Worth the Wait: Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon & L’Atelier LAT56

Between a busy — but enjoyable — travel schedule and uncooperative weather, opportunities to sit back with a cigar and whiskey pairing have been few over the past couple of weeks. When I finally had the chance to relax this week, I opted for a long smoke and a bold pour.

For the whiskey, I reached to the back of the shelf for Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon. I picked up this bottle back in December 2024, and it hadn’t seen much attention lately. For the cigar, I selected the 6½ x 56 L’Atelier LAT56. Coincidentally, it had been resting in the humidor for nearly as long as the bourbon had been on the shelf, having been added in August 2024.

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon is a distinctive release that showcases the craftsmanship behind its production. Even the specific corn seed used in the mash bill was selected for this bottling. With a mash bill of 52% corn, 35% wheat, and 13% malted barley, it contains significantly more wheat than most wheated bourbons, which typically use around 20% wheat or less. The whiskey is aged for six years and bottled at a robust 121 proof.

The bourbon opens with an inviting nose of brown sugar, toasted oak, and cinnamon. On the palate, it arrives with rich caramel and sweet vanilla before layers of cinnamon and baking spices build across the tongue. I’ve often remarked that it reminds me of a spicy Christmas cookie.

The L’Atelier LAT56, produced by Pete Johnson at Tatuaje, feels even larger in the hand than its dimensions suggest, perhaps because of its substantial weight and firm pack. It features an Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The cellophane had developed the characteristic golden-yellow tint often associated with a well-aged cigar. The Sancti Spiritus wrapper is a hybrid developed by the Oliva tobacco family from Pelo de Oro and Criollo seed, created specifically for the L’Atelier line. Even after nearly two years in the humidor, the reddish-brown wrapper remained soft, supple, and oily.

The cigar opens with notes of cedar, nutty cocoa, and toasted bread. As the smoke progresses, darker cocoa and espresso emerge, supported by an underlying earthy sweetness that adds balance and complexity throughout the experience.

After a few sips, I added a few drops of water to the bourbon. The slight dilution softened the alcohol and tamed the spice just enough to let the sweetness of the wheat shine through. The LAT56’s refined profile of cedar, cocoa, and subtle sweetness allowed the bourbon’s unique high-wheat character to remain the focal point without overwhelming the palate. In return, the bourbon seemed to accentuate the cigar’s creamy wood and cocoa flavors while gently pushing its pepper and spice into the background.

The pairing continued to evolve over the course of the smoke, gradually taking on an almost dessert-like character. With the L’Atelier LAT56 providing nearly two hours of smoking enjoyment, there was ample time to appreciate the uniquely sweet yet peppery personality of Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon. It proved to be exactly the prescription I needed after a hectic couple of weeks.

Cheers!

The Saint with Cigars in His Pocket

Yesterday, July 4, marked the first celebration of the feast of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati following his canonization by Pope Leo XIV on September 7, 2025.

Known simply as Pier Giorgio among his friends, he was born into an affluent family on April 6, 1901, in Turin, Italy. An avid outdoorsman, he was athletic, adventurous, and rarely seen without a smile. Tragically, he contracted polio and died on July 4, 1925, at just 24 years of age.

During his brief life, he became known for his quiet generosity, frequently giving away money, possessions, and even his own clothing to those in need. The full extent of his charity became apparent only after his death, when thousands of the poor and marginalized whom he had helped lined the streets of Turin for his funeral.

His life of joyful charity earned him the title “Man of the Beatitudes,” a description given by Saint John Paul II, who saw in Pier Giorgio a remarkable embodiment of Christ’s love for the poor and those in need.

Though often depicted with climbing gear and a pipe, Saint Pier Giorgio’s enjoyment of cigars is also well documented. FrassatiUSA, a website devoted to his life and legacy, preserves several delightful anecdotes that reveal another facet of his warm and engaging personality.

One comes from a story titled Pier Giorgio’s Last Christmas, recounted by his friend and teacher, Gian Pietro Ravera:

Christmas 1924 was celebrated according to the Club’s tradition, and in fact about fifteen members gathered that night in a private chapel at 9 Via Ormea where Canon Bues celebrated Mass. I was among those who were invited by Pier Giorgio, who went on and on about how beautiful the Mass would be, as well as the gastronomic delights that would follow. Pier Giorgio and Carlo Pol served the Mass, and I remember how it was difficult to move in the chapel because it was standing room only.

Pier Giorgio had some cigars in his suit coat pocket, and they started to fall out when he was making a genuflection. He blushed deeply as he stuffed them back into his pocket. Then, turning toward my side of the chapel and seeing that I had seen everything that had happened, he made a face as if to excuse himself and he suppressed a smile, returning to his prayers with greater intensity than before.

I continued to watch him, and the longer the Mass went on, and the more intense and spiritually delightful it became, the more I was moved to see that group of university students follow the liturgy of the Mass with such devotion. 

Another story recounts the last gift Pier Giorgio received from his sister on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, his name day:

... we know that the last gift he received from his sister was a cigar case that he chose for himself that day while they shopped together.  Later, he joked with a maid, “Two cigars.  Today you have to give me two cigars: one for St. Peter and one for St. Paul; it's a double feast today!”

In honor of his canonization, Regina Cigars released the PGF ST-090725, a cigar bearing Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati’s likeness on its band. I had the opportunity to review the cigar earlier this year.

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati lived only 24 years, yet he left an extraordinary mark on the Church and the world. He loved the mountains, cherished his friends, appreciated the simple pleasures of life, and possessed a joyful sense of humor. Above all, he devoted himself to Christ by serving the poor with humility and generosity. These small stories about cigars remind us that holiness does not erase our humanity, but perhaps even enhance it.

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati Ora Pro Nobis!

An Undiminished Devotion: Reflections on America’s 250th Anniversary

Today, and indeed this entire year, patriotic Americans celebrate the foresight, wisdom, and courage of our Founding Fathers in declaring independence from an oppressive government. As our nation marks the 250th anniversary of its founding — the American Semiquincentennial — Independence Day carries an even deeper significance. It is both a celebration of freedom and a solemn reminder that liberty must be vigilantly protected.

Our forefathers were explicit in their intent: our rights are granted by our Creator, not by government. Political power is legitimate only when it derives from the consent of the governed. These timeless truths laid the foundation of a nation built on freedom. Yet today, those principles face challenges — not only from foreign adversaries, but also from those within our own society who misunderstand, disregard, or seek to redefine them.

Enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and secured through the Constitution is the conviction that all people are endowed with unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These founding principles remain as relevant today as they were in 1776. But freedom is not self-sustaining. It depends upon citizens who possess the character, courage, and resolve to uphold it.

Celebrating this great gift of liberty does not require ignoring the threats against it. Some, under a distorted understanding of “freedom” or in pursuit of ideological causes, seek to silence dissent, erase history, redefine language, and shame those who hold differing views. Such attitudes reveal not confidence in their ideas, but hostility toward the principles of open debate and individual liberty that have long defined our republic.

Yet hope abounds. Millions of Americans are growing weary of division, hostility, and caricatures that portray their beliefs as dangerous or extreme. They continue to stand by the values enshrined in our founding documents: freedom, faith, personal responsibility, and equal rights under the law.

Even amid uncertainty and division, the light of liberty has not been extinguished. Many Americans seek a renewed commitment to the principles of 1776 and the constitutional order that followed. Their efforts are driven not by hatred, but by love — love of country, love of liberty, and love for future generations who deserve to inherit a free and united nation.

Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Roger C. Weightman on June 24, 1826, reflected on the significance of this day:

“For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.”

I, for one, am proud of my country. I will not quietly accept efforts to restrict religious liberty, diminish the right of self-defense, or replace the principles of a free society with ideologies that history has repeatedly shown to be destructive.

As America marks its Semiquincentennial year, may we renew our appreciation for the principles that gave birth to this nation and recommit ourselves to preserving them. Celebrate America. Celebrate freedom. And above all, prepare to defend and preserve these blessings for those who will inherit the nation we leave behind.

Happy Independence Day!

From Washington’s Notebook to the Taproom

It’s well known that early American colonists drank a great deal of beer. In an era when much of the available drinking water — especially in cities — was unsafe, beer provided a safer alternative. One popular style was “small beer,” a low-alcohol brew typically ranging from 1 to 3 percent ABV.

While serving as a colonel in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War, George Washington wrote down his recipe for small beer:

“Take a large Sifter full of Bra Hops to your Taste -- Boil these 3 hours. Then strain out 30 Gall. into a Cooler put in 3 Gallons Molasses while the Beer is scalding hot or rather drain the molasses into the Cooler. Strain the Beer on it while boiling hot let this stand til it is little more than Blood warm. Then put in a quart of Yeast if the weather is very cold cover it over with a Blanket. Let it work in the Cooler 24 hours then put it into the Cask. leave the Bung open til it is almost done working -- Bottle it that day Week it was Brewed.”

The resulting beer would have been a dark, unfiltered ale. The generous amount of molasses likely imparted a noticeable sweetness, producing a flavor profile quite different from what most beer drinkers are accustomed to today.

As part of its America 250 celebration, the New York Public Library asked the New York-based Talea Beer Co. to brew a couple hundred bottles based on Washington’s original recipe for internal events. The brewery also used the recipe as inspiration for “Liberty Lager,” which is available at its taprooms in New York.

History often feels distant, preserved in books and museums. But occasionally it finds its way into our glass. George Washington’s small beer is more than a curiosity — it’s history you can taste, offering a small but tangible connection to the daily lives of those who helped shape America.

Image courtesy of the Mount Vernon website. 

Cheers!

Five O'Clock Friday: Budget? What Budget?

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars.

Cheers!

Welcoming Summer with a Kentucky Colonel

The first day of summer coincided with Father’s Day this year, making for a fitting occasion to spend a relaxing afternoon on the porch with a drink and a cigar. The weather was delightful with warmth and relatively low humidity.

Recently, while looking for simple bourbon cocktails, I came across the Kentucky Colonel. The drink is essentially an Old Fashioned that swaps the traditional sugar for a measure of Bénédictine, adding herbal complexity and honeyed sweetness.

Kentucky Colonel

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 1/2 oz Bénédictine
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Lemon peel for garnish

Add bourbon, Bénédictine, and bitters to a mixing glass. Combine bourbon, Bénédictine, and bitters in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir to chill. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over ice, preferably a single, large cube. Express the lemon oils over the drink and drop in the twist.

I selected Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year Old for the bourbon component. The high rye mash bourbon has strong notes of oak and dried fruit. There’s enough spice to stand up to the Bénédictine without overpowering its herbal and honey notes. The cocktail offers a pleasing melding of bourbon caramel, vanilla, and oak with the honeyed sweetness and herbal complexity of the Bénédictine.

I decided to pair the Kentucky Colonel with the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary cigar. All of the Oliva Serie V varieties are versatile cigars that pair well with all manner of beverages. The irregularly released limited-edition 135th Anniversary maintains the familiar blend of an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The 5 1/2” x 54 vitola features a tapered foot, with the ring gauge narrowing from 54 down to roughly 30 at the tip. Due to the unusual shape, the cigar evolves noticeably throughout the smoke, offering subtle shifts in flavor while maintaining the familiar Serie V profile overall.

The pairing was as enjoyable as expected. The cigar’s pepper, cedar, and cocoa played nicely against the bourbon’s rye spice and the herbal sweetness of the cocktail. The Kentucky Colonel softened some of the cigar’s peppery edges without muting its distinctive character.

I’ll be adding the Kentucky Colonel to my summer cocktail rotation. It’s flavorful and refreshing without feeling heavy, and I suspect it would pair equally well with chocolate-, espresso-, and coffee-forward cigars that carry a touch of sweetness — flavor profiles that are firmly in my wheelhouse.

The combination of the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary and Kentucky Colonel made for an excellent way to welcome summer: a flavorful cigar, a well-crafted cocktail, and a leisurely afternoon enjoying the screened porch and the season’s pleasant weather.

Cheers!

Bishops Blend, Heaven Hill, and a Cool June Evening

Scanning the humidor for an interesting smoke on a cool, almost-summer evening, my eyes settled on a Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend in the Corona Larga vitola. I knew the cigar had been resting there for quite a while, and when I checked my inventory in the Cigar Scanner app, I discovered I had acquired it exactly one year ago. I took that as a sign.

My thoughts immediately turned to the bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond sitting on the nearby shelf. I knew it would make a fitting companion.

The Bishops Blend has earned frequent mentions in these Musings. It’s one of my favorite cigars when I’m in the mood for a full-flavored smoke. The Robusto is usually my preferred vitola, and I make a point of picking up a few from each year’s release, setting some aside for long-term aging.

The blend features an Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper over an Ecuadorian Habano binder, with fillers from Nicaragua complemented by Connecticut and Pennsylvania Broadleaf tobaccos. Medium- to full-bodied, the cigar delivers rich notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, pepper, and espresso, balanced by a touch of sweet earthiness.

The closed foot and pointed cap are among the cigar’s distinctive features. They also add a bit of complexity to the lighting process. With the sharply pointed cap, it can be difficult to judge the draw before the foot is fully lit. On this Corona Larga, the draw remained somewhat snug even after the foot burned open. Annoyingly, the resistance persisted through much of the smoke, requiring frequent double puffs to coax out the cigar’s full flavors.

Despite the draw issues, I was able to enjoy the cigar’s rich profile, which paired wonderfully with the Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond. This reasonably priced bourbon is aged seven years and bottled at 100 proof. From the first pour, aromas of caramel, vanilla, and oak rose invitingly from the glass.

On the palate, robust oak and baking spice lead the way. Sweet vanilla and hints of dark cherry arrive early before giving way to a lingering caramel sweetness on the finish. The 100 proof stands up well to the dark richness of the Bishops Blend. I found the bourbon’s caramel and vanilla notes softened the cigar’s bitter espresso and pepper while still asserting its own oak and spice character.

The balanced robustness of the pairing perfectly complemented the cool evening. Even after the cigar was reduced to ash and the bourbon glass stood empty, I lingered on the screen porch, listening to music and savoring the quiet relaxation.

I recently saw reports that this year’s release of the Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend will be shipping soon. With another release just around the corner, I suspect I’ll once again be setting aside a few for future evenings like this one.

Cheers!

An Unexpected Encounter with Abraham Bowman Rye

This past week I attended a “Whiskey & Cigars” event hosted by Locovore, a new restaurant in downtown Fredericksburg. The gathering was held on the restaurant’s rooftop bar and, unlike the event I attended the previous week, the weather fully cooperated.

The local A. Smith Bowman Distillery was one of the featured participants. As Bowman is one of my favorite producers, I was especially looking forward to sampling some of their special releases.

As it turned out, the evening was quite different from what I had expected — less a whiskey tasting and more a rooftop cigar social with some excellent bourbon available at the bar. 

When I arrived, I joined a couple of other attendees at a table. While we waited for the event to begin, I ordered an Old Fashioned from the bar to ease into the evening. With no sign of the program starting, a couple of us wandered over to where Olde Towne Tobacconist had set up a table displaying a nice selection of cigars. Nearby, the Bowman representative was handing out an assortment of distillery swag.

We asked if there would be a presentation or guided tasting of the bourbons and were told there would not. We were simply to order whichever Bowman expression we wanted from the bar. The representative was available to answer questions, but he wasn’t there to lead a tasting.

At that point, I grabbed a couple of cigars to smoke that evening. My table companions decided to leave in search of food when they learned they could only order from a limited appetizer menu, although I later saw diners being served other dishes as well. As bourbon enthusiasts rather than cigar smokers, they seemed a bit disappointed that the evening lacked the guided tasting or presentation they had expected.

I lit a Padrón 3000 Natural to enjoy while I finished my Old Fashioned. The 5½ x 52 Nicaraguan puro is a mild-to-medium bodied smoke with notes of cocoa, coffee, and wood. It proved to be a pleasant companion to the cocktail. The cigar lasted only about 40 minutes, but that brief smoke was fine as I was ready to move on to something a bit more exciting now that I understood the evening was going to be more of a casual cigar gathering than a guided whiskey tasting.

The menu listed four Bowman products: John J. Bowman Single Barrel, Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished, Abraham Bowman Rye, and A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength. The first two are readily available expressions, but I was especially interested in the rye.

Abraham Bowman Special Release #26 Rye Whiskey is a new and limited release from the distillery. To my knowledge, it has only been available through the distillery’s lottery system. Unfortunately, I was not selected in the most recent drawing held in May. In fact, the rye does not even appear on Virginia ABC’s website.

Aged for 11 years and bottled at 110 proof, the rye is exceptionally smooth and easy to sip. Notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and stone fruit are accompanied by a subtle sweetness. While there is a hint of rye spice on the finish, it remains gentle and supporting, allowing the butterscotch and fruit notes to take center stage.

I sipped the Bowman Rye while enjoying a Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro. I expected the cigar to pair well with the whiskey, as it has complemented a variety of spirits for me in the past. The Nicaraguan maduro wrapper is aged in bourbon barrels for about 14 months, while the binder and filler are also Nicaraguan. The flavor profile features cocoa and dark chocolate, espresso, and spicy cedar that grows more prominent toward the latter stages of the smoke.

My prediction proved accurate. The Abraham Bowman Rye paired beautifully with the Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro. The whiskey’s maple sweetness and mature oak intertwined with the cigar’s cocoa and espresso notes. Toward the end of the smoke, the cigar’s growing pepper spice might have challenged the rye, but I had long since finished the glass by that point.

The folks at the event seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the cigars from Olde Towne Tobacconist appeared quite popular. However, there seemed to be limited interest in the whiskey tasting aspect of the evening. I saw a couple of people order flights of the four Bowman expressions, but they were entirely self-guided. Most others appeared content to explore the bar’s cocktail menu.

While the lack of the advertised guided tasting was somewhat disappointing, I was especially excited for the opportunity to enjoy the hard-to-find Abraham Bowman Rye. Had I realized the format of the evening beforehand, I probably would have started with the rye, skipped the Old Fashioned, and tried the A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength as well.

The event may not have been the whiskey-focused experience I anticipated, but it did provide a rare chance sit with a pour of the elusive Abraham Bowman Rye while enjoying a good cigar. For that opportunity alone, the evening was worthwhile.

And now, Abraham Bowman Special Release #26 Rye Whiskey has moved to the very top of my wish list.

Cheers!