Sticks-n-Stonez is a weekly podcast that pairs fine cigars with premium spirits. Each week a premium hand rolled cigar is paired with just the right spirit to enhance the palate and profile of each offering. During the episode Brent, the host, will share details about each offering and then present his opinion on the visual aspects, nose, and palate of the cigar and spirit and detail his opinion and rating of the pairing. He will also sprinkle in some of his own offbrand humor. Between each episode you can catch Brent on Instagram at @sticksnstonez1. The show's Insta account is approaching 20,000 followers so you should really jump in now.
Brent is a retired combat veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He picked up cigars while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004 and has been developing his nose and palate ever since. With two decades of experience in cigars and 3 decades in fine spirits his senses are acutely tuned to provide the best possible advice.
All content for Sticks-n-Stonez is the property of Brent Elrod and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Sticks-n-Stonez is a weekly podcast that pairs fine cigars with premium spirits. Each week a premium hand rolled cigar is paired with just the right spirit to enhance the palate and profile of each offering. During the episode Brent, the host, will share details about each offering and then present his opinion on the visual aspects, nose, and palate of the cigar and spirit and detail his opinion and rating of the pairing. He will also sprinkle in some of his own offbrand humor. Between each episode you can catch Brent on Instagram at @sticksnstonez1. The show's Insta account is approaching 20,000 followers so you should really jump in now.
Brent is a retired combat veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He picked up cigars while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004 and has been developing his nose and palate ever since. With two decades of experience in cigars and 3 decades in fine spirits his senses are acutely tuned to provide the best possible advice.
S5 E6 Bold Harmony Still Austin St. Bourbon Meets the Power of Bolivar Cigars #bourbon #cigars
Sticks-n-Stonez
51 minutes
3 months ago
S5 E6 Bold Harmony Still Austin St. Bourbon Meets the Power of Bolivar Cigars #bourbon #cigars
A Bold Yet Balanced Affair: Still Austin Straight Bourbon Paired with the Bolivar Cofradia Cigar
This pairing is ideal for someone who appreciates balance in boldness. The Bolivar Cofradia brings muscular flavor and dark complexity, while Still Austin Straight Bourbon contributes finesse, warmth, and a Texas-born vibrancy. Together, they offer a smoking and sipping session that feels both rugged and refined.
Still Austin Straight Bourbon: A Texas Original
Crafted in the heart of Austin, Texas, Still Austin Straight Bourbon is a grain-to-glass spirit that reflects the heat, grit, and creativity of its origin. This bourbon stands out for its youthful vibrancy and unique flavor profile, shaped by Texas terroir and the distillery’s innovative slow-water reduction process under master blender Nancy Fraley.
Mash bill: 70% white corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley ABV: 49.2% (98.4 proof) Age: 2 years
• Nose: Sweet and inviting, with layers of caramel, honeycomb, and toasted oak. Hints of cinnamon, apricot, and a touch of floral grain from the young rye cut through with finesse.
• Palate: Rich and warm, offering notes of vanilla bean, corn pudding, toasted nuts, and spice. There’s a subtle earthy undertone that adds structure.
• Finish: Medium in length with lingering spice, dry oak, and sweet cornmeal fading into a touch of citrus zest.
Bolivar Cofradia Cigar The Bolivar Cofradia, crafted in Honduras under the Forged Cigar Company (a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group), is a full-bodied cigar blended by the late Estelo Padrón.
Vitola: Robusto 5x54 Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan, and sometimes Dominican tobaccos. Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper (or Ecuadorian Sumatra in some blends)
Visual: dark, velvety wrapper with some tooth and minimal veins
Nose:
Cold draw:
Light: Immediate boldness with heavy notes of black pepper, earth, and charred wood. The draw is dense and assertive, but well-balanced.
Pairing: The bourbon’s sweet vanilla and caramel notes complement the cigar’s creamy tobacco and nutty undertones, while its black pepper and cinnamon spice amplify the cigar’s peppery retrohale. The bourbon’s piney and herbal hints add an intriguing layer to the cigar’s earthy core, preventing the pairing from becoming one-dimensional.
The combination highlights: • Contrast: Bourbon sweetness calms the cigar’s spice. • Complement: Oak and grain meet tobacco and earth in harmony. • Structure: Neither dominates, but both evolve together over time.
Half: Evolves into richer flavors of leather, espresso, and dark cocoa. A dry, mineral-like complexity appears, with the pepper mellowing slightly.
Last Half: The strength builds again, introducing hints of licorice, roasted nuts, and a burnt sugar bitterness that keeps things interesting until the final inch.
This is not a beginner’s cigar—it demands attention and pairs best with a companion drink that respects its depth.
Final Thoughts:
The medium finish of the bourbon gives the palate just enough reset between draws, while the cigar’s bold finish draws out the bourbon’s oak and spice notes. This creates a push-pull sensation that keeps the pairing engaging from start to finish.
This pairing is ideal for someone who appreciates balance in boldness. The Bolivar Cofradia brings muscular flavor and dark complexity, while Still Austin Straight Bourbon contributes finesse, warmth, and a Texas-born vibrancy. Together, they offer a smoking and sipping session that feels both rugged and refined.
Ratings: • Still Austin “The Musician”: 85/100 (Very Good) • Bolivar Cofradia: 90/100 (Excellent for price) • Pairing: 88/100 (Well-balanced, enjoyable)
Sticks-n-Stonez
Sticks-n-Stonez is a weekly podcast that pairs fine cigars with premium spirits. Each week a premium hand rolled cigar is paired with just the right spirit to enhance the palate and profile of each offering. During the episode Brent, the host, will share details about each offering and then present his opinion on the visual aspects, nose, and palate of the cigar and spirit and detail his opinion and rating of the pairing. He will also sprinkle in some of his own offbrand humor. Between each episode you can catch Brent on Instagram at @sticksnstonez1. The show's Insta account is approaching 20,000 followers so you should really jump in now.
Brent is a retired combat veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He picked up cigars while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004 and has been developing his nose and palate ever since. With two decades of experience in cigars and 3 decades in fine spirits his senses are acutely tuned to provide the best possible advice.
