Kenfessions: A Sublime Trio...

[Ken Gargett]

Partagas E2 – Ron Cubaney 25-Year-Old - Lighthouse Gin

Catching up on a few planned matches which slipped through the cracks. This was such a good cigar and drinks match that it would be an injustice not to cover it. Not an injustice of the level that the world is now protesting, but an injustice, nonetheless. 

It seems odd to think that the Partagas E2 has been with us less than a decade (introduced back in 2011), but also that it seems to miss out on the love it deserves. Why? But I know plenty of you guys are fans. Deservedly so! This is one of my faves in the Partagas line-up. Lusi and D4 take the Gold and Silver, but this is close. 

A Robusto Extra, 54 by 140. Mine had a slightly... continue to full article. 

[Meklown]

There seems to be a very huge fascination with gin in recent years - so many craft distilleries and small batches. 

However the key thing I like about wines and spirits is the art of the production process. Whisky for example - take malt, add some yeast to ferment, distill, age in barrels, bottle. It's hard to imagine a simple process like this yielding infinitely different taste combinations, but that's what happens - every barrel is different. Whereas gin, you have some distilleries that add in "secret mix of 34356234 herbs and spices". This definitely takes away the art of distillation and barrel aging to me. 

Similarly, I like my steaks simply with salt. You can make the best BBQ sauce ever, but that is coming nowhere near my steak!

[Ken Gargett]

1 hour ago, Meklown said:

There seems to be a very huge fascination with gin in recent years - so many craft distilleries and small batches. 

However the key thing I like about wines and spirits is the art of the production process. Whisky for example - take malt, add some yeast to ferment, distill, age in barrels, bottle. It's hard to imagine a simple process like this yielding infinitely different taste combinations, but that's what happens - every barrel is different. Whereas gin, you have some distilleries that add in "secret mix of 34356234 herbs and spices". This definitely takes away the art of distillation and barrel aging to me. 

Similarly, I like my steaks simply with salt. You can make the best BBQ sauce ever, but that is coming nowhere near my steak!

i have no doubt many gin producers had great intentions to make fabulous whisky or rums etc, but that take years. they can't afford it. gin is distillery to dollars in a month or two. 

[Meklown]

1 hour ago, Ken Gargett said:

i have no doubt many gin producers had great intentions to make fabulous whisky or rums etc, but that take years. they can't afford it. gin is distillery to dollars in a month or two. 

Agreed. There are many cases of new whisky distilleries making several batches of gin to keep the cash flow going.