One of the things I love about living in New York City and the underground cigar scene is you never know who you will meet or what you will discover next. Such was the case about a year ago at a NYC cigar lounge where I was introduced to Alejandro Rocha, president of Puros Rocha. We exchanged numbers and met some time later where he promised me some sticks for me to try from his micro brand he has been working on for the last couple of years. Here is my review of his labor of love.
Appearance & Construction
At first appearance Lovely habano wrapper is even in color throughout all the sticks I’ve seen. In addition, there are no harsh veins the cigar has a even satin sheen with minimal tooth yet somewhat lumpy. A perfect V-cut brings out a perfect draw.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
First Third: Tons of smoke with every draw. Oak wood, raw peanut and just the right amount of paprika pepper coats the palate. The Puros Rocha is a well balanced full body, medium/full flavor and medium strength. As I advance, there is an increasingly earthy musk that works well in conjunction with the spice.
Second Third: The ash fell right on second third mark. A light pleasing retrohale adds to the experience. By this time, the earthy/must lightens up and black pepper lingers for a long finish as the cigar continues its complex sequence.
Last Third: As the heat picks up, the flavors intensifies. The shift in temperature kicks it up a notch but never becoming deviant or transcending far from it original flavors.
Conclusion
There are many cigars that never see the inside of a cigar shop humidor. Fortunately, this cigar represents the strength and ruggedness of the NYC underground cigar scene and I foresee this cigar brand will keep growing–soon to be available at a shop near you. Long ashes!
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:
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
After almost a year of my own journey traveling the American bourbon path, I decided to try something new. So, I dropped by Gary’s Wine & Marketplace on Route 23 in NJ and picked up a bottle of Bernheim Original, a very special American whiskey. Why special? Because it is the first straight wheat whiskey launched on the U.S. market. The whiskey is aged 5 years and, though it has traditional bourbon characteristics, really breaks the mold in a few nice ways.
Product Type
Spirit Type: American Wheat Whiskey
Producer: Bernheim
Website: www.bernheimwheatwhiskey.com
Origin: Kentucky, United States
Age: 5 years
ABV: 45%
Price: ~$45.00
Reviewed: neat
Nose: bright, moderately aggressive, with notes of spice, cooked fruit, and bakery notes with a hint of butter.
Taste: medium strength, full body. Notes of vanilla, fruit, nuts, and the bakery notes evident on the nose. The spice has a nice kick that is at once powerful but not overpowering. Other reviewers have noted that this is a very smooth whiskey, but I think mistake the smoothness of the spirit for a lack of flavor or depth.
Finish: wow — long, full. I pick up some wood and a bit of a charred flavor, but nothing more. Very enjoyable.
Conclusion: this isn’t exactly a cheap bottle of whiskey, but it’s well worth investing in if you have been around the American whiskey block and are looking for something new. The bakery notes make this a memorable whiskey and the spices really reminded me of a few rye whiskeys that I enjoy.
NAT SHERMAN INTERNATIONAL RE-LAUNCHES PIPE TOBACCOS IN TINS
NEW YORK, NY (March 3, 2014) – Nat Sherman, Tobacconist to the World since 1930, announces the re-release of their premium pipe tobaccos in tins. An industry and consumer favorite, the popular pipe tobaccos – Tabac Sherman – will now be available at authorized NatSherman retailers throughout the United States. Not since 2007 has the product been available outside the flagship Nat Sherman Townhouse in New York City.
Nat Sherman has released three signature tins, curating a collection that will inspire new pipe enthusiasts, while still satisfying veteran tastes.
Tabac Sherman No. 314 – a light golden Cavendish with a hint of traditional overtones.
Tabac Sherman No. 509 – a mild aromatic toasted Cavendish with a delightful velvety smooth flavor.
Tabac Sherman No. 536 – a quintessential British blend of exotic Turkish Latakia and Oriental tobaccos with a spicy, musky aroma and taste.
“There has been tremendous growth in the premium pipe category over the past few years,” said Nat Sherman Executive Vice President, LarrySherman. “At our Flagship Townhouse in New York City, we’ve seen overall pipe business nearly double since 2011. With this re-launch, we are thrilled to provide Tabac Sherman products to our fans across the country.”
Tabac Sherman comes in traditional “true two ounce” tins. Each has a suggested retail price of $12.95 per tin. Tins are available individually, and in sleeves of five, wherever premium pipe tobacco is sold.
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About Nat Sherman
Founded by Nat Sherman in 1930 and family-guided for three generations, Nat Sherman continues to define the authentic tobacco experience. Through a tradition of innovation and expertly crafted products, Nat Sherman’s timeless appeal, while quintessentially New York is embraced and enjoyed worldwide. Learn more at www.natsherman.com.
On Thursday, February 27th, over 100 New York City cigar and whisky enthusiasts attended FineTobaccoNYC’s third “Smoker Social” at Merchants NY Cigar Bar. The event featured premium whiskey from Jack Daniel’s, including Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel. Guests also enjoyed the Hispaniola El Trabuco 1844 and the Tres Carabelas.
Starting at 7pm, the event ran well into the evening. Jack Daniel’s and Hispaniola were accompanied by TJ Kowalchuck’s solo performance of classic jazz and blues music.
Merchants NY Cigar bar, the venue for the event, offered guests access to their luxurious lounge area with full bar and food service, a level of luxury only three other venues in all of New York City can boast.
Previous FineTobaccoNYC events have featured premium spirits selections from Johnnie Walker, Brugal, Zacapa, Bulleit, Glenfiddich, and cigar companies including Espinosa, Moya Ruiz, Alec Bradley, Reinado, Hispaniola, La Hoja, and many more. Sign up for our mailing list below to hear about future events.
