Kenfessions

Well, this was a bit embarrassing. I had to do a tasting of the new Bolly and so, once done, the stopper went back in and the bottle to the fridge for that evening. As it really is a scintillating champagne, I wanted a really good cigar. And as we were coming towards the end of the Robusto Rumble, I thought it was time for the CoRo. So I searched high and low. I was thinking how awkward it was going to be explaining to Rob that I had unfortunately misplaced the prized Robusto.

So I thought I would pull one out from my own humidor as a replacement (a Robusto, not a CoRo). Hence, this one, the Por Larranaga Robustos de Larranaga. 2007 Regional Release Asia Pacific. EMA Oct 07. And then I noticed that in the notes, I had already smoked…

Mar 13

Mar 13 Robusto Rumble – El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme - Monteith’s Black Beer - Glenfiddich Grand Cru.

A pox on all dud cigars. disappointing, frustrating, miserable wastes of time.

Next cab of the Robusto rank was the ERdM Choix Supreme. My experiences with this cigar in the past have largely been positive, so I was looking forward to this. Well, talk about one giant ripping of the Funk out of your Wagnalls.

The immediate impression on opening was of earthy, bitter notes, but I was not worried. Fool!

I thought give it a moment to hit its straps, and this too shall pass. As I said, fool!

I was very careful in lighting it but…

Robusto Rumble – Ramon Allones Specially Selected - Glenglassaugh 1965 50-Year-Old Cask #3510 - Vickery Riesling ‘The Reserve’ Eden Valley 2017 ‘Zander Kosi Block’ EVR 704 Z.

Mar 6

Mar 6 Robusto Rumble – Ramon Allones Specially Selected - Glenglassaugh 1965 50-Year-Old Cask #3510 - Vickery Riesling ‘The Reserve’ Eden Valley 2017 ‘Zander Kosi Block’ EVR 704 Z.

Next robusto into the frame.

Now, as mentioned last time, I have been afflicted by the dreaded lurgy and been hiding away at the coast for the best part of a week. Today was the first day it was not bucketing rain all day – lovely day, actually – and more importantly, the first day I had the chance to try a cigar (notwithstanding my condition, but yet another sacrifice for FoH).

So I went for the tried and tested and always true, RASS. It seemed a cautious but wise move. For drinks, time to push the boat out.

The RASS. Performed admirably. Was in good condition with a rather pale wrapper, but it certainly looked well crafted. It lit well (I was extremely careful) and smoked only needing a touch-up once or twice (as they would say on B-99, title of its sex tape. Sorry. Blame it on the lurgy).

Started nicely with some rich and toasty notes. Nuts, roasted nuts. It did not take too long to move into those lovely…

Feb 18

Feb 18 Robusto Rumble – Vegas Robaina Famosos - Joseph Sparkling Red

The second cab off the rank for Rob’s Robusto Rumble. For no particular reason at all, I grabbed the VR Famosos, a cigar I have not smoked for a long time. They were well received on release in 1997, which was probably before some FoH members were even born – how depressing is that?

The match? An Australian icon!

I have been doing some tastings of the Aussie Spurgles, once known as Sparkling Burgundy but now either Sparkling Red or often Sparkling Shiraz – of course, only when it is made from Shiraz. That is usual, though sparkling reds in Australia are made in almost every region from almost every red variety. The Joseph is actually Shiraz, Cabernet and fortifieds.

Anyway, one of the stars of my tastings has been, as it always is, the Joseph Sparkling Red ($90) from McLaren Vale. So, after the official work was done, I stoppered the bottle and…

Feb 7

Feb 7 First Entrant in the “Robusto Rumble” – Partagas D4 Robusto – Pommery Extra Brut ‘Louise’ 2004

Rob recently came up with a terrific idea – the “Robusto Rumble”. I immediately had visions of Hulk Hogan in the ring announcing the fight to the death between a RASS and a CoRo! He dropped off a bundle, noting that he was a couple short but that they were on their way. A couple short! I do not wish to be Ronnie-Rain-On-Your-Parade but has anyone looked to see how many Robustos there are?

Dozens of the things. Regional Releases out the wahzoo, Limited Editions falling out of trees, some discontinued, some one-offs, some just appear and disappear and of course, the regular production Robustos. And that is what the Rumble will be about.

The order of smoking? Given that I am…

Diplomatico “Nortenos” Canada Regional Release 2018 – Dom Perignon 2008 - Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape 2009 - Rockford Black Shiraz Sparkling Red

Jan 28

Jan 28 Diplomatico “Nortenos” Canada Regional Release 2018 – Dom Perignon 2008 - Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape 2009 - Rockford Black Shiraz Sparkling Red

New Year’s Eve. Has there ever been a more overhyped, trumped-up, pretend holiday on the planet? Except for Valentine’s Day and the Queen’s Birthday and Halloween (outside the States, at least) and a whole heap more.

Caught up with some of my oldest friends and crashed up at their place – just off the beach just north of the Qld/NSW border. It was pretty much a perfect way to spend New Year. A summer evening with a cool sea breeze. A fireworks display (can take or leave that). Some cracking wines. A brilliant barbecue. A cigar (okay, not everything was perfect). Many hours telling old stories, all of which get better every year. And then sound asleep by about 11pm.

The cigar was the only let-down. And is there a more disappointing cigar than one you know is normally a star, but utterly fails you. The culprit…

Jan 10

Jan 10 Juan Lopez No 2 (SMG FEB 08) – “Big Night”

You have to love Christmas. Family, friends, catching up with the rellies and hoards of kids, most of whom you’d swear you’ve never seen before, too much to eat and drink. Can be a bit full on, but that is all part of the fun.

At Chez G, I always do a family dinner for anywhere between 8 and 12, give or take. Out at the markets and then cooking for several days. Trialling a few dishes to make certain they work. Trying (sort of) to accommodate my vegan niece. The fridge and freezer will be bulging. Every year, every single year, I end up with enough left over to feed 20 people for two weeks.

This year, we kicked off with…

Dec 12

Dec 12 San Cristobal ‘La Punta’ – Gutierrez Colosia Amontillado and Oloroso – Ode to La Venencia

It was one of those neat coincidences that I picked this up out of a box of randoms I had in the humidor. Been doing some stuff on sherries and one I took to a wine lunch invited some research.

The lunch is run by a local medico mate and he does so with an iron fist. Stuff up and your invites to future events might become a little thin on the ground. Plenty angling to take an empty seat. This one, all wines are usually served blind to avoid preconceptions, required wines we considered to be of Grand Cru status. They did not have to be formally acknowledged but we had to defend our choices.

A magnum of Pol Roger ‘Sir Winston’ 2002 was unanimously declared Grand Cru worthy. A Lafite and Sassicaia, a Rayas and a Rousseau, likewise. A couple of VPs – by chance both a mate and I had brought Warres – a 1963 and a 2016 – and the comparison worked a treat. It is all great fun.

One of mine was the…

Dec 6

Dec 6 SLR Corona – Four Pillars Sticky Carpet Gin - The GlenDronach 21 Year Old Malt 'Parliament'

Remember your younger days? Perhaps they are still with you. You and your mates head out on the town, too much beer, move into spirits. Pick up a kebab someone along the way. End up in a dodgy pub with a live band which sounds great at 3am, although perhaps a little less like the next Stones the next morning. And speaking of the next morning, your head is thumping. Promises never to do this again are made, with never the slightest intention of being kept. Your mouth feels like an airport runway or possibly that sticky carpet, drenched in decades of split beer, where you were dancing like no one was watching.

What could be less appealing? And what on earth would possess anyone to make a drink that reminded one of that sticky carpet?

And yet, that is exactly what the team…

Nov 22

Nov 22 Montecristo Limited Edition ‘C’ 2003 - Johnnie Walker Blue Label ‘Ghost and Rare’ Whisky

Well, this was looking a touch awkward.

For a very long time, I have happily told the world that the greatest waste of tobacco leaf in history are those dire Monte C’s – full moniker, Montecristo Limited Edition ‘C’ 2003. Not because I am not a Limited Edition fan – I most certainly am – but because they are really awful cigars. Then along comes Whipcrack with his ‘smoke your worst cigar’ comp, an idea that ranks with the Skins signing Albert Haynesworth.

I give him a review, but apparently that will not do. Under the perfidious shadow of retrospective legislation, I have been forced to search the very depths of my humidor in the “hope” of finding a Monte C – which seems a bit like searching one’s nether regions in the “hope” of finding a rash.

I found one – the cigar, not the rash.

Now, as Rob will be the first to tell you…

Nov 15

Nov 15 Juan Lopez No 2 - Duchesse de Bourgogne Ale

Coming to the end of the bundle of odds and sods of seconds Rob left with me for Kenfessions.

This JL2 looked far more like a fourth than a second, but I am not one to complain. The wrapper was torn and ragged. If this had been a mongrel puppy then sorry to say, it would have been put down by now – to digress, currently both mother-sitting and puppy sitting for the family. The puppy is an incredibly energetic, even more than usual for a puppy, Springer Spaniel. Great dog but needless to say, needing all manner of vet care. Has finally got rid of the cone to stop it doing stuff to stitches etc, although I am wondering why, as it still has “socks” for some reason.

Well, it manages to remove one of the socks. I go to put it back on but…

Nov 1

Nov 1 Vegas Robaina ‘Don Alejandro’ - Wild Turkey ‘Master’s Keep’ Bourbons

So, what does Kenfessions have in common with Hunter S. Thompson, ZZ Top, George Thorogood, 'Rambo', 'In the Heat of the Night', 'Thelma & Louise', 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit', 'The Sopranos', 'Seinfeld' and 'Buffy, the Vampire Slayer'?

We are all, at some stage, talking, singing or writing about Wild Turkey. As Hunter S. was fond of saying, ‘when the going gets tough, the weird turn professional’.

But first…

I remember the early days of VR and the excitement. One of the highlights…

Nov 1

Nov 1 Cohiba Robusto - Bundaberg Ginger Beer

Not a fish to found anywhere on the Island. No one has caught so much as a hint of one. But we persevere. So goes the annual fishing trip to Fraser Island, off Queensland’s central coast – the world’s largest sand island.

Head down to the beach in front of the Lodge, just north of the Waddy Point rocks, on dusk. The southeaster is howling but it is to our backs, which means that the poor sods fishing south of Indian would be copping full brunt.

Cold. Bone-chilling cold. I very rarely wear waders and I am not doing so now. No idea why. Never really took to them. The old man often didn’t either, though perhaps he was seen in them more often in his…

Oct 25

Oct 25 Trinidad Fundadore - Lighthouse Gin; Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky

The world’s third largest (and fast heading to utter irrelevancy with the moronic and completely incomprehensible interpretation of rules, and the fact that every single scrum bores us senseless for almost two minutes – but let’s leave rugby to destroy itself) sporting event is currently yawning its way to its conclusion (I say all this as someone who did not miss attending a Reds game for some forty years if I was in the State, blah, blah, blah, the good old days, blah, blah, glory days…). What should have been one of the Rugby World Cup’s showpieces, the Wallabies against the Welsh, stumbled its confused way to I have no idea what, other than definitely not a win for us, on any level.

But, we should give them at least a nod for providing us with the opportunity to enjoy a good cigar.

I pulled out one of the…

Sep 20

Sep 20 Cohiba Robusto - Equipo Navazos ‘La Bota de Ron, Number 65’