I’ve said this before in several places, but I’m not a big seltzer guy. I’ll usually drink soda and sweet drinks when I smoke, it helps offset the nicotine. But the Mitra9 beverages are sweet enough that it works well. Moreover, because they’re seltzers and not overloaded with flavor, it helps bring out the flavor notes in the cigars. The trick is pairing things correctly. For example, the kratom seltzers come in a bunch of fruity flavors like black cherry, dragon fruit, raspberry lime, root beer, cream soda and so on. Meanwhile, the kava seltzers have some more inventive flavors like paradise lychee, orange dreamsicle, strawberry watermelon and a couple of others. Root beer and cream soda are easy to pair and go with almost anything, but the fruity flavors, not so much.

Exploring Mitra9’s variety

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

• Profile: Mostly sweet
• Primary Flavors: Miscellaneous
• Best Prepared: Chilled or on the rocks

Both the kava and kratom seltzers from Mitra9 give you a slight buzz. It’s a feel-good buzz, like you’ve had a few beers. If you’ve ever had THC drinks, it’s comparable to that experience. You don’t want to be driving after you’ve had these, and you don’t need to drink a lot to feel the effects. When paired with a cigar, which is already relaxing enough, it’s a fantastic experience overall. In fact, I’ve found that drinking these and smoking enhances the entire event. Maybe it’s my overactive imagination, but I swear I tasted a lot more than I usually do on both accounts.

As mentioned above, kratom beverages come in a wide variety of flavors, while the kava drinks come in a handful. Berry, black cherry, dragon fruit, raspberry lime, tangerine, tropical, watermelon, cream soda, root beer, midnight cola and citrus sun for kratom. Paradise lychee, lemonade, orange dreamsicle, and strawberry watermelon for kava.

You can also buy shots, like energy drinks, and powder packets, which you mix in water. I won’t mention those again as they’re not really anything you’d pair with cigars. But if you’re interested, it adds to the Mitra9 offerings, and they’re also quite good.

Breaking down the pairings

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

I’m an Aganorsa fan, so you already know I paired some tasty sticks like the Rare Leaf Maduro and Corojo. But I also tried a few unique pairings. Montecristo Bardstown Bourbon, Southern Draw Kudzu, Boneshaker Lunatic, Casa 1910 Cavalry, Zino, Casa Carrillo Pledge, AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Habano, Davidoff Escurio.

Here’s what I would recommend:

• Mitra9 Midnight Cola and Root Beer goes with: Anything, but something dark like a maduro is delicious.
• Mitra9 Cream Soda goes with: Habano, Cuban or Connecticut.
• Mitra9 Black Cherry, Raspberry Lime or Dragon Fruit goes with: Oscuro.
• Kava varieties like Orange Dreamsicle and Strawberry Watermelon: Connecticut.

My top pick is the Aganorsa Leaf Arsenio with the Root Beer kratom seltzer. I also had the Aganorsa Supreme Leaf, which is a salty smoke, with the Mitra9 Black Cherry, the latter of which has more of a tart flavor to offset the cigar.

One of the beautiful things about cigar pairings, especially when it comes to drinks like this, is that the experimentation is the best part. Yes, absolutely you can end up with a bad pairing, but it’s fun to taste test and mix and match. Just don’t do it on a day when you’re expecting a particular experience — those days and nights it’s always best to go with what you know.

Mitra9 Kava and Kratom Seltzers: Closing statements

All-in the Mitra9 drinks are an excellent non-alcholic alternative, especially if you still want to feel that relaxed buzz. You could keep drinking to enhance the experience, though I personally wouldn’t as one or two seltzers is enough. They pair well with a cigar, especially when you mix the flavors with the right blends. I’ve left some recommendations above, but really, it’s a lot of fun to experiment and try them out with things you would smoke normally.

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can always mix the seltzers with some soda to make them a little sweeter. Root Beer flavor mixes well with root beer or vanilla cream soda, obviously. The cola goes well with cola. Black cherry with a cherry or fruit soda. You can figure out the rest.

I would recommend these to anyone interested. I’m not normally a seltzer guy, but the flavors are enjoyable and just sweet enough to be tasty.

Briley specifics:

• Recommended: Yes
• Would I drink them again? Yes.
• Will I buy more? Yes, I already have.
• My preferred pairing: Aganorsa Leaf Arsenio and Mitra9 Kratom Root Beer

The post Mitra9 Kava and Kratom seltzers: Pairing with a cigar appeared first on The BS Lounge.

All that on the table, it makes sense that a big cigar maker like Aganorsa would want to join forces with a beverage maker. But I’ll be honest, I did not expect that to happen between Aganorsa and MoneyBag soda — a Gene Simmons soda line. While there have been some strong proponents of this partnership, and very vocal, too, it’s still one of the zaniest things to happen in a while.

What is MoneyBag Soda and why is Aganorsa pairing up?

Gene Simmons of legendary KISS fame launched MoneyBag Soda as a craft brand. Purporting to only use the most elite of ingredients, you’ll find several mentions of “soda royalty” plastered all over the site. I don’t know about royalty, I’m just a crazy, cigar-loving Florida Man myself, but Leif Lunatic sure loves the stuff. Not to mention, the flavors sound delicious. Cola, diet cola, root beer, cream soda, ginger ale, blood orange, and options to mix and match, and they’re all made with natural cane sugar.

But as for those pairings, Aganorsa has thrown a few suggestions together. The Aniversario series seems to match up well with the branding and flavors of the colas and the creme variety. Root Beer is always really good to pair with a cigar, in general, so the MoneyBag Soda Root Beer should be divine.

This news has already been called out in a few places, including Cigar Aficionado and PCA. For those about to rock, oh, wait, that’s AC/DC. That was a joke, don’t come after me, I know the difference.

It makes sense, but also doesn’t, but also does

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Delicious cigars and delicious sodas, yes. It makes sense, but also, I still can’t stop shaking my head at how fucking insane this partnership is. I’m curious if the MoneyBag crew is going to come up with a unique soda just for Aganorsa or, if, alternatively, Aganorsa is going to come up with a unique cigar blend for MoneyBag.

Terence Reilly, VP of Sales and Marketing at Aganorsa, says, “We’re always looking for ways to bring a fresh energy to the premium cigar world.”

“MoneyBag Soda has a bold, authentic character that pairs perfectly with the complexity of Aganorsa cigars. This partnership is about enjoyment, flavor, and creating memorable moments for our customers.”

Aganorsa and MoneyBag Soda will be hosting exclusive pairing events with more information on locations forthcoming.

Either way, we’re the real winners here because it’s going to result in something awesome. I can feel it in my loins.

The post In the weirdest collab in history (that also makes sense) Aganorsa partners with MoneyBag soda appeared first on The BS Lounge.

My guess is you’re wondering why I’m talking about this in a review intro.

Believe or not, there are a lot of cigars launched to market that were designed with those “look like cigar smokers” people in mind. I won’t name names, and I won’t shame any brands, but in my experience, that’s often what you see with collaborations. A not-so-big-on-cigars brand, or maybe even a celebrity, will partner with a cigar brand and they’ll pop out a limited edition stogie and everyone goes “oooo” and “ahhh” and then it eventually goes away and nobody really talks about it again. Not always, but usually, that’s because the cigar wasn’t very good.

I’m happy to report that’s not the case with the Montecristo Bardstown, at all. And also, that drives home the biggest point I’m trying to make, this is a cigar for genuine cigar lovers. Now, not everyone will like it and that’s okay. But it’s a great smoke, and that’s why we’re here to talk about it.

Pour yourself a tall glass, light one up and let’s smoke this thing out.

Montecristo Bardstown — What is it?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

You already know Montecristo, so I don’t need to introduce you to the brand. But Bardstown is a whiskey and bourbon company — Bardstown Bourbon Company — based out of Kentucky. So, naturally, the Montecristo Bardstown cigar is a collaboration between two masters of their craft.

The limited edition cigar is a Nicaraguan puro, with a wrapper, binder, and fillers all from — you guessed it — Nicaragua. The wrapper is a toasty brown color and while it’s not too oily, it has an attractive sheen and gives off the smell of coffee and a subtle sweetness before it’s even lit.

Storage and burn

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

If you’ve read any of my other reviews, you’ll probably roll your eyes here — because you’ve heard it several times — but I like to share how I store my stuff. I keep my humidor’s relative humidity (RH) between 64 and 67 and the temps in my house stay around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. That will give you some idea as to the conditions they’re stored in and hopefully, it will allow you to compare if and when you have your own experience.

I always let my cigars rest and the Montecristo Bardstown had at least two weeks to rest at my preferred humidity conditions.

When I lit one up for the first time, it was actually during a podcast that I’m a co-host on. It cut easily, with no fussing, and lit easily as well. The burn stayed that way with an even ash-line the entire time. However, one thing to note, and this could be because I’m in hot, humid Florida and it’s summer right now, but the thin outer wrapper cracked and bubbled a little.

As you know, I smoke more than one before I write reviews and that problem persisted during other sessions. My podcast co-host also had this issue and mentioned it.

Personally, it’s not enough to make me stop smoking as long as the cigar isn’t completely falling apart. Moreover, if it tastes good, I’m always okay with putting up with some stogie tantrums in there, especially here in Florida. Still, it’s good for everyone reading to know these details so you can make an informed decision for yourself.

Flavors and experience

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

This is where things get interesting. Because I’ve poked through a few retail sites, and their descriptions, and I’ve seen “peppery spice” mentioned in a few places. I would not describe the cigar or its flavors as a peppery spice. In fact, there’s almost no “pepper” standout that I could taste, at least in comparison to stronger cigars with lots of peppery kick. There are, however, some notes of baking spices, even some subtle cayenne, in flavor but not heat.

This is not a strong cigar. It’s medium-bodied and the flavors, while toasty, are actually pretty light. There’s a lot of sweetness that sticks around, which is what makes this such an excellent pairing with Bardstown’s bourbon, were you to do that. And that’s precisely what these master crafters want you to do.

Flavors like toasted bread, dough, coffee, milk chocolate, sugar and sweetness, salt, earth, and some cream all came out to play during the smoke. I also tasted what I would describe as a delicious Nutella on toast flavor about mid-way through. Not just during the podcast, but also when I smoked it later.

Comparing the Montecristo Bardstown to my usual lineup of cigars, I would smoke this earlier in the day, maybe even in the morning with coffee, or, at the very least, first in my lineup if I’m having it in the evening. It never quite builds in pepper and strength to the level of a satisfying smoke if it was the only cigar I was smoking. As an opener, it will be fantastic.

If you tend to like your cigars lighter and stick to the mild to medium range, and don’t like a lot of pepper to hit your nose on a retrohale, you’ll enjoy this cigar.

Montecristo Bardstown review: Closing statements

All in, the Montecristo Bardstown is a truly limited edition, which means they probably won’t be sticking around for long. If you have the chance to try one, I say take it. It’s a great experience and the flavors and the pairings — if you decide to pair — would work out well. I’ll probably keep a few around for when I’m feeling froggy, but it’s not something I will be smoking on the regular, as in daily. Considering the limited availability, that makes a lot of sense, anyway.

Briley specifics

• Recommended: Yes
• Would I smoke it again? Yes.
• Will I buy more? Sparingly, if available.
• My preferred size: Toro

Montecristo Bardstown specs

• Profile: Medium-bodied
• Approximate smoking time: 1 to 1.5 hours
• Box count: 10
• MSRP: $180 or ~$18 per stick (Toro size)

If you like this, you might also like: Montecristo Crafted by AJ Fernandez, Romeo Y Julieta 150th Anniversary, La Aurora 120th Anniversary, Montecristo M, Ferio Tego Summa, San Cristobal Revelation, Arturo Fuente Hemingway, Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne, Aganorsa Supreme Leaf.

You’ll notice that my format is meant to be short and sweet, like this La Aurora Fuerte Sol review, or the previous Aganorsa Rare Leaf Maduro review. I don’t intend to keep up with the big leagues, I’m one guy. There won’t be any scores. However, I do want these reviews to be a resource for those looking for similar smokes or experiences.

The post Montecristo Bardstown Distiller’s Select review appeared first on The BS Lounge.

A great way to learn new pairings, or try them, is to get the information directly from manufacturers. More specifically, from either the cigar companies or the liquor and beverage companies. Why? Because they often have certified and experienced sommeliers who come up with fantastic combinations. These people train in the art of taste, flavor, and experience.

Ideal cigar and whiskey pairings for three top brands

Expert recommendations are what we’re looking at here.

Straight from the brands Old Elk, Sagamore Spirit and Keeper’s Heart, we’re learning a few well-paired selections, just in time for the warmer spring and summer weather. I’m also going to throw in some specific recommendations for the stogies.

What to pair with Keeper’s Heart Irish and bourbon whiskey

• Cigar: Mild-to-medium-bodied Corojo
• Examples: JFR Corojo, Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ, El Gueguense The Wise Man
• Bottle Price: $40

Keeper’s Heart is a smooth yet complex single pot still Irish grain whiskey and bourbon.

A sip of Keeper’s will have you tasting caramel, herbs, some floral notes and spices. Moreover, because there’s a bit of sweetness in the beverage, it meshes with the Corojo’s salt, earth and spice profile. Neither will overpower the other, and that’s really what we want. The JFR Corojo from Aganorsa is my go-to here, but I’d also throw in an Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve Corojo.

What to pair with Sagamore Spirit cask strength rye whiskey

• Cigar: Medium-to-full-bodied Habano
• Examples: Crowned Heads Mil Dias, Oliva Serie V, My Father Le Bijou 1922
• Bottle Price: $59

Sagamore Spirit’s cask strength rye is bold, spicy and stunning. Seriously, one sip will have you frozen in your tracks. But if you really want to kick things up a notch, pairing a cigar with your sipping is the way to go. Because it’s bold, a medium-to-full bodied stogie is the right choice here.

The spicy character of the rye will be able to match the Habano’s pepper, spice, nutty flavors, and other nuanced notes like chocolate or toasted bread. There’s no need to shy away from a strong cigar or one with a cascade of dark flavors. Yeah, I’ve shared some examples, but this is one versatile beverage. The Oliva Serie V, or even one of the Serie V Melanio blends, works well here.

What to pair with Old Elk Cigar Cut Punch Cut whiskey

• Cigar: Medium-bodied Habano
• Examples: Avo XO, San Cristobal Quintessence (medium to full), Warped La Colmena
• Bottle Price: $130

The appropriately named the Old Elk Cigar Cut Punch Cut whiskey features tasty notes of honeycomb or honey, almonds, chocolate, and plenty of spice. Those flavors will blend well with the pepper, espresso and dark coffee, nutty and creamy notes of the Habano.

I do want to note that the San Cristobal Quintessence is medium-to-full bodied, so a little stronger than the base recommendation. But the flavors, the experience and the smoothness of the cigar all make it stand out here. Don’t even get me started on the Warped La Colmena, though.

The next time you’re at the liquor store or cigar shop, you might consider giving these cigar and whiskey pairings a try.

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The post Recommended whiskey pairings for Old Elk, Sagamore Spirit, and Keeper’s Heart appeared first on The BS Lounge.