.

The cigar opens with aromatic notes of smoke and charred wood, accompanied by hints of licorice and spice that add interest. As I sipped the Averna, its bitter herbal notes seemed to soften some of the cigar’s smokiness. Even so, the smoked tobacco maintained a lingering presence on the palate despite the strongly flavored beverage.

Cutting the Toscano Duecento in half still provided about 30 minutes of smoking pleasure. Enjoying the woody smoke while slowly sipping Amaro Averna made for a pleasant way to relax after dinner.

And I still have another Duecento to enjoy ammezzato later.

Cheers!

Sweet Surprises: Perdomo Legacy Father & Son Maduro and Old Elk 10 Year

I must be getting impatient. After a period spent smoking cigars that had been in my humidor for many months, or even years, I’ve turned to some newer acquisitions of late. Recently, I lit up a Perdomo Legacy Father & Son Maduro that had been in the humidor for just seven weeks.

The Perdomo Legacy Father & Son line, available in Maduro, Sun Grown, and Connecticut versions, began shipping to retailers nationwide in August, and I grabbed a few of each right away. The cigars sold out at many retailers within days of their arrival. Although I picked up individual sticks, the limited-edition cigars were packaged in boxes of 50. I wonder how many truly serious aficionados purchased full boxes. 

The Perdomo Legacy Father & Son Maduro features a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper, with Nicaraguan filler tobaccos from Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa. Perdomo claims the fillers are all from the 2011-2016 harvests. That's some significant age.

Another interesting aspect of the Father & Son is its unusual shape. It’s a box-pressed Gran Figurado, with the ring gauge expanding dramatically through the middle. The listed dimensions are 6 x 48/60/52. The Father & Son lineup is a collaboration between Nick Perdomo Jr. and Nicholas Perdomo III, with Nicholas Perdomo III responsible for blending the Maduro.

After a few minutes spent admiring the cigar’s appearance, I cut the cap and put flame to the foot. The draw was spot-on. The flavors started with creamy earth and cedar, supported by a medium-bodied profile. Medium-roast coffee and pepper soon joined the mix, while a mild sweetness lingered in the background. The character of the well-aged tobacco came through nicely in the smooth, integrated profile.

To complement the aged tobaccos in the cigar, a 10-year-old bourbon seemed like an appropriate choice.

Like the cigar, Old Elk 10-Year Straight Bourbon is an also a new release. Bottled at 105 proof, the bourbon’s mash bill has a high malted barley content, consisting of 51% corn, 34% malted barley, and 15% rye. That high malted-barley content provides an interesting sweet biscuit aspect to the profile.

After getting a feel for the opening notes of the Father & Son Legacy Maduro, I began taking sips of the bourbon between puffs. I found that the cigar brought out an unexpected sweetness in the Old Elk 10 Year. Rather than a simple sugary note, I got an impression of sweet, toasted caramel. The cigar’s darker tobacco character seemed to accentuate that combination of sweetness and roast, making for a particularly enjoyable pairing.

I was struck by the interaction, especially since it differed markedly from my earlier impressions of the Old Elk 10 Year. This is one of the things I most enjoy about exploring cigar and beverage pairings. The perceived flavors of each can be influenced, sometimes dramatically, by the other. Cigars, whiskey, and even food can all make different impressions on the palate as they interact. It makes for some fun and interesting explorations.

Just the other day, I was joking with a friend that there are a few special bourbons I enjoy so much that I’m hesitant to alter the experience by pairing them with a cigar. Hesitant, not resistant.

Despite having spent “only” seven weeks in the humidor, the Perdomo Legacy Father & Son Maduro performed flawlessly. I found the interaction between the cigar and the Old Elk 10-Year Straight Bourbon particularly interesting. I enjoyed the pairing, but I’m now intrigued by the prospect of trying the cigar with some bolder bourbons. Alas, I have only a few of these cigars on hand, so I’ll likely pace myself. The same goes for the Perdomo Legacy Father & Son Sun Grown waiting in the humidor.

Cheers!

Bourbon, Cigars and Reclaim Arcade

Last week I attended a bourbon and cigar event that left me wondering, “How did I not know about this place?”

Reclaim Arcade is an entertainment venue featuring more than 70 vintage pinball and arcade games, all available for free play. I knew about the pinball arcade, but what I learned this week is that their bar also features an impressive selection of amazing and sought-after bourbons. Reclaim hosted a cigar and bourbon evening in conjunction with Olde Towne Tobacconist.

The cost to attend was simply the cost of admission to the arcade, which includes free play on all the machines. In truth, I intended to try my hand at some old-school pinball, but I enjoyed my cigar and bourbon so much that I never got around to it.

The highlight of the evening for me, of course, was the bourbon selection. For the event, the owner had pulled out an array of bottles that were being offered at reduced prices per pour. Some were nearly empty, with only a few pours available, while others were newly opened. Most were allocated or otherwise hard-to-find bottles.

After perusing the bottle selection, I settled on a pour of Elijah Craig Single Barrel Bourbon 15 Year. This is an expression I’ve long wanted to try. Taking my glass out to the back patio, I selected an El Titan de Bronze Nicaragua Gigante from the Olde Towne Tobacconist table.

The 6 x 60 cigar is a larger ring gauge than I typically select, but the cigar actually felt smaller than those dimensions would suggest. A U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper encloses a Mexican binder and Nicaraguan filler. Despite its dark appearance, I found the cigar to be solidly in the medium-bodied range. Cedar, pepper, leather, and dark chocolate notes were consistent throughout the smoke.

The cigar paired quite nicely with the Elijah Craig 15 Year. At 108 proof, the aged bourbon sips surprisingly easily. Dark fruit and tobacco notes came to mind first. Despite its age, the oak was present but not overwhelming. There were sweet caramel notes on the finish, but the overall profile was more savory than sweet. It’s no wonder that when I went back to the bar later to grab another drink, the initially full bottle was nearly empty.

For the next round, I elected to have a pour of Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon. This is another expression I’ve yet to acquire for my shelves, although I have enjoyed it in the past at other venues. I believe this bottle was labeled Batch #454.

The Joseph Magnus was a bolder pour than the Elijah Craig. This one had a rich, toasted character with notes of toffee and dried fruit, particularly cherry and apricot. It paired well with the latter portion of the El Titan de Bronze, which had picked up more roasted notes as the cigar progressed. The two bourbons were quite different, but both worked well with the cigar at different points in the smoke.

I spent much of the evening chatting with a friend I knew from other cigar lounge visits. He had attended the event on a whim and was as surprised as I was by the variety and quality of the bourbon selection.

Reclaim Arcade regularly hosts bourbon tasting events through its Quarter Barrel Bourbon Club. Some are blind tastings, while others are guided tastings featuring a particular distillery. The ticketed events apparently sell out quite quickly, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next one. Reclaim has a very loyal following of bourbon fans, and many were attending the event even though they weren’t cigar smokers, although plenty of them did partake. Reclaim also has food available, which I’m told is very good.

I never did get around to the pinball, but I’m already thinking about another visit. A few classic pinball games, followed by a good bourbon and a cigar on the patio, sounds like a pretty good way to spend an evening. Apparently, I had just been overlooking a great local destination.

Cheers!

Maple, Smoke, and an Old Favorite

It was a cool, rainy afternoon as we prepared for an afternoon of snacks and drinks on the screened porch. We decided that the fall weather called for a maple-influenced Old Fashioned. Once that decision was made, my mind turned immediately to the Rocky Patel A.L.R. Second Edition.

The A.L.R. is one of my long-time favorite smokes. It’s a cigar that is rarely absent, in one form or another, from my humidor. Interestingly, though, I don’t think I’ve lit one up in more than a year. So many cigars, so little time…

The Rocky Patel A.L.R. Second Edition I selected is a 5½ x 52 box-pressed Robusto. The cigar, wearing three gold and white bands, is wrapped with a Mexican San Andrés Maduro leaf over unspecified Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The A.L.R. initials stand for Aged, Limited, and Rare, and aging is certainly part of the story with this cigar. Rocky Patel ages the cigars for two years after rolling, and this particular example had spent another 24 months resting in my humidor.

The cigar opens with espresso and cocoa, accompanied by the sweet earthiness of the San Andrés wrapper. That sweetness softens the bitterness of the darker coffee notes and adds balance rather than simply more intensity. Roasted nuts and a touch of spice emerge along the way, with the flavors remaining rich and satisfying without becoming overpowering. Medium-bodied rather than a powerhouse, the A.L.R. emphasizes balance and depth, with a slow, even burn that made for a very pleasant afternoon smoke.

The Maple Old Fashioned replaces the usual simple syrup with maple syrup. An extra dash or two of Angostura bitters helps balance the sweetness. I used ½ ounce of maple syrup with 2 ounces of bourbon to bring the maple aspect a bit more to the forefront without turning the cocktail into a sweet dessert.

The Maple Old Fashioned complemented the cigar very nicely. The maple seemed to pull forward the dark caramel, cocoa, coffee, and roasted characteristics of the A.L.R. At the same time, the cocktail had enough bitter spice from the Angostura and the Luxardo cherry to keep its character from being overwhelmed by the cigar.

Our aperitif plate included mixed nuts, Honeycrisp apple slices, and Kerrygold Dubliner cheese. As it turned out, the cheese and apple were very well matched to both the cocktail and the cigar. I found myself continually alternating the cheese-and-apple combination with sips of the Maple Old Fashioned.

As we slowly transition into fall, the porch was a most pleasant spot for a cool afternoon. The Rocky Patel A.L.R. Second Edition and Maple Old Fashioned made for a flavorful pairing — and a fitting way to enjoy the changing season.

Cheers!

Casa Carrillo Ascend for a Warm Autumn Evening

The recent spate of cooler evenings had me thinking more and more about coffee-influenced cocktails to pair with my evening smoke. And then, as is often the case in Virginia, the temperature reversed direction. After a string of cool 60° evenings, we went right back to temperatures above 80° as the sun was setting.

That switch caused me to set aside my plans for an after-dinner Revolver, replacing it with a classic Bourbon Old Fashioned. I didn’t change my cigar plan, however. For the cool after-dinner smoke, I grabbed a Montecristo Espada Conquistador Ricasso. The cigar is part of the Espada family from the company formerly known as E.P. Carrillo, which was rebranded as Casa Carrillo in 2025. This particular addition to the Espada line was introduced in June 2026. I added some to the humidor only about six weeks ago, but figured that was enough rest time to light one up.

The box-pressed 5 x 50 Ascend Saddle features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The cigar is made at the Casa Carrillo factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The Ascend lineup was introduced in mid-2026, and my cigars have had about six weeks of rest in the humidor.

The cigar opens with notes of cedar, roasted nuts, earth, and soft spice. There’s already a creamy sweetness to the smoke. As the cigar progresses, lightly roasted coffee notes join in. A bit of black pepper and cedar remain in the background, but neither is a major part of the profile. The cigar eventually moves into the medium-full-bodied realm, remaining well-balanced with good depth of flavor.

The Old Fashioned turned out to be an excellent accompaniment to the Ascend. The drink doesn’t overwhelm the cigar’s softer coffee notes, allowing the cedar, nuts, baking spice, and sweetness to stand out. The bourbon cocktail adds its own caramel and vanilla notes, but the pairing never strays into overly sweet territory. The bourbon’s oak and vanilla also seem to reinforce some of the cigar’s own woody and sweet notes, while the expressed orange provides a bit of brightness that keeps the combination from becoming too heavy.

I particularly liked the way the two worked together without either one dominating. The Ascend has enough flavor and body to stand up to the bourbon, while the Old Fashioned provides just enough sweetness and contrast to complement the cigar’s richer notes. It was a fairly straightforward pairing, but sometimes that’s exactly what you’re looking for.

The Casa Carrillo Ascend Saddle was a fairly quick smoke, just around 45 minutes. The short-and-sweet pairing was rich but not heavy. Just the thing for a warm autumn evening repast.

The return of 80° evenings was a reminder that Virginia wasn’t quite ready to let go of summer yet. But that’s OK. There’s a good cigar and drink pairing for just about any weather.

Cheers!

Nineteen Years: Still Here, Still Musing

Today, October 6, marks the nineteenth anniversary of these Musings. When I reflect on that number, it hardly seems possible.

This blog has always been a hobby, not something done for money or fame. As I approached this point, I found myself asking a few questions. What happens to a personal blog after 19 years? Does anyone still read? Does it matter? Why keep doing it?

When I started Musings Over a Barrel, then called Musings Over a Pint, in 2007, blogging was a very different world. Blogs were conversations. Readers commented, bloggers linked to one another, and a small community could form around shared interests. Here in Fredericksburg, a group of local bloggers got together regularly to share a pint or even make a visit to the range for some shooting fun.

Today, much of that conversation has moved elsewhere. Comments are fewer, social media moves faster, and many of the blogs that once filled my reading list have gone quiet. Video reviews and reels are all the rage. Personally, I rarely watch video cigar reviews, but clearly short-form video has become a big part of how people consume content.

I write in a specialized niche — premium cigars, bourbon, beer, cocktails, travel, and occasional faith and personal reflections. Originally, the focus was on the burgeoning craft beer scene, especially here in the local area. Basic reviews were the core of the content.

Over the years, however, my focus has shifted. I’ve sought to move away from simply “reviewing products” and more toward documenting experiences. The details that once served primarily as the substance of a review have become more about how those things contribute to the experience.

The writing itself has become part of the experience. Researching a cigar, selecting a bourbon, recalling a trip, or capturing an evening with friends transforms a fleeting moment into something preserved. Especially since retiring, I’ve found that I enjoy the process of reflecting on an evening, a cigar, a bourbon, or a trip, and crafting those experiences into something worth sharing. After nearly two decades, I think I'm enjoying the process more than ever.

Sometimes I light a cigar and pour a bourbon with the intent of documenting the experience. Other times, the experience itself creates the inspiration to write.

As I pen these thoughts, the blog has accumulated over 14 million lifetime hits. There are still blogs out there with far more traffic. Few people comment any longer, but I can tell from the basic tracking tools that people are still reading these thoughts and reviews.

After all these years, I find myself going back to read old posts frequently. I might be my own most regular consumer of the Musings.

I often look at old reflections to remember what I thought, what I enjoyed, and what surrounded a particular bottle or cigar — or simply to relive a memorable trip. I take plenty of photos of my travels, drinks, cigars, and other life experiences, but putting those experiences here preserves the memories in a way that a photo album often doesn’t.

After nineteen years, and 3,876 posts later, I no longer measure Musings Over a Barrel only by page views or comments. Those numbers are interesting, but they are not the reason it continues.

The real reward is the opportunity to pause, reflect, and share a small piece of life — one cigar, one glass, and one story at a time. If someone else also gets enjoyment from all this, that's all the better.

Cheers!

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A Taste of Fall: Montecristo Espada Conquistador Ricasso

It’s beginning to feel a bit like fall. The screened porch is cool, but the heaters aren’t needed yet. Evening smoking sessions are enjoyable, as long as I don’t think too much about the winter that will follow this pleasant period.

For a cooler weather after-dinner smoke, I grabbed a Montecristo Espada Conquistador Ricasso. This addition to the Espada line was introduced in June 2026. I added some to the humidor only about six weeks ago, but figured that was enough rest time to light one up.

Expecting a sweeter, medium-bodied profile from the Nicaraguan puro, I poured some Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon for its oaky flavor and easy-sipping profile.

The Montecristo Espada Conquistador Ricasso is a 5 x 54 Robusto with a deep brown Jalapa leaf wrapper. The binder hails from Ometepe, while the filler tobaccos come from Condega and Estelí. The cigars are manufactured by Plasencia Cigars.

The cigar is decorated with three bands, which frankly look quite nice but essentially hide the cigar. Once the paper coverings are removed, the glossy, smooth wrapper is revealed.

The initial flavors are more muted than expected. Dry earth and woody notes are accompanied by just a touch of pepper on the finish. As the smoke progresses toward the midsection, toasted bread and some dark cocoa come into play, with a bit more spice added to the mix.

The Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon is a bottle I’ve been sipping slowly for a couple of years. At a reasonable 100 proof, the bourbon has a substantial dry oak and roasted character. Vanilla, caramel, and baking spice provide some balance.

The oak-forward character of the bourbon worked well with the dry, woody character of the cigar. The profiles of both remained well balanced. While the cigar stayed generally in the dry-earth realm, the bourbon’s oak lifted the pairing. As the cigar’s toasted flavors gained prominence, the bourbon’s mild spice finish helped maintain that balance.

Only toward the end of the smoke did the cigar seem to lose its character. The finish became flat, reminding me of dry leaves. The cigar exhibited a lopsided burn along the same side throughout, which I touched up frequently in an attempt to maintain an even burn. I did not do this as the cigar got shorter, which may have contributed to the more muted finish. Perhaps with more time in the humidor, the remaining sticks will offer a different experience.

Despite the lackluster ending, I found the combination of Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon and the Montecristo Espada Conquistador Ricasso enjoyable. The two exhibited similar profiles, with a pleasing woody character throughout. Inducing thoughts of earth, wood, and fallen leaves, it made for a fitting fall pairing.

Cheers!