Editors Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Jos A. Magnus. Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 12 Age: NAS on the label but this batch is a blend of 12, 13 and 20 year old MGP Abv: 104.2 proof Price: $169.99 Neat Nose: Rich and complex with dark fruit, brown sugar, tobacco, leather and baking spice notes Taste: More brown sugar and dark fruit alongside rich oak and more pronounced spice notes than the nose. font-style: normal; @font-face { font-family: 'Open Sans'; The Cigar Blend Bourbon expression combines the 11 and 18-year-old whiskeys that are masterfully blended to pair exceptionally well with cigars. It rapidly developed distribution in much of the United States, and cemented a reputation as a high-end blender and finisher. Even so, this is not a whiskey that will take guff from anyone. A perfect accompaniment to a cigar or pipe. /* latin-ext */ font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTSCmu0SC55K5gw.woff2) format('woff2'); unicode-range: U+0102-0103, U+0110-0111, U+0128-0129, U+0168-0169, U+01A0-01A1, U+01AF-01B0, U+1EA0-1EF9, U+20AB; Two things coincided at once with Joseph Magnus increasing production of Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend around 2020. Did it refer to a bourbon meant to taste like a cigar? As the creator of it, I can assure you that it was not made up to be a gimmick in the least, Nancy Fraley, master blender at Joseph A. Magnus & Co., told r/bourbon earlier this year. The finish is quite long, with crests of sweet and spice and plenty of soul! Palate: Master Blender Nancy Fraley calls this batch the sweet one, and I can see where shes coming from. It was at Germain-Robin where Fraley learned about the long tradition of Cognac makers creating cigare blends, designed to pair especially well with a stogie. Drop-in your email address and we'll send you Drinkhacker's best reviews, most insightful features, and great extras like exclusive contests and giveaways, once a week. Originally started by Joseph A. Magnus in 1892, the company focused on producing whiskey until Prohibition took hold. Confirm that personalization you entered is correct. src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTS-mu0SC55I.woff2) format('woff2'); A. Magnus & Co. is the second iteration of the Magnus brand. Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 13 is just ridiculously excellent bourbon. I have yet to see Joseph Magnus bourbons on the shelves locally, and because batches of Cigar Blend are so small, I have rarely seen it online either. If I could just inhale this whiskey, I would. The latest Cigar Blend Bourbon tasting notes are available online, Reconnecting Our Brand to the Legacy of Jos. The journey of these 6 barrels from D.C. to Holland, MI, inspired Magnus Master Blender Nancy Fraley to dub this batch The Rock & Roll Series to commemorate the intense interaction between the spirit and oak, when the whiskey inside the Armagnac casks was churned and swirled during the journey on the truck, thereby penetrating deeply into the wood and pulling out more matured oak tannins, sweet caramelized wood sugars and richly aromatic and fruity Armagnac spirit notes than is typically found in the Cigar Blend Bourbon batches. They were thinking I was wanting to do a bourbon-infused cigar, recalls Fraley. This dram is meant to inspire the creativity of poets, artists, and musicians world-wide! font-weight: 700; Shop additional bourbons. And we enjoyed the Joseph Magnus in the environment it was meant for. To our knowledge, Magnus bourbons are still sourced MGP even these very old Cigar Blends. Still, the Cigar Blend is Joseph Magnus signature bourbon, so lets find out how the bourbon itself drinks in this Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 13 review. src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTSCmu0SC55K5gw.woff2) format('woff2'); Artfully blended to enjoy with a fine cigar. So does Buzzards Roost Cigar Rye, surely the most on-the-nose of these efforts. Our Move to Michigan | Reconnecting Our Brand to the Legacy of Jos. } A. Magnus, 6 Pre-Prohibition Cocktails Joseph Magnus Would Have Loved, 7 Last Minute Gift Ideas for Whiskey Enthusiasts. More shipping infoShipping info, Free Shipping in Manhattan over $251. I taste plums and dark cherries, black tea, German apple strudel and nuts covered in dark chocolate. unicode-range: U+0590-05FF, U+200C-2010, U+20AA, U+25CC, U+FB1D-FB4F; The nutty qualities resume on the palate, together with brown butter drizzled on baklava, stewed prunes in syrup, and fig compote, with much roundness on the palate, soft alcohol, and a long finish. The information Ive provided isminimal at best, but thats pretty much all the information there is about batch 13. Grosse Pointe, Joseph Magnus' Cigar Blend Bourbon Whiskey, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Straight Bourbon Batch 93 750ml Bottle, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Straight Bourbon Batch 86 750ml Bottle, Joseph A Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon, Batch 3 By Prav Saraff, USA: (GA) /* latin-ext */ Cigar Blend Batch 13 is just incredible. unicode-range: U+0370-03FF; More shipping infoShipping info. Its coming at you hard and fast out of the glass. First released the late summer of 2016, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon would be composed of 11-year-old bourbon and 18-year-old high-rye bourbon finished in sherry, Cognac, and especially Armagnac casks, the older the better, and preferably ones that had formerly held eaux-de-vie made from Baco 22A grapes. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. } SOLD OUT, Free Ground Shipping on this item(Free shipping does not apply on mixed items). Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon (Batch 27) (image via Scott Nelson/The Whiskey Wash). A combination of award-winning Joseph Magnus Bourbon and 11 and 18-year-old whiskeys to assume bold, rich aromas of tobacco, spice, leather, vanilla, blanched almonds, and toffee. Type: American Whiskey Batch 13, my first experience with Cigar Blend and the focus of this review, is a blend of 13 and 20-year bourbon finished in Sherry, Armangac, and Cognac casks, a very unique set of finishes in bourbon today. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon. @font-face { Soft and round on the palate, yet hitting all the right notes. The Armagnac cask finish lends fruity notes of fig, prune, and dried apricot. You might think that the website would offer a great opportunity to market the product, but I guess not. font-display: swap; These flavors combine with a robust mix of spice, with rye and baking spices being the most prominent. Though Joseph A. Magnus's overall profile remains fairly unknown among drinkers at large, Cigar Blend continues to be a reliable hit for the brand with connoisseurs it recently released. ), When we were deciding to produce a cigar batch bourbon, we wanted to focus on the pairing of a cigar with a bourbon rather than focusing on the credentials of other cigar batches in the marketplace already, explains Christian Huber, a seventh-generation family distiller. There are occasional bursts of fresh citrus, cherry, and mint that add to the depth and provide interesting contrast to dark oak from the old bourbon. Once perfectly blended, this bourbon is finished in Armagnac, Sherry, and Cognac casks. The internet's best selection of old and rare wines. font-weight: 400; It was the lowest proof of the bunch which should mean more of the Armagnac cask gets to shine through in the finishing. font-style: normal; A. Magnus, (616) 796-8274 | 184 120th Avenue | Holland, MI 49424, 2023 Jos. Jos. I wouldnt hesitate to pour this for bourbon-loving friends at home any time, but in this case Ive already stashed the rest of the bottle away for future outings likely to involve good friends, good cigars and the great outdoors. Birth Defects. Rich dark tobacco notes pair with baking spices and seasoned oak. font-stretch: 100%; This batch flaunts notes of mint chocolate chip ice cream, old saddle leather, aromatic pipe tobacco, eggnog with shaved nutmeg, and prunes in syrup (Pruneau dAgen) that it gained on the long, over the road journey northwest in Armagnac barrel #13. Dark berries mingle in, offering a slightly sweet addition to the sip. Upland, USA: (DE) Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend is the DC-based distillery's annual-ish release of older bourbon finished in various wine and brandy casks. The sweetness fades but the finish holds on long and warm, settling in like a cigar you continue to taste long after youve finish smoking. Maybe its because Ive been drinking pear brandy lately? Magnus Cigar is a drug to me, says Caroline Paulus, a whiskey historian with Justins House of Bourbon in Louisville and Lexington, Ky. She claims to have tasted around a dozen different batches. In that regard, its a limited release with a unique and developed flavor profile that I can understand how some could become enamored with. font-family: 'Open Sans'; 35 in January and would be releasing it soon. font-family: 'Open Sans'; Long and complex, its a suiting pairing for the nose and palate that precede it. @font-face { By 2001 Germain-Robin would produce Old Havana Alembic Brandy, for the lover of fine cigars. (Theres likewise Dalmore Cigar Malt, a single malt Scotch first introduced in 1999. More shipping infoShipping info, State shipping regulations apply. } Sale Price: $349.99 Im optimistic that it will be just as outstanding. Los Angeles, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon 750ml (Limit 1), USA, KENTUCKY, USA: (NJ) All of this means that Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend's profile would now change a bit. | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/articles/why-is-beer-foam-important/. They sell! Jimmy Underwood of Good Times Bourbon told me recently about his companys cigar finishing. Re-established in 2015, the company now focuses on blending and finishing techniques initially employed by Joseph Magnus.Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon was developed by Nancy Fraley, a Master Blender and widely revered whiskey and rum consultant. I'm correcting that tonight and finally giving this the full tasting it deserves. Joseph Magnus Bourbon Cigar Blend. A. Magnus & Co. | A Brand | Designed & Developed by Kynda, 3 Kentucky Derby Cocktails to Celebrate Derby Day, Reconnecting Our Brand to the Legacy of Jos. The palate reveals notes of deep purple blackberry jam, Rice Crispy treats with marshmallows and melted butter, crme de menthe, old fashioned Tutti Frutti ice cream with pineapple, raisins, cherries, black currants, and grilled nuts. Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch 17 Follow on IG Support on Patreon Distillery: Joseph Magnus Type & Region: Bourbon, USA Alcohol: 52% Composition: Not specified, but should be all from MGP Aged: Unknown Color: 1.8/2.0 on the color scale (old oak) Price: $150-200 (MSRP), but good luck with that From the company website: CIGAR BLEND BATCH #86: "TREASURE CHEST"121.62 PROOF "Treasure Chest," offers a cornucopia of interesting and unique flavors and aromas. font-weight: 700; Youre chewing your bourbon as much as drinking it. } font-style: normal; At least a half-dozen bourbon companies offer them at the moment, and whiskey collectors scurry to gobble them up, though I doubt most realize the inspiration for them comes from old-world France. It does not store any personal data. font-display: swap; His distillerys release offers notes of spice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. With an MSRP of around $50, I found this one sitting on the shelf for $40 and figured it was an opportune time to give this one a shot. A. Magnus & Co. is the second iteration of the Magnus brand. and Other Alcoholic Beverages May Increase Cancer Risk, and, During Pregnancy, Can Cause font-style: normal; We talk about bourbon, rye, or any American whiskey here (yes, even Jack). Batch 24 is particularly suited to cigar pairing, and I would assume other batches are as well. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A. Magnus & Co. 'Joseph Magnus' Cigar Blend Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA: (CA) Cigar Blend batch #37 takes a somewhat exotic turn, inviting the whiskey connoisseur to probe deep into the fragrant world of the spice vendors in the Souks of coastal North Africa. Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch 23 Price: $175 Official Website Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch 23 Review: Tasting Notes Eye: Rich ochre. font-stretch: 100%; Our Move to Michigan | Reconnecting Our Brand to the Legacy of Jos. Manage Cookies Accept & Continue. These aromas follow through to the palate, together with notes of crme brulee and orange marmalade. Please check your entries and try again. Its dark and rich and definitely sweet, though not in the easy-going vanilla and butterscotch way typical of many bourbons. Notes of golden raisins, vanilla custard, rum cake, and chocolate-covered toffee add ample sweetness which is tempered with tobacco, black tea, and a bit of licorice. They're wrong. Tasting Notes for Cigar Blend Batches #42 - 47 Jos. If you couldnt tell by now, the nose is fantastic and keeps evolving, making me want to keep searching for more luscious treasures. } unicode-range: U+0370-03FF; To that end, the price is steep for a bourbon you dont quite know what you are going to get, though the effort is there and the flavor profile is going to be unabashedly unique. Much like the mysterious alter-ego of pre- Rock-n-Roll era artist Hank Williams Sr., Cigar Blend Batch #44 most definitely dwells on the dark side of life, aromatically that is. More shipping infoShipping info, Free local shipping over $34.99. More shipping infoShipping info, Spirits shipped in California only In this batch we find spicier notes of spearmint, black licorice, pipe tobacco, sweet molasses, and Bourbon pecan pie filling with dark chocolate chips. @font-face { Like all of the batches in this series, the finish is quite long, with a kaleidoscope of flavors lingering on the tongue for minutes. The aromatic fantasy continues with flavors of orange blossom water drizzled over honeyed baklava, floral, heady notes jasmine notes of quince jam, and almond paste. As I continue to dig, I find a little roasted chestnut half peeled open with a little dried grass. The resulting combination of flavors and finishes is unusual in the industry, and such a unique finish and blend is rarely attempted with such high aged bourbons. font-display: swap; font-weight: 400; @font-face { The bottle we opened that December day on the side of the river is batch no. Sacramento (Arden) Nearby Stores. . @font-face { font-stretch: 100%; This in no way, per our editorial policies,influencedthe final outcome of thisreview. Wine-Searcher's historical data and benchmark analysis provides trustworthy and valuable insights into likely market trends.