Christian

About Christian

Christian offers a perspective of cigars ranging from vintage pre-embargo smokes, hard to find cigars as well as current releases. His 22+ years of smoking and love of travel have taken him on cigar journeys here and abroad. From smoking HERF’s in friends backyards to smoking Montecristo No. 2s on the terrace of the Hungarian Palace Hotel in Lido Italy, Christian takes the “everyman” approach to cigar smoking being it all about taste and enjoyment of where you are or who you are with.

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Whisky Review: Pine Barrens “Sunrise Wildfire Moon”

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From the continuously innovative mind of Rich Stabile owner of Long Island Distillery comes the Pine Barrens Sunrise Wildfire Moon. What makes this spirit more unique than the traditional “un-aged” whisky that seems to flood the market is that Sunrise Wildfire Moon uses a 100% English style high hop malted barley wine ale for their mash. It is then double pot distilled and aged slightly in American oak. This is a break from the traditional mash and style almost every other un-aged spirit maker uses and the profile in the Sunrise Wildfire Moon is a testament to Rich’s pursuit of quality and originality in spirit making. The name Sunrise Wildfire Moon is an acknowledgement to the 1995 Pine Barrens Wildfires that damaged over 7,000 acres of forest on Long Island which is the home of Long Island Distillery. The rare dwarf pine cones on the label of Sunrise Wildfire Moon harken to the ecosystem unique to Long Island. I was fortunate enough to sample their Batch #1 and the results were quite pleasing. Enjoy.

Spirit: Pine Barrens “Sunrise Wildfire Moon” Batch #1

Appearance: Clear like an un-aged spirit ala moonshine. Thin long legs slide down the glass when swirled.

Nose: Malty, warm spice, medicinal.

Taste: Lots of malty flavors to start with a hint of cinnamon spice. Refined mouthfeel unlike a lot of un-aged whiskies that are rough on the palate. The slight cask aging in this spirit really brings out the nuances of the barley wine ale. The second sip welcomes more of that hoppy malt activating a scope of flavors that give complexity to the whisky. The finish is sweet and malty with a warm spice lingering long on the palate. A truly unique and high quality whisky that can easily be savored in a snifter glass neat.

Conclusion: Once again Rich has hit the mark with a high quality whisky that continues to push the styles that can be created from quality ingredients and precision craft sprit making. If your local does not carry Sunrise Wildfire Moon then you need to request it as its worth seeking out and enjoying on a nice summer evening.

Website info: www.lispirits.com

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Review: Sindicato Robusto

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Photo courtesy emersoncigars.com

Recently I had the pleasure of smoking the new Flagship cigar from Sindicato aptly called “Sindicato”. The cigar is blended by Arsenio Ramos at the Casa Fernandez factory and is something to behold.

Appearance & Construction

The box press along with its excellent construction make it one silky smooth stick that I don’t know if I should smoke or take a bite like a chocolate bar. The pig tail cap is expertly crafted which makes it all the more attractive. I thought box pressed Behikes at first glance which ain’t a bad thing, and when I clipped it the draw was perfect.
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Blend specifics

Wrapper: Shade Grown Corojo Jalapa

Binder: Esteli Double Leaf

Filler: Jalapa and Esteli

Size Robusto- 5 x 54

 

Taste & Smoking Characteristics

The dry draw on this cigar yielded some sweet raisinated flavor. Upon lighting the sweetness continued along with some cedar and slight pepper. The spices were really unique and although I had trouble depicting what they were I enjoyed them very much. The spice lingered on the finish and tingled the lips. Midway the cigar transformed to more of that sweet cedar and some rich tobacco notes emerged. The shade grown Corojo Jalapa wrapper was sweet and worked well with the blend. In the final third the spice picked up along with a little more fuller body. At this point the richness of the cigar created a long finish with wonderful flavor. The complexity here is a testament to its quality and the maker. I smoked the Sindicato to the nub.

 

Conclusion

I haven’t had the previous incarnations from the Sindacato portfolio but if they are anything like their namesake you are in for some wonderful cigars. The Sindicato delivered a blend of sweetness, spice, cedar and tobacco with such complexity that it’s no surprise it comes from the Casa Fernandez factory. What’s interesting to note is that Arsenio Ramos blended each vitola slightly different to adjust the flavors properly to each size. A lot of cigar makers make a blend for a cigar and simply use the same blend for every size in the line. This can leave some sizes in a line tasting muddled or unbalanced. The attention to detail shows as each size I smoked was complex and balanced in its own right. Sindicato has a hit with these smokes. I know Smoke Inn has them in stock for the moment so grab them while you can!

Smoke Inn: http://www.smokeinn.com/eshop/Sindicato.html

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EXCLUSIVE: Rating Pappy Van Winkle’s: A vertical tasting. Which made #1?

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During one of our cold and dreary winters here in New York I invited some close friends to my house for a grueling task. I wasn’t asking them to move furniture or paint rooms which are the archetypal favors you may rope a friend into. No, this was a “chore” most mates would jump at the chance to aid in. The call I placed was to ask if they would assist me in rating a vertical of Pappy Van Winkle 15, 20, and 23yr. old bourbon. Needless to say both friends didn’t seem to mind lending a hand or their taste buds. However in order to gather sufficient and comprehensive results I had to put a few key methods into place.

First I chose these two friends for particular reasons. Although I had many people offer to “help” out with my study I felt I needed some specific tasters. One of them has tasted many a fine bourbon yet still considers his tasting acumen as” budding” and continuing to develop. Also this individual doesn’t covet any booze or cigar and price and/or hype never sways him. I can always count on him for an honest assessment and he is one friend who even keeps me grounded at times. The other person has never tried bourbon but is a big fan of wine with a developing palate enhanced by his extensive Sommelier certification coursework. He is an asset to the study as he has the ability to recognize taste but no preconceived notions on what bourbon should be.

The Setup:

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Second we had to do this study blind. In order to score without bias we needed to NOT be aware of what we were drinking. Each bourbon was covered up by someone not participating in the study and each bottle labeled simply 1, 2 & 3. We were poured each one in number order and utilized the UC Davis College Wine Score Card which applies to spirits as well. This card has a point system broken up into 3 categories with a scoring system for each category.  The categories were Appearance, Odor, and Taste. Each category was noted and then given a score. The scores were then added up for a final scoring on that particular spirit. The highest total score that can be achieved is 25 points on the UC Davis College Wine Score Card respectively. The results and ratings below are listed highest to lowest scored with tasting notes as well as the year of the bourbon. The results were quite surprising. Enjoy!

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1.  Pappy Van Winkle 20yr. Old Bourbon- 20 Points. We found that this bourbon was the sweet spot in terms of the time Pappy should be aged in barrel. The color was a wonderful golden amber with a honeyed hue and a touch of rose’. The first nose gave off alcohol aromas some vanilla and slight spice. Initial tastings had vanilla, baking spice and oak with medium intensity. The mid palate was smooth and refined with oak vanilla and earthy characteristics. The finish was long, rich and continued with an interplay of spices, toasted oak and vanilla. An extremely balanced bourbon with a length that beats many I’ve tasted.

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2.   Pappy Van Winkle 15yr. Old Bourbon- 18 Points. The color in the glass was that of caramel and toasted almond. Nosing gave off aromas of cinnamon, citrus and spice. This bourbon had a weighty mouth feel with earth and vanilla dominating. Midway caramel, butterscotch and a bit of toasted oak came through. Some “bourbon heat” kicked in for a moment before finishing with a long caramel/toffee aftertaste. This was a medium intensity bourbon and we all felt it was a fine sipping spirit.

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3.    Pappy Van Winkle 23yr. Old Bourbon- 17 Points. The color on this bourbon was medium with an amber hue. There was a more intense burn on the nose with some vanilla coming through on the second impression. There wasn’t much more on the front of this offering. First sip yielded baking spice, wood and coconut. Midway gave a lot of earthiness along with baking spices and some more vanilla and caramel. There was a lot of heat present and the finish took on a long earthy and spicy character. This bourbon came on with intense spice, heat and wood no doubt due to its aging however we did not feel the extended time benefited it.

The lineup and copious note taking

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So after a long hard afternoon which trickled into evening we concluded our findings. Having drunk these bourbons for years I wasn’t surprised to see the 20 yr. old the best in taste, flavor and finish as it has always been my personal favorite. We were all surprised to find that the 23yr. old scored the lowest in our tasting. This wasn’t a bad bourbon at all in fact it is of extremely high quality. The additional aging however seemed to overpower some flavors which seemingly hurt its scoring. What makes blind tastings so interesting is that you remove your preconceived notions and are forced to focus on the sight, smell and taste of the product alone. I would recommend getting some friends together and try a blind tasting. It can be done with any spirit and you may be surprised at what you THINK you like. I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding friends to lend a hand in this endeavor,I sure didn’t.

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Bull Moose Rye scores 97 points in blind tasting at Havanas Cigar Club!

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This past week I gathered some spirits and cigar aficionado friends of mine for a bourbon and rye blind tasting at Havana’s Cigar Club in East Meadow NY.  Our goal was to have all of us bring bourbons or ryes for a total of 20 bottles together for the tasting.  There were five guys total including myself with backgrounds ranging from sommeliers to certified tobacconists. All of us arrived at the private club at 11:00 am ready for the challenge. Another cigar associate was present as his job was to pour all the spirits as well as number them so we would have no idea what we were tasting. In addition we each had to fill out cards for every spirit tasted and evaluate them using a hundred point scale. We gave points for 4 separate criteria; 1. Appearance 2. Aroma 3. Taste & Characteristics and 4. Finish. After tasting we tallied all the points up for a top 5 best of the best. It was quite an afternoon with many surprises as to what we “Thought” was what. I urge anyone who hasn’t to organize your own blind tasting and you too may be surprised at how you taste. So without further ado, here is our official top five list and congrats to these wonderful spirits. Enjoy!

# 1: Rating 97 Points- Rough Rider Bull Moose Three Barrel Rye Whisky.

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From Richard Stabile of Long Island Distillers makers of LiV vodka, Rough Rider Bourbon and Pine Barrens Single Malt this Rough Rider shot out the gate with three tasters commenting instantly on its aroma and complexity.  This rye had it all for us; spice, caramel, butter, toasted oak and some wonderful heat. All that with a silky mouthfeel and a finish that lingered on our taste buds for days. All of us agreed the Three Barrel aging was a brilliant idea that added to its intertwined flavors and finish. We need more of these innovations and more of this Rye!

Website: http://www.lispirits.com/

#2: Rating 96 Points- Four Roses 2012 Limited Edition Small Batch.

This very close second in our tasting is one of my favorite bourbons. There are four different bourbons comprised here ranging from 11-17 years old.  The nose on this yielded cinnamon, all spice and even a bit of citrus. Notes of vanilla, oak and caramel dominated leaving an aged oak finish. A delicate bourbon due to its age and an amazing expression of what quality blending can accomplish.

Website: http://www.fourrosesbourbon.com/

#3: Rating 95 Points- Eagle Rare 17 year old.

Yet another choice bourbon that blew us away. This spirit gave off a candied nose along with some citrus and dried fruits. Its initial spice gave way to leather, tobacco and cinnamon. Subtle oak on the finish along with a shot of heat hit all of our sensory spots. I’ve always been a fan of the different style of Eagle Rare even in their lesser offerings and this one is not to be downplayed. A stylish bourbon.

Website: http://www.eaglerare.com/

#4: Rating 94 Points- Templeton Small Batch Rye.

We were surprised how far ahead this Rye got in our ratings but despite its seemingly gimmicky claims, this Rye stood out amongst they fray. Its nose was reminiscent of the holiday with pine, allspice and woods. The cinnamon and spice came forward along with a buttery mouthfeel and heated finish. I can’t say for fact that this is a “Prohibition Era” spirit but it’s sure tasty for this day and age.

Wesbite: http://www.templetonrye.com/

#5: Rating 93 Points- Kings County Distillery Bourbon.

We must have had NY on our minds as yet another NY spirit made our top tastings. This small batch bourbon out of Kings County delivered fine malts along with a lot of corn on the nose. The flavors gave hints of charred oak, leather and touches anise. The oak finish smacked on the sides of the mouth and kept us salivating for more.  Yet another unique style that cut through the rest.

Website: http://kingscountydistillery.com/

As you’ve probably guessed it was a tough afternoon sifting through choice bourbons and ryes at a private cigar lounge; fortunately we bit the bullet and suffered through the day. Our scientific method yielded the most unbiased ratings we could deliver. You’ll be happy to know we treated ourselves to some luxurious cigars afterward while dutifully sipping on the winner. All for you dear readers, all for you.

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Cigar Review: Tatuaje JV13 Jason

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For those of you who are unaware Pete Johnson of Tatuaje has been making monster movie themed cigars since his first hit debut “The Frank” which was in my opinion one of the best Pepin made sticks created. I remember when I was able to purchase as many dress boxes as I wanted before these got to be collectors items and I am glad I picked up a few. These are now sought after smokes commanding outrageous prices. I have been fortunate enough to smoke all the Monster series and think “The Boris” is the next best AND I think it has aged better than any other. If you find one grab it. But enough about my reminiscing, let’s get to the latest stick. I just smoked the new Tatuaje JV13 or “Jason” for the famed “Friday The 13th” movies and here are my thoughts. Enjoy!

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Cigar: Tatuaje JV13 “The Jason”

Blend specifics

7 1/2″ x 52

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Vitola: Double Corona

Appearance & Construction

This cigar sports a sharp dark red label with the Tatuaje name and “Monster” written in black. A beautiful contrast to the dark chocolate wraper. Very well constructed with no soft spots and seemingly full of tobacco. Smells of earthy, sweet, leather, hay.

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Taste & Smoking Characteristics

The draw dry yields earth,hay and wood. Upon lighting the earthy flavors take the forefront with slight oak and dryness of leather. The smoke is hefty to start with a strong body of flavors rolling around the tongue. More of the oak continues with a bit of espresso, vanilla and earth intermingling throughout. There is a bit of black pepper midway on the palate and a rush of spice on the retrohale. Lots of wood/oak flavors on the finish with continuing leather on the sides of the mouth. The cigar continues to a medium body with changes of sweet and even savory like that of sweetbreads.  Towards the last third a bit of the barnyard twang comes forward with a companion of earth and hay. The strength wanes a bit and the oak, barnyard and leather flavors continue. The cigar finishes with a bit of sweetness and ends on a medium note. A thoroughly enjoyable cigar.

 

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Conclusion

The Tatuaje Jason was not the most complex cigar as it stuck mainly to sweet, leather, hay and oak however I enjoy all these flavors together when not overpowering. The Jason succeeded in being a medium to full cigar with a perfect balance of all these flavors. I haven’t loved all the monster releases although now I will say that the JV13 is my third favorite. The Frank when it was released was number one although in the past 3 years it has waned dramatically. The Boris is my second even though it’s technically a monster “unmasked” cigar but now the JV13 is my 3rd. The big question is will it wither and die like Frankenstein did or will it live on for more features like Boris? Who knows horror fans but for now get a piece of Jason before he gets you!

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