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Dave Yancey

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Mercury Chophouse Review

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mercurychophouse

Mercury Chophouse Review Be Celebrated!  A phrase that I often will tell others, whether it is on their promotions, birthdays, anniversaries, or just because. Recently I decided to take my advice and celebrate by treating myself to a nice dinner. For this celebration, I decided that I wanted to eat at the Mercury Chophouse located in Arlington, Texas. Now, normally I will walk into the restaurant, ask for a seat for one, and enjoy my dinner. This time, however, I decided to make a reservation, mainly because it is a nice steakhouse, and I wanted to ensure that I would have a place to sit, but also out of respect for the restaurant. My reservation was for 6:30 pm on a Friday; When I arrived at the location at 6 pm, I began looking around for parking when the Valet service flagged me down to inform me that Valet was free for the restaurant and told me that the restaurant was located on the 9th floor of the office building where I arrived. Because I was thirty minutes early, I had expected to wait in the lobby when I approached the hostess station. However, they were able to sit me right away.  As the hostess led me to my table, we passed by a nice full bar, grand piano, and some other patrons sitting at nice tables with leather chairs, beautiful lighting, and large windows overlooking the city. My seat was a corner table for two that was part of a long booth. I was able to sit facing the window on the opposite wall and look out over the scenery.  After a few moments, my server stopped by my table and offered me a wine and a cocktail menu which also displayed an impressive collection of spirits. Accepting the…

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Cigars News

CTP changes term from “grandfathered tobacco product”

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CTP changes term from “grandfathered tobacco product” In an article recently published by the FDA regarding the Center for Tobacco Products, CTP announced that they are changing the term “Grandfathered Tobacco Product” to that “Pre-Existing Tobacco Product.” This is something to keep an eye on regarding Cigars. While the terminology change doesn’t change anything in the here n now, if we see this continue moving forward as regulation, we will see all of the cigar industry heavily impacted. On Aug. 19, FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) updated the term “grandfathered tobacco product” to “pre-existing tobacco product” on all the Center’s systems. As described in the Premarket Tobacco Application (PMTA) and Substantial Equivalence (SE) final rules published in 2021, the updated terminology more clearly and appropriately describes these products. You can read the full article here.

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Featured Spirits Whisk(e)y

Exploration of Scotch Whisky

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Exploration of Scotch Whisky

** This article was previously published in the Whiskey Network newsletter as a four-part series by Greybeard**  Exploration of Scotch Whisky It is hard to turn around in today’s society and not have heard something about Scotch. You will see it in the movies, television shows, and all over the media and internet. Scotch’s vast history dates back to the 15th century, with the earliest known distillery in Scotland operating in 1494. This article, however, will not be about the history of Scotch, but instead will be a walk through the different regions in Scotland and the Scotches made there. Before we get into the regions of Scotland, there are five classifications or types of Scotch that we will want to understand. Also, it would be good to briefly cover the regulations of how a Scotch is to be distilled. Scotch Classifications Single Malt Single Malts are one of the most common types of Scotches known. The scotch can be classified as a single malt when made at a single distillery, in a pot still, and using only water and malt. Single Grain Single Grain will follow the exact requirements as a single malt, except other cereal grains can be added to the mash bill. Blended Malt (or Blended Single Malt) Blended Malts will be a blend of two or more Single Malts from two or more distilleries. Blended Grain (or Blended Single Grain) Blended Grain will be a blend of two or more Single Grains from two or more distilleries. Blended Scotch Blended Scotch, which constitutes approximately 90% of the whisky produced in Scotland, will contain both malt and grain whisky. Regulations The regulations which define what a Scotch are: Bottled at no less than 40% ABV Contains no additives other than water and caramel coloring Distilled in Scotland…

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Cigars Featured Opinion

Why I’m not a smoker, but I smoke

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Cigar Ray

Why I’m not a smoker, but I smoke Disclaimer:  Do your research on the effects of smoking on your health and consult with your doctor if necessary. The pleasure of cigar smoking has been around for centuries, with the first depiction of a cigar dating back to the tenth century. With the adventures of Columbus in the fifteenth century, cigars made their way to Europe, thus bringing the tradition of smoking cigars to the rest of the world. While tobacco has been linked to health risks such as cancer dating back to the 17th century, it wasn’t until the 1920’s that the first medical report linked smoking tobacco to lung cancer, and not until the 1950s and 60’s that it was confirmed that tobacco was considered to be a cause of a range of serious diseases. As you are doing your research, you will find in both the conclusion of the reports and the data sets that cigars are considered the same as cigarettes. You can determine this in statements such as the following excerpt from “Cigars: Health Effects and Trends Monograph 9,” published in Feb 1998 and last updated in Dec 2020. The smoke from both cigars and cigarettes is formed largely from the incomplete combustion of tobacco, and therefore it comes as no surprise that cigar smoke is composed of the same toxic and carcinogenic constituents found in cigarette smoke. Nowhere in this publication does it discuss the differences between cigars and cigarettes and how they are made. No mention of how cigars are 100% natural with no additional chemicals added as opposed to cigarettes. You will also notice that when looking at the data sets of this report and many other reports that the cigar smokers used in the studies, the majority are dual smokers, meaning they…

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Cigars Pairings Spirits Whisk(e)y

Don V / Makers Mark Private Select Pairing Review

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Don V / Makers Mark Private Select Pairing

One of the joys of writing reviews on cigars, whiskeys, and the pairings between them is that you will often have the opportunity to try a new cigar or whiskey and pair them that you may not otherwise have. That is the case with Don V by Oscar Valladares. Cigar: The Don V is a collaboration between Oscar and Vick Shah, who owns the Norwood Royal Cigar lounge in Chicago. The Vitola I had the opportunity to smoke was a Toro, Maduro in shade, and a Honduran Puro. One thing that stuck out to me throughout the smoke was that it was consistent in its earth, leather, and gamey notes with very subtle transitions of cocoa between the first and second third and coffee between the second and final third. Whiskey: Makers Mark Private Select starts as a Makers Mark 46 bourbon, but then the selection begins from a choice of any combination of five different staves to finish the bourbon. The particular expression for this pairing came in at 108.5 proof and was aged between 5 and 7 years. The nose presented caramel and black cherries, while the palate brought buttercream oils with black cherries and cocoa. Pairing: You are looking for a marriage of the flavors with any pairings between a cigar and a drink. This marriage will either present through a complementary pairing where similar notes complement each other and enhance those flavors. Contrast pairings are another form of pairing that differs from complementary, where flavors will contrast and balance each other. The final style, which presents a nice marriage between the flavors, will be a balanced pairing, where neither cigar nor drink will impact each other and offer just a pleasant rounded experience. Through each third of the cigar, drawing from the cigar first and then…

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Cigars Featured News

Premium Cigar Industry Argues Case Against Deeming Rule

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Premium Cigar Association

PCA argues that the FDA does not address its questions lined out in the deeming rule regarding cigars. A study cited in the FDA Rule states that there is no statistically significant increase in health risk among cigar smokers who smoke 1 – 2 cigars per day.   Thank you, PCA for all that you do for our industry. For further reading please refer to the original article here.

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Featured News Spirits Whisk(e)y

Jack Daniels announces 2 new expressions

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Jack Daniel's Bonded Series

Jack Daniel’s announces the release of their brand new Bonded Series which will include the two new permanent expressions of Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash Blended Straight Whiskey. Both expressions are Bottled-in-Bond which follows the stipulations laid out in the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, a bonded whiskey must be distilled at a single distiller in a single season, aged in a government bonded rickhouse for at least four years, and bottled at 100 proof. The Jack Daniel Distillery has been making exceptional American whiskey to the highest standards for generations, before and after the Bottled in Bond Act, dating back to the days of Mr. Jack himself,” said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “Jack Daniel’s Bonded and Triple Mash are a nod to our heritage with a touch of innovation and craftsmanship. These whiskeys are another opportunity for both our friends and new drinkers to explore and discover everything Jack Daniel’s has to offer.” Read more here

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Cigars Featured News

FDA Announces Proposed Flavored Cigar Product Standards Rule

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Premium Cigar Association

FDA Announces Proposed Flavored Cigar Product Standards Rule If you’ve been following the news and proposed legislation around cigars and especially “flavored” cigars lately then you’re quite aware that the FDA has had a target on this classification. It started with vaping and menthol cigarettes and the proposed legislation has also included flavored or infused cigars.  Below is an excerpt from the article published on the PCA website. Today, the Food & Drug Administration and the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) announced their “Tobacco Product Standard for Characterizing Flavors in Cigars” proposed rule, which would prohibit characterizing flavoring in all cigars. On March 10th the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) was the first stakeholder group to meet with the Office of Management & Budget, Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs, and Food & Drug Administration to raise concerns about this pending rule, ask for clarification on the specifics, and make recommendations about further research on international implications and impact on small businesses. PCA asserts that the agency still has left many questioned unanswered specifically on: characterizing flavor descriptors total small business impact foreign impact in cigar producing countries impact on minority owned small businesses “The FDA failed to do their homework in this rule and the document is filled with cherry-picked data that mirrors spoon fed talking points from anti-tobacco groups. The proposed rule is a mess that is ripe with potential challenges and reflective of an agency that is unable to prioritize its resources appropriately.” said Greg Zimmerman president of the PCA. For the full article you can find it here.

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