On this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re putting two heavy hitters head-to-head in a true side-by-side showdown: Shortbarrel Cigar Batch 2024 vs Shortbarrel Cigar Batch 2025.

Shortbarrel’s Cigar Batch releases are built specifically to stand up to bold, full-flavored cigars. These blends are crafted at higher proof and designed with deeper oak structure, richer caramelization, and amplified spice so they don’t disappear when paired with a robust smoke.

Shortbarrel Cigar Batch 2024 leans into intensity. Expect a nose packed with cinnamon stick, toasted oak, and dark caramel. On the palate, it brings forward baking spice, black pepper, roasted nuts, and dense vanilla sweetness. The finish carries a long, warming oak backbone that lingers — a classic “cigar batch” profile meant to punch through heavier ring gauges and Maduro wrappers.

Shortbarrel Cigar Batch 2025 shows evolution. Still bold, still proof-forward, but slightly more refined. The nose moves into deeper brown sugar, subtle dark fruit, and richer barrel char. The palate balances sweetness and spice more evenly, with layers of toffee, nutmeg, light leather, and a smoother oak integration. The finish feels rounder and more composed, suggesting either subtle blend adjustments or improved barrel selection.

We talk proof, structure, how each year handles spice vs sweetness, and most importantly — which batch actually performs better with a cigar in hand.

And speaking of cigars, we’re keeping it budget-friendly this week with the Oliva Serie G. Featuring an African Cameroon wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, the Serie G is known for its approachable medium body and classic profile. Expect notes of cedar, coffee, light earth, and subtle pepper — a clean, dependable smoke that won’t wreck your wallet. It’s a great test case to see how premium, cigar-focused bourbons perform against a value-driven but well-made cigar.

Can the 2024’s bold spice dominate?

Does the 2025’s refinement give it the edge?

And how does a budget classic like the Serie G stack up in a premium pour pairing?

Pour one, light one, and let’s find out.

This episode is all about the thrill of the hunt. We’re cracking open another Kentucky Bourbon Fest pickup—Burton James Bourbon, a bottle that never leaves the state of Kentucky and caught our attention for being both solid and fairly priced while wandering the festival grounds. Sometimes the best pours aren’t the loudest names, and this one made the cut.

For the cigar, we’re going next-level exclusive with the Drew Estate Unico Series Savage Feast. This limited two-cigar coffin is only available at select Drew Estate events, making it one of those smokes you don’t just stumble into. We break down how we got our hands on it, what makes it special, and whether it lives up to the hype.

Pour a drink, light up something special, and join us as we talk festival scores, rare cigars, and why chasing experiences can be just as rewarding as chasing bottles.

This week on High Proof Ashes, we dive into a true boutique bourbon experience with a single barrel pick from River Roots Barrel Co. 10 yrs old Kentucky Bourbon sourced at Red Hot Liquors. River Roots Barrel Company is a Cleveland, OH - based spirits curator dedicated to hand-selecting top-tier single barrels and small-batch offerings with bold character and distinct profiles — perfect for whiskey lovers looking for something unique. Their program emphasizes meticulous selection and craftsmanship, bringing some of the best barrel-specific bourbon straight to your glass.  

On the cigar side of the table, we continue our journey with the Rocky Patel 20th Anniversary Maduro — a medium-to-full bodied Honduran-made stick with a rich maduro wrapper and blend that delivers notes of coffee, leather, dark chocolate, and spice. It’s a thoughtful and sophisticated smoke that pairs beautifully with complex bourbons like today’s River Roots pick.  

Join us as we unpack the tasting experience, the stories behind the bourbon and the cigar, and how these two come together for a memorable sip and draw. Cheers!

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we put the Pinhook Vertical Series Bourbon 9 Year head-to-head with the 10 Year in a mini bourbon battle. Same series, just one year apart—but the difference in flavor, balance, and character might surprise you. We break down where that extra year shows up and let the glasses do the talking.

For the cigar, we’re smoking the Rocky Patel 20th Anniversary Maduro, a bold and refined stick wrapped in a dark maduro leaf, delivering rich notes of cocoa, espresso, and earth that pair beautifully with well-aged bourbon.

We’re also filming from Doran’s new indoor home cigar lounge, still a work in progress. Tune in as we talk through what it takes to build a functional indoor smoking space, from ventilation to layout, while enjoying great bourbon and a premium cigar.

This week on High Proof Ashes, we’re pouring Brothers of the Leaf Toasted Batch 1, a Kentucky-only bourbon finished in toasted French oak casks that gives this release a deeper sweetness and a refined edge. The French oak brings out waves of vanilla cream, warm pastry, light caramel, and a subtle roasted spice that builds as the glass opens up. Riding shotgun is the La Flor Dominicana Super Bowl 2025 Special Edition, a once-a-year powerhouse loaded with Dominican strength, earthy richness, and that trademark LFD pepper surge that makes their Super Bowl drops so collectible. Together, this pairing shows how toasted French oak elegance and bold Dominican fire can play off each other beautifully. Pour a glass, light up, and enjoy another slow-burn conversation with us.

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re diving into a bottle you can only find in the Bluegrass State—Burton James Single Barrel Bourbon from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. This limited Kentucky-only brand brings a classic profile with a warm sweetness, seasoned oak, and a surprising depth for a young label. It’s the kind of pour that makes road trips to Kentucky worth it.

For our smoke, we’re continuing our run with the Casa Cuba Flora Fina, a cigar blended by the legendary Don Pepin Garcia to honor his family’s old-world Cuban traditions. Its smooth medium-bodied profile, gentle spice, and creamy texture make it a perfect match for a focused single-barrel tasting.

We talk through how the bourbon and cigar play off each other, what changes as the glass and stick open up, and why regional-only bottles like this keep bourbon hunting fun. Another relaxed, flavorful session—pour a glass, light up, and hang out with us.

This week on High Proof Ashes, we’re pouring one we brought home from our trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival — Buzzard’s Roost Char #1 Bourbon. Aged in lightly toasted, #1-char barrels, this whiskey highlights the brand’s unique approach to flavor: soft vanilla, layered oak, and subtle spice, all balanced with the smoothness Buzzard’s Roost fans have come to love.

For our smoke, we’re reaching back to one of our early podcast favorites — the Casa Cuba Flor Fina from Arturo Fuente. Blended by the legendary Carlos Fuente Sr., this cigar delivers a complex medium-bodied experience with creamy smoke, notes of sweet cedar, roasted nuts, and a hint of spice that pairs beautifully with today’s pour.

Join us as we revisit old favorites, talk about what makes Buzzard’s Roost stand out in the craft bourbon world, and reflect on the flavors (and memories) from our time at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.

This week on High Proof Ashes, we’re pouring something that’ll catch you off guard — Found North Batch 011, an 18-year Canadian whisky that drinks nothing like you’d expect. Rich, complex, and layered with depth, it’s proof that great whiskey doesn’t always have to come from Kentucky.

Alongside it, we’re firing up the Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength, a bold, full-bodied bourbon that delivers the heat, spice, and caramel kick we love from this small-batch brand.

For our smoke, we’re staying in the ATL line with the Wise Blood — a flavorful, medium-to-full cigar inspired by Southern storytelling and spiritual duality. Expect notes of earth, pepper, and a touch of sweetness that pairs beautifully with both pours.

Join us as we explore the clash and harmony of Canadian elegance, Kentucky muscle, and Georgia soul — all in one smoky, high-proof session.

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re pouring one of Penelope’s most intriguing limited releases — Project X, finished in rich Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks. This bourbon takes Penelope’s classic four-grain profile and layers on deep notes of dried fruit, dark honey, toasted oak, and just enough sherry sweetness to turn every sip into a dessert-worthy pour.

To match that complexity, we’re firing up the Oliva V Melanio Maduro — a masterfully blended cigar wrapped in a dark, oily San Andrés Maduro leaf. Expect a slow burn filled with espresso, cocoa, and spice that perfectly complements the sherry-finished bourbon’s velvety sweetness.

We’ll explore how the PX influence changes the bourbon’s balance, talk through the transitions in the Melanio Maduro’s flavor profile, and share our final pairing thoughts on whether this combination hits the mark we’re chasing

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re diving into two bourbons we handpicked during our Kentucky Bourbon Festival trip — both crafted by the team at Log Still Distillery in Gethsemane, Kentucky.

First up is a Monk’s Road Wheated Single Barrel, bottled at high proof — something you don’t see often in a wheated expression. It’s smooth yet bold, showing off Log Still’s classic balance of sweet grain, oak, and spice. Then we move to Rattle and Snap, another Log Still label that brings a brighter, fruit-forward bourbon profile with a lively finish that keeps things interesting.

To go with these bottles, we’re lighting up the Micallef Black, a surprisingly budget-friendly cigar that punches well above its price point. Wrapped in a dark Nicaraguan Maduro and blended for medium body, it delivers rich espresso and cocoa notes that match beautifully with both pours.

Join us as we talk tasting notes, the story behind Log Still’s resurgence, and why this small family operation is making big waves in Kentucky bourbon.