Just a quick update on reviews

I had the good fortune a few days ago to share a rather well built cigar with a co-worker. Sadly I have yet to get all the details on the brand and blend so my review may be a bit delayed. It’s been a while but the results of this particular review may surprise some. Look forward to it.

Bespoke’s Gin and Tonic

I’ve decided to import a few of my past snuff related reviews from a forum I frequent. It’s an attempt to entertain my readers while I work to acquire new samples.  It’s been rather difficult lately as I have just completed college and I am quite busy looking for a fitting job. Do enjoy.

Upon opening the dull smash box I just received in the mail labeled: Bespokes Gin&Tonic a musty smell of pine and lemon creep their way up and to my nose. The smell is not initially pleasing and leaves one with an almost bland recollection of the smell. The pinch of it is only slightly less mediocre. A quick shot of lemon zest is quickly watered down with an almost tasteless tobacco. But as with so many fruits of the citrus nature there is a twist in this review. This is not a snuff for the snuff taker of scarce sights. It is instead created for the seeker of superbly crafted spirits. In other words. This snuff while not extraordinary recommends its self quite nicely to those with a fine taste for fine spirits. The snuff’s apparent lackluster is its crowning jewl. Its ability to be unmemorable will allow it to compliment and enhance the memories of those sacred scotches, whimsical wines, and beautifully crafted brandies.

When the snuff tin is down
Bottoms up.

A Rather Ill Timed Disapointment

It had been two, no, three months since I last tasted a cigar, of any sort, worth writing about or no. So, when I received word from my friend Becky that I should expect a small ration of cigars I was ecstatic. Amongst my regulars (she knows my preferences well) was a NUB. The NUB is a cigar the theory of which had for some time intrigued me. Most cigars have a “sweet spot” the part some time after you light the cigar and before it becomes bitter. The idea of the NUB is that, through expert shaping rolling and blending, you could somehow produce a cigar which maintains the intended flavor from start to finish. The NUB does a splendid job of consistency. I can certainly attest to its ability to hold the same flavor. The flavor though, is terribly lackluster. It simply isn’t remarkable in any single way. It starts bland, and finishes the same. It really just falls well beneath even the standards of a casual cigar, even one you would want to take backstage to activities or conversation. A first try by Sam Leccia a sales rep for Olivia, the NUB could still be a good learning experience. If the same technique could be applied to a cigar with more character as far as flavor goes, he would have a winner. For now, I am left feeling rather bitter about the whole experience especially as it had been so long since I had a fine cigar.

“Brandy Whine”

Name: Arizona Brandied Organic 2007
Arizona Grown, Virginia Walker Broad Leaf
Scented with Mexican Brandy
Color: Dark and rich
Dry

My last encounter with a stitch blend was what I believe to be his very first. It contained a very generous amount of Eucalyptus which at first overwhelmed the tobacco. After aging the snuff for about a year though it became smooth and complex, much easier to take.

Earlier this week I wrote my first impressions on stitch’s new snuff and detected a hint of peach liquor from a simple sniff of the package. I based my prediction on a slightly sweet fruit note and a hint of acidity. Taking this snuff though revealed to me the true nature of the scent, grape.

This blend is distinctive, never have I had such a snuff. It’s sweet scent is powerful but as it settles the fruit note calms to reveal a simple but powerful tobacco flavor with a punch of pepper. When the pepper has finally subsided the snuff taker is again treated to the scent of grapes. While neither of the scents alone are complex, the act of them sharing time with your senses, weaving an intricate dance of stage time, really sets this snuff apart. Often I sense the grape, the pepper, grape, and then pepper once more, only to be left with a simple sweet smell as if it comes from the air around me.

For some the initial grape shock will be something rather difficult to bare, especially if they are unaccustomed to, or dislike very sweet snuff. But, if they are able to get past this, and relax to take on the full complexity of the show that lay before them they will be delightfully surprised at its outcome.

As for the nicotine, this is a power house. Just a small sample of the snuff will give you a bit of a small rush to the head. In my opinion this is the best way to take it because its over the top dance on your senses.

A pleasure to take, it will grow on you like it or not.  I am considering trying pry a few more grams of this from stitch for my personal collection.

A bit of Spanish Magic (Spanish Jewel)

This is a very special review because the snuff in question is not only in limited supply but, it may never be produced again unless someone can procure the process and materials used in its creation.

Creator: Tobacconist: LLUIS VINYETS SALABERT.
Type: Very Fine/ Dry
Flavor: Honey/Cognac

My dear friend and long distance snuff pal Pedro (macalpe), whom I had the pleasure to meet on this forum explained to me once the makings of a snuff that Troutstroker (Brian) had Dubbed, Spanish Jewel. In reality this is an unnamed snuff created by an experienced tobacconist named Luis Vinyets Salabert, a friend of Pedro’s and long time snuff master. This master has retired but kept in his possession a small quantity of the unnamed snuff which Pedro came upon and then so generously shared with me. It is with my greatest pleasure that I relate to you, the snuff community, the contents that came to me so humbly wrapped in bubbles and pharmacy bags. What I am about to describe, truly is a jewel.

When I opened the protective envelope the first thing I could sense with my nose was a strong sent of rich, smooth, and sophisticated chocolate. I was surprised at its smell because I expected a more sweet honey smell then bittersweet chocolate. I had to wait until the end of the day to take my first sniff. it was worth the wait. I carefuly sniffed the golden powder but unfortunately on my first try it went to the back of my throat. The smell was incredible but the burn in the back of my throat was unbearable.

Before I go on, let me say that this is not a forgiving snuff. It is important to keep in in the front part of your nose.

After I got a chance to clear my throat and try again I could fully appreciate the rich notes of honey, chocolate, and almost malt taste. It wasn’t just a sniff, it was an experience. I learned in an instance what it meant to have flavor support the tobacco and compliment it rather then hide it. At first I couldn’t realize what was what, the stuff was so fresh. In the end though, after I singled out each individual sent, I was able to pick out the tobacco and to my surprise it was sweet. Even the leaf was extremely sweet. I do not know what type of tobacco leaf this was but it was amazing. The nicotine strength was heavy as well. It gave a delightful feeling with just a small pinch.

Acknowledgments:
My Friend Pedro: Without my meeting you I would have never been able to expance my understanding of snuff like I did with this particular tobacco.
LLUIS VINYETS SALABERT: The creator of this snuff. Without him there would be nothing like this in the world.

Friboug and Treyer (Now Wilson’s of Sharrrow): Dr. J. R. Justice

Nasal Snuff was the earliest use of Tobacco in England. While smoking was accepted among those in eastern European countries, it was only seldom used in England, and seen as crude compared to the elegant ritual of snuff taking. To say snuff had a large following would be and understatement. People from every social class used snuff of varying quality. Its long and prestigious reign as the “correct and proper” way of using tobacco has given rise to hundreds variations each with its own legacy.

Dr. JR Justice was first made some time in the early 1960’s by a company named Friboug and Treyer (est 1720). Though F&T no longer exists today their recipies were sold to Wilson’s of Sharrow and the F&T brand lives on. Each tin still reads: “Fribourg&Treyer, Tobbaconists and Purveyors of foreign Snuff for their late majesties The kings of Stanober and Belgium, To their Late Royal Highnesses, The Dukes of Sussex, Cambridge& Duchess of Kent. I’ve always admired those credentials.

Like most snuff that has stood the test of time Dr. JR justice has its own personality, a background, a unique history. James Robertson Justice was named for his father, a geologist, and had fought in the spansish civil war on the republic side before coming home and becoming and actor. It was famous comedian, James Robertson Justice, who requested a personal blend of snuff from F&T. A comedian famous for his part in the film Vice Versa and his role as Sir Lancelot Sprat in the Doctor in the House t.v series, he was a well known customer of F&T’s Haymarket shop.

The blend F&T created was 50% Bordeaux and 50% Morlaix. It contains an astounding number of tobaccos including; Zimbabwe Flue Cured Stem, Dark Fired, Sun Cured Leaf, and Flue Cured Stem. Its consistancy is corse but moist and the initial scent is reminicent of lilac and a hint of lye. The aroma comes from violets, geranium bourbon, lemon may blossom, tonquin essence, and musk. Though there is one more ingredient it is a well kept secret.

The snuff is very dark and has a very pleasent aroma. While the snuff isnt ground so small, it still remains silky to touch and feels very moist. The snuff is easy to take, and tends to stick, which is good for taking, but also tends to clog ones nose. On the initial snuff you first recive a small sting from what smells and feels like lye used for making soap. Immediatly thereafter, however, you are treated to an amazingly sweet blend of floral scents, lilac stands out in my mind, but the scent is so complex that one often feels as though its a different snuff each time.

For its complexity and ease of use, F&T’s Bordeaux/Morlaix Dr. J.R. Jusitce, is a blend that most any snuff taker can enjoy, begginner and vetrain alike.

9/10

5 Vegas Gold

There are cigars that rise to meet an occasion and those that fall to meet a price. There are those that would leave your palate ablaze and some that would leave it wanting. The 5 Vegas Gold represents a balance of flavor not too mild but surprisingly complex. The power of the cigar will let you know it’s there but only just long enough after your first cigar to entice you to have another, and at a more then reasonable price you’ll be inclined to do so. The 5 Vegas Gold was introduced by Meier & Dutch in 2006. It is composed of a Honduras filler a Honduras binder and a Connecticut wrapper. Handmade in Danli, Honduras these beautiful cigars are of some of the finest construction in the cigar business, each burning even and slow. In the fifty or so that I have had the pleasure of smoking not a single one burned or tasted any different then the first, and only one of the fifty had a slight blemish in the wrapper probably from removing it from its plastic cover. The packaging is hardly modest but the gold band that is the trademark of this brand is eloquent and matches the dark blond color of the wrapper sweetly. Upon the initial lighting you’ll be introduced with an earthy but sweet scent. In the first few moments of the smoke a spicy splash of flavor will first shock then sooth your senses as the cigar mellows out. About half an inch in you’ll taste something reminiscent of a warm and rainy spring night. Sweet, earthy, and nutty tones will begin to creep in, and then remain until the finish. The cigar is a pleasure to smoke and because it’s not too strong and not too expensive it could easily become your mainstay.

Positives:

Amazingly subtle and complex flavor.

Impeccable construction and consistency.

Attractive, beautiful wrapper and band.

Attractively Priced

Negatives:

This may not be strong enough for those with a passion for stronger cigars.

While the cigar presents many pleasant flavors they may be too sweet for some.

8/10

One of the Cigar Worlds Best Buys

The Margarita

Introduction

The margarita is a popular drink with a Mexican flair. I can still remember our family trip to Florida four years ago it was the first major vacation that my dad went on with us. We didn’t get to do much down there because of the storms. I loved that my dad was there but I was sad that maybe the only vacation he would go on with us would be botched. When we were there he let me try a margarita. The bittersweet taste was the picture perfect image of our situation;

Cocktail(s)

The Margarita:

Tequila
Triple Sec
Fresh Lime Juice

Common ratios:
2:1:1
3:2:1
3:1:1

Mix in a shaker with ice. Strain into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass, and garnish with a lime or lemon slice.

History

The history of The Margarita is widely disputed. There are literally to many stories to count. The story I would rather tell though is the one of love, loss, and the bittersweet memories similar to the one I think of when I drink it. John Durlesser presented his drink The Margarita at the 1949 All American Cocktail Contest. He named it after his girlfriend who he had lost twenty three years prior in a hunting accident during a expedition he had suggested. His regret gave birth to the cocktail. She was from Mexico where tequila was a very popular drink and the most popular way to drink it was to take a shot, lick salt from your hand, and bite a lime. He managed to emulate this in one drink by mixing lime juice, orange liqueur, and tequila together in a glass and garnishing the rim of the glass with salt.

The History of the Martini

A while back I wrote the history as I could see it of a few drinks. They included a brief introduction, a list of ingredients, how to make them, and a short history of the drink its self. Here is the first of those I hope you enjoy it.

Introduction

The history of the Martini is quite the tale. Slowly, over decades the cocktail that we now know as the Martini came to be. It would have many transformations, variations, names, and gain generations of loyal followers. Its creation would be widely disputed and even now there is no definitive answer. It wasn’t hard to find a history of the Martini. The problem was I found too many. There are four drinks deserving of the spot this week: The Martinez, the great grandfather of the Martini, The Martini (Classic), a drink that holds a special place in the hearts of purist, and The Martini (Contemporary), and the Vodka Martini the Martini that holds the name MARTINI now. For good or for bad these are the three lives of the Martini.

Cocktail(s)

Martinez

2oz sweet vermouth

1oz Old Tom gin (a sweetened variant)

two dashes maraschino cherry liquid

one dash bitters

Shake with ice, strain, and serve with a twist of lemon

 

Martini (Classic)

1 ½ oz gin

½ oz dry vermouth

 

Stir with ice cubes, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an olive or a twist of lemon.

 

Martini (Contemporary)

1 2/3 oz gin
1/3 oz dry vermouth
1 olive

 

Stir gin and vermouth with ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a cocktail glass, add the olive, and serve.

 

 

Vodka Martini

1 1/2 oz vodka
3/4 oz dry vermouth

 

 

Shake vodka and vermouth together with several ice cubes in a shaker. Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with an olive and serve.

 

 

History

It is rumored that it all started with the Martinez. The Martinez is an older sweeter cocktail most likely invented in Martinez, California. A commemoration to the Martini is found there at the corner of Alhambra and Masonic. It was said that Jerry Tomas, also known as the “professor”, created the drink for a buddy of his to keep him warm on his daily trip from the hotel Occidental to Martinez, the old state capitol of California. It is believed that the classic martini sprang from this drink and contrary to popular belief actually had a slice of lemon in it, not an olive. The popularity of the olive that is found in most Martinis today is still unexplained. In time the Martini raised the gin content and lowered the vermouth to obtain a dryer drink. The contemporary Martini is much dryer then its father the Martini and no where near as sweet as his great grandfather, the Martinez. This is probably because the classic Martini was big in the time of prohibition because bathtub gin was considerably easier to make then whiskey which took time to age and a bigger facility to create. When prohibition ended gin could be made in a higher quality and so vermouth’s role was diminished as the sweetener of the drink. The hipster crowd of today would not be satisfied by the change though and recently The Vodka Martini has become the premier Martini. The Vodka Martini is what most people think of when they order a Martini from a bar. The taste is smoother and considered sweeter. Martini enthusiasts don’t believe a Vodka Martini should be a Martini at all. They claim that a Martini must have Gin. Perhaps the Martini of the old days will rule once again in a backlash against the current hipster society. One thing is for certain though. The Martini has transcended time and changed with society. It will always hold a special place in the history of the United States. H.L Mencken once called the Martini “the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet”.

Marshall McGearty Conclusions

While these were written some time ago..It was quite a bit longer until I could pull away from my dutties here as an undergrad and type out the conclusion to my Marshal McGearty Prologue. So, after more then a month of “deliberations” here is my take on the selection of Goose Island beer and McGearty tobacco.

First Paring: Harvest Ale/ The Standard (McGearty’s first artisan cigarette)

In the forward you’ll notice the beer carries an almost sake like flavor fighting for attention as notes of honey flow over your tongue. In the middle some of that will level off and the hops will take their turn with your tongue. In the end though the beer retreats quickly and cleanly to leave your mouth refreshed not bitter or to sticky with residual sugar. If your sure to add the cigarette at the end.. the already crisp aftertaste will be sweetened and cleaned further by the light smoke of the Standard.

India Pale Ale/ The Virginian:

The initial smell is fruity but still somehow hoppy. The taste is less complex then the Harvest Ale and you’ll find that it is a product of a pure hops taste and a hint of citrus in the very back of the throat. The Virginian however is a peppery blend smooth and rich. This pairing in my opinion is the fault of either last minute planning, or the fact that McGearty offers relatively few blends compared to the pairings they bring in.

Demolition/ The Earl:

The Demolition has a very sweet smell with only a hint of hops in the aroma. The taste is that of a milky honey with a texture of creme and a grassy aftertaste. The Earl goes nicely because it is after all derived from a dark citrus like tea and dark teas tend to go with a creamy texture pretty well. A good pairing as I have always liked The Earl anyway.

Matilda/ Muse:

The Aroma of Leaves or sweet hay even a bit of apple. The taste can be likened to champane, grape, apple, and pure sugar cane. There is more residual sugar and the taste tends to stick to your mouth but you will find this one of the most complex sweet beers you have ever had. Add to that the fact that it ages in the bottle and you’ve got your self one amazing beer. The muse has never been one of my favorites as it is very strong and tends to take its tole on your tongue. In any case the pair wasn’t my favorite but the beer was either a tie or close first with the Harvest Ale.

Pere Jacques/ Karlita:

The beer is sweet .. on the verge of being too sweet but it saves it self by preparing a warm, smooth, and inviting middle to after taste. A champagne like flavor in some regard. The Karlita is also a sweet caramel cigarett but as expected the caramel pushed the sweetness of this beer over the edge. It was not a good pairing even though I enjoyed the two separately.