What’s Been Going On With The Crew

The last few weeks around here have been pretty exciting as well as stressful. We have been to Myrtle Beach and are preparing to return again this week. I know what your thinking, how many vacations do you people need? Well the answer is this is a relocation trip. Yes I said relocation. We are leaving our Kentucky bluegrass for South Carolina sand. I have recently accepted a job there and will be starting work there in about a month. Now comes the tough part, finding a place to live in Carolina, packing, and moving our loot to or new home. Needless to say we will be busy for the next few weeks. The post may remain scarce for the next little bit, but I can assure you that as soon as we settle in, I will be back on track. I will have a steady supply of cigars to smoke, as well as plenty of new adventures to document. Please stay tuned, the fun is just beginning.

Our Adventure to the Mountains: Part One

Trust Me Santa, I'm a Pirate

The week start off just as any other with one little exception, I was a year older. So with this being as good a reason as any, we decide to take a few days off and set sail for calmer waters. We are fortunate to live within a couple of hours of just such a destination, The Great Smokey Mountains. We usually visit the mountains a few times a year, mainly for the food and relaxation, but with a four year old on board you never really know what you may end up doing.

The Crew and I are pretty predictable, we always stay at the same hotel and eat at the same restaurants, until this trip, we actually ventured away from our normal lodging and stayed somewhere new. The new choice for our trip was The Inn At Christmas Place. This is one of the newer hotels in Sevierville, and as the name suggests, themed around Christmas. The concept of Christmas in July is not a new one in our crew, my son is convinced, thanks in large part to the gang at the Pink Bee, that we should have our Christmas tree up and celebrating now. I knew that this stay may further damage my argument that December is Santa's month, but agreed anyway. When we arrived at the hotel, the most notable thing is the staff. The hotel itself is visually stunning, but the hotel's staff, made the experience. You really did feel as if you were family in for a visit. I felt that the Christmas theme throughout the lobby as well as the rooms was perfectly balanced. I can only imagine how special the inn would be closer to the winter months. I love the warm weather

The actual reason for our trip was to allow the boy to get a little pool time before his preschool starts back, and we were very well pleased with the pools at the Inn. There were two pools one inside and one outside, along with an indoor hot tub. The outside pool also had a really cool water slide for the kids to enjoy, old and young alike. Both pools were large enough to accommodate guests of all swimming levels; the only drawback was that there was not a kiddy pool, but the slide more than made up for that.

Our room we stayed in, much like the hotel was very nice. We had two queen sized beds along with a great balcony view overlooking the pond and pool area. The room did have some very nice high end touches in the cabinetry, flat screen television, and the bathroom counters. The décor of the room again, was very well balanced. I did hear my wife say that the hotel did offer rooms that were more decorated than others. The room above all, was neat as a pin and the maid service was top notch.

One thing that we did not get to sample was the breakfast. The hotel offers guest a deluxe hot continental breakfast, which I overheard other guest discussing. From the sounds of the conversation, I hate that I missed out on good food. Don't worry we did not go hungry, more on the food later.

I would have no problem saying that I was impressed with the Inn At Christmas Place, and would highly recommend staying there, anytime of year. We are planning to go back down after Christmas to check out the lights and we will definitely be staying there, if we can get a room.

A Little Unfinished Business....

Before I took what I am now referring to as my break from my normal routine, I left some unfinished tales, so I thought I would bring one of them up to date before moving on with the new content. When we last spoke at the first of the year, there were a lot of things happening. One of the most notable was the issue with my sister’s health. It took a few surgeries and doctor’s visits, but I am glad to say that she is finally getting back to normal. My nephew is still doing great and we are all thankful that both of them are progressing quite nicely. It has been a long road for her so far, and we all know that she is going to have to continue learning how to live with Chrons, but I am sure that my nephew can keep them on the right track. I want to say thank you again for all the support and prayers.


I have a link to my sister’s blog in the High Seas Reading section, A Day in the Life of Brady, if you would like to check out the newest little buccaneer to join our crew. The boy has already been sending him the necessary pirate gear, so he can look the part.

Like I said earlier, a little unfinished business, now the fun stuff. Let the adventures begin....

Where Is John B?

The good news is I am back and if you are reading this post you may have noticed a few changes to the blog. I have found that sometimes change is a good thing, and I hope that you will find the new blog theme entertaining and fun. Don’t be alarmed I still love to smoke my stogies and will be talking about my latest smoke and the best places to buy cigars. The Crew and I have taken a few small trips that I promise to give all the details about our hotels, food finds, and attractions we visited. In regards to the new Pirate Theme, you can really give credit to little John, for that. I have come to realize through the countless hours of pirating around with him, that there is a little pirate in us all.

There is no need to worry, if your pirate lingo is a little rusty we have included a handy Pirate Translator, so you can brush up for the upcoming big adventures of the crew.

What A Difference A Few Days Make?

If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it will change. The weather just a few days ago was cold and snowy while today, low sixties. As I always do anytime I am afforded such a beautiful day I enjoy a cigar. Today is no different I am sitting here writing and smoking. Today’s cigar of choice is a, Montecristo Classic Collection corona. This is one of three I bought in a sampler selection at Liquor Barn in Lexington, Kentucky back before Christmas. I have been aging them and waiting for an excuse to fire one up. The construction and overall appearance of the cigar was excellent. I immediately notice that nice cedar smell and flavor from an aged cigar. It is the same aroma that you find in every great smoke shop. The first few draws, money, nice full body but not overpowering. I can see why this cigar is so highly revered. The taste has stayed balanced throughout the cigar. This one is definitely a knuckle burner.

I talked to my sister yesterday and she is doing much better. She still has some work to do to get back to normal, but her attitude was great. My nephew is stilling doing great, eating, sleeping and being spoiled. If only I could have that deal. The Lovely Wife has been finding success at her new agency and has been really working hard. The Boy and I have tried to make ourselves useful and keep the home front in shape. I have embarked on my latest endeavor, and hopefully will soon be back out in the game. Until then I am enjoying being Dad. Change, not my best friend, but I am starting to like the idea. I did want to say Thank You, again for all the prayers and support for my sister, it is definitely has helped.

A Cigar In The Morning: The Breakfast of Champions

I have started a lot of my post with this opening; the weather was unseasonably warm for a Kentucky winter. Well Monday definitely fell into this category. I awoke to the temperature already in the fifties and climbing. The only thing I could think of was it was going to be a great day to smoke a cigar, or two.

I got pulled together rather quickly and began to map out my smoking strategy for the day. I went to the humidor and decided that my preferred theme for the day would be robusto. I grabbed a Cohiba and Padron Maduro for my cigar breakfast and possible lunch. I walked out to the garage and decided rather quickly that today was a topless day. No before you get the wrong idea I am referring to my Jeep Wrangler. I could not let this opportunity pass me by, the sun, the drive, and the smokes. It was shaping up to be the perfect storm.

I dropped the top down on the Jeep and lit my Cohiba, ready to roll. I took a quick look at the time, and I was off. At first the ride was a bit chilly but I soon got used to it. I’m lucky to live by Lake Cumberland so there is always scenic driving opportunites. This is definitely a great way to spend a morning gathering your thoughts. The Cohiba was a nice choice for breakfast; the cigar had a perfect balance of taste. I drove for what seemed like hours enjoying the warm March sun and my stogie. I did get a few glances from the other motorists, I just not sure if the looks were disbelief or jealousy. I soon noticed it was time to pick up the boy, and unfortunately the dark clouds were rolling in, so I had to call it a day. I can’t wait for warm weather. I did manage to have that Padron for lunch. The cigar was great but the view from the garage just didn’t compare.

The Hot Brown: A Louisville Legend

I was sitting here contemplating my next topic to write a few words about when my stomach reminded me of an idea I had while on our trip to Louisville. One thing that probably rivals my love of the leaf is my love of food. If you ask me or the lovely wife about any trip we take we always describe our dining experiences first. Our itinerary is usually geared around where we want to eat. The Louisville trip was really no different; we stopped at one of our favorite chain restaurants P.F. Changs for dinner on Friday night. P.F. Chang’s serves some of the best Chinese food I have ever had. We have eaten at their Knoxville, Lexington, and Louisville locations. All were very good but we preferred the Louisville location. The meal was excellent just as expected.

As I mentioned in an earlier post we stayed at historic Brown Hotel, which is home to a dish called The Hot Brown. The Hot Brown is a legendary dish created at the Brown Hotel in the 1920’s. I have to admit, that I had already eaten a number of hot browns at other restaurants and was not really expecting a profound amount of difference in the quality of style. However I do value the historic significance of this being the birthplace of the dish, so I ordered one. I wish I ordered ten, the dish was unbelievably good. Like I said I already had a predetermine idea of what made a great hot brown, and this one blew them all away. The cheese sauce was to die for, the turkey was freshly roasted, and the bacon was perfectly crisp. I quickly decided that I could never eat a Hot Brown from anywhere else ever again. (Unless the lovely wife makes it, she is the best cook in the world.) Louisville has many things to offer a visitor, but I feel that if you are going to be in The Derby City, you owe it to yourself to spend an evening at The Brown Hotel and enjoy a legendary dish, The Hot Brown.

Here is a link to check out for more information on The Hot Brown and the recipe.

http://www.brownhotel.com/dining/hot-brown.html

Money Found In Your Pocket: Found Cigars In My Storage Building

The feeling of joy a person gets when they find unexpected money in their pocket is one that we all can relate to and love. I had a similar experience at my storage building a couple of weeks ago. I was going through some of my boxes looking for old uniforms, when much to my surprise I found a canister from Cuesta-Rey Milano cigars. Immediately my cigar senses and I began a more in depth inspection of my new found treasure. The tube had been in a box for at least four years, at best guess. I think I bought the four cigar sampler while on vacation, to start my new cigar hobby way back then. I gave the can a gently shake, and there was definitely something in there. I took a minute to prepare myself for the moment of truth, opening the top. I felt bad that I had allowed these little guys to suffer a fate such as this, especially now with my passion for cigars and cigar smoking. I popped off the plastic lid. I slowly looked inside the container, expecting to see the broken down remains of premium cigars, wasted. However, they were Alive, the little guys somehow were intact and in pretty good shape.

I quickly put the top back on the canister and headed to the house. I took the two cigars out a put them in the humidor to start the healing process. I directed my attention back to this miracle canister that I had found. The can itself was a cardboard tube with a metal top and bottom, with the top having a plastic cover. The inside was lined with a thin cedar material and once housed four cigars. The item that performed the miracle that saved the cigars was the Humi-System package. I have to admit that my experiences will products from Humidipak, the folk that developed this item, is very limited. I had read a few articles about their stuff and visited their website, but that was it. However, now I am a believer. Of course I don’t advocate using them for a long term solution but they will adequately handle any special humidification needs you may have. Travel is probably the best use of this product. Another great tip for use of humidipaks, I got from Mike down at Leaf and Ale, was on how to deal with storing flavored cigars with your non-flavored smokes. His advice was “You can get a nice freezer Ziploc with a Humidipak or water pillow that can be recharged with distilled water for humidification and keep the flavored cigars separate from the others.” This is especially handy if you only have one humidor. I sure that there are millions of uses for this product and would love to hear any tips, of tricks.

I will definitely be posting about how the Cuesta-Rey’s smoke. It may be awhile before I smoke them, they are in stable condition right now and I am optimistic about their full recovery. Unfortunately, I can not locate the other two cigars; I like to think that I smoked them and enjoyed them.

Quick Update: Good News About My Sister

I want to first say that I apologize for the abscence of activity here at the blog. This fact should change in the next couple of days, due to things around here kind of settling down. I should be back on schedule and believe me I have a lot of things to discuss.

I wanted to give a quick update about my sister, she did get to come home as I had metioned in the last post, but she did not get to stay there very long. She went back in last Monday and has since then underwent a surgery to repair two tears in her colon. The good news is she came through the operation fine and is recovering very well. The other good news is that the doctors have finally pin pointed her overall problem, Crohn's Disease. They think this has been the case for awhile and unfortunatly it was never detected. Now that they have an idea of what is wrong they have been instructing my sister on how to deal with it.

My nephew is already carrying on the family tradition of eating and sleeping. He is doing great and I am sure, ready for mommy to be back at home. I want to thank everbody who has prayed for my sister and nephew, we all greatly appreciate it.

Thirty Days: She is Finally Home

What seems to have been a long and drawn out nightmare of a dream is finally coming to an end. My sister returned home from the hospital today. I spoke with her just after she got home and see sounded like she felt better, and was relieved to be home. My nephew of course was the true reason she was glad to finally get out of the hospital. I reminded her that she needs to take things slow and utilize the people around her for a little while, and that things would eventually get back to normal. I can't remember what my life was like before our boy came along, and soon my sister's memories of this experience will dull with time. I have to say that this was welcomed news on a beautiful winter Friday. With that being said and the sunshine shinning, I think I will head out and have a quick smoke.

John B's January: Wow What A Ride So Far

This month has really shaped up to being quite the undertaking. This kind of explains my delay in posting anything this week. I think my family has decided to pack all the year’s health issues, job changes, and any other dramatic situation into the first month of this New Year. However my motto stands firm, adversity builds character, so here is the bad as well as the good for this month.

The month began with my wife changing realty companies. This brought about our first set of new changes. Our schedules shifted to compensate for the extra work that is involved with joining a new company. We all pitched in and the days began to return to routine, until my job became the next hurdle.

Before the new of the lovely wife’s change could wear off, I too switched companies. I returned to the company I had started with in the lumber industry. I had always figured I would end up back there but did not plan on changing this month. I have to say that it was an odd feeling at first, but I soon found that old familiar comfort zone. Oh, I may have forgotten to mention that my younger sister had a baby in the middle of all this.

Yes I am an uncle, a very proud uncle, but my sister has been in the hospital ever since the delivery. She gave birth on the same day I left my old job and has been faced with numerous problems. The baby is at home and doing very well and at the present time she is doing somewhat better. My parents have been in Pennsylvania with my sister for most of the month, so we have been keeping an eye on the home front while they are away. Her situation has made things tense and worrisome, and we will be glad when everyone gets to go home.
I did manage to find the time between alarm clocks and bedtimes to sit down the other night and enjoy a smoke. I could not believe it when I reflected back on the short year so far. I am a Cancer and very reluctant to change any routine, but so far nothing has been routine. I have a great new addition to our family, both my wife and I are happy with our new working adventures and The Boy, well he is always happy. I guess if it doesn’t kill you, it really does make you enjoy that cigar more when you get to smoke it.

Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe Louisville Ky: Fine Cigars And Great Conversation

While in Louisville this weekend the lovely wife and I decided to stop at Oxmoor Mall for some shopping. Laura headed over to a cosmetics super store, and I set my sites on the Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe. I had read about this store on the internet and was very interested in checking it out.

Immediately when I walked in the door the unmistakable “great smoke shop” atmosphere hit me. The aroma of cedar and cigars filled the air. I took a quick look around the shop and was impressed with the large selection of humidors, lighters and cutters. Next, I made my way into the walk in humidor to pick out my cigars. The humidor was very well stocked. They had Montecristos, Rocky Patels, and Camachos along with quite a few other premium cigars to choose from. I personally wanted to buy them all but I settled on few Padrons and a Romeo Y Juliet Reserve. I thought that the prices on their cigars were excellent.

Reluctantly, I left the humidor, but soon found myself back at the accessories counter. I had been eyeing a Xikar cutter, and a nice green one had hit my radar. I looked at few different models of Xikars , but the green one was the choice. I already have a couple of cutters, but the spring action of the Xikar when you open it, is just too cool. Again I was well pleased with their prices, everything was very comparable. While at the counter I couldn’t help but notice the large selection of pipes and pipe tobacco. These folks are definitely equipped to handle any tobacco coinsurer’s needs.

The one thing that I can’t stress enough about Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe is the fantastic customer service. These guys were awesome. I hung around for a good while and spoke to the manager Jason Shepard. We talked mainly about the recent smoking ban that was just re-passed in Louisville on Friday and its impact on businesses and people who smoke. I have yet to write an article on smoking bans, but I will in the near future. Before I left, Jason suggested the Camacho El Legend Ario Natural and I am looking forward to giving it a try. This is one of the reasons I prefer the local tobacco shops, it is nice to have that kind of input on cigar selection. So I would say that the selection and prices were great, but the experience and conversation was priceless.

I asked Jason about a website / website sales and he told me that the site is being developed but until then, Oxmoor does offer mail order sales. I will put the contact info up and I highly recommend giving the guys at Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe a call. However if you are going to be in the Louisville area stop by and see these guys. You will be glad you did!


J. Paul Tucker
Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe
Oxmoor Center
Louisville, Ky 40222

Phone: (502) 426-4706

Louisville Trip: A Night At The Brown Hotel

We walked into the Brown Hotel this afternoon and I was immediately speechless. I am a fan of old buildings and architecture so I was in heaven. I have to admit that I had not done my homework about this hotel. I was familiar with the name and the famous Hot Brown dish invented at the hotel, but really did not know a lot about the building itself. Here is a brief excerpt from The Brown Hotel's website.

About The Brown The Brown Hotel, Louisville, KY: "Welcome to The Brown Hotel
Located at the corners of Fourth and Broadway in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, The Brown Hotel is one of Louisville's most treasured landmarks. Built in 1923 at a cost of $4 million by J. Graham Brown, the hotel was a magnet for many prominent guests and celebrities during the 1920s through the 1950s. In 1971, two years after the founder passed away, The Brown closed as a hotel and later reopened as the Board of Education building.
In the early 1980s the building was renovated and reopened as The Brown Hotel and today this stunning 16-story property with a distinctive English Renaissance design is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Brown Hotel's ornate hand-painted plaster relief ceilings, intricately carved railings, decorative crown molding, and other classic architectural details make her one of the finest hotels in the South.

Visitors to The Brown Hotel will find 293 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, over 18,000 square feet of meeting space, a business center, 24-hour fitness center, three restaurants, and the renowned Lobby Bar. The Brown's fine dining restaurant, The English Grill, has been voted 'Louisville's Best Restaurant.' For over 80 years, The Brown has figured prominently into the social life of Louisville and its opulent ballroom is the site of many of the city's most elegant and gracious social functions."

If you want to see some pictures of the hotel here is a link to their photo gallery.

http://brownhotel-px.trvlclick.com/photos/index.html

The theatre where we will be watching the comedy show is also an architectural show stopper. The Louisville Palace was opened in 1928, and is lavish Spanish Baroque Revival style design. The building contains fountains, statues,tapestries, and a foyer that boasts a "Ceiling of Celebrities". The ceiling contains 141 medallion faces of famous men, including the Palace's architect John Eberson.

Fourth Street Live, also offers plenty of entertainment for visitors here in Louisville. We are centrally located, only two blocks from the action. There is shopping, live entertainment and restaurants just to name a few things available. I have to say that it is a pretty nice setup for people who want to visit the city. Park your car, check in to your room, and take a short walk to the fun and excitement.

Stay tune for more details on the Louisville Trip

Perdomo Reserve Cameroon Robusto: A Nice Way To Spend The Afternoon

The weather here in Kentucky this winter has proven to be a mystery. The temperature swings are a welcomed event to us cigar smokers, especially those of us who call the back porch our primary smoking haven. The last three days the sun has been shining and the weather was perfect for getting outside. Today, I found myself with some time to kill and I decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warmth outside with a cigar. What to smoke, I pondered that question for sometime, finally settling on a Perdomo Reserve Cameroon Robusto. I came by this smoke through a robusto sampler I purchased from Famous Smoke Shop. I was immediately impressed by the construction of the cigar. The band, the wrapper, along with the feel already had me racing for the back door. The size of this Perdomo checked in at 5 inches by 54 ring gauge, just the right size for a quick afternoon smoke.

My first thoughts on the Perdomo were on target with what I had expected, a hint of spiciness. You should not be fooled by the robusto, they are quite capable of delivering a lot of taste, despite their size. This cigar was no exception. I also decided that now would be a great time to compile my shopping list for my upcoming trip to Louisville this weekend. The lovely wife and I are going up to catch Rodney Carrington Friday night, and while we are there, we plan to visit a smoke shop or two. Armed with the December issue of Cigar Aficionado, I thought I would look over their current ratings to maybe get an idea for a couple selections. The boy quickly took interest in the cigar pictures so we had to talk about all of them. I admit that this was probably the best cigar conversation I have had with anyone thus far. The Perdomo was in full swing by the time my son’s focus had shifted back to what his dog was up to. The cigar is a full body smoke, with a rich coffee and a sweet taste.

I finished my research for my list and my smoke was winding down as well. The finish of the Perdomo was a nice balance of coffee and spice. The subtle sweetness throughout the smoke tied the flavors together perfectly. The cigar was full but not over powering to the palate. I would recommend this cigar as must try, even to those who prefer a milder cigar. It provided me with a nice change of pace and a perfect way to spend an hour on a warm winter’s day.

Stay tuned for my Louisville Trip Details.

John B's Barware Pictures

Here are a few pictures of the new glassware I mentioned in the last post. I have to say that the lovely wife did an excellent job on this Christmas present. You have to love a woman that buys you cigars and classy glasses to enjoy your spirits. The feel and the weight of these glasses are perfect. I am confident that these glasses will provide many years of faithful service.

The set that I received consisted of four glasses and a decanter each monogrammed.

The Decanter

The Glass

(Hand not included, unless glass is full)

The Set, Welcome to Club B.

I apologize that I do not have the information on the manufacturer, but the girls at The Pink Bee can give you the scoop. Their phone number is (606) 676-9144.

The New Year

As a parent you learn to take advantage of opportunity when it knocks. My opportunity came in the form of the grandparents who wanted to spoil the boy rotten this weekend. With the boy being off to the land of fun and the wife relaxing with her newspaper, I decided that tonight would be a good time to smoke a cigar and have a drink. After the week I had, I felt that both were well deserved.

I headed over to the humidor to select my smoke for the evening, quickly settling on one the Cohiba Coronas that Santa had left for me under the tree. My focus was now centered on what drink to pair with my cigar. I have to admit that I am a beer man, and lately I have been enjoying my smokes with a Land Shark Lager made by Margaritaville Brewing Company. The maduros I smoked had matched up quite nicely with the beer. However, tonight I felt the best choice for my cigar and perhaps my mood would be bourbon and coke. I poured myself a Maker’s Mark and Coke in one of my new monogrammed bourbon glasses, the lovely wife gave me for Christmas. The temperature outside was warm enough to open the door in the cigar lounge (my garage) so I settled in to unwind. The Cohiba and the bourbon coupled with the rain soon had me thinking about the beach. The sound of the rain on the pavement soon had the smell of salt in the air. The tastes of the cigar and the bourbon complimented each other perfectly, affirming that I had made the proper selection. With each draw and sip I could feel my anxiety slowly disappearing. Laura joined me in the lounge and we were engaged again in the conversation that had dominated my week. Change, a fitting topic for the start of any new year, this year had already started with change being a large part of the game plan. Until now, our conversation had a stress filled overtones, but now a sense of excitement was in the air.

The Cohiba and Maker’s combination were so smooth that both were over rather quickly. Just like the last year.

Tonight Glassware was supplied by The Pink Bee.

Cigars and Zippos

I wrote in an earlier post about using a Zippo lighter to light the occasional cigar. I had read this Question and Answer a while back and I felt that the guys at Cigar Aficionado gave a great explanation of what to use to light your cigar and how to use that trusty Zippo when you light up.



Cigar Aficionado Special Feature: "Q. Can I use my Zippo lighter to light a cigar?

A. It's probably not your best option. We suggest using wooden matches or, better yet, strips of cedar called spills. These will light your cigar without imparting to it the taste or odor of the oil found in lighter fluid. If you wish to use a lighter for your cigars, we recommend one that uses butane as its fuel, as these types of lighters are odorless. However, some smokers insist on using their old Zippo lighters, which may have sentimental value. If you're one of these people, just make sure that when lighting your cigar, the flame of the Zippo does not touch the cigar's foot. Once the cigar is lit, you may also choose to give the cigar one \(and only one\) outward puff, to clear it of any impurities caused by the lighter fluid."


If you are a Zippo fan and are looking for a way to incorparate the Zippo into your cigar smoking arsenal, the folks at Zippo have a product that fills the need, The Zippo Blu. This Zippo is a butane gas model that will light cigars without the odor or taste from the lighter's fluid. If you are intrested in the lighter, here's the link, Zippo Blu.