Eat Drink Smoke

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy smoke the Alec Bradley Safe Keepings Toro and find out whether this easygoing Nicaraguan cigar earns a spot in the humidor. The guys talk through the cigar’s smooth, clean profile, the lack of big spice or pepper, and whether a simple, steady smoke at around $13 a stick is enough to make it worth keeping around. They also pour LALO Blanco tequila in place of bourbon for Passover and break down whether this bright, smooth sipping tequila belongs in the liquor cabinet, even for people who don’t usually live in the tequila world. Along the way, they get into Hershey’s returning Reese’s to its original recipe, why companies ruin good things in the name of profit, falling American whiskey exports, professors trying to outsmart AI-cheating students, three women arrested after rushing a plane over a baggage fee, TSA wait time tracking in the United app, and Fingers’ ongoing cast iron skillet learning curve. Find everything at Eatdrinksmokeshow.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour, Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy pour Two James Spirits Johnny Smoking Gun, a Detroit-made whiskey that immediately sends them down the rabbit hole. Infused with Japanese tea and built to pair with rich, savory broths, this is not your standard bourbon-night pour. The guys break down the strange smoky nose, the herbal and buttery notes on the palate, the almost impossible-to-categorize flavor profile, and whether a bottle this weird and this interesting deserves a place in the liquor cabinet. They also keep smoking the Camacho Corojo Toro, a pepper-forward Honduran cigar with wood, a little sweetness, and enough balance to make it an easy yes for the humidor at under ten bucks a stick. Along the way, they get into airline chaos, long delays, TSA headaches, United’s new sofa-bed seating idea, whether Trader Joe’s really is the best place to work in America, and why some bottles are worth buying simply because they turn into a whole conversation. Find everything at Eatdrinksmokeshow.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour, Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy light up the Camacho Corojo Toro -- and find out what happens when a cigar sits quietly in the humidor for nearly four years before finally getting its turn. The guys break down the cigar’s oily wrapper, steady construction, black-and-red pepper spice, wood notes, and just enough underlying sweetness to keep things interesting, even if it doesn’t quite land in Tony’s personal wheelhouse. They also stumble into an actual surprise during a Gas Station Find when Big Sipz Chocolate Martini turns out to be far more drinkable than either of them expected. What starts as a joke ends with comparisons to a White Russian, a rare moment of approval, and the shocking possibility that a three-dollar gas station drink might actually be party-worthy. Along the way, they get into rotating cigars in the humidor, frozen burger tricks that may or may not be gourmet, dog walkers treating Fingers’ mailbox like public property, the challenge of talking about Iran when the story keeps changing by the hour, and why this may be the first truly successful gas station find in show history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy smoke the Camacho Corojo Toro and find out that a cigar sitting in the humidor for nearly four years can still bring plenty to the table. The guys break down the all-Corojo build, talk through the pepper, wood, and subtle sweetness in the profile, and debate whether this under-$10 stick earns a spot in the humidor. They also pour Two James Spirits Johnny Smoking Gun, a Detroit-made whiskey infused with Japanese tea that delivers one of the strangest and most interesting flavor profiles they’ve had in a long time. Smoky, herbal, savory, and unlike just about anything else on the shelf, it turns into a full-on tasting-room conversation about whether “weird” is worth $50. Along the way, Fingers brings in a surprise Gas Station Find that actually works, the guys argue about the right way to season burgers, get into neighborhood dog-walking etiquette, talk airline delays and TSA chaos, and take a look at a list of the best places to work in America. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour, Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy pour George Dickel Barrel Select Tennessee Whisky and try to figure out whether this old-school name still deserves a spot in the liquor cabinet. The guys break down the whiskey’s light profile, subtle oak, faint vanilla, and easy-drinking smoothness, then see whether a little water or a cube can wake it up enough to justify the price. They also keep smoking the Perla Del Mar Maduro Double Toro from J.C. Newman, a budget-friendly box-pressed cigar that brings broadleaf richness, cedar, earth, and just enough depth to make it an easy pick for the golf course, the garage, or a weekend smoke that won’t punish your wallet. Along the way, the guys get into Ruth’s Chris enforcing a dress code, why golf attire inspires irrational distrust, whether social media is quietly making everyone angrier and older, and how dealing with difficult people might actually be aging all of us in real time. There’s also talk of convertibles, Twitter bots, muting people instead of blocking them, and why some overlooked old-school brands are still worth trying before you write them off. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour, Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy light up the Perla Del Mar Maduro Double Toro from J.C. Newman and make the case for why this box-pressed Connecticut Broadleaf cigar belongs in the conversation whenever you’re talking about budget-friendly smokes that actually deliver. At around $7.50 a stick, the guys break down the cigar’s broadleaf richness, spice, cedar, earth, and medium-to-full profile, while also talking through who it’s for, when it works best, and why keeping notes on your cigars can help you figure out your palate over time. They also suffer through a brutal Gas Station Finds review of Reese’s White Eggs, a candy so bad it nearly wrecks the entire cigar experience, and maybe the trust between man and peanut butter forever. Along the way, the guys get into overpriced lighters versus cheap torches, Walmart’s digital shelf labels, and the fear of dynamic pricing, a massive late-winter storm hammering the Upper Peninsula, a report on rising death rates among Gen X and elder millennials, delayed colonoscopies, COVID quarantine memories, and why Tony is now ordering an entire cow from Defiance Beef. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy review the Perla Del Mar Maduro Double Toro, a budget-friendly box-pressed cigar from J.C. Newman that delivers rich broadleaf flavor, solid construction, and enough spice, cedar, and earth to make it an easy humidor pick at around $7.50 a stick. They also pour George Dickel Barrel Select Tennessee Whisky, talk through its light profile, subtle sweetness, and how a little water or ice helps bring out more oak, spice, and vanilla — even if it still falls short of earning a permanent spot in the liquor cabinet. Along the way, the guys tear into a disastrous Gas Station Finds review of Reese’s White Eggs, debate Walmart’s new digital shelf labels and the possibility of dynamic pricing, react to a People magazine report on rising death rates among Gen X and elder millennials, and get into whether social media is quietly making everyone older, angrier, and more miserable. There’s also a detour into Ruth’s Chris enforcing its dress code, golf attire, convertible midlife-crisis math, and why some old-school brands are still worth your time. It’s cigars, whiskey, candy, grocery-store paranoia, aging, internet rage, and the usual wandering chaos that make Eat Drink Smoke what it is. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour, Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy pour a bold Indiana bourbon and break down what all those whiskey labels actually mean. They dive into Fenwick’s Single Barrel Bourbon 5-Year-Old Cask Strength, talk through the difference between cask strength, barrel strength, full proof, and single barrel, and then discover a bottle that changes dramatically once a little water or ice gets involved. At 118.3 proof, this one brings big caramel, vanilla, and a serious kick — but also one of the most surprising transformations they’ve had in years. The guys also revisit the Aganorsa Leaf La Validación Habano Toro, talk about where it lands in the strength and flavor profile, and make the case for keeping notes on what you smoke, what you drink, and how a cigar changes from the first third to the final third. Along the way, they get into the Weber grill-brush recall, the dangers of wire bristles, how to clean your grill the right way, and why people will spend serious money on a grill but cheap out on taking care of it. There’s also a detour into McDonald’s gimmicks, a bizarre CEO sandwich moment, and Tony’s behind-the-scenes story from attending the State of the Union, complete with security, checked phones, confiscated cigars, and a view of Congress that turned out to be better than the speech itself. It’s bourbon, cigars, grills, McDonald’s, politics without the politics, and the kind of wandering conversation that makes Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour exactly what it’s supposed to be. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour, Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy smoke the Aganorsa Leaf La Validación Habano Toro, and dig into a cigar that brings plenty of spice, wood, and pepper at a very friendly price point. Tony breaks down the Habano wrapper, the cold draw, and why this stick might deserve a spot in your humidor, while Fingers weighs in on the leather, wood, and overall value. Along the way, the guys also try a ricotta-and-almond cake mix hack that somehow turns into a bigger conversation about soft cookies, getting kids comfortable in the kitchen, and whether parents are actually preparing their kids for life. Then it’s on to airline etiquette, as United finally cracks down on passengers blasting audio without headphones, which leads to the only reasonable conclusion: some people should be ejected directly from the cabin. And because it’s Happy Hour, Fingers brings in a true gas-station special: Smirnoff Ice Shorties Red, White, and Berry. The results are... not encouraging. There’s blue raspberry, cough syrup, regret, and just enough alcohol to make everybody wonder how this ever made it into a bottle. It’s cigars, cake hacks, airline rage, gas-station booze, and the kind of chaos that makes Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour exactly what it’s supposed to be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy smoke the Aganorsa Leaf La Validación Habano Toro and find a cigar that brings plenty of spice, solid value, and a surprising amount of complexity for the price. They also pour Fenwick’s 5 Year Cask Strength Bourbon, an Indiana-made bottle that completely changes character with a little water and turns into one of the more memorable pours they’ve had in a long time. Along the way, the guys get into box cake hacks with ricotta cheese, a brutal Gas Station Finds review of Smirnoff Ice Shorties Red, White and Berry, United Airlines cracking down on passengers who play audio out loud, recalled Weber grill brushes, and Tony’s behind-the-scenes story from attending the State of the Union. Find everything they do at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During this Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour, Tony and Fingers pour Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select, put it neat, on ice, and with a little water, and try to decide whether the whiskey lives up to the legend — or just the price tag. They also revisit the Year of the Duque from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, talk through the final third, and land on the question that always matters most: is it good enough to earn a spot in the humidor? Along the way, they get into tipping fatigue, mystery hotel fees, low- and moderate-income investing, and the kind of big-news cigar lounge conversation that starts with whiskey and somehow ends with geopolitics. Find everything they do at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour, Tony and Fingers light up the Year of the Duque from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and get into everything from the cigar’s rich cedar, char, cocoa, and pepper notes to the eternal question: is it really worth nearly eighteen bucks a stick? Along the way, they talk construction, value, low-maintenance cigars, birthday freebies at chain restaurants, sleep advice from the internet, transcendental meditation, mullets, and the kind of radio detours that make Happy Hour what it is. If you like cigars, bourbon talk, food, and two guys taking a perfectly normal conversation and driving it straight into a redemption window, this episode is for you. Find everything they do at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy light up the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Year of the Duque and immediately get stuck on the most important question of all: how exactly do you pronounce it? Along the way, they break down the cigar’s rich, low-maintenance smoking experience, talk through notes of wood, char, cocoa, and spice, and debate whether a 5x48 stick at nearly eighteen bucks earns a place in the humidor. On the drink side, they crack open Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and ask the big question: Is the presentation, the pedigree, and the price tag worth it? There’s plenty of talk about banana on the nose, cherry, brown sugar, oak, and whether this Tennessee whiskey is a true splurge bottle or just a handsome box with a famous name on it. Also in the mix: birthday freebies at chain restaurants, the madness of modern tipping culture, mystery hotel fees, sleep advice from the internet, Fingers’ mullet era, and the kind of lounge conversation that somehow goes from cigars and whiskey to transcendental meditation and international politics without ever losing the thread. Find everything show related at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy light up the Crux Marblehead Toro (6x50) and immediately run into one of the most confusing cigar caps you’ll ever see. The Marblehead name comes from the 109-style Cuban cap, which sits somewhere between a traditional rounded cap and a belicoso tip. Translation: it looks cool… but it also raises an important question. Where exactly are you supposed to cut the thing? Tony and Fingers break down the cap design, the cutting strategy, and whether this cigar might actually be a V-cut kind of smoke. Along the way, they dig into the blend: Ecuadorian Habano wrapper Indonesian binder Nicaraguan filler Right out of the gate, the flavor profile surprises them. Instead of a spice bomb, the cigar opens with wood notes, a touch of leather, and a balanced spice that stays controlled rather than overpowering. And here’s the real surprise. At around $8 per stick, the Crux Marblehead might be one of the better value cigars they’ve smoked recently. The guys even float the idea that it could land on a future value list if the profile holds steady through the rest of the smoke. Also in this episode: • A frozen food recall involving possible glass contamination in chicken fried rice • The ongoing debate over prime rib in a smoker vs the oven • Whether reverse-searing a steak actually improves it • The surprising return of an old-school steakhouse memory from a trip to 801 Chop House It’s cigars, food, and the kind of debates that only happen when two guys sit down with a good smoke and start arguing about meat. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Eat, Drink, Smoke, Tony Katz and America’s favorite amateur drinker, Fingers Malloy, light up the Crux Marblehead Toro (6x50)—and immediately get distracted by the cigar’s weirdly fascinating 109-style “Marblehead” cap. Where do you cut it? How do you cut it? Do you need a V-cutter… or a prayer? Along the way, they break down the flavor profile (wood, spice, a little leather… maybe saddle… definitely not a handbag). On the bourbon side, it’s Hirsch The Horizon Straight Bourbon (92 proof), a surprisingly easy pour with vanilla, oak, cinnamon, and just enough rye kick to keep it interesting. At the right price, it’s “buy-two-bottles” territory—and a potential milkshake/eggnog bourbon for the right kind of night. Plus, News of the Week hits hard: A massive frozen food recall due to potential glass contamination (yes, glass). Sears is down to five remaining locations, which sparks a road trip idea that is absolutely the dumbest thing… and therefore must happen. Relationship “experts” share what happy couples do on weeknights, and Tony and Fingers (obviously certified romance gurus) take the list apart with love, sarcasm, and a little righteous rage. Breakfast cereals that “don’t taste the same anymore,” including a serious debate over Honey Nut Cheerios, cereal “wine,” and the slow death of childhood. All that—and two guys trying to keep America safe from inferior peanut butter cups. Find more at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour starts exactly where it should: right here in Indiana, with a limited-release bourbon that hits like a freight train and a cigar that absolutely earns its keep. Tony Katz and America’s favorite amateur drinker, Fingers Malloy, pour up the Starlight Distillery Honey Reserve Bourbon — a 106-proof, honey-barrel-finished beast coming in hot at $60 a bottle. Aged five years, blended from two mash bills, and delivering caramel apple, honey, rye spice, and a boy-howdy level of chest warmth that may or may not clear sinuses on contact. Neat? Big heat. On a cube? Still aggressive, but smoother. With water? Opens up… and still punches you in the belly. Fingers puts it through the full Kentucky Chew, Saginaw Swish, Memphis Munch, and Chattanooga Chomp (all medically recognized techniques), while Tony confirms this thing drinks bigger than 106 proof and finishes all the way down to the coccyx. Paired up with the bourbon is the Southern Draw Cigars Lady Killer, created with Privada Cigar Club back in 2021. A 6½ x 46 Lonsdale featuring an Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper and a Corojo/Criollo blend from Nicaragua. Construction? Excellent. Flavor? Rich, spicy, cedar-forward. Band glue? Aggressively committed. Five demerits (new system, just invented). Also on the menu: Whether boneless wings are wings (and why lawsuits are not the answer) Why blue cheese is the only correct wing dressing Kitchen gadgets you should absolutely throw away Why dull knives ruin lives Social media bots, crypto weirdos, and bikini economics The surprising marriage secret of… going to bed at the same time And how Eat Drink Smoke is personally responsible for Valentine’s Day population growth Final verdict: ✔️ The Lady Killer is humidor-worthy at $12 ✔️ The Starlight Honey Reserve is a yes at $60 ✔️ The heat is real ✔️ The opinions are louder Cigars. Bourbon. Food. Culture. Arguments that go places they were never meant to go. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com This is Eat, Drink, Smoke – Happy Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour, Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy crack open the humidor and pull out something special — the Southern Draw Cigars Lady Killer, a 6½ x 46 Lonsdale created in collaboration with Privada Cigar Club back in 2021. Don’t ask how it survived that long. Just be grateful it did. Wrapped in Ecuadorian Habano Maduro, packed with Nicaraguan Corojo and Criollo tobaccos from Estelí, Jalapa, and Condega, this cigar delivers spice, cedar, a little cocoa, and just enough richness to make you forget your allergies… unless you’re Tony. In that case, your sinuses are staging a full rebellion. Along the way: Tony debates whether his head is going to explode from seasonal allergies Fingers prescribes a ragweed “toughen up” therapy straight from Grandpa Malloy The guys break down why Lonsdale (46 ring gauge) might be the perfect cigar ratio A spirited argument about tipping culture — from sandwich shops to Texas Roadhouse And a deep dive into civil asset forfeiture and TSA cash seizures (because nothing pairs with Maduro like constitutional outrage) Construction? Impressive. Draw? Easy. Burn? Low maintenance — just the way we like it. MSRP? Around $12 — and yes, it earns its place in the humidor. Plus, news of the week covers Social Security insolvency, government overreach, and why you should always check your bill before calculating the tip. It’s cigars, bourbon, food, culture, and a little righteous indignation — the way Happy Hour was meant to be. Head to EatDrinkSmokeShow.com and subscribe to the Eat, Drink, Smoke YouTube channel for more. Light one up. Pour something strong. And let’s get into it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Eat, Drink, Smoke, Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy do what any reasonable adults would do in the middle of allergy season: light up a cigar and pretend that counts as medicine. They’re smoking a Southern Draw Lady Killer — a special Privada Cigar Club release from 2021 (don’t ask how it showed up… it just did). It’s a 6.5 x 46 Lonsdale with an Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper, a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 hybrid binder, and Criollo ’98 fillers from Estelí, Jalapa, and Condega. Translation: a lot going on, in the best way. Expect talk of spice, cedar, cocoa, great construction… and also a very serious debate over whether Tony can retrohale without launching an eyeball into low Earth orbit. On the pour side, they crack open something from right here in Indiana: Starlight Distillery Honey Reserve Bourbon, a limited release finished in honey barrels and coming in hot at 106 proof. It’s sweet, it’s creamy, it’s got big heat, and it may or may not temporarily clear sinuses like a courthouse subpoena. Neat, on a cube, with a little water — they run it through the full “this might hurt your sister” testing process. Then it turns into classic EDS chaos: Tipping culture is out of control (and Texas Roadhouse gets dragged into the allegation zone). A deep dive into civil asset forfeiture and a lawsuit claiming the TSA has seized cash from travelers — even when carrying cash domestically is legal. The eternal culture war: boneless wings — wings, nuggets, or a crime against language? Plus kitchen gear, dull knives, gross sponges, and why some people keep dishware like it’s a family heirloom from Chernobyl. Also: Tony gets real about sleep, CPAPs, and why a vending machine grilled cheese might be the last thing you eat before “your ashes are blowing in the wind.” Find the show, the reviews, and everything EDS at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com, and don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube — just search Eat, Drink, Smoke. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During this Happy Hour edition of Eat Drink Smoke, Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy go full “more is more” with a bottle that laughs at your double-oaked phase. They’re drinking Angel’s Envy Triple Oak (92 proof) — finished in a blend of Hungarian oak, Chinkapin oak, and French oak. It sounds like a bourbon and a passport stamp got married, and the result is… surprisingly gorgeous. On the nose, it’s oak-forward but not overpowering, with a fruit-rich note that briefly hints at something wine-adjacent before it settles into dark fruit, bready spice, and a little ethanol peek—even at 92 proof. Then the first sip hits: a touch of sting for Fingers, almost none for Tony, and they immediately realize they’re tasting the same bourbon through two completely different brains. The palate offers dark fruit (cherry/plum territory), vanilla ribbon, and a finish that lingers like it pays rent. Tony calls it lush in the best way. Fingers clocks the sweetness as more “brown sugar sprinkle” than sugar-bomb. And the real test comes when Tony drops it on a cube—spice increases, heat spreads, and the verdict becomes clear: Neat is the move. But at $75 a bottle? Yeah. Still a yes. From there, the episode goes where it always goes: Minute Maid kills frozen concentrate, and the guys mourn childhood like grown men should: loudly and with snacks The eternal war: SunnyD (trash) vs SunnyD (nectar of the gods) Valentine’s Day plans get demoted to Applebee’s riblets, which honestly feels more romantic than it should Home Depot deal season, Solo Stove obsession, and the idea of grilling steak on wood… including the worst possible wood suggestion “Shift sulking” enters the workplace lexicon, which is basically “quiet quitting” with a fresh coat of HR paint And the recurring theme of the episode: personal responsibility—for your attitude, your choices, and apparently your steaks Pour it neat, keep the popcorn out of the freezer, and try not to sulk your way through your shift. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com. Follow Eat Drink Smoke on social media! X (Formerly Twitter): @GoEatDrinkSmoke Facebook: @eatdrinksmoke IG: @EatDrinkSmokePodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour, Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy light up a cigar that might belong on a very short list. They’re smoking the Plasencia El Año del Caballo (7x58) — the Year of the Horse — a big, beautifully built cigar with a braided tobacco “horse tail” cap that immediately sparks debate—gorgeous presentation, serious weight, and a feel that’s nearly perfect in the hand. Flavor-wise, this one hits early and confidently: cedar and wood, baking spice, a creamy sweetness that leans cocoa and coffee, and a richness that keeps evolving as the cigar settles into its first third. Despite the hefty 58 ring gauge, it burns clean, stays lit, and proves surprisingly low-maintenance. Then comes the real question: Is this cigar worth $60 a stick — or does it earn a permanent spot in the humidor when you can find it closer to $40? Tony confesses to buying two boxes (don’t ask about the mortgage), and the guys break down exactly where the value line is — and why this is a cigar you don’t rush. From there, Happy Hour does what Happy Hour does: An FDA recall of M&M’s (yes, really… because peanuts) A spirited argument over personal responsibility A serious test of whether freezing popcorn actually makes it better And why some influencer advice is just trying way too hard Big cigar. Big opinions. Zero patience for nonsense. Light one up, pour something good, and settle in. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com. Follow Eat Drink Smoke on social media! X (Formerly Twitter): @GoEatDrinkSmoke Facebook: @eatdrinksmoke IG: @EatDrinkSmokePodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.