SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024
Road Windy
CITY CIGARS p. 39
KENTUCKY
BOURBON p. 27
Trip IDAHO
Golf
p. 61
SEDONA
Fashion
p. 46
editorials SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024
22 SPLURGE Tailgating is a go again, and of course you can go with the parking lot hibachi grill if that’s how you want to prepare for kickoff. Or, you can go with this portable grill and smoker that carries the flamboyance of the TD-scoring running back.
27 5 TO TRY KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON Kentucky is the 15th state admitted into the Union, but it’s #1 in terms of whiskey production. We pulled out our favorites, mixed in some history, a few cigars and arrived at some flavorful conclusions.
28 ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF – BATCH B524 / ROCKY PATEL CONVICTION
30 RUSSELL’S RESERVE SINGLE BARREL / TATUAJE TUXTLA LOMO DE CERDO
32 HEAVEN HILL BOTTLED IN BOND /
LA FLOR DOMINICANA DOUBLE LIGERO
34 WILLETT POT STILL RESERVE / VILLIGER MIAMI
36 1792 SMALL BATCH / VIVA LA VIDA
39 THE CHICAGO WAY Chicago’s legacy includes a colorful cast of wise guys, often cigar chompin’. We take in the city’s smoking opportunities with an assist from a former homicide cop/current podcaster who knows where the bodies are buried.
61 INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN It’s not just the ski slopes that draw people to the wide open Northwest ranges – there’s also some terrific golfing and smoking out there. We spent some time on the courses and in the lounges and found a slice of wilderness nirvana.
8 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024
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features SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024
14 LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
16 FEEDBACK
18 WHAT’S BURNIN’
46 SMOKING HOT CIGAR SNOB WHEREVER I MAY ROAM FEATURING BLACKENED BY DREW ESTATE
69 RATINGS
83 X SCOREBOARD
84 INSTAGRAM SCOREBOARD
86 EVENTS 86 TABACON DORAL 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY 88 FERIO TEGO SOCIAL AT CITY CIGAR LOUNGE 90 SHORE THING CIGARS GRAND OPENING AT ORANGE BEACH 92 SUMMER ASH 2024 94 ROCKY MOUNTAIN CIGAR FESTIVAL 96 BREW CITY CIGAR FESTIVAL 98 AMERICO CIGAR LAUNCH AT FUSION CIGAR LOUNGE
10 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024
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FOUNDATION CIGARS
ROOTED IN TRADITION
CRAFTED FOR TODAY
WWW.FOUNDATIONCIGARS.COM
KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON FOR THE MOST PART, YOU CAN DISTILL SPIRIT FROM AT LEAST 51% CORN, AGE IT IN NEW, CHARRED OAK BARRELS, USE NO ADDITIVES, AND DO IT ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. AND CALL IT “BOURBON.” WHILE THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONAL BOURBONS MADE OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY, THERE IS NO PLACE WITH THE CLIMATE, WATER QUALITY, AND CONCENTRATION OF EXPERTISE IN BOURBON THAT COMES CLOSE TO KENTUCKY. HERE’S A COLLECTION OF FIVE EXCELLENT KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBONS AND WHICH CIGAR PAIRS BEST WITH EACH.
by Erik Calviño
Photo credit: stock.adobe.com / Oleg Podzorov
THE CHICAGO WAY
SMOKE FILLED ROOMS WERE ONCE A PART OF CHICAGO’S ROMANTIC LEGACY, A PLACE WHERE BUSINESS BOTH LEGAL AND SHADY GOT DONE. IT NOW TAKES SOME WORK TO FIND A PLACE TO HAVE A CIGAR. BUT REST ASSURED THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME FABULOUS PLACES, FULL OF BOTH CHARACTER AND CHARACTERS, TO ENJOY A SMOKE. ALONG THE WAY, IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS SOME LANDMARKS OF THE CITY’S STORIED CRIME HISTORY. THE TOWN HAS ITS OWN CRIME TOURS, BUT WE DIDN’T NEED ONE. WE HAD CIGAR ENTHUSIAST AND RETIRED CHICAGO PD HOMICIDE DETECTIVE MIKE HAMMOND WITH US.
BY STEVE MILLER
P L A S E N C I AC I GA R S . COM
@ P L A S E N C I AC I GA R S
Photo credit: Courtesy of Circling Raven Golf Course
PLAYING ON A GOLF COURSE CO-DESIGNED BY MOTHER NATURE AMIDST A LANDSCAPE OF ROLLING HILLS, WOODLAND FORESTS, AND THE PALOUSE PRAIRIE ON THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE COEUR D’ALENE TRIBE IS THE STUFF OF DREAMS. THROW IN THE AREA’S OTHER ACCLAIMED COURSES AND A MOBSTER-ERA THEMED CIGAR BAR AND THE CASUAL DAY-DREAM TURNS INTO A NECESSITY.
BY ERIK CALVIÑO THE PAR 4 11TH AT CIRCLING RAVEN GOLF COURSE.
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48 CIGARS