Lately I have been using quotes or proverbs that express me, but I thought I wouldn’t get to the point of using them so often. This probably happens from the know-it-all syndrome, which distinguishes me many times, and I have thrown it into philosophy. But don’t bore you with “vine philosophies” and let me get to my point. This is my now favorite phrase “never say never”.

By Yannis Valavanis

This is a Louisiana rum that I recently tried, yes you read that  right, Louisiana. Geographically of course I know where it is located, but I had never heard of rum and sugar cane, despite being next to the Caribbean and with a tropical climate, which is logical. The reason is an excellent rum called Bayou XO – Mardi Gras. A strange and original name, although somewhat long, as well as a very nice packaging and bottle, which I inform you is not impressive because it lacks in quality, like some other products, I simply attribute it to what we call “making a difference”.

Very aromatic and very pleasing to those who prefer fruity rums but with a very spicy, smoky and dry finish that I particularly liked, leaving a long and long aftertaste. Reading some articles along the way to decode its aromas, I was impressed by the entire production process. From its creation in cedar barrels for five years and later in Sherry Pedro Ximenez for another year, to the aromas of many forest fruits that give off a pleasant bitterness I would say, but combined with honey and sherry they make a pleasant combination.

Created by two brothers in Louisiana in 2011, with the aim of introducing the world to the tradition and culture of their region. For this reason, they used the name “Mardi Gras”, which literally means “Fat Tuesday”. It is something like our own Maundy Thursday, which is celebrated mainly in the French-speaking world and just as we consume large quantities of food before the corresponding Lenten fast, the French-speaking people have something similar according to their own customs and traditions.

“Never say never” to rum outside the Caribbean or to a Cohiba cigar, because yes, we smoke all Cuban cigars but we do not prefer Cohiba due to their unjustifiably high price. Of course, a wise saying that I have been using lately, “you get what you pay for”, also fits this particular cigar. The cigar is the Cohiba Siglo de Oro Year of the Rabbit. Fortunately, I am writing and I have no objection so that I can hear your comments about a cigar worth 250 euros, but to apologize first of all I have to tell you that I did not buy it, let’s not break our rules, but it is a gift from a friend from Easter 2024.

An excellent cigar with very strong Cohiba characteristics that despite its small size has a different note from all the similar vitolas of the factory, a little more intensity and somewhat lower acidity, perhaps the six months or so in my humidor contributed. Very careful tobaccos from the plantations of Vuelta Abajo, very careful construction by the torqueadors but also very nice packaging in a collector’s humidor in just 8,888 cases.

This 115mm version with a 54-gauge ring, named exitosos, celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the Siglo series but also the Year of the Rabbit of the Chinese, who will, I imagine, be the exclusive recipients of this cigar for many and various reasons, “and the thinker thought”, another quote also timely. An easy and tasty cigar for a coffee or a short pleasure, which however, in my humble opinion, is both too expensive and too small to highlight the characteristics of its wonderful leaves.

New flavors and new products from traditional and new places and suppliers to traditional and new consumers who, if nothing else, enrich our knowledge and tastes but also excite our curiosity to discover new pleasures. “Never say Never” which probably fits perfectly here, and “no more needs to be said”.