After nearly a year’s absence of writing the tasting notes for Jos. Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon due to some health challenges, Master Blender Nancy Fraley reached out for a “little help from her friends” in the Bourbon Instagram and YouTube community for inspiration and ideas. The following batch names come from the winners of a Jos. Magnus Cigar Blend naming contest that she put out on Instagram in November 2023.
Batches #207 – 212 are a blend of 9 year-old 36% MGP and 21% rye Bourbon, 16 year old Barton’s rye Bourbon, and 20 year old MGP 36% rye Bourbon. The 9-year-old components were aged in a cool and damp area of the warehouses, so while the color isn’t as deep as some Cigar Blend expressions, they offer a bit more roundness and finesse on the palate in these batches. These batches are all part of the same “coupe mere,” or mother blend of 18 Bourbon barrels, which went into six 300-liter Armagnac casks.
Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch #207: Winter Solstice
115.15 Proof
The name for Cigar Blend Batch #207, aka “Winter Solstice,” comes to us from Chris Mantzanas @clm_sports_collectibles on Instagram. This batch boasts wintery notes of hot buttered rum, pecan pie with dark chocolate chips, S’mores toasted over a roaring fire with charred marshmallows, and Nocino (black walnut liqueur). Light ruby red grapefruit, pine nut brittle, almond cookies topped with powdered sugar, and candied ginger shortbread fill the palate cavity. Waves of glazed eggnog donuts and hot chocolate spiked with cherry brandy provide the finish, while light rye spice tingles the tongue. The perfect dram to help fill out the dark winter days!
Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch #208: Maduro
115.52 Proof
The name for Cigar Blend Batch #208, aka “Maduro,” comes to us from Mark Heyerly @heyinky on Instagram. In the cigar world, the tobacco leaves that are used to wrap Maduro cigars tend to be dark, somewhat oily, with woody, earthy, chocolate, and spice notes, and this batch of JMCB follows suit. The bouquet of this batch offers deep notes of prunes in syrup, chocolate covered cherries, an earthy, herbal sage honey, and mixed nuts. The palate presents dark, rich notes of chocolate covered espresso beans, grilled pineapples, candied walnuts, and damp forest floor. For fans of Maduro cigars, this batch should be just what the doctor ordered!
Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch #209: Nomad’s Nectar
115.50 Proof
Lockwood Distilling Company’s distiller, Jason Howard (@nxt_bourbon_blender on Instagram) is responsible for naming Cigar Blend batch #209, and what nectar it is indeed! This batch brings a wealth of tropical fruit and floral notes to the table, with light molasses, pineapple upside down cake with brown sugar icing, and toasted coconut cashew brownies. The palate crescendos with notes of mango lassi, fresh papaya juice, clover honey, and fig jam, with a surprising big wave of rye spice. The finish lingers with subtle flavors of honeysuckle, white blossom, and brown baking spices.
Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch #210: Something Completely Different
115.46 Proof
The name for batch #210, aka “Something Completely Different,” was brought to us by Mark Steinke @bbq_bourbon_battlestar on Instagram, and is, well, something completely different, as least for JMCB! The nose offers sweet and smoky aromas of honey and hickory barbecue sauce, grilled peaches drizzled with mint syrup, and tiramisu. These notes follow through to the palate, together with further unique notes of pipe tobacco, roasted pineapple habanero salsa, mint julep cocktails, and orange muscat wine. The finish conjures up a plethora of bold, spicy, tangy, smokey, and sweet flavors which both excite and bewilder the tongue. If you’re looking for something completely different, check out this batch!
Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch #211: Triple Berry Blondie
115.44 Proof
Batch #211, aka “Triple Berry Blondie,” comes to us from Evan @today_i_poured on Instagram, and this batch is quite berry forward. The nose rolls in with deep dish blackberry cobbler with a buttery biscuit crust, chocolate-raspberry cheesecake with a Graham Cracker crust, and hot blueberry muffins. Did we mention it also has notes of fresh-from-the-oven triple berry blondies? Hard butterscotch candies, sweet and sour pomegranate syrup, banana pudding, cherry dump cake with yellow batter, and crème de menthe follow on the palate, leading to a berry and spice cake finish. For fans of the Cigar Blend batches that have tended to have a lot of berry notes, this batch is your jam!
Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch #212: The Piggy Bank
115.46 Proof
The name for Cigar Blend batch #212, aka “The Piggy Bank,” was given to us by Bourbon aficionado Johnny @bourbon_hog on Instagram, and this batch certainly has a whole hog of flavors. The nose presents with boozy Irish cream tiramisu topped with vanilla infused whipped cream, tart cherry cobbler, and Boston cream pie, followed by yellow cornbread with honey butter and panna cotta with caramel sauce on the palate. Buddha’s Hand citron zest, jasmine blossoms, toasted coconut shavings, chocolate mint chips, and rye spice carry over for a mid-length finish. You can take this batch to the bank!
Fine retailers across the nation who offer the full collection of Joseph Magnus spirits will be among the first to receive an allocation of these very limited batches. Be sure to reach out to retailers in your area to inquire about our Cigar Blend Bourbon or use the Store Locator to find a retailer near you.
