Journal

Vitola Battle: Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2021

Vitola Battle: Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2021

2014 marked the inaugural release of the Las Calaveras line from Crowned Heads Cigars. This limited edition cigar was released to honor those who have passed away in the year prior. The name and imagery are in reference to the Mexican holiday Dia de Muertos, The Day of the Dead. This annual release sports a different blend and line up of sizes each year. The first three releases utilized the same band, however, beginning in 2017, the bands began to appear in different colors.  I have had the 2017, 2018, and 2019 iterations of this release. I elected to skip...

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Woodworking Sessions: RoMa Craft Neanderthal HN

Woodworking Sessions: RoMa Craft Neanderthal HN

A while back I received some whiskey barrel lids with the intent to build a guitar out of them for Matt & Gus to auction off for a charity event. Things have been pretty hectic for my household recently and my schedule has been quite busy, so I haven't had much time to work on this project. On our Whiskey & Whitetails Patreon virtual bottle pop a few weeks ago we discussed this project a bit and decided on a plan for the guitar body, and since then, I have been slowly working towards it. Today I finished squaring up...

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Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Stilwell Star Bayou No. 32 Review

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Stilwell Star Bayou No. 32 Review

In the spring of 2021 Steve Saka, founder of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, announced plans to release a new cigar towards the end of 2021. He was cryptic about the cigars for quite some time, but hinted that it would be a “controversial” cigar line. In July, the explanation finally came for the Stillwell Star. As it turns out, Steve Saka had been a pipe smoker for over 30 years. He would often make his own cigars that incorporated some pipe tobacco in the blends. When this was discussed with the head pipe tobacco blender of Cornell & Diehl, Jeremy...

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Barn Work Sessions: A.C.E. Prime Fiat Lux by Luciano Intuitions

Barn Work Sessions: A.C.E. Prime Fiat Lux by Luciano Intuitions

I reworked the pig’s pen in the barn going into fall. When we first got them, I built a house in their pen that we could flip the top open on and fill it with straw in the winter for warmth. They had outgrown that house and it was just wasting space so I got rid of it and re-sectioned off their area. Well, winter is upon us here and sub-freezing temperatures are coming more often and staying longer. So I need to partially close in the part of the pen they sleep in so it can retain more heat...

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HVC Cigars Black Friday 2021 Review

HVC Cigars Black Friday 2021 Review

HVC Cigars began the yearly Black Friday releases in 2015 to celebrate the Shopping “Holiday”. The Black Friday cigars change each year in vitola, blend, price, and production quantity. The common trait is that they are packaged in 50 count cabs and are offered at a great value, presumably in honor of the day they commemorate. This year’s Black Friday release is the first of the series to utilize a Connecticut Broadleaf Wrapper and the Corojo 2012 tobacco varietal that is making a splash. This also boasts the highest price tag to date, but given the wrapper leaf of this...

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