The Redheaded stepchild of Orkney Distilleries, Scapa has had some ups and downs since being founded in 1885. From 1994 to 2005 the distillery was closed entirely. The industry giant, Pernod-Ricard, then acquired and reopened it. The initial release was this 14 year, which replaced the traditional Scapa 12. This year Scapa has replaced their 14 year (more...)

Last summer I went on a bit of a spree buying cigars online, and one of the shops I purchased from was Taboo Cigars, who are known to be particularly Canadian-friendly.  At the time I purchased a few sampler packs, and was immediately impressed with the quality and consistency of the cigars.  This past fall, (more...)

As I travel quite frequently, I often find myself in hotel bars or restaurants grabbing a beer or a dram after an arduous flight. However, a recent trip to Albuquerque proved to be something special. After arriving in Albuquerque after a long flight, I was more than ready for a dram in the hotel (more...)

Don Jaime Partagás Ravelo had worked in the Cuban tobacco business for years before establishing his own factory, Real Fábricas de Tabaco Partagás in 1845, on 60 Industria Street in Havana, Cuba. The factory is located directly behind the Capitolio building on the SW corner, in the heart of Havana. I (more...)

There are obviously going to be various challenges as well as benefits when you decide to embark on making your own cigars. To me, the benefits are well worth it and the challenges are necessary hurdles standing between you and your very own brand of smoke. Before we move on, I feel it important to address (more...)

After trying 3 scotches from a flask and a shot glass, there were 3 glasses that were most familiar to me for scotch drinking: the Tumbler, the Wine Glass and the Glencairn Glass. I feel that all 3 of these are acceptable scotch glasses. The tumbler probably carries the least pretense; you’re not very likely (more...)

Can different glasses effect the taste of scotch? I recently used myself as a lab rat and tried 3 scotch whiskies from 5 different vessels: The wedding flask, shot glass, tumbler, wine glass and a recent gift, the Glencairn glass. Often the nature of our drinking determines the glass we choose, or that someone else chooses for us. (more...)

Nestor Plasencia is one of the most influential cigar blenders around.  In addition to developing the Habana2000 wrapper, he has created a variety of blends including Rocky Patel’s Edge and Sungrown.  On top of this, he produces Plasencia Reserva Organica — a 100% organic cigar.  The man is also responsible for the American Stogies line, (more...)