Before quite some time ago – mid-July, if I remember correctly – a friend of mine brought me an unexpected gift from the United States. You know how these things go. Often our friends, myself included, whenever we discover something that excites us, we rush to pick it up. That’s how gifts happen – at any moment, without any particular reason. The spontaneous and the unexpected are always better.

By Giannis Valavanis

It was a bottle of bourbon—or rather, to be precise, as stated on the label, Lazy K Straight Bourbon Whiskey. What exactly it was, God only knows. Thankfully, I didn’t start with my usual lines – “what are these things you bring me, I don’t even drink bourbon,” and other familiar remarks. I immediately began researching it online. It turns out to be an authentic Cowboy Whiskey from Montana, a product of a collaboration between the owner of the Lazy K Ranch and the owner of a local distillery dating back to 1862. “Family business,” as they would say on the other side of the Atlantic. And the ranch itself is no newcomer either – established in 1887, and in fact one of the first visitor-friendly ranches in Montana. When it opened to the public in 1922, it naturally needed a bar—hence the Lazy K Bar, which neatly ties our story together.

All that remained was the tasting. There was, of course, the issue of July’s temperature, so I left it for later, waiting to find the right cigar to do the job properly. I don’t know why, but whenever I try a new spirit, I like to pair it with a new cigar – and vice versa. I enjoy the risk of matching flavors and possibilities. A cigar with excellent reviews that I hadn’t tried during my last visit to Havana in 2023 was the little brother of the Partagás Maestra line. Although the Maestra series had just been introduced at that year’s exhibition, I had managed, with some difficulty, to find an Origen (46 x 154 mm), but not its sibling, the Maestro (56 x 132 mm). So, with the opportunity to find it in Greece, it simply had to be tried.

The scene was set with the first rains, so the conditions would match the products. According to publications, the spirit’s aging ranges from eight to ten years, which is enough to form an impression of the quality and intensity of Lazy K. Without wanting to dismiss bourbons in general, I would say they don’t offer great variation in terms of flavor – mostly caramel and toffee, with a pronounced nuttiness. The difference here was noticeable, particularly in the finish. Honey, clove, apple, and other aromas I couldn’t fully identify create a complex flavor and a long aftertaste. As for the fantastic cigar I paired it with – always biased when it comes to Partagás – I don’t have much to add; the name alone says it all. Tobacco from San Luis in Pinar del Río, in the Vuelta Abajo region, with earthy and woody aromas, spicy notes combined with hints of chocolate and coffee, delivers maximum enjoyment for this exceptional premium cigar from Partagás.

I wholeheartedly recommend both of these products – truly excellent, a ten out of ten – despite my initial hesitation due to the bourbon, as well as the blue lacquered boxes of Partagás. But any change for the better is welcome. The real problem that arises is where – and whether – you will be able to find them at all.