Distinguished Ruffian

The 5 Vegas-Relic Perfecto 5.75 X 54

photo.PNGA glorious box to match a glorious cigar? Absolutely! 5 Vegas have come up trumps with this special edition. Take one of these Relics out of the box, and it’s like Indiana Jones with the Holy Grail. Except this Relic goes up in smoke. Only comes in one size a very healthy 5.75 X 54 Perfecto.

A dark oily Corojo wrapper envelopes the Dominican blends within. So, let’s light up this bad boy! The aroma is amazing, reminiscent of a deep dark espresso. As you take your first puff you are hit with a subtle mix of flavors, black coffee and raisins with a peppery aftertaste on the palette.

The burn was excellent, even all the way down with a great ash. It took me around 1 1/2 hours to smoke the Relic and it’s a smoke that I would happily try again. Become a Relic hunter, track these down. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

 

Article by Distinguished Ruffian Member @ian300

The Palomino Santa Ana Maduro

image-4If you haven’t heard of Palomino Cigars then you are missing out. The Palomino family has been making cigars in the Cibao Valley of the Santiago De Los Caballeros Province of the Dominican Republic since 1965. What makes them different from the rest of the companies is not only that they make a wide selection of quality sticks but they only sell factory direct. What this means for you is that not only do you get a great cigar but, instead of paying the $9 – $13 a piece you can pick theirs up for around $2 – $3.

Now I know what your thinking already, “how can a $3 stick be good?” The answer…most of what you smoke could probably be sold for around $3 a stick if they sold factory direct as well. For the other brands you are paying for their advertising cost, their sells reps pay, retail mark ups, and so on. So that being said on to the cigars.

Since I like a fuller flavored cigar I decided I would try the Santa Ana Maduro. Inspection shows a well-constructed stick covered in a nice oily wrapper with minimal veins and is in the dark chocolate color realm. It is firm to the touch but just pliable enough that it will not crack if you like to bite the end of yours like I do when you smoke. The odor from the body is of chocolate and old leather with a hint of cedar and fruit. The odor from the foot is the same just more intense.

It lit easily and the draw was even and smooth. The flavor was earthy with a bit of spice with coffee on the back end. The flavor held consistent throughout the cigar. The burn was even all the way through and did not have to be restarted at any point. The ash held well and was near white. The cigar created ample, thick smoke that looked heavy but felt light on the tongue.

When you first get these cigars you might be skeptical but after this smoke I bet you will have no qualms recommending these to anybody. In my opinion for the cost of these cigars they are a great value and could easily fetch between $9-$13 a stick at a brick and mortar store.

Brand: Silvo Palomino 

Web Address: www.palomino-cigars.com

Rating: 4.6 out of 5

Alibi American Whiskey: Good to the Last Drop

IMG_1171Greetings my fellow ruffians, today I’ve decided to give a quick review on one of my favorite libations…WHISKEY! Alibi whiskey to be exact.

For my birthday I was given one of few gifts a man can give another and surely be spot on, a bottle of Alibi whiskey. This instantly became one of my favorite go to drinks. If you are in need of a good three finger beverage to accompany your pipe or cigar or to just tune out the daily grind, then you should consider seeking salvation in this spirit.

When I first cracked the bottle open, I do what I always do and gave it a good sniff. It seemed to me that initially you get a light citrus like aroma along with just the right amount of sweetness and then BAM, the whiskey punch that we all know and love. I always make it a point when trying a new whiskey to put it on the rocks to help open the flavor of the liquor. With that being said the makers of Alibi surely did not disappoint nor did they skimp when it comes to taste.

The taste seemed to be the reverse from the smell, I got the nice whiskey punch with the sweet citrus on the back end, and to me it had just the faintest taste of raisin which threw me for an unexpected (but oh so delightful) loop. I typically save my whiskey drinking for the evening but Alibi could easily be a refreshing daytime cookout beverage. Personally, I feel you can’t go wrong with three parts Alibi and one part cranberry for a great cocktail that is both easy and delightful to drink.

The makers of Alibi truly held to their slogan that “Alibi American Whiskey is a smooth 90 proof American whiskey that is easy to drink, any way you want to drink it.” I will caution you ladies and gents, IT IS RIDICULOUSLY EASY TO DRINK! So as always, partake responsibly and enjoy.

If this review has peaked your interest and you’d like to pick up a bottle, head on over to your local wine and spirit store and treat yourself to a bottle, it’s very reasonably priced at $23.99 per bottle. Cheers mates

Brand: Alibi American Whiskey

Web Address: www.Alibiwhiskey.com

ABV: 45%

Rating: 4.75 pints out of 5