High Proof Ashes Podcast - Bourbon and Cigars Unite!

This week on the High Proof Ashes Podcast, we pop the cork on two expressions from Pursuit Spirits: • Pursuit United Double Oaked Bourbon: A blend of 3 mash bills finished in Kelvin Cooperage barrels. Expect rich caramel, oak, and spice. • Pursuit United Double Oaked Rye: Made from 100% rye and aged in toasted barrels for a bold, layered profile. Sounds like a win, right? Well… we reveal a frustra...

This week on  High Proof Ashes , we lit up the Escobar Ultra Black, a bold box-pressed toro made in collaboration with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. This limited release features a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, Habano binder, and 5-year-aged Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers — delivering a deep, rich profile with notes of chocolate, espresso, and spice. For the spirits, we stacked the heat with a ve...

We’re back at Ocoee Cigar Lounge with another bold pour and an equally bold smoke. Up first: Old Carter Straight Bourbon Batch 12—a highly sought-after release from one of the most buzzed-about names in American whiskey. Known for their meticulously blended, high-proof offerings, Batch 12 delivers with notes of rich caramel, dried fruit, oak spice, and a long, warming finish. It’s decadent, powerf...

We’ve officially hit 100 episodes of High Proof Ashes! To celebrate, we brought together a panel of some of our closest friends and filmed in a special location that let us do something different. No cigars this time — just great whiskey, good company, and an honest conversation about bourbon, life, and everything in between. We shared pours, memories, laughs, and a few hot takes… all in the spiri...

We’re back for Part 2 with our guest Steven Cooke, and this one’s a full-bodied experience in every sense. This round, we’re smoking the Diamond Crown Maximus — a rich, full-strength cigar crafted with an oily Ecuadorian El Bajo sun-grown wrapper and a flavorful Dominican blend. It’s bold, complex, and the perfect match for the tone of this episode. The spirits? Still drinker’s choice. The convers...

We’re shaking things up on this episode of  High Proof Ashes  with a very special guest—Steven Cooke. There’s a big reason we invited him to join us, but you’ll have to tune in to hear the full story. (Trust us, it’s worth it.) For this occasion, we’re lighting up the Caldwell Long Live the King, a bold and complex cigar built with a Dominican Corojo wrapper, a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan fill...

We’re on location at Ocoee Cigar Lounge for another flavorful episode of High Proof Ashes, and this time we’re going single barrel barrel-proof head-to-head with two standout rye whiskeys: • Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye – Bold, powerful, and uniquely Tennessee. This barrel-proof rye delivers notes of toasted oak, dark fruit, and classic JD vanilla with a spicy rye edge. • Smooth A...

On this episode of  High Proof Ashes , we’re diving into one of the most unique cigars we’ve ever lit up — the Chocolate Ice Cream from Privada Cigar Club. Known for their rare, small-batch drops and deep commitment to storytelling through cigars, Privada delivers something truly different with this dessert-inspired stick. We’ll break down the flavors, construction, and experience of this intrigui...

In this episode of  High Proof Ashes , we’re lighting up the Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick 2025 Edition—a bold, limited annual release that features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers, offering a rich profile of spice, earth, and dark fruit. For our spirits, we’re digging into another criteria bottle with Old Fourth Distillery Bottled in Bond, a small-batch Georg...

We’re on location at Kulture Cigar Lounge in Dalton, GA for this week’s episode of  High Proof Ashes ! Today’s cigar is the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial, a bold Nicaraguan beauty wrapped in a dark Connecticut Broadleaf that brings rich notes of cocoa, espresso, and pepper. On the whiskey side, we crack open the Wild Turkey 101 70th Anniversary, a special limited release that honors the legacy of...

In this episode of  High Proof Ashes , we spark up the El Septimo Sacred Arts Michelangelo—a premium cigar from the Sacred Arts Collection that’s just as complex as its namesake. This cigar is crafted with well-aged Costa Rican tobaccos and purports to deliver a profile of chocolate, espresso, earth, and a lingering spice. With flawless construction and a luxurious feel, this cigar is designed to...

In this episode of  High Proof Ashes , we light up the Rocky Patel Number 6—a flavorful blend that features a Honduran-grown Corojo wrapper, a Honduran binder, and fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua. Known for its natural sweetness and smooth, creamy profile, this cigar delivers a refined and complex smoking experience. On the bourbon side, we crack open a bottle that caught us off guard: Bardsto...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re back at one of our favorite spots, Ocoee Cigar Lounge, for a laid-back session filled with rich cigars and classic bourbons. Today’s cigar is the Leaf by Oscar Corojo, a unique smoke known for its rustic, tobacco-leaf outer wrapping that protects a well-aged Honduran Corojo wrapper. Beneath that, a Honduran binder and filler create a medium-bodied profile...

In this episode of  High Proof Ashes , we’re lighting up the Rocky Patel Royale—a box-pressed cigar with a complex blend that includes an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, dual binders of Connecticut Shade and Broadleaf, and aged Nicaraguan fillers. It’s known for delivering rich flavor and a smooth draw from start to finish. For the spirits, we’ve got two of our criteria bottles on deck: Rebel 100 by L...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we light up the Crowned Heads Cabinetta Maduro, a unique blend that combines an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper with a rich Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro foot, delivering a complex balance of creamy smoothness and bold cocoa notes. On the bourbon side, we’re diving into Old Fourth Bottled in Bond Bourbon, a revived legacy now under Shortbarrel’s ownership, k...

In this episode of  High Proof Ashes , we’re finishing off a cigar that we believe is pound for pound, the best out there—the CAO Amazon Basin Extra Añejo. This unique cigar features a rare Brazilian Bragança tobacco, harvested only once every three years, with a deep, earthy complexity that makes it stand out from the crowd. Aged even longer for extra refinement, this stick delivers rich, nuanced...

In this episode of  High Proof Ashes , we’re on location at Kulture Cigar Lounge in Dalton, GA, a brand-new lounge that’s quickly making a name for itself. Owned by Antoine, this spot brings a top-tier atmosphere to a city that’s becoming a real destination for cigar lovers. We even took a full tour of the lounge, so you can see exactly why this place won’t stay a hidden gem for long. For cigars,...

Welcome back to High Proof Ashes! Today, we’re shaking things up for the last time in this series with another  store visit episode ! This is part four of a special four-part series where we visit liquor stores in Cleveland, TN. For this episode, we head to Red Hot on Wildwood Avenue, located near the south side of town. Tune in as we explore the store, share our experience, and give you our thoug...

Welcome back to High Proof Ashes! Today, we’re shaking things up with something a little different—another  store visit episode ! This is part three of a special four-part series where we visit liquor stores in Cleveland, TN. For this episode, we head to G-Town on Georgetown Road, located near the west side of town. Tune in as we explore the store, share our experience, and give you our thoughts o...

Welcome back to High Proof Ashes! Today, we’re shaking things up with something a little different—another  store visit episode ! This is part two of a special four-part series where we visit liquor stores in Cleveland, TN. For this episode, we head to Riverstone on Ocoee Crossing, located near the center of town. Tune in as we explore the store, share our experience, and give you our thoughts on...

Welcome back to High Proof Ashes! Today, we’re shaking things up with something a little different—our very first  store visit episode ! This is part one of a special four-part series where we visit liquor stores in Cleveland, TN. For this episode, we head to Harry’s on Lee Highway, located on the north side of town. Tune in as we explore the store, share our experience, and give you our thoughts...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re lighting up the Joya De Nicaragua Cinco De Cinco cigar, a special blend created to celebrate the brand’s 55th anniversary. This medium-to-full-bodied cigar features a rich Nicaraguan Criollo wrapper, a Nicaraguan filler, and a Nicaraguan binder, delivering notes of cedar, cocoa, and hints of spice. For our spirits, we’ve got something truly special. Durin...

This episode of High Proof Ashes is all about surprises and special moments. We’re diving into the Rocky Patel Sungrown Maduro, a bold, full-bodied cigar with a rich Ecuadorian Sungrown Maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and filler. Expect complex notes of chocolate, espresso, and a touch of spice—will it surprise Doran, who’s never tried it before? For our spirits, we’re sharing something truly c...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we dive into the world of contrasts, starting with the Zino Nicaragua cigar. At first glance, its lighter wrapper might suggest a mellow smoke—but does it deliver more than meets the eye? We break down the flavor profile of this modern blend, known for its balance of creaminess, subtle spice, and citrus notes. For our spirits of the day, we’re going bold with a...

In this episode of  High Proof Ashes , we light up the El Septimo Salvador Dali from the Sacred Arts Collection—a cigar that greets you with an intriguing floral aroma. But does that aroma carry through to the smoke? Tune in to find out as we break it all down. For our spirits, we’re diving into two Buffalo Trace heavyweights: Benchmark Bonded and E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof. Both come from the same...