Name: Château Kefraya Les Exceptions Syrah 2018 Type: Red Wine Grapes: Syrah Year: 2018 Country: Lebanon Region: Beqaa Valley Date Consumed: January 7, 2024
The occasional trip to Château Kefraya has never been a bad idea. Whenever I’m there, I get to try something special. And I usually go for the “Les Exceptions” bottles because you can’t find them elsewhere.
I got hints of red fruits, including strawberry, pomegranate, and cherry. It paired well with the full-bodied Oliva Serie V that I was smoking, and I was in great company, so there was nothing I could complain about.
LFD is one of my favorite brands out there, and La Nox was one of the top cigars I smoked this year. I paired it with different whiskies, and I was satisfied with all the pairings. My preference: I would smoke this cigar on a cold day and pair it with a peated whisky like Laphroaig 10.
The Serie V Melanio line is top-notch. I smoked this Double Toro at Whisky Live Beirut 2023, and I paired it with many whiskies. The one that went with it best was the Chivas 13 Tequila Cask. But don’t take my word for it. I could have been drunk.
I burned this one outdoors. I smoked it while grilling. I had Johnnie Walker Black Label with it. And I was in great company. As the saying goes, “Enjoying cigars isn’t just about smoking cigars.” The whole set up made it a wonderful experience.
I don’t smoke a lot of Arturo Fuente cigars, but when I do, I enjoy them very much. For some reason, I’ve always loved pairing my Arturo Fuente cigars with coffee, especially espresso. But I’ve successfully paired some with whiskies as well as rums.
One of the best cigars I smoked this year happened to be at one of the best weddings I’ve attended in my life. It is safe to say that I got wasted soon after I lit the cigar. The wedding took place in Armenia; naturally, my best pairing option was vodka. So much vodka was consumed that night. Getting drunk, however, did not stand in the way of me smoking the Ramon Allones until my fingers burned.
The No. 9 is my favorite Liga Privada cigar, and I like to pair it with espresso and sparkling water. It is a near-perfect cigar, faultless and beautiful.
The wife and I relaxing by the pool. The sun is shining, I’m reading an excellent book, and smoking a great cigar. The Rocky Patel Disciple Sixty left a good impression on me. I loved it.
Strong, powerful, and affordable. Very generous smoke. Just like I like them. This cigar is not for the weak. I smoked quite a few of them throughout the year, most of them at the cigar lounge.
This came out of a friend’s humidor. After a wonderful dinner, my friend opened his humidor, picked this cigar, and gave it to me. “If I know you, I know you’ll love this cigar,” he said. And he was right. My preference: I would pair the New World with full-bodied wines and Irish whiskies like Jameson, Teeling, and Bushmills.
Name: Monastère de Rechmaya 2012 Type: Red Wine Grapes: Cabernet-Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet-Franc Year: 2012 Country: Lebanon Region: Chouf Date Consumed: December 9, 2023
It was cold outside, not as cold as it should have been, but cold enough for wine to be drunk to warm our spirits.
“Such a lovely restaurant,” one of us said as we let the waiter lead us to our table. Our table faced the fireplace — “Such a lovely fireplace!” — where the gentle fire performed a belly dance.
We ordered arak first, and then wine, and then mezze.
And we talked until our stomachs were full.
I must say, This is the kindest December I’ve ever met. It has rained a few times but not enough times to convince people that a new season has come.
Bored Absurdist 