My favorite wife recently returned from a business trip to Barcelona and brought me a nice bottle of white port. I knew of the existence of white port but had never sipped any, relying on the traditional ruby port at the appropriate time.

White port comes, unsurprisingly, unlike ruby port, from white grapes and is lighter in taste with a nice golden color. While ruby port has a strong taste in grapes, the white taste if more floral with hints of citrus. This makes white port more of a dessert wine or as a fortified aperitif and is excellent if served cold.

The bottle she brought was from the Ferreira concern which was founded in 1751. What made the gift even better was that it was under the Dona Antonia label and had been aged for ten years. Like red port, armagnac and calvados, a ten-year span helps to ensure that a product is going to provide a very enjoyable treat. I have tasted one- and three-year-old bottles of calvados, and it was a good lesson in tasting a cooking product from a product designed to please.

White port may be a bit more difficult to find, but it is worth the effort and I do not believe you will be disappointed. Enjoy!

During a recent visit to London, after a refreshing shave at Trumper at Duke of York Street (just off Jermyn Street), I headed over to James J. Fox tobacco shop. Walking into the store, one is immersed in a world of tobacco and all of their wonderful scents and fragrances. The company has been in business for over two-hundred-seventy years and offers tobacco, pipes, cigars, and accruements which help to create a wonderful world of flavor, smells and the mood for quiet reflection and congenial company. Included in the shop are records and letters from British and international statesmen, stars, captains of industry, academics, and others. It is great fun to read a note from Winston Churchill when he is ordering a box of cigars for a male relative who has reached his majority. Churchill makes it truly clear that the selection of the cigar is in the hands of the store, that the cigars should be of excellent quality but not as good as those smoked by the great man himself!I can certainly understand that as Cuban cigars start at about 30 Pounds (about $36) each and run at least 50 Pounds (about $60) at any of the better cigar shops. I had previously enjoyed fine cigars at The Ritz Cigar Room and the cigar room at the Connaught Hotel, but I was not in the mood to pay the extra for the welcoming atmosphere this visit so I decided to confine my cigar smoking to other venues.

Buying Cuban cigars is not the same as it once was as the quality of the leaf has suffered decades of Communist misrule. The funds for fertilizer are not as ready as before the revolution and consequently much of the soil is played out. There are brands that still producjjj e a quality product, but they are not always available. On this trip I purchased a number of Cuban cigars as one of the treats of visiting London in the colder weather is to wander the streets in Mayfair (or other better districts), admiring the beautiful architecture while smoking a fine cigar. On this visit I purchased Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure #2 and Bolivar robusto. Hoyo has been a favorite of mine for decades and Bolivar offers solid smoke. The unfortunate thing is that despite declining quality, Cuba cigars still fetch a top price not made any friendlier by the tax man who believes anyone who smokes is a major Capitalist. After making the purchase I decided to save the purchases for when I reached home; there I can cure the cigars and save them as a reward for a deal done, a birthday or other special event. Plus, I knew I would be visiting the Duty-Free Shop at Heathrow, and they carried a suitable selection of both Cuban and non-Cuban cigars.

True to history, I visited the Duty-Free shop at Heathrow and found that as before the savings on Cuban cigars was minimal compared to the price in the city. I did fine however, that another favorite cigar brand of mine did offer a price advantage. I do enjoy some of the Davidoff cigars, especially the Escurio the Nicaragua Robusto. I normally would not pay the premium on these cigars as again, when I have them, they are reserved for “special” events. I found however, that there was about a twenty-percent break on the prices, so I was happy to scoop up a several of these fine cigars.

Th Escurio is a darker, richer cigar than many in the Davidoff line. It is well constructed, smooth on the draw and a bit stronger-but not as strong as a Maduro but a tad stronger than the Nicaragua rubusto. Sitting and reading while enjoying either cigar with a nice cognac at hand is a pleasant way to escape the silliness of the world. Especially when you have saved a few dollars on the purchase of the cigar! Enjoy.

For ten generations (since 1630) the Elie Ferrand family has produced excellent Cognacs. The eldest son in each generation is named Elie to commemorate the founder, and the latest “Elie” has decided to start his reign by producing “10 Generations”.

It is a blend of Cognacs, each aged 5 to 25 years with 20% being aged in Santernes barrels as opposed to traditional oak barrels. Additionally, it is higher proof which denotates that it is not aimed at the mass market, but rather the higher end. This shows that the company is not aiming at the Big 4 (Hennessy, Martel, Courvoisier, Remy Martin) but rather at a niche of its own choosing.

It is definitely a “city girl” cognac (as opposed to a “country girl” calvados), with a smooth start that continues as you enjoy. The flavor is complex with raisons, brown sugar and others that make you want to really sip and enjoy each taste. Although one review thought the end was a bit muddied, the finish was quite smooth.

The cost is $50-70 a bottle and a very solid option as opposed to one the Big Four’s price of $100+.

Grab on before they are gone!

I am not one who believes that we have to learn things the hard way, so with that in mind, the attached link will help the novice cigar smoker learn a bit of the etiquette of enjoying a smoke in a cigar lounge. On your first visit to a lounge, you may feel a bit intimidated; all eyes are on you, can I go right into the humidor room, which seat will be the best so I can watch the room or watch the game, etc. This is especially true if you are visiting a new city or town and you already feel like an outsider. Plus, if you are a man, you know that every other man in the room is sizing you up as males always do to one another.

These tips will make your experience go smoother and will make you feel more at home. So read, remember, and enjoy!

Cigar Lounge Etiquette | Cigora

Every twelve to eighteen months, we go down to New Orleans (specifically the French Quarter) to indulge in a day of a unique lifestyle. You see the worst of what a city can be with its homeless and those who are totally lost, but you also find yourself shoulder to shoulder with Southerners who live by and represent the best of Southern manners and style. New Orleans is a place where you can spend hours at Crescent City Books or Beckham’s bookshop browsing row after row of used books which offer you the opportunity to find a treasure which will expand your mind and life. New Orleans is also a wonderful place from which to take day trips into the interior of Louisiana, where you will find small towns which seem to freeze in time, and which offer a lifestyle far removed from the craziness of their larger cousins. Quiet, neat streets, free of litter, where local civic pride is clearly evident and where the hellos and welcomes are truly meant.

With the above in mind, I thought I might share a few minor, hopefully helpful and/or interesting observations should you ever venture to New Orleans. Such points as:

• New Orleans is well known for numerous specialty drinks such as the Hurricane, the Pimm’s Cup, and others, but not being an umbrella sort of male and preferring a more solid type of drink, I enjoy a good Sazerac made with a fine rye base. It is great fund to sit at the revolving bar at the Monteleone hotel and slowly sip a very nicely made sazerac amongst a lively crowd, or to wander over to the Roosevelt hotel bar for a quieter environment in the middle of the day for a refreshing sazerac, but there is a price to be paid; namely a drink that is about fifty percent more expensive than can be found at other fun locations. Be sure to visit the Monteleone Hotel, but do not be afraid to ask for a sazerac at the Chart House or any other place of refreshment. In reality, it is hard to screw up making a sazerac and the cost savings will help to erase any guilt over the ending bill.
• Café du Monde has several locations where you can enjoy a cup or coffee or hot chocolate with a wonderful serving (usually three in number) of beignets, those tasty, powdered sugar-coated pasties which are a wonderful way to start the day. The original location near the old French market is interesting as if you visit the city over the course of a couple of years, you will get to know who the latest batch of immigrants is as the servers seem to come from that group. It is a place where the lean and hungry who are learning the American way can get their start and begin their climb up the opportunity ladder of our country. Other locations can be glitzier, but the original location is the most interesting. Unfortunately, they are not open 24/7 any longer, but they are open from 7:15 until 11 or 12 in the evening, depending on the day. The old hours might be at times, a bit too exciting.
• Cigars: the Big Muddy still retains some of its old-time courtesies including smoking cigars in public. There are a number of cigar shops in and around the French Quarter so you might want to get a current list of them from the internet and scope them out. Don Leoncio Cigar Bar on Canal Street has a nice inventory as well as a selection of liquid refreshments to match the cigar of your choice (please do not be so rude and low class as to smoke your own cigar in such an establishment). The prices are fully retail (which is a drawback in my mind, but they do have to keep the doors open). If you are new to cigars, you might enjoy the Cigar Factory on Decatur St where they make their own cigars. It is interesting to watch, and they are particularly good at working with the novice smoker in picking a blend for your taste. The cigars are also less expensive (about 50%) so that is a bit easier if you are just starting out.
• If you have an extra day, you might enjoy a ride up to the state capital, Baton Rouge, or some of the smaller towns like Lafayette. Both are between 2-3 hours north and you will pass by Lake Pontchartrain and see the natural beauty Louisiana. After the craziness of New Orleans, a visit to the rural towns in the state will be a nice contrast to the big city. The towns are neat, well-tended and reflect a much slower pace of life.

New Orleans has much to offer; a lively sports spirit, excellent museums, wonderful food and other, shall we say, types of entertainment. It is a city with it’s own flavor and pace and I am sure that after one visit, you shall be back again and again. Enjoy!

Living in a year-round vacation land (Southern California), my wife and I enjoy going to colder areas for December as a real change of pace. Eastern Europe (or as the Europeans prefer to say, Central Europe) offers advantages, such as fewer tourists, lower prices, a lower crime rate and world-famous Christmas fairs. Although it takes a bit longer to get there, the effort is well worth the time.

HUNGARY: Unfortunately, our connecting flight out of London was missed (for details, read the section on travel considerations) so we arrived in Budapest late in the evening, thus losing about half a day of our stay. Yet we made the best of it and walked through some of the Christmas fairs that are centered around the high-end shopping district. The weather was just above freezing but dry with no wind, so it was great to purchase a hot drink at any of the stalls which offer all sorts of traditional Hungarian foods and sweets as well as handy crafts, Christmas ornaments, etc. Take your drink, grab a sausage or a Hungarian pizza called a “Langosh,” sit at one of the tables and enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday. You will not mind the temperature as everyone is smiling and having a wonderful time. The evening was a success, and we looked forward to the next couple of days in a beautiful city along the Danube.

The next day, to help you counter your jet lag, you might want to visit one of the thermal baths that are around Budapest. I suggest you try the Szechenyi bath which was built around 1910. All you need is a swimsuit, a towel and flip-flops and you are set to go. For a small fee you get a cubby hole locking changing room in which you can leave your valuables and you are set to go. As the temperature was about 37 degrees, we covered the distance from the changing room to the water quickly and then immersed ourselves in the wonderfully warm water. The steam coming off the water, the darkness of the day all served to welcome us to a wonderful experience. There were others already in the water including couples, two men seriously discussing either politics or business, families (children must be at least fourteen). Of course, there were those who were taking selfies and others who were just floating, enjoying the warmth as it soaked into every bit of your body. There is also a sauna and indoor pools, plus a pool just for swimming. I suggest you make a reservation as the baths are extremely popular and check to see what services are available (some have single sex days, wave machines, etc.). Do not worry about being gawked at, you will see all kinds of body shapes, but each one is concentrating on enjoying the thermal waters.

The city has a large number of museums, but we had been to Budapest before and there are sights which are not on most tourists’ radar. One is the House of Terror. No, it is not a Disney sight gone bad, but rather the old center of the Hungarian Soviet secret police. It was originally known as the House of Loyalty when it was the headquarters of the fascist Arrow-Cross party during World War II. After the war, the Soviet imposed government took over the building, execution, and torture cells and all. On display are the actual execution chambers, interrogation rooms and devices, plus the thousands of photos and stories of individuals who ran afoul of the Communist regime through thought, word, or deed. It is good to see young adults in the museum so that the reality of that brave new world can be remembered.
There are two items which are so important to understand the Hungarian psyche; the revolution of 1848 when Hungary tried to gain total independence from the Hapsburgs and the decades of Communist rule when at least 20% of the population was either arrested, tortured, investigated, spied upon or sent to Hungarian political prisons. The Hungarians have lived under Communism, so they are hardly likely to put up with any form of authoritarian rule; they want order but not order at any price, so Budapest is blessed with wonderful statues of Hungarian hero is going back hundreds of years. In fact, one of the first things the Hungarians did after the overthrow of Communism was to remove the imposing and brutal Soviet statues, busts, and plaques and deposit them in the “Memento Park” which is open 365 days a year. It is filled with Communist statues of the “heroic realism” school and well worth a visit to see the mindset of the totalitarians.

Handy Tips
• American Express is not used in Hungary: Master Card and Visa, no problem.
• Hungarians also accept cash (with a relish)! It is common if you hail a cab for the driver to ask you, “Cash or card.” You will find life easier if you say, “Cash.” And forget about getting a receipt for your taxi; writing War and Peace is easier than going through the procedure to secure a receipt.
• Tipping is fine, normally 10% will bring you a smile and a warm “Koszonom” (thank you).
• In the past several years, cigarette smoking has been largely replaced by vaping which can be done only out of doors, just as with tobacco smoking.
• The streets are clean, the people obey the walk/do not walk signs at intersections so pretend you are a native and everything will be great.
• As with most of Europe, making reservations for dinner is strongly encouraged. You do not want to scuttle restaurant to restaurant, hat in hand, trying to find a table.
• Hungarian is not an easy language, especially if you have no ear for languages like mol,
but it is always nice to try to have a couple of phrases while visiting a foreign land. Take the time to look up simple terms or words, (Koszi for “Thanks” or Koszonom for “thank you) even names of foods; English is widely understood and spoke in Budapest but even if you slaughter a word in Hungarian, a local will appreciate your bold attempt. Be the “good American” ambassador.
• If you have a connecting flight through Heathrow, make sure you allow more than 1/1/2 hour to catch your connector. Weather days and a very inefficient security system can make a simple procedure into a major British project.

Budapest has no shortage of good restaurants, from “new age organic” like Tati (From Farm to Table), to Italian, Mercatino (try their black pasta with shrimp). The real fun is the traditional Hungarian restaurants such as Punakorzo or Rez Kaakas. Hungarian food tends to be hardy so order accordingly.

VIENNA: Travel to Vienna from Budapest is easy, with a flight, train, or private car. A private car, while more expensive, is door to door, eliminates security checks and is much easier on the psyche.
What to say about Vienna that is not already known? A wonderful city full of history, excellent restaurants, and very good and proper Viennese service. Here are a couple of highlights which you might consider if you are looking for something different:
• Austrian military museum: Housed in a former military garrison, you are introduced to hundreds of years of military commanders as you enter the building. Their life size marble statues reflect the time when war still had a mystique of honor, rules, and glory. The building itself is one room after another of statues, paintings and exhibits tracing from the time of the Ottoman invasions to the end of World War I (although this was our second visit, the period from 1933-1945 does not seem to be covered for some strange reason). There is also a panzer and naval section which is worth a visit. The price is right (no charge), and you will understand a bit better the beautiful palaces and government buildings that you will see in the city center.
• Museums: There are museums enough and it is wise to plan your visit as not all museums are open on all the same days. The typical guide, available for no charge at your hotel, will not only give you an excellent overview of each museum and how long to budget for each (five hours is not unusual). Do not overextend yourself!
• Public Transportation: Inexpensive and on time (especially the trams and subway). And, easy to use even if you do not know German.
• Tipping: Most restaurants include a 14% service charge (often marked on the menu or on the listed on the bill) but do not be afraid to ask your server if it is included. Cabs appreciate a 10% tip and do not forget a little something for your concierge if they help you with bookings, etc.
• Central Cemetery: Although Vienna has over fifty cemeteries, this is the largest with over 300,000 monuments and over three million burials. Beethoven and Salari are both buried here as well as from all occupations and religion. The Jewish section is interesting for it is well preserved but I was not able to find out if it was destroyed during the war, rebuilt or what as most of the monuments are beautiful and look new. It was a cold, overcast day and the stillness of the grounds with the black crows perched on some monuments introduced many interesting thoughts.

No visit to Vienna is complete without a visit to Schonbrun which was the residence of the Hapsburg Emperor’s. Unlike Versailles, which was built by the French King’s to overawe the French nobles, Schonbrun was an actual residence for the emperors. Yes, there were balls and meetings at the palace, but they were based on invitations from the emperors themselves.
A treat is a dinner at Schonbrun followed by a Mozart concert in one of the beautiful rooms. They have a number of options (based on where you will be seated) from about 107-170 Euros per person, dinner included. I would recommend only signing up for the concert (about 1/1/2 hours long with a break) as only one entrée is provided and you might want to have a wider selection for your meal. The selection of pieces, both musical and vocal, are excellent and you are sitting close enough to really enjoy watching and matching the sounds to the various instruments. Enjoy!
Another meal treat is lunch or dinner at Figlmuller, for the best wiener schnitzel in Vienna. I have been there several times over a period of thirty years and the quality of service and food is always top notch! It is a real treasure to the locals, and they have two locations, yet I strongly recommend reservations. Do not make them at your own peril!
Finally, if you are looking for a good steak at a reasonable price, try Steak Point. We met a couple from Riverside during the Schonbrun concert, and they wanted to tell us about this place, but we already knew about it. Nice steaks, good sides and very reasonable.

Warsaw: A flight of just over one hour brings you to one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. A people who has long viewed themselves as the Christian bulwark against the Mongols, Turks, and Communists, they like other Eastern European nations (such as the Baltic nations, Hungary, etc.) can be a stubborn in the EU, but they know too well the price of collectivism.
We managed a one-bedroom suite at the beautiful Hotel Bristol, the hotel where Madam Curie accepted her Nobel Prize. It is next to the Presidential palace and a few steps from the Old Town city center. It is in that center where one of my grandfathers drove a taxi (horse and buggy in those days). If he were late coming home, his wife would worry that that he was caught up in one of the usual Cossack raids where people could be cut down in the streets (Warsaw at that time was under Imperial Russian control). It was because of that fear and the danger of being drafted into the Russian army that they left for the new world. A very personal thank you from me to them!

Although 90% of Warsaw was totally destroyed in WWII, especially after the Warsaw uprising, rather than leaving the ruins as an example of what war can do, the stubborn Poles dug out the old drawings, maps, etc. of the old town area and rebuilt it as it was in 1939. The Christmas market there is very special with stalls, lights and the wonderful warm windows of the restaurants which surround the central plaza. Then they did the same for much of the rest of Warsaw so the wonderful baroque buildings you see were all built after the war. I have not been in Warsaw for about ten years so to see so many beautiful high-rises around the “gift from Stalin” is really amazing. It is an example of the strength of the nation.
We had dinner at Fukier, a classical Polish restaurant which certainly has not changed since I was first there about twenty years ago. It looks out onto the square and is just as you would expect an old-world” restaurant to be decorated. In fact, the interior looks like an old country inn (only cleaner, with better art, etc.). Another excellent but newer restaurant is Elixer where each course offers one or two suggested vodkas to soothe your palate! I suggest asking for the cold vodka for as the Poles say, “it only hurts once.” Not all meals need to be grand events and there are plenty of pierogi shops throughout the city. Pierogis are like ravioli’s, filled with meat and onions, cheese, fruit, etc. The fun part is to order nine or so and sample different fillings. You will be set for the day and be able to brave the colder weather! The Poles love their pierogi’s; they are Poland’s hamburgers or hot dogs.
Food as in Hungary is relatively inexpensive. A dinner with two glasses of wine, three shots of vodka, a service of pierogi and two main courses, including service is about $100.00. You better be prepared to walk off those hearty meals! Around the Belvedere palace is a huge, beautiful park (Lazienki Park) which also contains several palaces. Although it is winter, the park is still beautiful and the rich furnishings and paintings of the palaces along with the flock of peacocks create a nice contrast to the bare trees.

The winter fair in Warsaw is quite special. Darkness arrives about 3:30 PM and on this Saturday there were already thousands of people in the old city square, and. along the wide walkway in front of the Royal Palace. The children look in awe at the display of lights, the tall Christmas trees and it is a treat to see how they light up and laugh at the festive mood. Unlike Vienna where there are a number of festivals, the one around the old town in Warsaw is the one that you will want to see. And, during this season, the churches (all of them rebuilt) join in the festive feel and are beautifully lit. It is an amazing sight to see thousands of people, most of which are families with young children, walking in the cold, laughing, enjoying food from vendors, hot toddy drinks, shopping for those special “somethings” and enjoying the Christmas spirit. I tried to think of where we could experience that joy and experience in the U.S. but just came up short.
Although cabs are plentiful and inexpensive, we did a lot of walking (almost ten miles one day). It really is the best way to see the city and experience its special feel. There are wide boulevards lined with trees, shopping areas which are clean and devoid of graffiti, even during the winter when the temperature hovers about 32 degrees, it is a pleasure to bundle up and breathe in the fresh air.

Like all great cities, Warsaw has its share of museums. Yes, Warsaw, like Budapest and Vienna has its classical museums, but it also has unique attractions (like Budapest’s House of Terror). For example, the Katyn Museum features the murder of 20,000 Polish officers by the Soviet Union during World War II. The murder, denied for decades by the Soviet Union, was finally admitted during the reign of Gorbachev. Yet the sad episode did not end there are a special Polish delegation on its way to a special service hosted by the Russians was killed when their aircraft crashed outside of Smolensk, including the President of the Polish republic. Permanent plaques outside of the Presidential Palace commemorate the tragedy. Those plaques are part of the Polish conscious as there are plaques can be found around the city commemorating the hanging or execution of Poles during the German occupation. It helps the Poles to remember what they have suffered and why they will not go backwards.
Other excellent museums include the Polish military museum, the award-winning museum on the Warsaw uprising and the Polish museum of the history of Polish Jews.

There were numerous memorable times and sights during the trip, including the outdoor thermal bath in Hungary experienced before dawn, the concern at the Kaiser’s house, the Christmas fair in the old town of Warsaw. While we allowed four or five days in each city, it showed that one really needs more time to explore those cities as there is so much to experience. Considering we have been to each city one or more times in the past, you must simply admit that you will not “see it all” and that you will only be getting a sample of the treasures in each location. Just relax and enjoy it all!

I recently received as a gift a bottle of Kavalan Concertmaster single malt whisky which is considered a top Taiwanese whisky. Top Taiwanese whisky? OK, let’s give it a try.

The Kavalan brand was the personal project of a whisky enthusiast and head of the King Car Group. Founded in 2002, the first distillery opened in 2006 and by 2017 the company had two warehouses with 130,000 casks. Along the way, the brand won numerous international awards and was well received by most markets. The Concertmaster brand is first aged in American oak casks, then finished in Portuguese Ruby Port barriques. This is designed to create a mixing of flavors and a smoother taste.

Upon opening the bottle, a pleasant hint of ruby port was noticeable and continued through my first tasting. Smooth and tasty. The Concertmaster has hints of several flavors including chocolate and raisins. What a pleasant surprise! As I tend to do in a first tasting, I went back a couple of hours later for another taste to see if the initial reaction could be duplicated and lo and behold it was!  I enjoyed the second tasting as much as the first and was very happy with the smooth ending.  I had one more tasting, this with a White Band Montecristo robust cigar and found that they made a nice match; there was no fighting between the two, no hint of bitterness and again, a nice smooth finish.

If you want to offer your guests something new, you will be complimented after they taste the Concertmaster single malt whisky.  Give it a try!

There is a saying in France when comparing Cognac to Armagnac and Calvados; Cognac is a city girl, Armagnac and Calvados are country girls.  That is a nice way of saying that the former is smoother, silkier and gentler whereas the other two are a bit rougher but also more challenging.  As a rule, I would agree and I would also say that there are times and places for both to be enjoyed.

This July 4^th holiday was an excellent time to enjoy a good cigar and a twenty-five-year-old Bas-Armagnac by Delord (also under the Marie Duffau label).  Bas-Armagnac is a region of France and the Delord family has been producing excellent Armagnacs since 1875.

I read a review of this vintage, and it went as follows:

The nose is biscuity, caramel-like, cream Sherry-like with a touch of cheese-like rancio. The palate entry tastes like bittersweet dark chocolate, cocoa butter, chocolate-covered raisins and dark honey; the midpalate is fruity and less bittersweet than the entry, making for a succulent aftertaste. A genuine classic.

I am sure that to an individual with a fine nose and a cultured pallet, this might make sense, but, being the simple soul that I am, I would sum this excellent vintage as being smooth, silky with a wonderful smell that makes one want to slow down and enjoy.  With a good cigar ( I chose an AVO Classic), and cradling the Armagnac in a cut crystal brandy snifter, one must slow down and enjoy those precious quiet moments.

I am always satisfied with a vintage with the Delord label, and I recommend with ease.  Enjoy!

Over the holidays, our good friends from Belgium stopped by as they were on their way to New Zealand and other points in that area.  They came baring gifts, including a package of wonderful Neuhaus Belgian chocolate and a three-bottle tasting package of Gouden Carolus Belgian whiskey.  That was enough to open any door and be welcomed!

The Neuhaus chocolates are famous not only in Belgium; on a cruise in the Baltic last year, a coffee shop in Lithuania boasted that they carried Neuhaus chocolate!  The quality of chocolate is excellent, and they are very creative in their fillings.  Unfortunately, I limit myself to one treat a day as who knows when our friends shall return!  Onto the whiskey tasting!

You will find that more and more beer distillers are beginning to come out with a line of whiskey.  Why?  Because they both use the same basic materials and some of the same steps, so adding whiskey to a brewers’ offering makes sense. By brewing standards, Carolus is new to the game, officially starting beer production in the late 19^th century.  Their line of whiskey is even newer but let us take a look at what they are offering.

First Sample: Sherry Oak

This whiskey has a sweet smell and there is a slight fruity taste to it along with a hint of dark chocolate.  The fruitiness comes in part from the use of Oloroso sherry barrels, made from 100% American oak.  It has the darkest color of the three samples, but it is a beautiful rich gold in color that just entices you to give it a try. 

For the novice whiskey drinker, this could be a good introduction to whiskey and certainly would encourage further exploration of the blends.

Second Sample: Blaasveld Broek

            The name of the product refers to a beautiful nature preserve next to the Molenberg distillery in Blaasveld.  It was from that area that peat has been harvested for centuries as a fuel and for drying out malted barley.

            This product is not as sweet and has a hint of peat.  It is a new formula and uses a specialty prepared wash containing peated malt.  The result is a hint of smokiness combined with a tad of vanilla.  This would be a good second step for a novice and might lead one to try a smoky scotch or two.

Third Sample: Imperial Mask Whiskey

            This is the newest addition to the line and in fact, it is not even shown on the corporate website.  Gouden Carolus (Golden Charles) Imperial Day is celebrated on 24^th February which was the birthday of Emperor Charles V. The first batch was distilled in 2015 and allowed to age for more than five years in oak casks.

            This is a very smooth whiskey with a bit of fruit flavor from apricot and vanilla. Like the other two, this is a gentle whiskey and can be enjoyed with a bit of dark chocolate or a nice cigar.  The dueling favors of the cigar and whiskey is quite nice.

PRICE:  About $60.00 a bottle

One of my favorite birthdays presents this year was a beautiful wooden box containing five different Davidoff cigars, each different but all being the size of a Robusto. Normally if I hit a “home run” in my business, or I have a great month, I indulge myself with a single Davidoff, so these five cigars offer me a real opportunity to smoke and compare. With that in mind I shall provide a little review of each cigar.

The first one is the Aniversario Special R which is a 50 x 4 7/8” Robusto. Here are the main points:

1. Very even smoke with a fine white ash.
2. I would compare it to a Chardonay wine; basic, safe, and mild. This is a good cigar for a first-time smoker who has never smoked before.
3. Smoke time, about 45 minutes.
4. You might want to have a roach clip nearby as it is so smooth that you will smoke it to the very end.

This series was launched in 1986 as part of the birthday celebration for Zino Davidoff’s 80^th birthday. It has a light brown wrapper which indicates the strength of the cigar. Like all Davidoff’s, it is expensive, running in the $30-36 range so it is not a cigar to be smoked unless you are ready to enjoy the excellence of the smoke. Is it worth it? Comparing it to a Chardonay wine should give you a good idea of the answer. Lucky would be the first-time smoker who was offered this cigar, but personally, I would offer a novice a less expensive treat. No sense getting spoiled when there are other options available.