Grumpy’s Bar

06/21/2026

Most maduros this bold come at you with a fistful of pepper. This one didn’t, and that’s the whole story.

The Bariay 1492 Black Label is full-bodied without the bite. Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper, all-Nicaraguan guts from Esteli, Condega, and Ometepe, blended by César Ramirez, a guy who learned the craft in Cuba before getting out in ’94. You can taste the intention in it. Dark chocolate, espresso bean, cedar, anise, a little baking spice, and just a little pepper.

I paired it with Ben Holladay 1856 at barrel proof. It comes in hot and cuts right through that dense, earthy smoke. The bourbon’s caramel and burnt cherry roll over the cigar’s espresso and dark chocolate, and you get this rich, mocha-like sweetness sitting on the palate. The cigar’s clean, low-bite finish does the rest, letting the oak and cinnamon spice come through without ever running you over.

Bottom line, this one out-smoked the Red for me, and I liked the Red. Tons of flavor start to finish, full body, strength that never pushed past medium-plus. If you see these, grab one.

Keep it Smokey!

06/20/2026

It’s Fuente Friday in the garage. Lit up the Chateau Fuente Cuban Belicoso Sun Grown and poured a little 1792 Single Barrel next to it, half expecting two spicy customers to fight for the mic. They didn’t. The Sun Grown is throwing cherry and dark chocolate, richer than people give this size credit for, and right when it could start drying out on you, the 1792’s sweet fruit steps in and keeps everything juicy. High rye, bold, and it still plays nice. Who knew.

Not a beginner pairing, not a dessert pairing. Just a real one for a Friday night with the light low.

What’s in your hand tonight?

Keep it Smokey!

**rsandbourbon

06/14/2026

Perseverance has never tasted this bold.

Tonight’s pairing: La Aurora Family Creed Perseverancia with a Center Point Wine & Liquors Stagg store pick, aged 8.5 years and coming in at 131.8 proof. This one had some weight to it.

Box-pressed Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper, Mexican San Andrés binder, Pennsylvania, Dominican, and Nicaraguan fillers. Cedar, dark to***co, cinnamon, earth, and a building spice that kept getting better as it opened up.

The Stagg brought big oak, barrel heat, dark cherry, brown sugar, and spice. Not a casual sipper.

The Broadleaf gave it depth, the San Andrés added grit, and the cigar’s spice played right into the Stagg’s heat and oak. Sit down, slow down, pay attention pairing.

Keep it Smokey!

06/11/2026

Some ci**rs are named for a guy. This one’s named for a year.

The H. Upmann 1844 Añejo carries the date Herman Upmann first put his name on a Havana cigar, and the Añejo means they leaned the blend into aged leaf. You can taste the patience in it. Cedar, earth, cocoa, and leather, all settled and unhurried, like it’s been waiting on you. This is a sleeping dragon of a cigar.

Then Penelope Toasted Rye walks in loud. Vanilla, marshmallow, caramel, graham cracker, all that heavy-toast sweetness with a rye backbone underneath.

Here’s where it clicked. The old leather and cedar wouldn’t let the rye get away with being a dessert. The toast smoothed the spice down to a simmer. One brought the age, the other brought the fire, and neither one blinked.

Keep it Smokey!

06/05/2026

They named it Unapologetic and then dared you to disagree.

Quick backstory for anyone new here. Notorious launched in early 2025 with their original Toro, built down in the Dominican with Chris Frias of MJ Frias. Now they’ve expanded, and the Unapologetic is one of two brand new sticks in the 2026 lineup that literally just hit the shelves. Crème de la Crème is the other, and that one’s coming up next on the channel.

So how does the new one smoke? It doesn’t ask permission. Rich, leathery, a little swagger to it, the kind of smoke that fills the room before you’ve said a word. I paired it with Silver Springs Sweet Rye at 119 proof. Real talk, the rye flexed a little harder than the cigar at first ,that proof does not play quiet, but they shook hands on the back end where the sweet rye spice met the leather notes. If you like your evenings with a little attitude, this is the one.

Keep it Smokey!

06/02/2026

Some ci**rs you save for a moment. This one makes its own moment.

The Bariay 1492 Red Toro is an anywhere, anytime smoke. Honey and vanilla up front, a little gentle spice riding underneath, and smoke output for days, you can see it in these shots. Draw started a little tight and the. it opened right up, burn stayed honest the whole way.

Paired it with Russell’s Reserve 10 Year and the caramel and vanilla in the pour locked right in with the cigar.

If you like an Undercrown Shade Connecticut, an Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut, or an Oliva Connecticut Reserve, this lands in that same easy-going lane.

Real talk, this one earns a spot in the regular rotation.

Keep it Smokey!

05/31/2026

Chattanooga Whiskey Founders Series meets La Aurora 107 Diamond. Local TN craft and a refined Dominican classic, both bringing their A game.

The Founders Series pours rich, with caramel, baking spice, and a touch of cherry oak that opens up beautifully as it sits. The 107 Diamond is balanced and smooth, leaning into cedar, sweet cream, and a hint of nuttiness as it builds.

Together they meet right in the middle. The whiskey’s sweet warmth lifts the cigar’s nutty richness, and the cigar’s smooth finish carries the bourbon’s spice notes longer than expected.

Keep it Smokey!

05/26/2026

Monday wind down, done right. Liga Privada No. 9 and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength.

The 9 brings all the good stuff, espresso, dark cocoa, and that black pepper kick. Maker’s being wheated means there is no rye spice piling onto that pepper. Just soft caramel and vanilla rolling in to round the whole thing off.

Just a solid smoke and a good pour after a long weekend at the lake.

**rsandbourbon

05/24/2026

05/23/2026

Weekend at the lake hits different. Started easy with the Undercrown Shade, smooth and creamy while the sun was still high, then worked up to the Oliva Serie V when it was time to add some backbone. Got the Habano Speed Sport in the mix too.

Pours have been all over the map so far, a little rye, a little bourbon, and yeah, a Coors Banquet and a Busch Light Apple when the cooler called.

No rules out here. Just smoke on the water and good company.

Cheers!