Kenfessions

Had a squizz back through the records as I figured that both the Upmann 2 and the Glenfarclas 21-Year-Old must have both figured in Kenfessions before. And they have, though only once each and not as a combination. The beer? Well, it was just one of those perfect afternoons. So down for a read and a cigar.

The wildlife was in full swing, to provide some extra entertainment. Rosellas in the trees, a young scrub turkey (when I was somewhat younger than I might be these days, scrub turkeys were very wary of any humans and would disappear as fast as they could – now, not a problem. They will happily forage just feet from you if you stay reasonably still), the occasional sea eagle overhead and plenty of other birds, plus a young bearded dragon, happily sunbathing. He didn’t mind when I came close for a look, but what does scare the bejeesus out of them is any shadow from a passing bird. If you have ever seen a hawk take a dragon, and they can take dragons several times bigger than they are, you can easily understand why.

Last time it was me ranting about the imbecilic government not locking looney tunes…

Apr 20

Apr 20 Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure One – Fossey’s Barrel Gin.

This morning, I saved a turtle. I really thought that might give me some positive karma because the divinities know, I need it. I won’t go over the last six months of crap – I know others have things much worse, but spare me, I must have been a really bad person last life. Perhaps I’ll get to all that soon.

Anyway, after today’s endless farce (actually farces), I hit the wall. Gave up. As someone who normally reads every day, even if only 5 minutes before crashing, or a couple of hours if the opportunity arises, it has been January since I opened a book. So this afternoon, down at the beach shack – my fave place for a cigar as I have mentioned before, I took myself downstairs it the outside, pulled out the couch and fired up an Epi 1. Been here about three weeks and this was my first chance.

Was going to pull out some you-beaut whisky or rum but I thought, no, a gin. It was very much a gin afternoon.

I've been fortunate to have seen a large chunk of the world and I say without hesitation or without any belief that this can be contested, the weather in south-east Queensland/northern NSW in April/May is the best in the world, anywhere, anytime. Put simply, I know this because it cannot be better. Of course, as soon as I think that, although I have said it for years, the gods giggle and…

Mar 23

Mar 23 Romeo y Julieta Churchill - Four Pillars Negroni Gin and Mt Franklin Sparkling Water with hint of Mango - Superbowl.

Along with many members, watching the Superbowl is a tradition which cannot be tampa’d with (you see what I have already done there). I remember the old days. The only game we’d get all year would be the Superbowl and it would be shown about 3am, between teams we’d never heard of, with rules that made no sense. I do remember Bradshaw. Liked him. And they looked a bit like giant bumblebees, which appealed to a kid – not that I would have ever told Joe Greene that. I'm sure I ale=ready hated Dallas back then but I'm not too sure about that.

These days, things are so much better and I can watch as much as I want.

But Superbowl Monday cannot be interfered with, for any reason. And these days, with a cigar and a drink.

Like many Aussies, happy to watch any…

Mar 5

Mar 5 Juan Lopez No 1 - Bundaberg Ginger Beer

Let me start by assuring everyone that this was in no way a nod to dry January. Indeed, I find the very concept an affront to civilisation, or what is left of it after our elected officials have trashed the concept beyond repair.

I am reading a fantastic book, ‘Black Leopard, Red Wolf’ by Marlon James, an African fantasy (this is a real love it or hate it book and I suspect many will fall into the latter category). It took me a little while to get into it but when you do, brilliant. There was one line (well, there are many) which I really loved – “As bored as a god waiting for man to surprise him”. Well, if the gods were not surprised by recent events, they have a very high threshold for astonishment.

The match for the very lovely Juan Lopez No 1 was Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Nothing to do with the famous

Feb 12

Feb 12 Punch 48 - Asahi Super Dry Beer - ‘Havana Requiem’

I'm sure we all have a favourite place, or two, to enjoy a cigar. Personally, I have two.

The first is the deck at Waddy Lodge on Fraser Island, but as we only take the fishing trip for one week a year, it is a rare privilege.

The second is the family beach shack at Hastings Point in northern NSW.

The place has family history. Before I was born, the folks were coming down here. Dad was an extremely keen fisherman, and an exceptional one – I've still not seen better. Sadly, I am not in his class. There was an old shack on the headland if you could struggle through the sand tracks – remembering that…

Feb 2

Feb 2 Bolivar Royal Corona - Buller’s Calliope Rare Muscat

Sometimes, you just know it is not going to be your week.

Had to duck into my GP. I have the best GP in the world but he does tend to view time as a somewhat flexible construct (my appointment was for 9. He opens at 8.30 but these days of phone consultations, the 8.30 went in at 9.10 and I went in at 10 and a long queue forming). And I was only there because his idiot temp receptionist insisted I come in for my cholesterol prescription and that I simply could not collect it – waste of time. But I digress.

I step into the waiting room and what is he playing? Dylan's ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’.

I mean, seriously? And I was twenty years younger than the…

Jan 7

Jan 7 Bolivar Belicosos Finos - Taylor's Vintage Port 2018

An ever-popular cigar, matched with something that is a bit special.

First, the cigar – the Boli Beli (why does no one call it that?). It does sound like the aftermath of a dodgy Indian takeaway. These have been with us since pre-Revolution. Not surprising, as it is an ever-reliable and good value smoke. Pyramid in shape, with a length of 140mm and a ring gauge of 52mm, they come in boxes of 25.

If I may jump ahead, after smoking and doing all my notes, I did the usual thing of checking reviews on FoH and the internet to see what others thought. Was reading one internet review with interest when…

Dec 8

Dec 8 Punch Regional Release Asia Pacific 8-9-8 2018 - Limefinger ‘The Learnings’ Riesling 2020

One of the tough things about judging cigars is the extraordinary variation that bedevils attempts to do so. It is why that one should smoke as many examples of any particular cigar as possible before giving judgement. Of course, when Rob and I do our videos, we do exactly the opposite. We might, in some cases and more often Rob than myself, be able to bring past experience of a cigar to the table to provide a basis for comparison. But sometimes, it will be the first time either of us will have seen a cigar. Should we really be making definitive judgements based on that?

Well, yes. Otherwise, we would not get to spend our thoroughly enjoyable afternoons, together or zooming, discussing the world, solving problems, enjoying a drink and a smoke. But in reality, these reviews…

Nov 20

Nov 20 Cohiba Medio Siglo - Pyramid Valley Wines

Not often I go for a short, fat cigar but surely if anyone is going to do it well, that would be Cohiba. So, the Cohiba Medio Siglo. Honestly, if I may allow my prejudices to take over for a moment – and haven’t we seen enough of that from everyone this year – it looks more like a parody of a cigar than a real one. But I am always prepared to take one for the team.

The Medio Siglo was introduced in 2016 as part of the celebrations for Cohiba’s 50th anniversary. It was one of a trio, along with the ‘Cohiba 50 Aniversario’ and the ‘Cohiba Majestuosos 1966’. It was the first new vitola to join the Siglo series since 2002 when we saw the Siglo VI get on board. This one was dubbed No 19 in the Cigar Journal’s Top 25 from 2016. I'm sure that is very impressive.

The Medio gives a nod to two of the famous…

Nov 10

Nov 10 Partagas E2 – Seppeltsfield Barossa Savoury Allsorts Gin - Hennessey Master Blenders No 3.

Couple of very interesting matches here, one quite bizarre.

But first, as is traditional (when I remember), the cigar. The Partagas E2. The more I see Partagas, the more I love them. And I have seen a fair whack, so I love them a lot.

This Kenfession is from back just before Premier Pumpkin (very cruel to call her Princess Penelope, even if she is the spitting image) slammed the borders shut. Down at Hastings Point in NSW. Was down there for some quiet to get some work done, but also a bit of fishing, which went well. could not resist a few pics.

The Partagas E2 – surprised to learn that they…

Nov 3

Nov 3 The Fraser Island Mix - Part 2 (with photo gallery).

We made the trip up the Island on the Saturday and the first real chance for a good cigar was back at the lodge on the Sunday. A Trinidad Fundadore. Anyone hoping for detailed and considered reviews of these cigars will have surely realised that this is not the column for that, at least not this time. Over the afternoon, as I continued with ‘Lords of the Fly’ and also the latest in the Sam Wyndham series by Abir Mukherjee, ‘Death in the East’ – cracking series for those who enjoy a good detective read. This is the fourth, and perhaps his best. Set in India back in the '30s. But the drinks for the Fundie – Domaine Chandon Blanc des Blancs 2015, Grant Burge Rose and a Stonier Chardy but the exact one escapes me – these are…

Oct 30

Oct 30 The Fraser Island Mix – Part 1.

For decades, I've been making the annual sojourn to Fraser Island with the guys. Occasionally, get up there twice a year, but normally, 6 to 10 of us head up just the once. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The usual format, these days, is that we sort out vehicles etc, we have a treasurer and a quartermaster (although many is the year we have gone up with 25 different cheeses, 16 different olives etc etc, and forgotten the toilet paper). Most of us go to a mate’s fabulous house on a hill behind Cooroy for the Friday evening, a couple of hours north of Brizzy. A cigar overlooking the lake, dinner, drinks, and then we all crash and head up the next day. Another couple of hours to the tiny town of Rainbow Bay and on to Inskip Point, nothing more than a spit of sand, where we catch the car ferry to the bottom of the Island. The trip is only about 15 minutes and some years see queues of many, even hundreds, of cars on one side or both. The things you see waiting or while on the ferry can be spectacular and…

Oct 23

Oct 23 Bolivar Belicosos Finos – Shichida Junmai Daiginjo Sake

nteresting combo this week. A popular and well known cigar with something a little more leftfield – a cracking sake.

The Belicosos. A pyramid, 52x140mm. A cigar which, according to Trev’s magnificent site, has been with us since pre-1960.

This example smoked very well. rich, chocolatey, dark fruits. It took a little time to get into stride but went well when it did. It was more Christmas cake than the typical earthiness one thinks of when one smokes Bolivar. This smoke had what seems to be referred to as ‘the elusive perfect draw” but what is that? Over to Ray, I think? Slightly tight is pretty close for me. And this was.

Overall, a long slow smoke. Always like that. Quite powerful as would…

Oct 2

Oct 2 Punch Punch 48 – Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz 2008.

Right, I have no idea where this one came from, the Punch Punch 48. I suspect that it was leftover from a video Rob and I did a few years ago. Anyway, it seemed like a good thing to try with a style that I think works way better with cigars than ‘straight’ red wines.

Grand corona sized – ring gauge of 48 (no surprise there) X 140mm. Has the secondary band – the first to receive it, I believe – as a Habanos Specialist release. It certainly was in superb condition when I came to it. Looked a joy. Opened with lovely caramel notes. Good power here. Some woody notes. And then with a hint of chocolate emerging. The flavours were excellent throughout. Unfortunately, the burn raced…

Sep 23

Sep 23 Tres Hermanos Short Gordito (No. 4) – Ayala No 7 2007.