From Negroni to Averna: A Tale of Two Días de Gloria Cigars

The Días de Gloria cigars are long-standing stalwarts among the many blends from AJ Fernandez. Introduced in 2019, the line is said to have been influenced by the flavor profile and character of the classic Cuban cigars that inspired the prolific blender. The Días de Gloria catalog was expanded in 2024 with the introduction of the AJ Fernandez Días de Gloria Brazil. Recently, I lit up both cigars on back-to-back days, providing an opportunity for a direct comparison.

The original AJ Fernandez Días de Gloria is a Nicaraguan puro, featuring tobaccos from four different Fernandez farms in Nicaragua. Once the cedar sleeve and foot ribbon are removed, the deep chocolate-colored wrapper glistens in the sun, its appearance enhanced by the decorative gold, yellow, and red bands.

After spending four months in the humidor, the smoke begins earnestly in the medium-full-bodied range. Notes of cedar, coffee, and cocoa predominate. I found a surprising fruit sweetness underlying the bolder flavors, adding a pleasing balance. On the retrohale, additional sweetness softened the black pepper spice. I found myself retrohaling far more than usual just to revisit that intriguing note.

This afternoon smoke was paired with a classic Negroni and enjoyed on the sunny deck. Perhaps not the most obvious pairing choice, I found the cocktail’s bitter orange notes complemented the cigar’s cedar and spice. The drink’s dry, bitter finish also cleansed the palate between draws, allowing the nuances of the cigar — especially the sweetness — to stand out.

The AJ Fernandez Días de Gloria Brazil, enjoyed the following evening, had been resting in my humidor since September 2024, not long after it reached store shelves. It’s a cigar I’ve enjoyed frequently in the ensuing years. The Brazil version substitutes a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper for the original Nicaraguan leaf, while retaining Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Again, the cigar sports a cedar sleeve and foot ribbon, with green accents replacing the red found on the original bands.

The Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper is dark and oily. While the binder and filler remain largely the same, the wrapper has a profound effect on the cigar’s flavor profile. The overall experience is richer and darker. Bitter chocolate and espresso predominate, while dark fruit and baking spice notes arrive with authority. The retrohale delivers black and red pepper in abundance.

The Días de Gloria Brazil was enjoyed as an evening digestif with a pour of Amaro Averna. Both the cigar and the amaro occupy a similar flavor space, rich and layered with notes of cocoa, coffee, spice, and dried fruit. The cigar’s espresso and dark chocolate intertwined beautifully with Averna’s caramel and herbal sweetness. I couldn’t help but imagine that a slice of dark spice cake would have completed the dessert-like combination.

Both cigars are exceptional smokes, sharing a common heritage while delivering distinctly different experiences. The original Días de Gloria impressed me with its balance of sweetness, cedar, and spice, making it an excellent companion for a bright afternoon and a Negroni. The Brazil, by contrast, leaned into darker, richer flavors that paired naturally with an after-dinner pour of Averna. Rather than choosing a favorite, I found myself appreciating how each cigar excelled in its own setting — proof that a single wrapper change can transform not only a cigar’s flavor profile, but also the occasion it best complements.

Cheers!

Memories of Italy: Cigars and Spicy Cocktails in Venice

Venice was the final stop on our recent vacation in Italy. The group tour included a two day stay, and we extended our visit by another two. It was fun spending extra time exploring on our own, and we quickly grew surprisingly comfortable navigating the maze-like city.

An added benefit of the extended stay was enjoying two sunny days, as the first two had been plagued by intermittent rain — not unlike our previous visit, when our lone day in Venice was spent mostly taking cover from torrential downpours.

Of course, the pleasant weather also provided more opportunities to enjoy a cigar. Our hotel, the Palazzo Veneziano, was a beautiful four-star property that also boasted an excellent bar. Not only was it exceptionally well stocked, but the specialty cocktail menu was particularly impressive. What caught my attention most was the extensive selection of Negroni variations, several of which I happily returned to a few times during our stay.

The featured cocktail, however, was the Santa Margherita. The spicy drink is made with Altos Tequila Blanco, locally produced Select Aperitivo, lime and orange juice, agave syrup, and a Tajín-spiced rim. When the bartender first served one, he remarked, “There’s a straw, but I recommend you don’t use it.” Wanting the full experience, I followed his advice — and ended up enjoying several Santa Margheritas over the course of our stay.

On our final evening, the patio furniture at the hotel entrance had finally dried out after the earlier rains. After ordering another Santa Margherita from the bar, I settled in outside with a cigar. Fortunately, I had brought along a suitably spicy companion: the AJ Fernandez New World Decenio Robusto.

The Decenio opens with the rich, dark flavors typical of AJ Fernandez blends. Bold notes of dark cocoa and espresso, accented by a lively black pepper spice, remain consistent throughout the medium-to-full-bodied smoke. The cigar paired particularly well with the spicy cocktail, though I found myself using the straw for most sips, only occasionally drinking from the seasoned rim so as not to overwhelm the cigar’s flavors.

After finishing the flavorful pairing, we enjoyed one final sunset stroll through the streets of Venice. The evening light shimmering across the canals and the quiet, narrow streets provided a fitting finale to our visit. Though weary from sixteen days of touring, it felt bittersweet returning to the hotel for one final round of packing before our flight home the next morning.

It’s hard not to smile in Venice

Cheers!

Memories of Italy: Beer, Cigars, and the Alpine Charm of Bolzano

During our Italian vacation, we spent two nights in Bolzano, in South Tyrol. Situated at the gateway to the Dolomite Mountains, Bolzano has the look and feel of an Alpine village, with spectacular mountain views in every direction. Making the region even more intriguing is the strong German influence in its culture, food, and architecture — at times, it feels more like Austria or Bavaria than Italy.

The area was part of the Austrian Empire for centuries before becoming part of Italy after World War I. After the war, Mussolini’s Fascist government attempted to “Italianize” the region by encouraging Italian migration and suppressing the German language. Those efforts largely failed, and the people of South Tyrol still proudly maintain their German heritage and language today. The result is a fascinating blend of cultures where espresso bars and aperitivo traditions coexist alongside Alpine customs, German dialects, and Austrian-style mountain cuisine.

The bar in our hotel offered a couple of locally made, German-style beers, and naturally I was eager to try them. On the first evening, I joined some fellow travelers to enjoy pours of Felsenkeller Bier from Birra Forst. Served in a tall chalice, the cloudy, unfiltered, and unpasteurized beer delivered notes of sweet bread, yeast, and a touch of banana. It was remarkably refreshing and easy to sip.

On another late evening, after a day spent hiking wooded trails and wandering the city streets, I settled into the hotel’s outdoor garden to enjoy another local beer — this time paired with a cigar. I selected the V.I.P. Pils, also from Birra Forst. The crisp pilsner, brewed in the German tradition with a notably dry finish and refined bitterness, proved especially refreshing in the cool Alpine evening air. I paired it with a Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2025 LC52 that I had packed from home.

I’ve long enjoyed the annual Las Calaveras releases from Crowned Heads. The 2025 version features a mid-priming Mexican San Andrés wrapper that shows a lighter appearance than the darker maduro tones usually associated with San Andrés tobacco. Beneath that wrapper are Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The cigar treated the palate to notes of coffee and espresso, touches of cocoa, and mild pepper. Underlying it all was a gentle sweetness that softened the richer flavors.

Ideally, the cigar might have paired even better with a darker ale, perhaps a German Dunkel or Bock. However, that wasn’t an option at the time, and I found the combination thoroughly satisfying nonetheless. The crisp bitterness and clean, dry finish of the V.I.P. Pils highlighted the cigar’s cocoa and espresso notes without adding competing sweetness. The cool evening air and tranquil garden setting only enhanced the relaxing atmosphere.

The region’s German influence is readily apparent in the food as well. During a stroll through the market area of Bolzano, we stopped at a vendor’s cart to enjoy some Weißwurst. The sausages were served on paper with a generous dollop of spicy mustard and a hard roll — simple fare, but immensely satisfying.

One evening, we enjoyed dinner at Batzen Häusl, a local brewery and restaurant — not exactly the experience we had expected to find in Italy. I ordered a Batzen Bräu Bock alongside a South Tyrolean bratwurst platter. The beer was rich with dark caramel malt flavors and a mild sweetness.

The sausages were equally delicious, served with roasted potatoes and sauerkraut. I especially enjoyed the creamy sauerkraut, which struck a pleasing balance between sweet and sour flavors.

The food, the beer, the architecture, and the dramatic scenery of the Dolomites towering above the town — not to mention the ever-present German dialect — often made it easy to forget we were in Italy at all. Yet that unique blending of Italian and Germanic cultures is precisely what makes Bolzano and South Tyrol such a memorable destination. It’s a place where Alpine traditions and Italian hospitality coexist seamlessly, creating an atmosphere unlike anywhere else we visited during the trip. For this beer enthusiast, it was like two vacations in one.

Cheers!

The Celebration That Almost Slipped By

The day almost slipped by unnoticed. Monday marked the second anniversary of my retirement. Unlike that first year, which was heavily shaped by back problems and the surgery that followed, this past year has felt much more normal. The routines have settled in, and retirement has begun to feel less like an adjustment and more like a way of life.

To mark the occasion, I opened a bottle of Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked Bourbon that I recently picked up. I’m a longtime fan of the standard Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, and this special expression takes an already excellent bourbon to another level. After the regular Double Oaked bourbon has fully matured, it spends an additional year in a second heavily toasted, lightly charred new oak barrel, creating a whiskey with remarkable depth and richness. Once available only as an annual distillery-exclusive release, this special bourbon now enjoys limited national distribution.

The bourbon’s deep, maple-syrup color immediately reflects the influence of that extended oak aging. Rich aromas of maple syrup and caramel rise from the Glencairn glass, while notes of butterscotch emerge as it opens up. The dark, inviting profile continues on the palate. Waves of caramel and maple lead the way, followed by hints of dark cherry and gentle spice. Taken as a whole, Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked is dessert in a glass.

After savoring the bourbon for a while, I lit a Rocky Patel DBS. The 5 x 50 Robusto features dual Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf binders along with dual Honduran and Nicaraguan Broadleaf fillers. “DBS” stands for “Double Broadleaf Selection,” an appropriate name for a blend built around broadleaf tobaccos. Completing the package is a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper.

The DBS opens with black pepper layered over bold cocoa and nut flavors, supported by subtle wood and vanilla sweetness. This cigar had been resting in my humidor for nearly a year, and while it remained full-bodied, it seemed slightly less intense than earlier examples I smoked closer to release. One characteristic that remained unchanged, however, was the draw. Although the cigar never appeared overly packed, every DBS I’ve smoked has drawn like a thick milkshake through a straw until about the first third, when airflow finally begins to improve. Draw issues aside, it remains a cigar I consistently enjoy.

The Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked and Rocky Patel DBS proved to be fitting companions. From the start, the bourbon’s caramel and maple notes complemented the cigar’s vanilla and wood flavors. As the pairing progressed, espresso, cocoa, and dark fruit characteristics from both began to intertwine, creating seamless transitions across the palate. Near the finish, the cigar seemed to coax additional pepper and baking spice from the bourbon, adding another layer of complexity.

The evening of slow sipping and leisurely smoking provided plenty of time for reflection. It has taken a while, but it feels as though we’ve finally found our rhythm in retirement. The freedom to set our own schedule, whether for travel, social gatherings, household projects, or simply relaxing, is a reward earned through decades of work.

Perhaps the best indication that retirement suits me is that it took two days to find the time to sit down and write these thoughts. Boredom, it seems, is not a problem.

Cheers!

Spring Sunshine, a Spritz, and a Cigar

After a record-breaking streak of rainy days, the sun finally shone brightly this weekend. We spent a good part of it attending our 45th (!) college reunion. It was a blast seeing old classmates and even meeting a few people I hadn’t known back then. When Sunday rolled around, we recovered by enjoying the spring weather and an afternoon aperitivo on the back deck.

While Colleen prepared a selection of snacks, I mixed up a couple of Aperol Spritzes. A trip to the humidor yielded a Crowned Heads Blood Medicine Limited Edition 2026 B Positive Toro to complete the afternoon’s indulgences.

The Blood Medicine Limited Edition 2026 B Positive is a reimagining of the popular 2025 Blood Medicine release. It features a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper, an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. The 6 x 54 Toro’s reddish-brown hue glistened in the afternoon sunlight.

The Blood Medicine B Positive had been resting in my humidor for just seven weeks. It probably could have benefited from a bit more time to acclimate after shipping. I’ve often found that newly released cigars, especially those shipped quickly from retailers, improve with additional humidor rest. Still, I was eager to give this one a try, and I have several more waiting.

The burn was somewhat wavy, requiring a few touch-ups, and the ash was a bit flaky. Those minor annoyances aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the cigar’s flavor profile. Starting out medium bodied, the Blood Medicine B Positive delivered a balanced array of notes, including dark cocoa, espresso, cedar, and black pepper. In the second half, the profile picked up in strength, pushing firmly into full-bodied territory.

The bright, bittersweet notes of the Aperol Spritz were somewhat overshadowed by the darker notes of the cigar, which took center stage on the palate. While the deeper vegetal bitterness of a Cynar Spritz might have made a more complementary pairing, the warm spring afternoon seemed to call for a lighter drink.

I found myself alternating slowly between smoking, sipping, and enjoying bites of food. That approach allowed me to better appreciate each element on its own rather than forcing the pairing to compete for attention.

An amazing chorus of birdsong filled the air throughout the afternoon, occasionally interrupted by the distant din of leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and pressure washers. Though the thick woods surrounding our home hide the neighbors from view, the sounds still detracted somewhat from the otherwise peaceful atmosphere. I’ve long believed that Sundays are meant for rest and relaxation, though that apparently isn’t a universally shared philosophy.

Our table was decorated with floral arrangements brought home from Friday evening’s reunion gathering. A visiting Swallowtail butterfly seemed to enjoy the flowers as much as we did, adding another touch to the bright spring ambiance.

Cheers!

The Cynar Spritz - An Italian Inspiration

I’ve been making a few cocktails lately using Cynar as an ingredient. The artichoke-based amaro has a gentle vegetal and earthy bitterness that I find especially enjoyable in an afternoon cocktail. During our recent trip to Italy, I spotted a sign outside a Venice café advertising a Cynar Spritz. This variation on the Italian spritz tradition is said to have originated in Northern Italy around Venice and Padua. Intrigued, I made a mental note to try one at the first opportunity, and I soon found myself enjoying the aperitif several times during our travels.

Like most Spritz cocktails, the recipe is simple.

Cynar Spritz

2 oz Cynar

3 oz chilled Prosecco

1 oz soda water

Lemon wedge or olive for garnish

Fill a wine glass with ice. Add the Cynar first, followed by the Prosecco and finally the soda water. Garnish with either a lemon wedge or olive.

In Italy, I enjoyed versions garnished with both lemon and olives, though I found I preferred the olive. The drinks there appeared to use Castelvetrano olives, which is what I used at home.

Like many Cynar cocktails, the presentation is not the most visually striking, with a color with a deep cola-like hue reminiscent of a ‘Jack and Coke.’ Compared to the more popular Aperol Spritz, the Cynar version is less citrusy and offers more herbal and savory notes.

To my delight, the Cynar Spritz paired exceptionally well with medium-bodied cigars, especially darker maduro blends. I recently enjoyed one alongside an Umbagog Bronzeback from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, accompanied by a platter of meats and cheeses as a late afternoon aperitivo.

The earthy, cocoa, and leather notes of the cigar complemented the drink beautifully. While the bitterness of the Cynar muted some of the Umbagog Bronzeback’s pepper notes, it seemed to amplify the cigar’s cocoa and espresso characteristics. Taking a sip immediately after a draw brought out even more herbal and root-like bitterness in the bubbly cocktail.

I have many fond memories from our trips to Italy, and enjoying this new-to-me cocktail helps bring back those wonderful experiences.

Cheers!

Memories of Italy: A Negroni Evening in Santa Margherita Ligure

It’s no secret to visitors to these Musings that I frequently enjoy pairing a Negroni with a cigar. Naturally, I sought out the same combination during our vacation in Italy.

We spent a few nights at the Hotel Metropole in ‎⁨Santa Margherita Ligure⁩. The hotel features a large outdoor dining area where I enjoyed the classic cocktail — with a cigar, naturally.

Among the cigars I packed for the trip was a Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust 10th Jubilee that had been resting in my humidor since mid-March. I had smoked one from the box a few weeks earlier and was looking forward to revisiting it.

The Negroni was excellent, crafted with a rich vermouth and local gin that made for an especially refreshing rendition of the classic cocktail. As daylight faded over the Ligurian coast, the leisurely pace of the evening seemed perfectly suited to the drink and cigar alike. The comfortable patio, bordered by a lovely garden setting, added to the relaxing evening ambiance.

The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust 10th Jubilee commemorates ten years since Steve Saka launched the company in 2015. The 5 5/8 x 48 Corona Gorda is wrapped in a smooth, dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Beneath the wrapper is a Mexican San Andrés binder surrounding four Nicaraguan fillers sourced from the country’s major growing regions: Estelí, Jalapa, Condega, and Ometepe.

Though somewhat dark and foreboding in appearance, the 10th Jubilee delivers a medium-plus-bodied and nuanced smoking experience. The flavors are dynamic yet subtle, offering notes of baking spices, molasses, cedar, and earth, all occasionally accented by hints of black pepper. It is a cigar well-suited for quiet reflection.

The bitter cocktail added even more depth and enjoyment to the experience. The Jubilee’s balanced medium-bodied profile allowed the Negroni’s herbal complexity to remain expressive alongside the cigar. Combined with the warm evening air and birds singing in the garden, the pairing contributed to what felt like a quintessentially Italian evening.

Cheers!

Memorial Day and the Defense of Freedom

As we mark the unofficial beginning of summer, we should take a moment to reflect on and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms. While many of us gather with family and friends to enjoy the holiday with food, fellowship, and celebration, we do so with gratitude and remembrance for the true meaning of Memorial Day.

The courage and selflessness of our fallen heroes played a vital role in securing the liberties we cherish today. As we pause to honor their memory, may we also reaffirm our commitment to upholding the values they fought to protect and remain vigilant in preserving the freedoms they so bravely defended.

It is a sobering reality that those freedoms are increasingly challenged by people who view our nation and its founding principles as flawed or oppressive. Here in our own Commonwealth, debates over constitutional rights and individual liberties continue to intensify, with career politicians at the highest levels of government pursuing policies that openly and knowingly infringe upon long-established protections guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Whatever our political views, Memorial Day should remind us that the freedoms we debate so passionately were secured at a tremendous cost. Honoring the fallen means not only remembering their sacrifice, but also treating the principles for which they served with the seriousness and respect they deserve.

“The purpose of all war is ultimately peace.”

--Saint Augustine