Rain, Bourbon, and a Surpassion Half Track

We spent another weekend in Blacksburg recently, enjoying plenty of good food and drink and, of course, Hokie football. As usual, I packed a few cigars just in case an opportunity arose to enjoy a smoke or two. Although the weather forecast for the weekend kept changing, rain appeared to be a sure thing. But one never knows.

After enjoying an early dinner and some good beers at Eastern Divide Brewing, I headed out to the hotel patio with a glass of Maker’s Mark Bourbon from the hotel bar while the rest of the family rested in their rooms. One last check of the weather app on my phone showed that rain wasn’t expected for another three hours.

I lit one of the Surpassion Half Track cigars I had picked up at the Hogshead Cigar Lounge event last month. I figured the short cigar would provide a pleasant smoke before the rain arrived.

As luck would have it, no sooner had I applied the flame than I felt the first raindrops. I quickly relocated to a table with an umbrella and hoped the rain would be minimal.

The Surpassion Half Track is a limited-edition extension of the company’s King of Battle line. Measuring 4 x 53, it’s a short robusto that uses the same American Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Mexican San Andrés binder, and blend of Dominican and American fillers as the King of Battle. The Half Track is exclusive to Hogshead Cigar Lounge in Fredericksburg.

The cigar starts with a nice blend of espresso and cocoa, accompanied by a dose of black pepper. As the smoke progresses, the fudge-like sweetness and bitter espresso remain in a pleasing balance.

The bourbon selection at the hotel was limited, and I had neglected to bring along a bottle of my own. However, Maker’s Mark proved to be a very satisfactory choice that paired well with the Half Track. The bourbon’s soft vanilla sweetness complemented the dark fudge notes of the cigar, while its mild character allowed the cigar’s flavor profile to remain in the lead.

As I smoked, the rain began to fall harder. The weather forecasters had gotten this one wrong. Fortunately, tucking myself close to the table under the umbrella blocked most of the rain. The occasional mist that blew through was tolerable, and the cigar remained unaffected.

As I approached the end of the surprisingly long smoke, nearly an hour had passed. The rain began coming down more heavily, and I was quite happy to have gotten in an enjoyable, relaxing smoke at the end of a long day of travel and dining.

Cheers!

Rocky Patel Grand Reserve: A Humidor Rediscovery

Even though I keep an accurate inventory of my cigars, things do get forgotten or overlooked. Recently, I added some additional Spanish cedar trays to my humidor in an effort to make organization easier. Doing so meant removing the cigars before placing them back in the trays. Not surprisingly, I picked up more than one cigar and thought, “I should smoke that.”

One such cigar was the Rocky Patel Grand Reserve. I still had a few Robustos left from a purchase back in August 2024.

The Grand Reserve was first released in 2018 for distribution in Europe. It proved to be very popular and was subsequently released in the U.S. in the summer of 2020. Rocky Patel does not officially disclose the tobaccos used in the blend, although the company does note that the cigars are manufactured in Honduras and incorporate aged tobaccos.

The cigar starts off with a creamy, leathery note. A mix of peanuts and toasted almonds joins in as the cigar warms. As I smoked, the flavor shifted toward an enjoyable blend of sweetness and spice, with caramel and cedar in the background. The medium-bodied smoke was never heavy or dark, maintaining a flavorful balance throughout.

I paired the Rocky Patel with an Old Fashioned made with J. H. Bards Skipper’s Select Toasted Barrel Bourbon. The bourbon has a very light toasted note when sipped neat, though that note was less apparent in the cocktail. The Old Fashioned proved to be a good complement to the cigar on a pleasant fall evening.

While enjoying the Rocky Patel Grand Reserve, I found myself thinking about other cigars I hadn’t smoked in a long time. Rearranging the humidor had brought some of them back to my attention. I may have trouble locating specific cigars in their new locations for a while, but I’ve also rediscovered plenty of overlooked cigars that I look forward to getting reacquainted with.

Cheers!

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!