Eat Drink Smoke

Tony and Fingers ask the important question: Is your HOA out of control? Fingers has a neighborhood watchdog, a grabber, and apparently a man monitoring street parking like it’s a federal investigation.

This week, the guys review the Cuban Seed Cigar Company Cohiba Grand Pyramid and the Cody Road Single Barrel Rye.

The cigar is a massive 6.5 x 54 pyramid with a Corojo Habano wrapper and a wood-forward profile, but construction issues raise the big question: is it worth the $55 price tag?

The rye brings fruit, banana bread, light spice, and a little heat — but at nearly $50 a bottle, “pretty good” may not be good enough.

Also this week: Las Vegas continues its war on the middle-class gambler, casino buffets are disappearing, brisket prices are ridiculous, Tony’s Memorial Day brisket cook goes sideways, Walmart and Ollie’s recall a children’s toy over asbestos concerns, and NPR faces newsroom cuts.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

Tony and Fingers light up the My Father La Gran Oferta Lancero, a 7.5 x 38 smoke with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Cuban-seed binder, and Nicaraguan filler.

The cigar opens with leather, pepper, spice, and a debate over whether the finish is wood or bitter espresso. Because obviously, this is where civilization hangs in the balance.

Also on the Happy Hour: Tony talks about his early-morning Indy 500 tradition, Fingers considers upgrading his Masterbuilt Gravity Series grill, and the guys get into Memorial Day barbecue plans, brisket strategy, ribs, grill deals, Cracker Barrel’s summer giveaway, Allegiant Air filling part of the Spirit Airlines void, and whether ordering Cracker Barrel for delivery is a crime against the Republic.

Plus, Defiance Beef, smoked sirloin tip, reverse-seared steak, brisket logistics, and the eternal truth: there is no one “right” way to barbecue, despite what the brisket weirdos on the internet keep telling you.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

On this version of the Happy Hour, Tony and Fingers review the James E. Pepper Barrel Proof Decanter Bourbon, a gorgeous bottle with a proof that comes in just under 110 - though you would never know it from the nose.

The guys get oak, caramel, vanilla, baking spice, a mystery fruit note they can’t quite pin down, and what Tony describes as a rich custard-like finish. At around $60, both agree this one is absolutely in the liquor cabinet.

Also on the Happy Hour: six once-popular lunches you don’t see much anymore, including liverwurst sandwiches, chipped beef on toast, perfection salad, sardine sandwiches, and the deeply troubling possibility of a peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich.

Plus, Cuba makes threats, gas prices hit the car market, used SUVs may become bargains, Tony considers a 1989 Corvette, and Defiance Beef has a Memorial Day deal worth checking out.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

Tony and Fingers review the My Father La Gran Oferta Lancero and the James E. Pepper Barrel Proof Decanter Bourbon.

The cigar brings early pepper, leather, wood, and a mellowing medium profile that makes a strong case for the humidor. The bourbon turns out to be a hidden gem, with oak, vanilla, fruit, a rich mouthfeel, and a shockingly smooth finish for nearly 110 proof.

Also this week: Memorial Day grilling, Indy 500 cigar traditions, brisket plans, grill deals, Masterbuilt vs. Traeger talk, Allegiant filling Spirit Airlines routes, Cracker Barrel giveaways, old-school lunches, used car chaos, EV range anxiety, and whether anyone should ever order Cracker Barrel delivery.

Plus, Tony explains why the radio call of the Indianapolis 500 is unlike anything else.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

Tony and Fingers pour Mayor Pingree Small Batch Red Label Bourbon from Valentine Distilling in Ferndale, Michigan — a 94-proof bourbon that blends Valentine’s triple pot-distilled bourbon with traditional column-distilled bourbon casks from Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

They get notes of vanilla, oak, honey, bread, pepper, citrus, and a little orchard fruit — then find that a cube or a little water brings the bourbon together nicely.

Also on this Happy Hour: Jack Daniel’s reportedly saying no to a massive Brown-Forman offer, why Malört keeps showing up in people’s feeds, St. Elmo’s shrimp cocktail, hot wings, blue cheese vs. ranch, cigar note-taking, Fingers’ deeply troubling food diary, the cars thieves love most, Byron Allen buying BuzzFeed, older trucks, Chevy Avalanches, and why Defiance Beef may be the better place to spend your money.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

Tony and Fingers light up The K by Karen Berger Connecticut Toro, a soft box-pressed 6 x 52 Connecticut with an Ecuadorian wrapper, Nicaraguan core, silky presentation, light spice, creaminess, cedar, and a little sweetness.

They talk about why Connecticut cigars deserve more respect, when this cigar fits best, and whether it earns a spot in the humidor at around $12.

Also on this Happy Hour: the proper way to reheat leftover pizza, why skillet pizza may be the superior method, Tony’s appliance-unplugging habits, cigar humidor headaches, Subway’s continued decline, Eric Clapton getting hit by a fan-thrown record, concert etiquette, Weird Al, Rod Stewart, and a Defiance Beef road trip that may or may not require a flatbed.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

This week, Tony and Fingers review the K by Karen Berger Connecticut Toro, a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut with Nicaraguan binder and filler.

Connecticut cigars get dismissed too easily, and this one makes the case for why that is a mistake. The Karen Berger Connecticut brings creaminess, cedar, a touch of white pepper, some sweetness, and an easygoing profile that works in the morning, at night, with coffee, or whenever you feel like smoking a Connecticut because you are an adult and can live your life.

They also review Mayor Pingree Red Label Bourbon from Valentine Distilling in Ferndale, Michigan. It is a 94-proof bourbon that brings vanilla, oak, honey, spice, pepper, and a little orchard fruit — especially after adding water or putting it over a cube.

Also discussed: the best way to reheat pizza, using leftover pizza toppings in an omelet, Tony’s toaster paranoia, Subway closing hundreds of locations, Eric Clapton ending a concert early after being hit by a thrown record, whether Malört should be reviewed on the show, the strange human desire to eat painfully hot wings, and which cars thieves love to steal.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

This week, Tony and Fingers review the K by Karen Berger Connecticut Toro, a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut with Nicaraguan binder and filler.

Connecticut cigars get dismissed too easily, and this one makes the case for why that is a mistake. The Karen Berger Connecticut brings creaminess, cedar, a touch of white pepper, some sweetness, and an easygoing profile that works in the morning, at night, with coffee, or whenever you feel like smoking a Connecticut because you are an adult and can live your life.

They also review Mayor Pingree Red Label Bourbon from Valentine Distilling in Ferndale, Michigan. It is a 94-proof bourbon that brings vanilla, oak, honey, spice, pepper, and a little orchard fruit — especially after adding water or putting it over a cube.

Also discussed: the best way to reheat pizza, using leftover pizza toppings in an omelet, Tony’s toaster paranoia, Subway closing hundreds of locations, Eric Clapton ending a concert early after being hit by a thrown record, whether Malört should be reviewed on the show, the strange human desire to eat painfully hot wings, and which cars thieves love to steal.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony and Fingers review Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey, a seven-year, 90-proof wheat whiskey from Heaven Hill that delivers oak, vanilla, cinnamon, cream, fruit, and serious value for $20 to $30 a bottle.

They pair it with the Esteban Carreras Dictator’s Hand, a Nicaraguan puro with leather, wood, sweetness, and building white pepper.

Also: Mother’s Day brunch, Fingers’ colonoscopy timing, Hugh Jackman at Ball State, Spirit Airlines, oil prices, basement flooding, vacation water shutoffs, and Tony’s toaster paranoia.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony and Fingers review the Esteban Carreras Dictator’s Hand, a Nicaraguan puro formerly known as The Devil’s Hand, and break down its leather, wood, sweetness, white pepper, and harder-to-place flavor notes.

They also get into frozen pizza recalls, breakfast pizza, brisket sides, Spirit Airlines shutting down, cruise ship nightmares, and the very real joy of having your basement flood right after it was finished.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.