Company: Joseph A. Magnus & Co.
Distillery: Sourced from MGP and Kentucky
Region: Distilled in Indiana and Kentucky
Aging: Blend of 9 Year, 16 Year, and 20 Year Bourbons
Batch No: 184
Bottle No: 62
ABV: 59.31% ABV
Proof: 118.62 Proof
Mash Bill: Blend of 9-year-old 36% MGP Rye Bourbon, 16-year-old Kentucky Rye Bourbon, and 20-year-old MGP 36% Rye Bourbon
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
MSRP Price: $200
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 184 Tasting Notes
Appearance: Dark Amber Molasses
Nose: Rich caramel, toffee, toasted oak, vanilla, cinnamon spice, clove, brown sugar cinnamon toast, almond, rye spice, light fruits, apricot, peach
Palate: Rich caramel and toffee, pepper spice, tobacco, charred oak, vanilla, citrus zest, candied apricot, cinnamon spice, leather, mint, almond, dark fruit notes like plum, fig, and anise seed, baking spices
Finish: Extremely long and impressive with an oily and buttery mouthfeel that lasts for 60+ seconds – full of heavy oak, rich caramel, fruits, and a ton of bold spice
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch #184: The Horse’s Mouth
The following are the notes on this bottle directly from the Joseph Magnus Website:
“Batch #184 takes its inspiration from one of our Master Blender’s Instagram friends who were pleased to receive information from Nancy on the current specs of Cigar Blend straight from the horse’s mouth.
This batch is an amalgamation of varying aromas, ranging from peaches with muddled mint, ripe mango, Boston crème donuts, canned fruit cocktail, and raisin cream pie.
The palate promises all of this and more, with a very minty Mint Julep cocktail, almond-covered Bear Claws, home-made honey buns dripping with sugary vanilla syrup, apple pie baking spices sauteed in brown butter, and Hershey’s milk chocolate syrup.
Master Blender Nancy Fraley loves the intense fruitiness and creaminess of this batch, and you heard it straight from the horse’s mouth!”
Is Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend an Approachable Whiskey?
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend is one of the more complex whiskeys I have tasted.
It is a bit spicy so it may not be a whiskey for beginners, but experienced whiskey drinkers will most certainly enjoy it.
Is Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Complex?
As mentioned above, Joseph Magnus Cigas Blend is one of the most complex bourbons I have tasted.
The nose is just beautiful and covers so many different flavors that come together into an extremely balanced and enjoyable prelude to what you’re about to taste on the palate.
On the palate, you get even more depth and flavor than you do on the nose.
Right off the bat, it is full of rich creamy caramel, vanilla, and charred oak.
Quickly after, you are met with a bold and heavy rye spice flavor layered with cinnamon spice, pepper, and oddly, a mint sensation in your entire mouth kind of like when you’re eating a spearmint candy or Tik Tac mints (which is quite refreshing).
Before you even swallow the sip, you can already notice the heavy mouthfeel that is full of flavor and coats your entire mouth with a nice buttery, oily mouthfeel.
The finish is full and is one of the better finishes I’ve experienced on a bourbon.
It compares most for me with Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof, Jim Beam Lineage, and Old Elk Cigar Cut.
What are Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend’s strongest attribute is the excellent finish full of rich flavors.
It’s pretty rare to find a bourbon with a finish as long and flavorful as this one.
Is Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend a go-to whiskey?
I can see why this one is called a “Cigar Blend” because it should be reserved for special occasions or to be paired with a nice cigar.
Is Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend priced accurately to its quality?
It’s really hard to justify a $200 MSRP price point for a bourbon.
If you’re someone who wants to experience an extremely complex bourbon with an amazing finish, this is worth the purchase.
If you’re looking for a cheaper option, I would recommend either Old Elk Cigar Cut or Dalmore Sherry Cask.
Dalmore is a Scotch and also has a Cigar Blend, but I think the Dalmore Sherry Cask is just a better whiskey than the Dalmore Cigar Malt and at a much more affordable price.
Conclusion for Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend is an extremely complex bourbon with a ton of depth and flavor.
If you have a chance to try this one, I highly recommend it.
Even though this bottle costs $200, I am glad I purchased it.
This will likely be a whiskey that I will compare other whiskeys to when I’m comparing strong finishes.
It’s the most I’ve ever spent on a bourbon bottle at MSRP aside from my bottle of Jim Beam Lineage which I got when I did a private tasting with Fred and Freddie Noe from Jim Beam and Booker’s and Little Book Whiskey.
Aside from the price, I would recommend everyone taste this whiskey even if it’s just getting a pour at your local whiskey bar.
Let Us Know What You Think
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Thanks for reading and cheers!
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