Aberlour 12YO Highland Single Malt Scotch

Set out to find a new whisky with wich to enjoy, I came across Aberlour.  This Highland Scotch whiskey is "Double Cask Matured"  which according to the distillery means, the whiskey matured in two cask types.  Traditional oak and Sherry oak casks are selected and after 12 years of rest the two casks are married together. 
This whisky is a particularly dark amber color for only being 12 years old.  The nose is sweet and fruity with a distinctive sherry aroma.  The whisky is smooth and smokey with some sweetness and spice present.  The finish is pleasant but could be more smooth.  All around this was a great find at about $43 for 750ml.

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos #3

When I first began smoking cigars back in the 90s The first cigar that I  fell in love with was the Fuente Flora Fina 858s.  And it didn't take long to become a fan of their regular line as well.  Long considered  a great mild/medium bodied smoke Todays Fuente was a bit of a pleasant departure.  I am always excited to enjoy anything the Fuente family makes.  For today's smoke I chose a selection from their Don Carlos line.  Aged for 10 years and sporting an African Cameroon wrapper over Dominican long filler, this cigar line is named for Don Carlos Fuente, Sr. The vitola I smoked is the #3 which measures 5.5" by 44 ring. This corona sized parejo presented itself with a beautifully rustic wrapper with some spotting and variation in color along its length. The prelight aroma along the stick was of hay and cedar while the foot displayed rich barnyard aromas. The cold draw brought hay and some tobacco sweetness. Once lit, the cigar opened up with light spice and a floral flavor in the background. About a half inch in there was a blast of tobacco sweetness that remained through the entire first third. The second third brought more woodiness and the body peaked at medium/full . The stick produced copious amounts of thick smoke and a great room aroma.  Not overly complex this cigar is just plain good, and remains good from foot to head.  I smoked this beauty down to the nub and plan on smoking more in the future.

Ambos Mundos #2 Sumatra Robusto

The Ambos Mundos #2 Sumatra Robusto is a 5 inch by 50 ring cigar from Pete Johnson and the folks that brought us the Tatuaje line.  Upon initial investigation of the unlit smokes I found this cigar to be very veiny with large bumps and almost the color and consistency of those old school brown paper bags you used to get at the superstore.  There was noticeable sweet scents off of the wrapper and barnyard on the foot.  The cold draw was nothing special.  The cigar opened up with a blast of bread and some sweetness that was very pleasant.  Into the first third the sweetness builds with a strong blast of vanilla with rich and creamy smoke that make for a pleasant retrohale.  Starting off light in body and strength, the first third ends with me wanting for more.  However, the sweetness and initial complexity soon faded into the second third.  I find the creaminess leaving and being replaced with some floral notes, and build into earth and leather on the retrohale.  The cigar remains very pleasant and does not become harsh. The final third finds the notes of leather and earth becoming dominate with the sweetness leaving me behind.  The body of the cigar remained light throughout and the smoke remained smooth.  The Ambos Mundos is certainly a departure from the med/full and full bodied powerhouses typical of Tatuaje, and is a good cigar for beginners and for those wanting to get an introduction to the world of cigars.  The pros definitely outweigh the cons on this stick and at a price of around $5, I would recommend this stick for those looking for a light cigar.

Cro Magnon Knuckle Dragger

Certainly more refined than the name would indicate, the Knuckle Dragger is the smallest in the line of cigars from the Cro Magnon line from Adrians Cigars, weighing in at 4' x 52 ring. These cigars are available through the Hava Cigar Shop.

This prefectly constructed, super oily, dark little beauty presents itself with small but noticeable veins that add to the mystique of this stick. The scent off the wrapper is definite barnyard with the foot having the scent of dark molasses. Upon lighting the cigar it opens up with a blast of tobacco sweetness with some spice that tingles the sides of the tounge. Starting up right out of the gate at a medium to full in body and in strength, it totally relaxes the individual smoking it. Deep dark coffee is noticeable through a retro hale that would wake the dead. As the first third comes to an end the black pepper builds and the cigar remains smooth and well balanced. As I reach the final third the sweetness is gone and the cigar becomes almost one dimensional with the pepper as the primary flavor profile with earthiness building. The cigar remained balanced throughout and even though it was full bodied and full in strength it did not become too over powering. Having smoked a few of these now I would certainly recommend that you enjoy these with a strong coffee and on a full stomach. I will certainly enjoy more of these in the future and look forward to smoking more vitolas in the line.

Quickie: Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Perfecto

Deep and delicious flavors of milk chocolate, black cherry, and graham crackers exhibit themselves smoothly through the entire length of this Habano wrapped cigar.  The cigar burned perfectly and remained smooth down to the nub.  The Exodus Gold line are among my favorites in any vitola and I plan on keeping many of these on hand for future enjoyment.    

E.P. Carrillo Encantos

This Encantos is a 4 7/8" x 50 ring gage, natural wraped cigar from the Core Line from  EP Carrillo's ever growing stable of outstanding cigars.  This particular cigar opens up with a blast of sweet spice.  Loads of vanilla, nutmeg and honey.  The nutmeg becomes the more dominant flavor which tingles the palate.  As it progressed I was introduces to some hints of citrus that made the retrohale come alive.  Towards the halfway mark the sweetness subsided a little and some floral notes came on and the citrus which was originally sweet turned more like grapefruit with a pleasant acidic note to it.  Into the final third of the cigar it became more earthy and savory.  Never becoming harsh, the cigar retired with about a half inch left.  I will certainly smoke more of these in the future.

Louisiana Tobacco Tax Increase LA HB 63

Despite record floods along the Mississippi River, a promise by Gov Jindal (R) to veto any tax increse, and this being an election year; the Louisiana State Legislature Ways and Means Committee will begin debate this morning to increase the tax on all tobacco products in the state including premium cigars and pipe tobacco. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Harold Ritchie (D), an admitted former smoker.  Please contact your legislator or and member of the House Ways and Means Committee today to avoid further action on Louisiana HB63

Email: Hunter Green (R)  Chairman, Ways and Means Committee.

Woodford Reserve

 This seems to be a great time to review my first bourbon, and being May I'll start with the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby. The nose displayed scents reminiscent of sugar cane, honey, and oak.  Flavor is smooth and slightly sweet with the oak coming to the front of the flavor profile with some sweet spice characteristics similar to pumpkin pie spice.  Honey comes out as the bourbon opens up and remains smooth as silk through the entire enjoyment.  This is a great smooth bourbon that can be enjoyed straight or with just a couple of cubes of ice. Pairs well with many cigars, especially those that are Cameroon  or Connecticut wrapped.

Quickie: Sosa Family Governor Maduro

I picked up this smoke while in Downtown Disney on a recent vacation.  The Sosa Family Governor Maduro is a Dominican 6" x 50 ring beauty that performed well and tasted great.  The cigar was mild in strength and displayed a grassy characteristic that I find common in Dominican cigars.  My only complaint was that it had none of the "typical" dark flavors of a maduro.  It was a pleasant morning smoke that paired well with espresso.  If the opportunity presents itself I will buy these again.

Quickie: A. Turrent Triple Play Robusto

I had great expectations for this 4.5" x 54 "puro maduro". It began great with loads of espresso and rich dark chocolate that you would expect in a cigar that is 100% maduro.  However, that experience only lasted through about an inch of the short stick before it turned harsh and exhibited an earthy flavor that I could only describe as dirt.  That flavor turn also accompanied burn problems and after having to relight for a third time I retired the stick with a full third of its length left.  Having now smoked three of these sticks I will conclude that they are not to my liking and will pass on them in the future.