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Bourbon Review: Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon (Batch 27)

We review Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon (Batch 27), part of an ongoing series of hearty, aged bourbons that are married with this brand's flagship Joseph Magnus bourbon and finished in ex-Armagnc casks.

OVERALL RATING

9
$175.00
  • Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Blend of bourbons aged 12 to 20 years that’s mixed with regular Joseph Magnus bourbon and finished in ex-Armagnc casks; 121.31 proof; total of 390 bottles released (the bottle reviewed here is no. 370); MSRP of $175 for a 750ml bottle, but expect to pay considerably more if you can find it online.
Appearance:
Dark amber, almost red.
Nose:
Rich, luxurious and almost syrupy. Give it a splash of water and a little bit of time, and it opens up nicely. Even so, this is not a whiskey that will take guff from anyone. It’s coming at you hard and fast out of the glass. I get raisins, dates and a Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. It seems too on-the-nose, but I think I also smell leather and tobacco leaf.
Palate:
Master Blender Nancy Fraley calls this batch the “sweet one,” and I can see where she’s coming from. It’s dark and rich – and definitely sweet, though not in the easy-going vanilla and butterscotch way typical of many bourbons. I immediately thought of a moist pound cake soaked in amaretto, which explodes with flavor after you pop it into your mouth. You’re chewing your bourbon as much as drinking it. There’s a velvety and lush mouthfeel brought on from the 18- and 20-year-old bourbons in this blend. I taste plums and dark cherries, black tea, German apple strudel and nuts covered in dark chocolate. The sweetness fades but the finish holds on long and warm, settling in like a cigar you continue to taste long after you’ve finish smoking.
Finish:
Comments:
This is a complex bourbon. It’s good in its own right, but truly really reveals itself if you drink it alongside a nice cigar. What could seem like a little bit too much in terms of personality becomes exactly enough when you pair it with cigar smoke. This is bourbon with a backbone, complex and moody and daring you to pull your best cigars out of the humidor. Anderson, the general manager, said Joseph Magnus is finishing the Cigar Blend batch no. 35 in January and would be releasing it soon. If you’re a cigar smoker, especially, you could do worse than to find yourself a bottle.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Scott Bernard Nelson

Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer based in Portland, Oregon. While currently working in higher education, he previously dedicated 22 years to journalism, covering impactful events such as 9/11 in Manhattan, crossing into Iraq with U.S. Marines, and contributing to The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of abuse in the Catholic Church, which inspired the film "Spotlight." Since 2019, Scott has shared his insights as a whiskey reviewer for The Whiskey Wash.  

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