Flavor Odyssey

The leaves are falling, there’s a crispness in the air, and autumn is officially upon us! That means it’s time to find the perfect cigar and drink pairings to complement the fall season. This week on Flavor Odyssey, Robby and Randy will share their favorite autumn-inspired pairings, from rich, flavorful cigars to drinks that capture the spirit of the season. But they’re not the only ones getting i...

Does soy sauce work in a cocktail? For over a year, Kid Producer Jordan has been campaigning for an episode featuring cocktails that utilize the salty, savory flavor of soy sauce. On paper, soy sauce seems like it could be an interesting addition to a drink—but it will be up to Robby and Randy to figure out how to make this unique ingredient work in a cigar and cocktail pairing. Grab your favorite...

This week on Flavor Odyssey, Robby and Randy are taking a couple of ordinary cigar-and-drink combinations and turning them into dream pairings. The challenge is simple: start with a basic pairing and reimagine it, upgrade it, and ultimately pimp it out. Master Sensei has challenged Randy to take a Dominican puro paired with a rum and Coke and elevate it to the next level. Meanwhile, Jordan has tas...

Ein Prosit! Oans, zwoa, drei, g’suffa! Oktoberfest is in the air, and no year would be complete without Robby and Randy raising their glasses and lighting up their cigars for Flavor Odyssey’s 8th annual Oktoberfest celebration. Grab yourself a Festbier, Märzen, Hefeweizen, Dunkel, or Bock, find a cigar to match, and join the fun as the guys explore the flavors of one of the world’s greatest beer t...

To age or not to age—that is the question. How long should a cigar rest before you light it up, and is there such a thing as aging it too long? On this episode of Flavor Odyssey, Robby and Randy explore one of the cigar hobby’s most debated topics: the benefits and potential pitfalls of aging. They’ll discuss the sweet spot for resting cigars, which types of blends tend to improve with time, and w...

Labor Day is is upon us and for most of America that means barbecue, cold drinks, and, of course, premium cigars. This week on Flavor Odyssey, Robby and Randy are going full-on red, white, and blue with a night dedicated to American pairings. The challenge is to choose a cigar featuring American-grown tobacco or one made right here in the USA, then pair it with a drink that screams, “God Bless Ame...

The age-old question: Strength vs. Complexity. Okay, maybe it’s never actually been a question—but this week on Flavor Odyssey, we’re making it one! Robby and Randy will each pick a side and explore which drink pairings work best with cigars that showcase either bold strength or deep complexity. Does a powerhouse cigar call for an equally bold drink, or is contrast the better approach? And what pa...

It’s been a long summer, and if you’re like us, you’ve probably spent a whole lot of cabbage on cigars. So, it’s time to tighten up the wallet and find out if a great cigar pairing really needs to break the bank. On this episode of Flavor Odyssey, Robby and Randy challenge each other to create the ultimate budget-friendly pairing. The rules are simple: select a cigar that costs under $12 and pair...

For years, the Flavor Odyssey astronauts have explored the farthest reaches of cigar and drink pairings. On this episode, however, they encounter a fellow traveler from the tobacco cosmos: Johnny Tobacconaut himself, Matt Booth. Matt joins hosts Robby and Randy for a journey through the world of Room101 cigars, exploring the drinks that pair best with some of the brand’s most popular blends. So gr...

Tequila and mezcal are the world’s best-known agave spirits, but their flavor profiles can be dramatically different. From bright, grassy, and herbal notes to rich, smoky character, these spirits offer a wide range of pairing possibilities with premium cigars. On this episode of Flavor Odyssey, hosts Randy Griggs and Robby Ras explore the world of agave spirits, tasting a variety of tequilas and m...

It’s Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival week, and Randy Griggs will be coming to you live from Cigar Dojo Studios in Colorado. Along the way, he’ll be joined by a surprise guest—or maybe two—and then it’s time for the Crispy Boy Challenge. Randy will take on a blind tasting of five crispy beers, ranking them from best to worst while trying to identify the style and brand of each pour. Will his palate b...

The dog days of summer have arrived, and there’s no better way to cool off than with a refreshing cocktail and a great cigar. On this episode of Flavor Odyssey, hosts Robby Ras and Randy Griggs head to the bar in search of the best summer cocktail and cigar pairings. From classic mojitos and margaritas to tiki drinks and spritzes, they’ll explore which combinations deliver the most flavor. Mix you...

It’s a special episode of Flavor Odyssey as Luis Baez, Global Brand Ambassador for Flor de Caña, joins the show to talk rum and cigars. Luis is one of the most engaging personalities in the spirits world and a familiar face at the Premium Cigar Association Trade Show, so he knows his tobacco as well as his rum. Grab a pour of rum, light up a cigar, and join the conversation. Pairings Randy: Flor d...

Over the past few decades, Nicaragua has gone from an up-and-coming tobacco producer to the undisputed leader in premium cigars. But how did it happen, and what makes Nicaraguan tobacco so special? On this episode of Flavor Odyssey, Robby and Randy explore the country’s rich tobacco heritage while pairing drinks with some of Nicaragua’s finest cigars. Grab your favorite Nicaraguan smoke and join t...

It’s a milestone episode of Flavor Odyssey as Robby and Randy celebrate 300 shows! Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and pair drinks with the cigars that first ignited our passion for premium cigars. What was the cigar that started your journey into the cigar lifestyle? Light up your “origin story” cigar, pour your favorite drink, and join the conversation as we celebrate 300 episodes tog...

Since the very beginning of Flavor Odyssey, hosts Robby Ras and Randy Griggs have maintained that higher-proof spirits make better cocktails. This week, they’re putting that theory to the test. On the show, we’ll be mixing both low-proof and high-proof versions of the same cocktails and comparing them side by side to see if the long-standing belief holds true. Grab your favorite cigar, pour yourse...

This week on Flavor Odyssey, we’re celebrating local whiskey with special guest Brandon McCraney, master distiller at Olde Raleigh Distillery. Join us as we explore the unique flavors coming from craft distilleries across the country and search for the perfect cigar pairings to match. Bring your favorite local whiskey, share the story behind your hometown distillery with the rest of the otters, an...

Many of your favorite cigars come in either maduro or claro wrapper variations. But beyond the difference in color, what exactly separates a maduro from a claro? And which drink pairings work best with each? On this episode of Flavor Odyssey, Robby Ras steps into the ring to represent the rich, dark world of maduro wrappers, while Randy Griggs makes the case for the lighter, brighter claro side. G...

This week on Flavor Odyssey, we celebrate the release of Psychedelic Rabbit, the newest collaboration between Espinosa Premium Cigars and Cigar Dojo. But one important question remains: what do you pair with a Psychedelic Rabbit? To find the answer, Robby and Randy take a metaphorical trip down the rabbit hole, exploring a wide range of pairing possibilities in this special episode. As always, the...

This week on Flavor Odyssey, we’re firing up the grill and heading into uncharted territory. With Cigarbecue happening this Sunday, May 31st, the show takes on a brand-new challenge: pairing cigars, drinks, and BBQ all in one experience. That’s right—BBQ, Cigars, and Booze. Your hosts will each build triple-threat pairings featuring premium cigars, carefully selected beverages, and fresh BBQ strai...

This week on Flavor Odyssey, we’re comparing two of the most iconic cigar wrapper leaves and how they influence the perfect beverage pairing. Robby will represent the rich, bold character of Maduro wrappers, while Randy takes the smooth and nuanced side of Connecticut Shade. These wrapper styles couldn’t be more different in flavor, texture, and intensity, which means the right drink pairing can m...

This week on Flavor Odyssey, we’re heading to Churchill Downs for our own cigar-smoking celebration of the Kentucky Derby. Fresh off the 152nd running of the “Run for the Roses,” your hosts dive into Kentucky Derby-inspired cigar and drink pairings that go far beyond the classic Mint Julep. From Churchill-sized cigars to rose-themed cocktails, bourbon-forward classics, and even the essential overs...

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show introduces hundreds of new cigars each year—but what should you pair them with? That’s where Flavor Odyssey comes in. On this episode, your hosts sample a selection of new releases and put them to the test, pairing each cigar with the perfect drink to see what truly elevates the experience. Tune in to discover which combinations hit the mark and which...

Flavor Odyssey has gone nuts! This week, hosts Robby and Randy explore nutty-inspired cocktails featuring ingredients like Orgeat, Frangelico, Amaretto, Nocello, and Licor 43. From almond and hazelnut to walnut and beyond, these flavors can add depth and texture to a cocktail—and might be the perfect match for a premium cigar. Mix up your own nutty pairing and join the conversation. Pairings Randy...