Category: Blog
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An Interview With Dr. Jon Kowalski
Doctor Jon is a good friend of ours, and a guest on several upcoming episodes, so I sat down with him for an interview to get his perspective on a number of cigar and bourbon related topics. We’ll begin to have more of these upcoming interviews in the future, especially with people like you who […]
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Mash Bill Breakdown – Lifeblood of Bourbon
Let’s clear the air: the difference between bourbon, scotch, and rye isn’t just about where they’re made. Though Kentucky is famous for bourbon and Scotland is king of scotch, the biggest difference lies in the mash bill and what the distiller does once it’s out of the vat.
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The Yogi Berra Rule: How To Hold Your Cigar
In the world of cigar enthusiasts, the “Yogi Berra rule” teaches us all how to hold a cigar, and provides the best reason to remove the cigar band.
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Bourbon Delivery: Mail-Order Wonder
Have you ever wished your favorite bourbon could be delivered right to your door? What could be better than the UPS driver arriving with your latest bourbon delivery from Kentucky, fresh from the distillery? According to the Herald-Dispatch, the distillers of Kentucky may soon be able to do just that with a new piece of […]
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Cigar Vitola: What You Need To Know
Most people don’t know why cigars come in different shapes and sizes. Even then, they don’t recognize the shape of a cigar on sight. These different varieties, also known as vitolas, are an expression of the master roller’s vision for the final product. A cigar vitola can change the flavor, the burn profile, and even […]
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Small Batch Bourbon, A Perspective
In recent years, a lot happened in the small batch bourbon industry. New distilleries sprouted up, new brands launched, and the demand for Bourbon products has exploded across the United States. However, that increase in demand is not the only reason for such a Bourbon Renaissance. No, one name may have brought a lot of […]
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Bottled-in-Bond Part 1 – Taxes and Death
In Episode 1 we talked a little bit about the bottled-in-bond designation and its history. Born of the snake oil and bathtub distillate in the 19th century, the program was a collaboration. It brought together private distillers and the US Department of the Treasury in the late-1800s to solve this crisis. The Dark Ages of […]
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Cigars of the Year, a Photo Essay
As May approaches the horizon, I wanted to take a look at the more memorable smokes of this year. It’s been an exciting 2019, and we’ve found some excellent new sticks at Stogies and Mash. Getting out to events, tasting and lighting up new cigars, it’s part of our passion for the gentleman’s vice. 2019 […]
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World of Whiskies at Binny’s
Stogies and Mash had an opportunity to attend the World of Whiskies at Binny’s in March. A premier event for lovers of all things whiskey, whisky, and bourbon, World of Whiskies is hosted every year the night before WhiskyFest in Chicago. With all of those liquor companies in town for WhiskyFest, the community gathers each […]
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The Big Smoke 2019
A few months back Tianhuai Dai, a frequent guest of the show, and I made our way to Las Vegas. There, we attended the annual Big Smoke put on by Cigar Aficionado every November. It was a blast; three days jam-packed with excitement and fun at the nation’s largest retail cigar show. It was two […]