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Barry

Cigar Review: Nestor Miranda Special Selection Toro

Nestor Miranda Special Selection was originally introduced in 2006 by Miami Cigar & Company. In 2014, the brand would be discontinued as Miami Cigar & Company decided to rebrand to the Nestor Miranda Collection. That new branding was met with mix results leading the company to bring back the Special Selection in 2019 as part of their 30th Anniversary. Cigar Review: Nestor Miranda Special Selection Size: Toro (5.5 x 54) Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano Binder: Nicaragua Criollo ’98 Filler: Nicaragua (Condega, […]

September 12, 2023

Press Release

Press Release: Barrell Craft Spirits® Introduces New Cask Finish Series

Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the original independent blender of unique aged, cask strength whiskey since 2013, today launched the new Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series. The limited-edition Series utilizes the company’s blending and finishing expertise to make bespoke blends of straight bourbon whiskeys with unique finishes. The Cask Finish Series will introduce two blends each year, beginning with the launch of the first two blends this Fall: Amburana and A Tale of Two Islands. Amburana […]

September 8, 2023

Rye Review

Rye Review: Cream of Kentucky Straight Rye Bottled in Bond

Cream of Kentucky is bottled for J.W. Rutledge. If you are a bourbon connoisseur it is a name you should know as Jim Rutledge is the former Master Distiller of Four Roses bourbon. He earned the title of Master Distiller in 1994. Today, Jim along with friends Stephen Camisa and Jon Mowry are collaborating to build a modern, energy efficient and sustainable, mid-size distillery. Their goal is to remain free of corporate structuring, so they can, and will, […]

September 7, 2023

Nicaragua Cigar Review

Cigar Review: Olmec Maduro Robusto

Nicholas Melillo began his career in the cigar industry working in a cigar shop in his home state of Connecticut. He would eventually wind up at Drew Estate where he become one of the top blenders. It is here that some controversy over the Liga Privada No. 9 line starts to emerge. Depending who you ask some might credit him with the creation of that blend, while others would credit Steve Saka. No matter who […]

September 5, 2023

Bourbon Review

Bourbon Review: Stagg Jr Batch 17

Stagg Jr. Bourbon is a barrel-proof bourbon whiskey produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. It was first released in the fall of 2013, and is named after George T. Stagg, a 19th-century bourbon businessman who built the distillery that would eventually be renamed Buffalo Trace. Stagg Jr. is made with Buffalo Trace’s Mashbill #1, which is also used to make Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor, Jr. bourbon, the brand’s eponymous Buffalo Trace bourbon, and […]

August 30, 2023

Nicaragua Cigar Review

Cigar Review: HVC Hot Cake Golden Line Corona Gorda

HVC Cigars follows up the successful HVC Hot Cake with the HVCHot Cake Golden Line. The Cigar is available in four sizes; Laguito No. 4 (4 1/2 x 52), Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46), Laguito No. 5 (6 x 54) and Gran Canon (6 x 60). The cigar is being made in brand owners Reinier Lorenzo’s own factory Fabrica de Tabacos HVC S.A. de Reinier Lorenzo in Esteli, Nicaragua. Cigar Review: HVC Hot Cake Golden Line […]

August 29, 2023

Press Release

Press Release: NH Liquor Commission Raises $60,000 Through First-Ever Scotch Whisky Raffle in Support of Local Animal Rescue & Therapeutic Organizations

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) recently raised $60,000 in support of animal rescue and therapy organizations in New Hampshire through its “Allies for Animals” raffle. NHLC’s first-ever scotch whiskey raffle featured an exclusive array of nearly 35 products, with the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for the collection totaling well over $10,000. Profits from the Allies for Animals raffle benefitted The Animal Rescue League of NH, Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter, and Back in […]

August 28, 2023

Bourbon Review

Bourbon Review: Navigator Bourbon

Navigator Bourbon is a double cask aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Each lot is aged in barrels of new American white oak for 3 years. After 3 years, the bourbon is then transferred to Navigator Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels for an additional 90 days of aging. The brand is brainchild of vintner Trevor Sheehan who has spent more than a decade in the wine profession. The company does not disclose where the bourbon is sourced […]

August 24, 2023

Bourbon Review

Bourbon Review: Wild Turkey Longbranch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Longbranch Bourbon was created in 2016 by Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame member and Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell with cultural tastemaker Matthew McConaughey. United by a shared curiosity and love of great whiskey, Eddie and Matthew wondered what would happen if a Kentucky Bourbon took a road trip to Texas. Their creation – a small batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon, refined with American Oak and Texas mesquite charcoals – was named Longbranch, a reference […]

August 7, 2023

Bourbon Review

Bourbon Review: Old Grand-Dad Kentucky Straight Bourbon (80 Proof)

From the bottle, “Since 1882, the unique marriage of body and flavor in Old Grand-Dad whiskey has been the standard by which all others are judged. Discover the high rye content and legendary time-honored excellence of the distiller’s craft found in every bottle.” Old Grand-Dad is a brand of bourbon whiskey that has been in production since 1882. It was created by Raymond B. Hayden, a third-generation distiller, and named after his grandfather, Meredith Basil Hayden, Sr., who was […]

August 1, 2023

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It all started in 1998 when I walked into a cigar shop for the first time in Brooklyn, NY. A desire to try something new led to life long friendships and a career in the cigar industry. I served as a shop manager, blogger, shop owner, writer, marketing coordinator, sales and was an award winning podcaster. After 25 years, I decided it was time to leave the cigar industry. Cigars are still as a passion of mine as is bourbon so I continue the legacy with this website.... Cheers & Long Ashes!