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Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Robusto Review

In Gear Reviews by Brent Joseph1 Comment

As is my experience with the Fuente brand in general, this cigar is extremely well made/constructed. The wrapper is really beautiful and has no visible seams or significant veins. As I lit up, the cedar flavor is still very much front and center, but there is a bit of lightly roasted coffee beans and some leather on the palate as well.

As I progressed through the first third of these cigars, I got more earthy flavors, and some more of the leather as the cedar notes faded to the background. The cocoa or even possibly a cinnamon sweetness ramps up in the second third of the smoke as well. The wrapper is delicious. Not overly sweet but extremely enjoyable. If you like to hold a cigar in your teeth and enjoy the flavor that a beautiful wrapper imparts, you won’t be disappointed with this one.

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Bourbon Justice Book Review

In Book Reviews by Brett Atlas2 Comments

It’s also a dusty hunter’s dream. I finally learned the origins of some pre-prohibition whiskeys I’ve tried including Old Jordan (found in a 3-gallon glass carboy in a pharmacist’s office!), as well as a bottle from The American Medicinal Spirits Corporation that Pops poured some lucky Bourbon & Banter writers at his house a couple of years ago.

You’ve certainly read about landmark bourbon citations including the Bottled-In-Bond Act, the Taft Decision and others. But nobody until now has put them in their rightful historical context. Haara’s crowning achievement with Bourbon Justice is to emphasize bourbon’s true impact on the future of American business.

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Duke Cannon Big American Bourbon Soap Review

In Gear Reviews by Brett Atlas3 Comments

Some people just can’t get enough Bourbon. There are candles you can light to fill your room with the magical scents of the rick house. There are Pappy Van Winkle barrel fermented cigars you can smoke that have literally been paired for you. And now Duke Cannon brings you a bar of soap containing Buffalo Trace Bourbon and ground corn so you can bathe with your favorite spirit – the Big American Bourbon Soap. I had originally intended this to be a video hands-on review, but my wife would have none of that. You’re welcome.

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Booze and Vinyl Book Review

In Book Reviews by Luke CastleLeave a Comment

Ok, so a little tease using our bourbon review format but what is this book all about? It’s a fun way to approach pairing cocktails and music. It takes things a little over the top but if you are going to throw a listening party I think this offers a nice blueprint to follow. The book offers tips on what bar items to stock, how to prepare a wide variety of cocktails and suggestions on when to play what albums. They offer more then 50 recipes that use 2 or 3 ingredients, so you can choose how complex you want to get with the pairings.