The Luxury of Too Many Options

Decisions, decisions. A true cigar “first-world problem” is choosing what to smoke when the moment presents itself. My humidor is modest by some standards, yet it holds more than 240 different blends and vitolas — plenty to keep me deliberating.

There are old favorites I return to time and again, alongside new releases and recent acquisitions I’m eager to try. At times, I find myself simply standing there, pondering — like staring into the fridge, trying to decide what will satisfy the moment.

Recently, I’ve been making more box purchases rather than singles or five-packs. That means more opportunity to focus on favorites, I’ve also paused, at least for now, any “cigar of the month” memberships. Smoking a single example rarely offers a full understanding of a cigar. Even so, I’m not convinced a reduced variety will make the decision any easier.

And once the cigar is chosen, my attention turns to the whiskey shelf. Again — decisions, decisions. My selection isn’t quite as extensive, but it still numbers around 100 bottles, mostly bourbon, with a few other spirits mixed in. Beer, coffee, and even water make occasional appearances as well.

Most often, I choose the cigar first and then select a complementary pairing. Other times, the craving starts with a particular drink — usually a bourbon or a cocktail — and the cigar decision follows with equal consideration. And, admittedly, there are moments when I simply grab a cigar and a pour with little thought and see what serendipity delivers.

Life is an adventure.

Cheers!

Exploring an Aged Beer and Cigar Pairing: Bigfoot and Padrón Maduro

The rains had stopped, but the air remained cool, and my thoughts turned to a hearty beer to accompany the evening’s smoke. I grabbed an old bottle of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale from the stash in the basement. This bottle dated from the 2010 release, making it just over 15 years old.

When selecting a cigar to pair with the beer, I wanted something that could stand up to Bigfoot’s expected caramel and port-like dark fruit character while contributing a complementary sweetness of its own. I chose the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro in the Torpedo vitola. It was shaping up to be a dessert-like pairing.

The bottle released a small “poof” when opened, proof that some carbonation remained. I poured a bit too quickly at first, building a moderate beige head that dissipated almost immediately. A sweet molasses aroma rose from the glass. The liquid itself glowed a bright red-mahogany hue.

At 9.6% ABV, the well-aged Bigfoot carried surprisingly little noticeable alcohol on the palate. Though known for its aggressive hop bitterness, I was somewhat surprised that citrus and bitter notes remained fairly robust after 15 years. The ale offered a rich blend of dark caramel and dark fruit sweetness reminiscent of port wine. Hints of fig, raisin, and toffee emerged as I sipped the rich beverage.

Not nearly as aged as the beer, the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro had rested in my humidor for only four months. The cigar's construction was flawless, with the dense feel and clean lines expected from the line. The Torpedo size measures 6 x 52 and uses aged Nicaraguan tobaccos throughout.  

The smoke opened with bittersweet cocoa and espresso notes. As the cigar warmed, the profile deepened with molasses-like sweetness and hints of dark fruit. A soft peppery spice lingered into the finish.

The pairing of the vintage Bigfoot Ale and the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro proved delightful and fully met my dessert-like expectations. The cigar’s cocoa and espresso notes complemented Bigfoot’s dark-fruit richness particularly well, while the shared molasses undertones tied the pairing together.

We’ve been enjoying opening some of the beers we tucked away for aging 10–15 years ago. I’ve found them immensely rewarding. Some come from breweries that now exist only in memory, yet all feel irreplaceable. Like cigars, they are ultimately meant to be enjoyed — even if that enjoyment comes years down the road. There is something bittersweet in finally opening a carefully aged bottle, knowing it can never truly be replaced.

Cheers!

Coffee-Flavored Comfort: Undercrown Maduro and the Revolver

Searching for a smoke on a cool evening, I was drawn to the Drew Estate Undercrown Maduro. It’s a cigar I’ve enjoyed many times over the years, though surprisingly I hadn’t reached for one in well over a year. I pulled a stick that had been resting in the humidor for nearly 18 months — further adding to my astonishment that it had been so long since my last one.

I’ve also been on a bit of a Revolver cocktail kick lately. The coffee-forward drink feels especially fitting on a cool evening. Truth be told, I’m a fan of almost anything coffee flavored. The Undercrown Maduro has always paired naturally with a mug of black coffee, so it seemed reasonable that it would work just as well alongside the cocktail.

The Undercrown Maduro is often described as “overlooked” or “under appreciated,” though I’m not sure I agree with those labels. While smoking, I posted a photo to an online cigar forum I frequent, and within minutes several members replied with pictures of the same cigar they were enjoying at that very moment. It hardly seemed forgotten.

The cigar features a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper over a Connecticut River Valley Habano binder, with Nicaraguan and Brazilian Mata Fina fillers completing the blend. The result is a medium-to-full-bodied smoke known for notes of espresso, cocoa, earth, and creaminess.  

Even after its long rest in the humidor, the San Andrés wrapper retained a dark, oily sheen. Rich flavors of espresso and cocoa sweetness dominated the profile, while the smoke itself was thick and creamy on the palate.

For the Revolver, I used Four Roses Small Batch Select at 104 proof. The higher-proof bourbon stood up well to the cigar’s richness without being overshadowed. The coffee liqueur amplified the cigar’s espresso and cocoa notes, while the orange bitters and expressed peel added a touch of brightness that kept the pairing from becoming overly heavy.

As I had hoped, the Revolver and the Undercrown Maduro proved to be a natural match. I smoked and sipped slowly, appreciating the interplay of coffee, cocoa, citrus, and sweetness throughout the evening.

Cheers!

Off the Beaten Path: Slow Burn Cigar Co. in Remington

A few weeks ago, I came across a mention online of a cigar lounge in the area that I had never heard of. Intrigued, I looked up Slow Burn Cigar Co. and realized it was just a short drive away in the small town of Remington. Interestingly, I pass through Remington regularly, yet had never had occasion to venture into the quiet rural community itself.

Opened a little over a year ago, Slow Burn occupies a renovated former feed supply store that suits the lounge perfectly. The building’s open layout and high ceilings create an airy, comfortable atmosphere, with ample seating spread throughout the space. Several large air cleaners help to keep the environment fresh. On warm days, additional seating is available on the front porch, offering a relaxed outdoor option for enjoying a cigar.

Owner Len is both welcoming and knowledgeable. Beyond simply running a cigar shop, he is clearly focused on building a destination for enthusiasts by bringing in boutique and harder-to-find cigars. The humidors may not be massive, but they are thoughtfully stocked with a balanced selection that should appeal to a wide range of smokers.

On both of my visits, I enjoyed the shop’s “house blend,” the Farmhouse Blend Maduro. The 6.5 x 52 vitola delivers a flavorful, slow-burning smoke with enough complexity to remain interesting throughout its long session. Slow Burn also participates in monthly releases from the Limited Cigar Association through Privada, giving regulars access to limited and often unique offerings. I look forward to exploring some of those selections on future visits.

Adding to Slow Burn's appeal is its unexpected location. While the surrounding region is heavily populated, Remington itself remains a small rural town of roughly 650 residents, tucked between Warrenton and Culpeper. Finding a dedicated cigar lounge of this quality in such a setting feels like discovering a hidden gem.

Len is actively working to spread the word about the shop, and the sense of community already seems to be taking hold. During my visits, conversations with several regulars added to the welcoming atmosphere. 

After a couple of visits, Slow Burn has already earned a place on my list of regular stops. Though the driving mileage is greater than some other nearby cigar shops, the drive through winding country roads takes about the same amount of time — and is considerably more enjoyable than navigating traffic through town. For cigar smokers in the area, it is well worth the detour.

Cheers!

Bourbon Independence Day: A Toast to America’s Native Spirit

On May 4, 1964, Senate Concurrent Resolution 19 (S. Con. Res. 19) was passed, declaring that bourbon “is a distinctive product of the United States.” With that resolution, Bourbon Whiskey joined the ranks of other regionally protected spirits such as Scotch Whisky, Cognac, and Canadian Whisky — each of which must be produced in their respective countries of origin.

Although bourbon originated in present day Kentucky in the late 1700s — then still part of Virginia — and the vast majority of it is still produced there today, bourbon is now made in all 50 U.S. states.

So, raise a glass (or two) and celebrate Bourbon Independence Day with your favorite pour!

Cheers!

Image from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-78/pdf/STATUTE-78-Pg1208-2.pdf

A Toast to 10 Million Hits

Musings Over a Barrel is not the most prolific blog on the internet. It has always been a niche blog — that niche being me. Part review site, part experience log, and mostly a journal for me to reminisce over.

One of the most popular pages is the search link, and it’s quite likely many of those hits are my own.

To my surprise, sometime in the last 24 hours, the blog recorded its 10 millionth hit. Granted, that took more than 18 years, but still, it’s a cool milestone.

18+ years and 3,718 posts later, I offer a hearty “thank you” to everyone who spends a few moments of their time reading these ramblings.

Cheers!

A 4,000 Year Old Beer Tab

Researchers at the National Museum of Denmark have interpreted a clay tablet in their collection that records an ancient transaction:

One, which dates back 4,000 years, represents a record of beer being used as a form of payment in the ancient city of Umma, in what is now southern Iraq. It shows beer in various quality and quantities supplied by someone named 'Ayalli'.

It includes a payment of 16 litres of 'high quality beer' and 55 litres of 'ordinary beer', which would have been distributed among a group of workers

Even the earliest civilizations recognized the motivational value of beer.

For more details, see “Ancient BEER tab is discovered on a 4,000-year-old clay tablet.”

Cheers!

Porchside Pairing: Crowned Heads Broadway and New Riff Single Barrel

The end of the week brought delightful weather for sitting outside. On Thursday, I took advantage of it and enjoyed a couple of fine cigars in pleasant outdoor settings.

In the afternoon, I spent a few hours at Slow Burn Cigar Company, a new-to-me shop in Remington. (More on that in a future post.) It was such a nice day that I joined others on the outside porch rather than smoke in the lounge.

After dinner at home, I retired outside to the screened porch to enjoy a Crowned Heads Broadway. 

The Crowned Heads Broadway is a relatively new release from Crowned Heads. Coincidentally, it is the first cigar introduced under the company’s updated branding, with the logo displayed prominently on the primary band and a supplemental band identifying the specific line. I’ve had several of the 4 3/4 x 50 Robusto Extra vitola resting in the humidor for about four months.

The cigar features a dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The remainder of the blend is Nicaraguan tobacco, incorporating leaf from the Estelí, Jalapa, and Ometepe regions in the filler. That combination creates a rich, savory smoke that opens with notes of espresso, dark cocoa, and black pepper. Occasional but fleeting hints of sweetness emerge throughout.

As the cigar progressed, the pepper intensified and the profile grew bolder. Medium-full bodied at the start, it moved solidly into full-bodied territory during the second half. The final puffs delivered a concentrated wave of black pepper and dark richness.

My original intention was to pour some New Riff Distilling Bottled in Bond with the cigar. When I set the bottle down after pouring, I realized I had grabbed the New Riff Single Barrel by mistake. That worked out just fine — perhaps even better.

New Riff Single Barrel is a high-rye bourbon, offering a pleasant rye-driven kick. This bottle is labeled at 110.3 proof — assertive, but not overwhelming. Rye spice dominates the nose, accompanied by cinnamon, brown sugar, and sweet fruit notes. There is a touch of proof-driven warmth on the palate, though not enough to warrant adding water. Caramel sweetness and dark fruit balance the spice, creating a robust sipping experience.

The pairing, though unintended, turned out to be especially fitting. The bold and spicy New Riff stood up well to the richness of the Broadway, particularly as the cigar’s pepper and espresso notes intensified toward the finish.

As I smoked and sipped, I put on music from the 1960s and ’70s rock band Traffic in honor of the recent passing of founding member Dave Mason. The music stirred a wave of nostalgia and reflection.

The cigar and bourbon, combined with the spring weather and good music, created a serene and relaxing atmosphere — just the right way to get an early start on the weekend.

Cheers!