The Last Dram on the Orient Express Batches #213-226
Batches #213-226 balance the familiar warmth of Autumn in the West with the intrigue of spice in the East. The nose opens with buttery Scottish shortbread and molasses cookies, familiar and inviting, before shifting toward the aromatic lift of Chinese 5-spice and a hearty crack of black pepper. On the palate, caramel macchiato lends creaminess and depth, while spiced apple cider with a cinnamon stick ties the flavors back to the hearth. The finish is long and steady, where the exotic and the familiar mingle – sweetness giving way to spice, warmth carried forward by both pepper and pastry.
Sticky Fingers Batches #227-235
Just like a crowded dessert table at a family gathering where every dish is jostling for space and attention, Batches #227-235 serve up indulgence in abundance. The nose leads with rum raisin ice cream and spiced carrot cake crowned in cream cheese icing, before diving into the dense sweetness of sticky toffee pudding. The palate builds layer upon layer: German chocolate cake with its cocoa and pecans wrapped in toasted coconut flakes, followed by a lift of apricot preserves that cuts through the richness. The finish is long and confectionary, a blend of fruit, cake, and cream that lingers long after the dessert plates have been cleared.
Currant Affairs Batches #236-243
These batches unfold with richness, spice, and a sense of old-world travel – like stepping into an old, latern-lit rail car on the way home for the holidays. The nose greets you with dark brown sugar and Christmas fruitcake, laced with freshly ground nutmeg and blackberry preserves. The palate warms and expands – cinnamon toast with maple syrup gives way to the darker depths of black currant liqueur. As is characteristic of all Cigar Blend batches, the finish is long and lingering, where fruit and spice weave together in layers, leaving behind the a sense of nostalgia for the cozy, winter gatherings of days gone by.
Meditations Batches #244-256
For the brooding and contemplative among us, Batches #244–256 possess a weight and depth that benefits from patience, allowing darker layers to unfold slowly and deliberately with each sip. The nose is immediately full-bodied, evoking the richness of Baltic Porter beer, layered with marzipan and the nutty savor of brown butter. On the palate, the impression softens into caramel cookies and hazelnuts toasted in butter, before deepening again into fig pudding – dark, dense, and indulgent. The finish is long and resonant, with chocolate, nut, and fruit lingering in balance, a shadowy counterpart to sweeter, more confectionary coupes.
Chiaroscuro Batches #257-262
Cloaked in depth and shadow, the character of Batches #257–262 reveals itself to be indulgent, brooding and smoldering. The nose rises with stewed prunes in Armagnac syrup, aromatic pipe tobacco curling through the glass, and the comforting sweetness of oatmeal raisin cookies. On the palate, the mood turns darker and more brooding: Mexican hot chocolate laced with smoky chipotles unfolds into layers of heavy char and chocolate-covered cherries. The finish is long and resonant, lingering with spice, smoke, and fruit. This is a coupe that carries both darkness and a touch of light and embers of sweetness.
Bread & Butter Batches #263-275
The batches in this coupe arrive with the aroma of an oven just opened, spilling out yeasty warmth and the prospect of freshly baked pastry. Dates in syrup and cinnamon raisin bagels with cream cheese set the stage before blueberry cobbler and orange marmalade on buttered croissants add brightness and fruit. Monkey bread brings sticky layers of warmth, while toasted hazelnuts ground the experience with a nutty edge. What begins as fruit and pastry slowly fades into something earthier – hazelnuts, spice, and a dry, nutty warmth that balances the sweetness and settles with satisfying weight.
The Stillroom Series Batches #276-282
Batches #276-282 are all part of the same “coupe mere,” or mother blend of 18 Bourbon barrels, which went into six 300-liter Armagnac casks. This coupe opens with a lively, herb-driven energy, weaving together grassy rhum agricole, fresh tarragon, and the green snap of hops over a core of stewed fruits and dark dried berries. The palate evolves from orchard sweetness to savory garden notes, before settling into deeper layers of charred oak, brown baking spice, and the dry elegance of old brandy. Subtle vegetal tones and hints of spice cake keep it bright, while the medium-length finish returns us to the cellar with char, fruit compote, and a gentle herbal echo, balancing freshness, and maturity in equal measure.
Easy Company Batches #283-292
These batches carry the air of a late-night gathering, where conversation runs long, and the table is crowded with the indulgences of fine fare, stories and long-standing friendship forged in shared battles. The nose of Batches #283-292 is thick with chocolate fudge brownies, Nutella cookies, and English Christmas cake drizzled in brandy butter. On the palate, a sophisticated brightness cuts through the richness with Kirsch-soaked cherries, chocolate chess pie and cheesecake crowned with port-soaked figs. The finish reveals itself to be steady and resonant, carrying chocolate, fruit, and cream in balanced measure. Much like an indulgent evening spent retelling the tales of days gone by, the impression of these batches lingers not just on the palate, but in the memory, lasting well beyond the last sip.
Stonefruit Glacé Batches #293-299
Batches #293-299 are all part of the same “coupe mere,” or mother blend of 18 Bourbon barrels, which went into six 300-liter Armagnac casks. The individual batches of this coupe are lush and layered, opening with sweet fig pudding and orange blossom honey before moving into the brightness of citrus zest and stone fruit. Grassy and vegetal tones add a subtle freshness, but the core is deep and warm. Layers of milk chocolate, dried apricot, and elegant Armagnac notes lend weight and richness. Characteristic of Cigar Blend, the finish is long and inviting with a blend of orchard sweetness and cellar-aged depth that lingers quietly.
