Eat Drink Smoke - Episodes Tagged with “Connecticut Cigar”

We Tried A 12% Gas Station Drink. It Did Not Go Well

Tony Katz — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400

This week, Tony and Fingers review the Micallef White Label Connecticut Robusto and Puncher’s Chance The Undisputed Single Barrel Bourbon.

The cigar is a 5x52 Robusto featuring a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, and the guys discuss why Connecticut cigars have come a long way in recent years. Once thought of as mild morning smokes without much depth, today’s Connecticut cigars are bringing real flavor — and this Micallef delivers wood, hay, bready sweetness, a touch of pepper, and plenty of value at around $8 a stick.

The drink this week is Puncher’s Chance The Undisputed Single Barrel, a 108-proof bourbon from Wolf Spirit. Tony and Fingers break down the nose, palate, proof, rye spice, finish, and whether this bottle belongs in the liquor cabinet at around $55.

Also on this episode: Fingers brings Tony another unforgettable Gas Station Find — Atomic Boss Blue Riz Hard Punch. It is 12% alcohol, bright blue, sold in a juice box, and may or may not taste like a fluoride rinse mixed with bad decisions.

Plus, Tony and Fingers talk World Cup visitors discovering America, ranch dressing and the TSA, Father’s Day food deals, grilling, beef ribs, Jersey Mike’s knocking Chick-fil-A out of the top fast-food spot, Jersey subs, Indiana tenderloins, family drama, parenting, Prime Day deals, and Defiance Beef.

It’s cigars, bourbon, blue gas station regret, and America’s growing ranch dressing diplomacy.

All that and much more on this edition of Eat Drink Smoke.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com and subscribe to Eat Drink Smoke on YouTube.

Happy Hour - Mayor Pingree Small Batch Red Label Bourbon

Tony Katz — Sat, 23 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Happy Hour - The K by Karen Berger Connecticut Toro

Tony Katz — Sat, 23 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

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.