BigGuns

Those colors…💩

Hold on….my English is a little fuzzy, but is this article suggesting that government-controlled pricing on consumer goods led to supply issues with said goods? 😱

<forwards to Gen>

This post needs a link to a recipe, sir.

Those are pretty sweet looking. I've always had an interest in these cutters, but have my doubts...has anyone here used them long(ish) term? Any concerns with functionality, sharpness, etc. over time?

I have not, but Ocho comes out with a number of limited/unique offerings. They have a few single estate options, a “fuerte” option that’s 106 proof or so (very good) and others. I would trust anything from them.

So let me get this straight…Fortaleza blanco and Añejo (surprised no reposado) was found in either Italy/UK, but is scarce in Los Angeles?? Got it. Great pickups!!!!

“All of them” - The Lounge Lizards podcast anytime Pol Roger comes up… @LizardGizmo

So good.

GREAT choices!!! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

No effing way, that Canadian water must have something in it! Looking forward to giving this a watch/listen…

Started with Don Fulano Fuerte (a rare 100 proof tequila) and then disappointingly switched to La Gritona reposado, which was a let down.

I figured this would eventually get moved to this sub-forum, so I hope the dialog continues…. A few thoughts - love the G4 rec, and I’m happy you brought up additives, @El Hoze! That is (partially) the reason of Clase Azul’s success, aside from the beautiful bottle and the bell ringing if you hit it right - all that fall into the category of gimmicks, if you ask me. The rule - instituted by a surprisingly rigid regulatory agency that oversees tequila production, the TRC - is that you can still call yourself “100% blue agave” if you keep your additives to under 1%. The intent was to allow the puros to account for color consistency and the like. Unfortunately, additives have become so potent that flavors like vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, etc., can be infused to hide the poorer quality of the agave but remain under the threshold. There is certainly a place for it, and I don’t disparage it (too much), but it takes away from the purity of the spirit. I intentionally left añejos off of my list for a similar reason - to amplify the consideration of the more “pure” houses to discern the intricate differences between their various agaves without the influences of artificial flavoring or that of the barrels they are aged in (bourbon, Cabernet, Bordeaux…). @dobbs - all of your recs are great choices, and you won’t be disappointed with Fortaleza. The problem is, like @El Hoze said, it’s been hard to come by, at least still here in LA. Whenever I come across it, I grab a bottle. I’ll have to look up Pasote - haven’t heard of it, and always looking to try something new. Anyone ever dipped into La Gritona? Aside from the entertaining name, it is a brand founded by and managed by primarily women, which gives it a good story. Unfortunately, I poured some this evening after not having it for a while and it had a sort of medicinal taste. I wonder if, like these fine cigars we all love, I grabbed a bunk bottle??? Lift ‘em up and share the wealth! Let’s get a movement, not necessarily away from the browns, but more into this fine, arguably underrated, spirit…

Flirting with Rule #2, but I dig it

Had a great zoom sesh with the fellas last night and the topic of tequila came up, as it is wont to do…after an enjoyable chat I was asked to make a few recommendations. Not the easiest task, I decided to narrow it down to 3 bottles each of blancos and reposados that won’t break the bank and will deliver excellent, and different, agave experiences. All of the following are artisanal brands, prepared to the highest standards, comprising 100% blue Weber agave. They are also readily available (in the US, anyway) and are from different regions of Jalisco. Blanco: El Tequileño Platinum Blanco (be sure it’s not the plain blanco, which is a mixto) 123 Tequila Número Uno Tequila Ocho Plata Reposados: Don Fulano Reposado Siete Leguas Reposado Casa Noble Reposado If you are so inclined, pick up a bottle or five and give them a go. I humbly request that you try each one neat to start and if you decide you need a cube or more, add it after. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that it isn’t necessary after you dip your toes in a little bit. I know tequila has quite literally left a bad taste in most of our mouths due to some poor high school/college decisions back in the day. However, there is now much more to offer beyond the Cuervo Gold of our nightmares. Give it a whirl…if you’re interested to learn more, check out eps 32 & 34 of the Lounge Lizards podcast where Gizmo and the boys welcome their friend and chef Ricky Camacho for some very well informed tequila talk. I’d love to see some other recs and opinions. This is a spirit that is booming now and firmly planting its flag alongside the whiskeys and rums of the world. I thoroughly enjoy it with cigars, which I know is not on most smoker’s radars. Just last night I was enjoying the Tequila Ocho Plata mentioned above with a MOFOH Spada Gorda. Paired beautifully. ¡Salud!

Happy birthday, Di! Hope you had a great day and here’s to another wonderful year!

Hard case with foam dividers - size depends on length of trip. Two/finger case for moving around and a v-cutter so TSA keeps their panties out of a bunch. Pick up a gas station butane torch after touching down.

I’m so pissed I watched that whole thing. Damn you. I was wondering if they would just keep looping those same nonsense images and then found myself wishing they did when I saw what kept coming up. I have no idea what was being said. My brain is mush(ier) now. thanks

I have two wine memberships, but they are direct club memberships with wineries that we have toured and love. We get a half case every other month from each, so it works out to get a 6-bottle delivery every month of selections that have yet to let us down. I feel like that works better than subscribing to a random wine delivery service where you’re rolling the dice on getting something you’ll enjoy versus getting whatever bottles may be piling up at the warehouse that need to be unloaded. We had a third, but ultimately cut it off when the wines started getting stale/uninteresting. I used to subscribe to a local meat delivery service that sourced different cuts from various local ranches/farms. That got old rather quickly because although the quality was top notch, I found myself stockpiling some of the cuts that weren’t in our priority wheelhouse. I’d imagine a general wine/spirit/cigar subscription would be the same - you’d get some stuff you really enjoyed and the rest would take up space until it got tossed.

What a word salad…had to read it a couple times to understand what it was saying. Interested to see how long it lasts and whether the relationship evolves from here. Or if it is just some sort of election posturing, as suggested…

Bummed to be missing this one! Have a good time, y’all

Thank you for another opportunity to suggest pairing cigars with the fine nectar of the agave plant - Tequila. I see margaritas on your list, but I invite you to 86 the limes and triple sec, Cointreau and Grand Marnier, and any fruit or whatnot you choose and try the tequila straight. Neat is preferred, but feel free to add a cube perhaps to open it up, if you need to. There are a slew of artisanal brands on the market that are doing it right, without additives (or minimal to the point of still being allowed to have the “100% Agave” stamp). While I tend to prefer Blancos for their purity in flavor and representation of the agave from which they came, I would suggest starting with reposados or anejos if you’re diving in for the first time. They are a natural transition for whiskey or wine drinkers as the different tequilerias source used bourbon, scotch, and wine barrels for their aging. You will pick up some of the caramel/vanilla/butterscotch notes while still enjoying the agave flavor. Some brand suggestions - Número 123, 7 Lequas, Casa Noble, Fortaleza, El Tequileno, Tequila Ocho. There are dozens more that I would happily suggest if desired. Once you have found a reposado or anejo of those lines that you enjoy, pick up their blanco to taste the true essence of that particular brand. I find that, contrary to what I believe is popular opinion, Tequila compliments cigars rather than overpowers them, even the lighter-bodied lines. ¡Salud!

That’s Panchita! The Cinco de Mayo contribution to this fine day

I hope everyone celebrating today has a wonderful day! And if you’re not, have a fantastic day just the same!! Someone help me out and flip that second one for me…thank you! Cheers!

Indeed