Hermanos de Armas Descending Shadows — Notes from a Late Evening

I picked up a selection of cigars from Hermanos de Armas back in June of 2025. I’ve smoked several of them over time, but — with one lone exception — haven’t mentioned them here. That omission is due solely to a lack of effort on my part, not any shortcoming in the cigars themselves. Often, I enjoy a cigar without feeling compelled to “put pen to paper.” In that same vein, this essay sat for a week before I finally got around to putting the finishing touches on it.

On a recent evening, I fired up a Hermanos de Armas Descending Shadows. After eight months of rest in the humidor, it was more than ready to be lit. The 6 x 54 Toro is wrapped in a glistening Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper, with Nicaraguan binder and filler. The cigar is smooth, evenly rolled, and nearly seamless. Hermanos de Armas cigars are produced at the Oveja Negra factory in Nicaragua — the same factory behind Black Label Trading Company and Black Works Studio.

A solid medium-to-full-bodied smoke, Descending Shadows opens with earth and spice. As the cigar develops, notes of brown sugar, black coffee, and dark chocolate begin to emerge. An undercurrent of sweetness runs throughout the experience, keeping the darker flavors in balance. The burn was even from start to finish, and the well-constructed cigar produced plentiful clouds of flavorful smoke.

As it happened, we had plans for a late night watching the College Football Playoffs, so I opted for a cup of dark, hot coffee with my pre-game cigar. The coffee had a subtle mocha note, which proved to be an excellent complement to the smoke. Still, I very much look forward to enjoying another Hermanos de Armas Descending Shadows paired with a rich, sweet bourbon in the future.

Cheers!

When the Sun Lies: An Afternoon at the Cigar Lounge

I don’t mind sitting with a heater on the enclosed porch on a cool evening to enjoy a cigar. Sitting there with a heater running while the sun is shining in the afternoon, however, generally doesn’t excite me. Maybe my brain automatically equates sunshine with warmth and refuses to accept cold but bright days. To work around that disconnect, I headed back to Hogshead Cigar Lounge this week for an afternoon smoke.

For the occasion, I lit up a My Father Blue in the Toro vitola. I’ve smoked several of the Blues in Robusto and always enjoyed them, but a visit to the lounge calls for a longer, more leisurely cigar.

My Father Blue is something of a milestone for the brand, as it’s the first My Father cigar made in Honduras, and it has already found its way onto a number of “Top 25” lists. The Toro is a 6 x 54 box-pressed cigar wrapped in a dark, reddish Connecticut Broadleaf Rosado, with Honduran Corojo and Criollo tobaccos from the García family’s own Finca La Opulencia farm making up the binder and filler. After years of producing everything in Estelí, the García family opened a new factory in Honduras in 2024, finally putting that long-cultivated tobacco to use.

Flavor-wise, the cigar comes out swinging with cocoa and cedar, backed by a gentle sweetness and plenty of richness from the first draw. As the smoke develops, notes of espresso and roasted coffee join in, but the overall profile remains steady and satisfying all the way to the finish.

After roughly a 90-plus-minute smoke — though I wasn’t watching the clock — the cigar burned down to a warm nub, and it was time to head home. The flavorful cigar, the warmth of the lounge, and the easy conversations with fellow smokers all combined to make for a thoroughly pleasant afternoon.

Now, with the first major winter storm of the season apparently on the way, it’s time to make sure the propane heaters are topped off for some cold-evening smokes on the porch.

Cheers!

A Pour Too Cold

My disdain for the frosted beer mug, in most situations, is no secret. Recently, however, I encountered its lesser-known but equally misguided cousin: the frosted whiskey glass.

We were enjoying beer and pizza at a restaurant in Blacksburg, Virginia. The place also boasts a large and surprisingly interesting whiskey menu, with prices that are remarkably budget-friendly. I decided to order a pour of E.H. Taylor Small Batch. When I made my request, the server asked, “On ice, or on the rocks?”

My mind went blank for a second before I replied, “No ice. In either form.” He laughed, realizing his slip, and confirmed my request.

When the pour arrived, I could only stare in amazement.

The glass was neither on ice nor on the rocks — the glass itself was frosted, rimmed with ice on the outside.

After wiping it down and letting it warm, the bourbon was, thankfully, quite enjoyable. In hindsight, the bar menu does feature a wide assortment of “shooters,” so perhaps, in their world, all whiskey is meant to be consumed quickly — and cold, like a shot.

Still, good bourbons deserve better than a deep freeze.

Cheers!

A Good Day for an Indoor Smoke

It had been a while since I spent time at my local cigar lounge. I’d often intended to head over to Hogshead Cigar Lounge for some indoor smoking pleasure, but, if we’re being honest, convenience often won out. Why drive when I can simply step onto my enclosed porch and enjoy a cigar? Still, the simple luxury of smoking indoors — with other cigar lovers — is worth the extra effort now and then.

When I rolled in one early afternoon this week, a few patrons were already settled in with their smokes, even if the angle of the photo failed to capture them. Before long, the lounge filled and the room buzzed with lively conversation.

Since it had been a while since my last visit, I made a few leisurely circuits of the humidor before settling on an Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Toro. This Nicaraguan puro features a Corojo ’99 wrapper over binder and filler tobaccos also grown in Nicaragua. The 6 x 52 cigar had a satisfying heft without feeling over-packed, and the draw was spot on.

It opened with a touch of pepper, though the spice stayed on the milder side. As the cigar settled in, a pleasant sweet woodiness emerged, supported by abundant smoke production that only enhanced the full-flavored experience.

The Supreme Leaf delivered nearly two hours of relaxed smoking. When I finally stepped outside, the cold felt noticeably sharper than it had when I arrived. Sitting in my car as the wind rocked it gently, I was reminded just how welcome the warmth and comfort of indoor cigar smoking can be in the heart of winter.

Cheers!

Good Cigars and a Week That Forgot It Was January

What is one to do when January temperatures climb into the 60s? Spend time outside, of course. Last week’s weather offered a welcome break from the usual winter chill (yes, I know the real cold is still lurking). Along with some refreshing walks around the neighborhood, I took advantage of the mild evenings by spending time on the porch — often without the need for a supplemental heat source.

I decided it was a good opportunity to work through some of the Cigar of the Month selections I’ve received over the past few months from Cigar and Pipes. I enjoy these packages and have discovered some excellent new smokes, but the cigars do tend to “back up,” especially when I’m also adding to the humidor through regular purchases.

One of the cigars I smoked this week was the La Gloria Cubana Los Gloriosos. This 6 x 50 Toro, received last September, features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It was crafted by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo for the La Gloria Cubana brand he helped establish. The smoke delivered notes of leather, espresso, and cocoa, and its smooth, medium-bodied profile paired especially well with a glass of DOM B&B as an evening digestif.

As the warm spell continued, another evening found me lighting up a November COTM selection: the Partagás Y Nada Más Santiago. This 5 x 50 Robusto is part of a lineup introduced at the 2025 PCA Trade Show. It features a Habano 2000 wrapper, a Sumatra binder, and a complex filler blend of Piloto Cubano, Corojo, Ecuadorian, and Broadleaf tobaccos. The cigar was milder than I expected, drifting into the mild-medium range at times. The draw was very open and airy, which likely contributed to its muted profile, though there were pleasant notes of cream and cocoa throughout.

I paired it with a pour of Four Roses Small Batch Select, though I waited until about a third of the way in before sipping, hoping the cigar’s flavors might build a bit. The bourbon brought dark fruit, vanilla, and oak, along with lingering sweetness and spice, adding a welcome flavor boost to the pairing.

These two cigars were new to me, which is exactly why I maintain a COTM subscription. It’s fun to receive cigars I might not have tried otherwise. Occasionally one doesn’t quite click, and other times I enjoy a cigar so much that I end up buying more. From time to time, one arrives that I’ve already smoked before — such was the case when the Black Works Studio Killer Bee showed up in October. Still, seeing it in the package made me smile; it’s a cigar I truly enjoy.

The Killer Bee Robusto is a 5 x 50 stick wrapped in dark Ecuadorian Maduro leaf. The cap is accented with thin stripes of lighter tobacco, giving it the bee-like appearance that inspired its name, while the foot is neatly and tightly closed. Inside, aged Nicaraguan tobaccos make up the binder and filler.

From the first draw, the medium-to-full-bodied smoke delivers white pepper, dark roasted coffee, and cedar spice. The burn is razor-sharp and consistent, producing thick, aromatic clouds that fill the space around me. By the second half, the cigar has settled into a fuller expression without becoming harsh. Despite its strength, I stuck with water for this after-dinner smoke.

Those pleasant January temperatures gave me the chance to enjoy several good cigars over a few days and make a dent in my Cigar of the Month backlog. And yet, as I write this, the next shipment has already arrived on my doorstep.

Ah, the struggle continues.

Cheers!

A Morning of Smoke and Silence

Most of my enjoyment of cigars takes place at home on the enclosed porch. In the colder months, I am usually alone (not lonely). So when I found myself sitting by myself in John B. Hayes Tobacconist in Winchester this week, it didn’t feel all that odd — surprising, perhaps, but not unusual.

When I arrived for a morning smoke, the familiar early morning crowd was present. They lingered only briefly before heading out, right on schedule. I can be confident it wasn’t me; this group tends to disperse around the same time most mornings, though there’s usually at least one other patron who remains. Even the proprietor spent most of the hour tucked away in his office, leaving the shop unusually quiet.

I selected a La Flor Dominicana Air Bender in the distinctive 6½ × 54 “Chisel” format. I hadn’t smoked anything from the Air Bender line in five or six years and couldn’t recall ever trying the Chisel vitola, so curiosity won out. The dark, oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper looked especially inviting, while the ligero-heavy Dominican binder and filler promised a suitably robust morning smoke.

The Chisel shape — flattened and wedge-like — does indeed resemble a woodworker’s tool or perhaps the mouthpiece of a reed instrument. The end comes already open, and I’ve read that some smokers simply pinch it to create a larger opening rather than cutting. I opted to cut it anyway, though airflow remained somewhat restricted. After a few minutes, I took a bit more off the tip. Even then, the thin, flattened mouthfeel never felt entirely natural — despite my brief stint with the clarinet in my youth.

The Air Bender delivered exactly what it promised: a bold, flavorful smoke that never crossed into overwhelming territory, despite it being several hours before lunch. Peppery spice led the way, joined by cedar, dark chocolate, and coffee notes in a well-balanced profile. I had stopped for a creamy, vanilla-flavored chain coffee on the way in and its sweetness paired surprisingly well with the cigar’s darker character.

After about seventy-five minutes, it was time to set the cigar down — though it easily had another fifteen or twenty minutes left — and head out for lunch with my wife and a friend before the long drive home. Sitting there in the quiet shop, cigar in hand, watching the steady rhythm of people and cars pass outside, I was struck by how refreshing the moment felt. No conversation, no distractions — just good tobacco, and a pleasant morning stillness. It was a pause that was memorable long after the smoke has cleared.

Cheers!

The Best Cigar Is the One in Your Hand

The personalized license plate on my car offers a subtle hint at my enjoyment of cigars. Recently, while pumping gas, the guy behind me called out, “What’s your favorite cigar?” I hesitated, then stumbled through a reply listing a few brands I’ve enjoyed lately. In truth, my usual answer to that question — whether it’s about beer, bourbon, or cigars — is simply, “The one I’m enjoying at the moment.” It may sound flippant, but it’s also the most honest answer I have.

In my 2025 year-in-review post, I went out on a limb and declared a couple “favorites” of the year: the El Pulpo by Artesano del Tobacco and a Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Wegmans Private Selection. If I could distinctly recall every cigar smoked and every whiskey poured over the past year, would I still choose those two? I’m not entirely sure — but they clearly left a lasting impression. Reflecting on that choice, I decided to enjoy them together as my first sip and smoke of the new year.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked store pick doesn’t appear to have been mentioned previously in these Musings, though it has shown up more than once on my Instagram feed. Compared to the standard bottling, this pick leans less on peppery spice and more toward a sweeter profile of caramel and oak. It’s an easy, enjoyable pour — and since no trips back to New Jersey are planned (or desired), I’ll be savoring this bottle while it lasts.

The El Pulpo, on the other hand, has been mentioned here before. Although it debuted in January 2023, it wasn’t until the summer of 2025 that I picked up a five-pack — and promptly followed that with a full box in the Robusto size. It’s a balanced and flavorful cigar, offering notes of dark chocolate, coffee, roasted nuts, and earth, capped by a pleasingly spicy-sweet finish.

After revisiting these two “favorites” together, I’m comfortable standing by my 2025 declarations. Still, the next time someone asks, “What’s your favorite cigar?” I'll prepared to answer a bit more quickly — with my usual reply: “The one I’m having at the moment.”

Cheers!

2025: A Year of Recovery and Small Pleasures

It’s time for the requisite year-in-review post. Although 2025 marked my first full year of retirement, it was a low-key and, at times, frustratingly sedentary one. After a previous year marked by chronic pain and ineffective treatments, I underwent back surgery — including a spinal fusion — in February. Healing from the procedure and recovering from months of severely limited physical activity has been slow and, to some degree, remains ongoing. Only in the final months of the year was I able to be a bit more active, and even now there is some lingering pain and restricted movement.

Unsurprisingly, that reality is reflected in my shooting journal. In 2025 I managed a meager four trips to the range for practice and just two IDPA matches. On the bright side, that represents a meaningful improvement over the zero outings logged in 2024. I fired my first shots since December 2023 in August and finally made a tentative return to competition in October. With luck — and continued progress — I’m truly hoping for more shooting sports participation in 2026.

Travel plans were also shaped by recovery with most travel in 2025 limited to weekend or overnight outings. We did attend several Virginia Tech Hokies football games. Weekends in Blacksburg, joined by our son and daughter-in-law, were enjoyable, even if the final scores were seldom in our favor.

We did get away for a week centered around a horticultural-focused convention that helped feed my indoor gardening passion. The event was held in New Jersey, which isn’t typically high on my vacation destination list, but I was pleasantly surprised — and pleased — to do a bit of bottle shopping and return home with a couple of excellent store-pick bourbons. Among them was a Wegmans Private Selection of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, a bottle that may well be my favorite find of 2025.

On the upside, one doesn’t need to be especially mobile to enjoy good cigars and fine whiskey. Despite other limitations, I’ve been able to maintain a fairly regular “smoke and sip” routine, usually on the screened porch that we renovated into a three-season room over the summer. That space has quickly become one of my favorite places to slow down and enjoy an evening.

The one true vacation of 2025 was a week at the beach, taking in the surf and sand, good food, and cigars by the sea. During our stay on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, I paid a couple of visits to the OBX Cigar Lounge. Being able to pair a cigar with a beer or whiskey — while smoking indoors — was a particular pleasure. Under Virginia’s nanny-state regulations, that combination is nearly impossible, save for a handful of exceptions.

We managed to squeeze in two very different musical outings this year. May brought Metallica to Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, while December closed things out with a Tab Benoit show in Leesburg, Virginia — about as big a genre shift as one could ask for.

On the blogging and social media front, I remained fairly active. Despite the limited activity, I managed 156 posts in 2025. In addition to these blog posts, I regularly share cigar and beverage pairings on Instagram. I also added an option for readers to receive these Musings by email, providing another way for readers who follow along to stay connected.

One final note for those who care about such things: my favorite cigar of 2025 was El Pulpo by Artesano del Tobacco. It’s not often I reorder a cigar while I still have some on hand — make of that what you will.

All told, 2025 wasn’t a year of big adventures or bold accomplishments, but it was a year of recovery, small pleasures, and quiet progress. If nothing else, it helped lay the groundwork for a more active and engaged 2026 — and I’ll gladly raise a glass and light a cigar to that hope.

Happy New Year!