Pub Review: TAPS Fish House and Brewery – Brea, California

Our roving Cigar Group met at TAPS Fish House and Brewery in Brea this week to take advantage of their cigar-friendly patio while watching the Lakers tank another game.  (Note to TAPS:  Put a second screen out on the patio.)  I’ve been to TAPS on a couple of occasions, but had not yet sampled [...]

The Cigar Guys

The Cigar Guys – Tony Wilson and Alex Lukoff – put together a pretty smokin’ (pun intended) cigar gathering tonight at the Chateaux Restaurant and Lounge in Irvine, California.  Twenty bucks got attendees a cigar from a certain island, and a really good, diverse group of cigar smokers.  Tony and Alex host such gatherings every [...]

Alec Bradley Harvest Select 1997 and CAO America

Enjoying a great night with some friends at the Winery at The District in Tustin.
The Winery has a great cigar-friendly patio with Monday night football on the big screen.  With my Glenmorangie Scotch I enjoyed an Alec Bradley Harvest Selection 1997 and a CAO America.
Typing on my iPhone so I’ll keep it short.  Both very [...]

Gurkha Evil True to its Name

Trying a new app on iPhone that’s supposed to post to my blog. We’ll see how this goes.
I’m at the 8Eightyeight Lounge in Fullerton.  Frankie the manager talked me to a Gurkha Evil, but he’s going to owe me one for this travesty.  Harsh just turned into slightly less harsh, and it won’t stay [...]

A Review of the Big Smoke — Las Vegas 2009

Thinking of going to one of the Big Smoke events sponsored by Cigar Aficionado? A few days ago I attended The Big Smoke in Las Vegas, and here are my impressions. I attended only the night portion of the event, not the day seminars or whatever it is they do, so keep that in mind. [...]

Tonight’s Tasting: Rogue American Amber Ale and Nub Habano

Rogue American Amber Ale
The Rogue Brewery in Oregon and the fine beers it produces reminds us once again to give thanks to Jimmy Carter.  Although viewed by many as the worst President in modern history, he is the one that signed the bill in 1979 that repealed federal restrictions on home brewing of small [...]

Jagermeister Night at 8Eightyeight Diamond Crown Lounge

I find myself writing about the 8Eightyeight lounge a lot more recently because they have really stepped up the presentation of special events.  The latest such event hosted by the cigar lounge in Fullerton was a Jagermeister tasting on Saturday.
Now, to call this a Jagermeister tasting was a bit of a stretch.  When they [...]

Whiskey Night at the 8Eightyeight Diamond Crown Lounge

A great night of whiskey and cigars at the 8Eightyeight Diamond Crown Lounge in Fullerton, California. Joined Danny, Dale and Mike for a Glenrothes whiskey tasting. The three whiskeys provided for tasting were the Select Reserve (about $45 a bottle), Vintage 1985 ($125) and Vintage 1991 ($78). Based on the prices I suppose the 1985 [...]

Tequila and Cigars at the 8Eightyeight Diamond Crown Lounge

Wednesday was another great night at the 8Eightyeight Diamond Crown Lounge in Fullerton, California.  Tonight featured a tasting of Cabo Wabo Tequila and, as you can see from the photo, the fine people at Cabo Wabo were nice enough to bring along some spokes-models.
My only complaint is the size of the samples offered.  No, it’s not [...]