A Starter and a Chaser Podcast

01/27/2024

A very good Maple barrel aged porter from JackieO's and a solid Pilsner from Market Garden Brewpub.
Check these out if you can!
Been a while since any updates/posts. Been slowly planning a return of sorts maybe this year. What would you like to see as far as content?

08/14/2021

Joe is enjoying an Imperial Stout from one of Ohio's top breweries!!! Also listening to some Crue!

06/22/2021

Aww, bummer. For those that don't know, this is the same Stranahan as the whiskey.
https://www.denverpost.com/2021/06/20/george-stranahan-benefactor-of-physicists-and-barflies-dies-at-89/amp/

For three summers in the late 1950s, George Stranahan lived in a remote mountain valley near Aspen, Colorado, with his only professional tools a pencil and a piece of paper. He was a graduate stude…

06/18/2021

Welcome to our weekly Friday team up with our friends at House of Ferruzza Barber Shop and Cigar Lounge We choose the beverage, they choose the cigar. Let's see what we have in store for us this week!

ASAACP: Ezra Brooks Bourbon has brought out a brand new whiskey and its definitely getting some much deserved attention. Ezra Brooks 99 was intended to have a fuller taste with a mellow finish. Made with corn, rye, and barley, and charcoal filtered, this whiskey has an initial boldness and weight of a four grain whiskey, but then majorly mellows out on the finish. This one is definitely rye dominant but also has some great caramel notes. For the price, this stuff is golden!

HOF: With sixteen vitolas from which to choose, and excellent quality the Macanudo Ci**rs cafe is one cigar you don't want to pass on. The filler is a blend of select Piloto Cubano Dominican and Mexican to***cos, and the binder is a Mexican San Andrean leaf. Well constructed with no noticeable soft spots, smokers can expect a mild and relaxing smoke. It's no wonder why Macanudo is such a popular cigar.

**rsnob **rsmoker #葉巻

06/11/2021

Welcome to our weekly Friday team up with our friends at House of Ferruzza Barber Shop and Cigar Lounge We choose the beverage, they choose the cigar. Let's see what we have in store for us this week!

ASAACP: Classic is Whiskey Del Bac unmequited single malt whiskey from Tuscon, Arizona! Earth, caramel, and baking spice are the first to hit your taste buds, showing that we're going to be in for a complex spirit! Clove and peppercorn upon the second sip along with notes of leather. This has a very old world feel to it. Killer pairing for a cigar!

HOF: The Regina Ci**rs Raphael features a chocolatey & rich flavor in a Maduro wrapper, this cigar is well balanced and excellently constructed. As you smoke this cigar you'll notice rich & sweet flavors with a pleasant earthiness and hints of chocolate & coffee throughout.
**rsnob **rsmoker #葉巻

05/28/2021

Welcome to our weekly Friday team up with our friends at House of Ferruzza Barber Shop and Cigar Lounge We choose the beverage, they choose the cigar. Let's see what we have in store for us this week!

ASAACP: Mephistopheles from Avery Brewing Company has been sitting in wait for over 6 years and it is now time to summon him from the depths of the cellar. Mellow carbonation but heavy mouthfeel. For some reason, instead of mellowing, the roast has increased! This tastes exactly like a crispy chocolate chip cookie! At first the roast was majorly unbalanced but as it warmed in came more in line. Not sure if more time was needed on this particular batch but as it stands it was an interesting, albeit slightly rough imperial stout.

HOF: Jake Wyatt Ci**rs Fourth Dimension is a Medium cigar featuring a pinstriped wrapper. Upon lighting up you'll notice hints of light warm bread, soft leather and floral tones. Those floral tones will begin to pick up as you progress through the cigar, as well as hints of peanuts and pepper. As you come to the finish you'll notice sweet cedar cutting to cinnamon for a good finish.
**rsnob **rsmoker #葉巻

05/27/2021

Goodness gracious great peaches of fire!!

Peach inferno is from DRNXMYTH and Tom Sandoval. This time they formulated the ready to drink cocktail from Vodka with Jalapeno Syrup, Fresh Peach Juice, Fresh Grapefruit and Lime Juices. Will it shake my nerves and rattle my brain? Let's find out with a little twist, shake and pour.

Initial slight syrupy sweetness appears on the front end and then the peach really comes into view. Upon further sips the Jalapeno becomes a supporting role in a cast that is otherwise dominated by stone fruit. The Vodka, like the Dude's rug, really ties everything together while the grapefruit and lime bowls its way into the finish. As the drink opens up in my glass after a few minutes, the grapefruit really becomes more present, so much so that it quickly overpowers the peach.

Surprisingly bright, fresh, and light! This drink is going to be the perfect sipper for sitting poolside in the summer!

05/24/2021

Final Episode? Have we reached the end? IS this IT?!?!? Watch and find out in what may be our final episode.....ever!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKNUnIzDCHQ

Final Episode? Have we reached the end? IS this IT?!?!? Watch and find out in what may be our final episode.....ever!

05/23/2021

Anyone else feeling tropical with all this warm weather we're having?

Well, let's scratch that itch by taking a trip to Island Jims place! That's right, we're cracking open an Island Jim cigar which is named after Jim Robinson of Leaf and Bean Strip in Pittsburgh and is rolled by Oscar Valladares To***co & Co.. We're a huge fan of the Leaf series he and Oscar Valladares brought out so we're definitely interested to try his latest creation.

The cigar has a medium flavor and body to the smoke. Notes of earthy, leather, dusty book, tea, and chocolate. There is a hint of sweetness from the wrapper but it's very subtle. Ash holds on for a very long time and this cigar was good until the last draw! WOW!

This isn't the first time we've smoked this stick and it has held up very well! Definitely something we're going to keep a small supply of for when the mood strikes!

05/21/2021

Welcome to our weekly Friday team up with our friends at House of Ferruzza Barber Shop and Cigar Lounge We choose the beverage, they choose the cigar. Let's see what we have in store for us this week!

ASAACP: How do you like your tea? We like it in Gin! COIT Spirits Earl Grey Gin is a tea infused gin and boy is it unique! Anise like sweetness up front brings along an oily, creamy mouthfeel. The second sip truly brings the Earl Grey out to play. Bergamot, black tea, earth, and a hint of pipe to***co. For a gin, this is crazy complex! Perfect pairing for a cigar. Speaking of which.....

HOF: The Agingroom Ci**rs Quattro Nicaragua features an aroma off the foot of the cigar that is earthy with a touch of cedar. Once the cigar is lit, notes of pepper fill the air creating a spicy aroma. Notes of chocolate envelope the palate along with almonds and espresso. As you approach the end of the first third the sweetness disappears as espresso becomes the dominant profile with a touch of earth on the finish. The retrohale enhances the almonds but also adds a touch cedar and pepper to the mix. As you start the second third cedar begins to increase before falling back off around the halfway point. Notes of earth and nuts are dominant with a finish that is moderate in length. The retrohale offers up some continued nuttiness and a touch of caramel sweetness. The last third of the cigar sees cedar become the main profile of the cigar with growing pepper on the aroma and retrohale of the cigar. There is some subtle nuttiness on the finish along with hints of dark chocolate.
**rsnob **rsmoker #葉巻

05/21/2021

Where's the best maple syrup made in your opinion? Ohio? Vermont? Canada?

What about Los Angeles? Well, ok, so Los Angeles doesn't actually have maple syrup farms but it does have DRNXMYTH and their new ready to drink cocktail has maple syrup in it! Maple Apple Toddy is a toddy cocktail with a unique twist thanks to recipe creator Cocktailsbyings. This is made up of rye whiskey with fresh apple and lemon juices, cinnamon tea, and maple-vanilla syrup. Let's give this a twist, shake, and drink!

The apple and lemon juices jump right out at you and the two acids compliment each other very well. Tart red apple with a hint of lemon call forth the old gods of fall as the cinnamon tea is summoned from its slumber. Seriously this is fall in a glass!

The rye whiskey slowly follows the autumn flavors while the maple-vanilla really blossoms long into the finish. Upon first sips this comes across as just a little boozy but as the ice melts in your glass that lessens over time.

This may become my regular fall cocktail once the season arrives. Another home run from Drnxmyth!

05/19/2021

What are your thoughts on Indian Whiskey? Love it? Hate it? Sound off and let us know because today we're reviewing TWO whiskies from an Indian Distillery.

That's right! Paul John Whisky Classic and Peated SELECT CASKS go under the microscope on today's episode of our YouTube podcast!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf0bUgF20Qc

Paul John Select Casks Reviewed....but which ones?!?▶DON'T CLICK THIS! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3l3lW4LfXI8wR8NYLr_D7A?sub_confirmation=1Help Suppor...

05/18/2021

What's your favorite cigar accessory? For us, a nice lighter is a luxury one should not skimp on.

We do a lot of cigar reviews here so today, we wanted to shine the spotlight on something we just purchased that's cigar related. This is the VLAST Prizm from .kgm . It's a three jet adjustable butane lighter and boy does it cook! We had to dial the flame way back to prevent scorching our Cubans but once dialed in, this lighter was great.

It had no problem holding up to wind and the flip top operates very smoothly. The flame kicks on every time without issue and the switch slides with ease (but not so much as to light while in your pocket). While the metalized finish to the lighter is stunning, the most important thing is functionality and this has it in spades.

We're going to have to be on the lookout for more of their products as they make travel cases, ashtrays, cutters, etc etc.
**rs **rs **rs #сигары #시가

05/17/2021

Hoppy whiskey?!?!? Has the industry gone too far? Well, find out in today's youtube episode as we're reviewing two hopped whiskies from Charbay Distillery!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-J5OYoX4gA

Charbay Hoppy Whiskey?!?! Hoppy whiskey?!?!? Has the industry gone too far? Find out today as we're reviewing TWO hopped whiskies from Northern California!▶D...

05/16/2021

Ever just want to have a nice, easy going cigar? Not a monstrous maduro, or a clay-ey Cuban, just something even keeled. Well, that's what we got with the Aladino Cameroon by JRE To***co Company .

This one is interesting in its construction as it features the prized African Cameroon leaf, but grown in Julio R Erioa's fields in Jamastran, Honduras. This medium bodied smoke definitely features the spicy-sweet characteristics of the Cameroon leaf with some tasty complexities that are subtle yet pleasing. Hints of cinnamon, cedar, and red bell pepper round out the finish.

The perfect cigar for when you want to have a lazy Sunday afternoon on the porch swing, watching the spring flowers bloom.
Cocktails By Hawk DRNXMYTH **rs #сигары #시가 **rs **rs #葉巻 ***co **rs

05/14/2021

Welcome to our weekly Friday team up with our friends at House of Ferruzza Barber Shop and Cigar Lounge We choose the beverage, they choose the cigar. Let's see what we have in store for us this week!

ASAACP: Cracked open a dusty for today's team up. From what I've been able to determine, this is a 1984 Stroh's Beer Signature. Unfortunately, it seems all the carbonation had escaped over the decades as this was virtually flat. Beautiful amber/brown colored beer with a very thin body. Hints of bready malts mixing with corn and caramel for the flavor profile. Surprisingly, there is a slight hop bitterness still in here but as the beer sits there's an offensive roughness that it leaves on the front of your tongue. As it warms, a lemon sourness starts to appear. Back in the day this beer was probably fairly excellent but now I feel its lacking. I guess that's what you get for aging something almost 40 years that wasn't intended to be aged.

HOF: The Plasencia Ci**rs Reserva Original Cotez features tastes that captivated the Europeans more than five centuries ago. This Plasencia is a mild to medium body cigar that comes beautifully packaged in a ten count box. When smoking this cigar your palate will get notes of nuts, fruits, and caramel with delicate nuances of marzipan and final hints of cedar.
**rsnob **rsmoker #葉巻

05/13/2021

Mmmm....coffee....who here doesn't like coffee? It's the true water of life. But you know what makes coffee even better? Casa México Tequila Tequila, dark rum infused with natural chocolate flavor, vanilla coffee syrup, oat milk, and cinnamon chipotle bitters. Sounds good, doesn't it?

Well that's what we have here with DRNXMYTH Mexican Coffee in conjunction with Cocktails By Hawk ! This ready to drink cocktail is an absolute winner in this coffee lovers book. It's everything you would want out of a coffee based cocktail.

Creamy oat milk and roasted beans dance on the tongue as slowly the chocolate starts to blossom. There is just a hint of agave sweetness from the Casa Mexico tequila but it's quickly overtaken by a light dusting of cinnamon and smoky chipotle. There's no heat that we can detect and it's just straight smoked pepper flavor. The rum eventually shows up far into the finish which lures your back in with its molasses-y goodness!

What a slam dunk of a cocktail and this is the perfect pairing for our cigar smoking friends out there. Try it with a Cameroon based cigar to compliment the cinnamon and chipotle in the drink. Prost!

05/12/2021

We're back at it today with another product from Arizona! That's right, Whiskey Del Bac Classic single malt whiskey is our feature on today's episode of our YouTube Podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Jx3yZx1nk

Del Bac Arizona Single Malt Whiskey Reviewed on today's episode! ▶DON'T CLICK THIS! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3l3lW4LfXI8wR8NYLr_D7A?sub_confirmation...

05/11/2021

Look at this beautiful bottle from .spirits . Look at it! LOOOOOK AT IT!!!!! Ok, you can come back now and read our review of their Four Grain Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey!

The intent of this whiskey is to showcase the grain as opposed to the barrel, and we feel it has accomplished that. Corn forward with a grassy rye note is the main theme. Add a touch of malt sweetness and a hint of wheat to crisp things up, and you've got a heck of a whiskey!

The more you drink the more the barrel starts to come out. While the focus is definitely the grains, its nice that there is a hint of barrel to tie everything together. From the design of the bottle all the way down to the juice inside, this is a well crafter whiskey.

05/10/2021

Has anyone had the new Ezra Brooks Bourbon 99? Worth the price? Well, today we try to answer that very same question on our newest episode of our YouTube Podcast!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BliD9eiLBMI

Ezra Brooks 99 Reviewed on today's episode! How will Ezra's newest offering stack up? Find out in today's review!▶DON'T CLICK THIS! https://www.youtube.com/c...

05/07/2021

Welcome to our weekly Friday team up with our friends at House of Ferruzza Barber Shop and Cigar Lounge. We choose the beverage, they choose the cigar. Let's see what we have in store for us this week!

ASAACP: Tincup Rye from TINCUP Whiskey comes with a cool metal cup (I wonder if its made out of tin) on the cap because this whiskey is in honor of the coal miners of Tincup, Colorado who used to drink whiskey from....you guessed it....TIN CUPS! This whiskey is SPICY!!! Super earthy, super spicy, this is everything you imagine a rye whiskey to be but its ramped up to 11. Hints of vanilla, barrel, and brown sugar balance it slightly, but boy is that rye ever present. For the rye lovers out there, including ourselves, this is your dram!

HOF: The Camacho Ci**rs Nicaragua Toro features a nice start with a good level of spice balancing its profile. The spice begins to mellow out in the second third, and earth tones become more prominent. The burn is consistent throughout with just the right amount of resistance.
**rsnob **rsmoker #葉巻

05/06/2021

is an exciting company from father and son duo Marco and Rodrigo Cedano in Jalisco, Mexico. Fusing old world and new world techniques, including that of a slower fermentation, is something that is putting this distillery on the map!

The first sips of the Blanco bring huge notes of citrus, clove spice, and a hint of agave sweetness, earth, and pine to balance things out. This is probably one of the most unique tequilas we've tasted.

The amount of citrus that appears on the palate is astonishing. That's something that caught us off guard but in a good way. It adds a whole new dimension for what we think tequila can be. Hats off to the Tromba team, you've knocked our socks off.

05/05/2021

🤣🤣🤣

05/05/2021

COIT Spirits Four Grain Bourbon comin' at ya in today's episode of our podcast!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPlmiw9THcQ

Coit Spirits Four Grain Bourbon Reviewed on today's episode of our YouTube podcast!▶DON'T CLICK THIS! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3l3lW4LfXI8wR8NYLr_D7...

05/04/2021

Just a 3 photo sneak peak. We've got some groovy product reviews lined up so keep an eye out on our Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channel!! What product are you most looking forward to seeing us review?
**rs #сигары #시가 **rs **rs

05/03/2021

Gin at Tea Time? COIT Spirits Earl Grey and Caravan Gins Reviewed on today's podcast episode! That's right! Tea based gins!! How cool is that?!?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq77_RrJwkc

Gin at Tea Time? Coit Earl Grey and Caravan Gins Reviewed on today's episode!▶DON'T CLICK THIS! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3l3lW4LfXI8wR8NYLr_D7A?sub_...

04/30/2021

Welcome to our weekly Friday team up with our friends at House of Ferruzza Barber Shop and Cigar Lounge We choose the beverage, they choose the cigar. Let's see what we have in store for us this week!

ASAACP: Distillery 291 has been making waves in the whiskey world and their Colorado Rye Whiskey is no exception to that statement. There's a creamy sweetness to the front end with stone fruit, caramel, and molasses....and then...Ryyyyyyyeee! When we say the finish to this is spicy, woooowee is it spicy! This is definitely one for the seasoned rye fans out there. Very tasty!

HOF: The Henry Clay War Hawk is an obvious dedication to Henry Clay. The War Hawk cigar is suitably named, as it is a bit rebellious considering it is going against its own tradition by not using a Connecticut wrapper. The War Hawk cigar is a complex cigar, showing off its unique flavors, with plenty of spice sprinkled throughout. This medium bodied blend features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, which houses the broadleaf binder and Honduran filler
**rsnob **rsmoker #葉巻

04/29/2021

Cheech Marin has a brand of in Tres Papalote Mezcal and we gotta say, "far out, man"!

Both of these are made in the traditional style and with it comes extreme complexity! The Tres Papalote Espadin is made with Wild Cupreata and Espadin Maguey and clocks in at 80 Proof. Scotch fans unite for this mezcal is HEAVY campfire smoke! This just may be the Islay of Mexico! But with that smoke comes a familiar agave sweetness but then quickly it morphs into a baking spice hit. Ever changing on the finish, this is super complex!

Now, the Tres Papalote Cupreata is made with 100% wild cupreata agave and clocks in at a respectable 92 proof. While the smoke is very much less than the Espadin, there is a lot more spice! Just a hint of funk to let you know it's wild and out there but it is also balanced with a light drinkability especially for the proof.

Both of these are now our high water mark for mezcals. So, now the important question...will there be a third product coming? The name implies three but they only have two on the market....only time will tell.....

04/28/2021

Tequila Tromba Reviewed on today's episode of our podcast! Are you a fan of tequila? Let us know what your favorite is!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRd8bv8_sUY

Tromba Tequila Reviewed on today's episode of our podcast! Are you a fan of tequila? Let us know what your favorite is!▶DON'T CLICK THIS! https://www.youtube...

04/27/2021

Anyone here ever had before? While it has a long history in China and is a major part of their culture, we've also heard that it's...well....how do we put this....not so good.

Baijiu can be made from many things, this one by Confucius Wisdom is sorghum based. Baijiu is an extremely aromatic spirit which we can verify to be correct as it cleared out the room when we poured it.....let the adventure begin!

Strong notes of isopropyl alcohol right up front with an unidentifiable sweetness mid palette, and then the finish starts to get super funky and terrible super quick with a taste of rotten eggs. Upon second sip the front end gets a little bit less rubbing alcohol and some of that sorghum sweetness, which is slightly reminiscent of a rum starts to come out and dominates more. Then it just all takes a complete nose dive as it trips over its feet landing flat on its face covered in rotten eggs.

We don't like bashing things here and always try to find constructive criticism when it comes to products we don't like. But this stuff is terrible. Like, world class terrible. We're so glad we got the chance to experience that.
#白酒