A Cigar And Some Shine

Occasionally, I have to work and this weeks trip takes me to the Big Apple for meetings.  As I was trying to understand the format of my blog, I conveniently decided that home brewing was the primary focus but travel and leisure when it involves beer or cigars is permitted. Embarrassingly, it's taken nearly 46 years to actually get here so yes, I'm an NY virgin. First stop on a Sunday is JR Cigars in Jersey!  

Heaven.  Wow.  Have you seen this place? I got lost in a aisle trying to figure out what not to buy. It's also cool to grab a cigar from the desk and smoke it while your browsing. Once my bag was filled, it was off to the attached bar and restaurant, cigar still in hand for a couple of pulls on the Boddingtons tap. The New York Football Giants were playing and getting killed, so the packed facility populated with old school mobsters and Jersey types took a while to navigate.  Once seated we flipped the pages of an incredible and cheap food menu. I love grub that comes in mounds and cost $6.95. At least 21 bottles of scotch lined the bar and as we transitioned the empty plates back to the kitchen, we partook in some Cragganmore and yet another stick. Being a Sunday in Parsippany, we closed the place at 6pm and headed back to the Hyatt.

Surprises tend to ruin a travel day but sometimes a thoughtful colleague can close the day one festivities with good judgement. As the flask came out, so did some snifters from the armoire.  Apple Pie Moonshine came pouring out coating the glasses with a thick film.  Amber colored and smelling of apple pie and jet fuel, I was hesitant.  Every time I have had some banjo playing hillbilly hand me some shine it was almost impossible to swallow. But I trusted my friend and all he said was, "just try it."  Apparently high end shine from pro stills is somewhat of a delicacy because this shit was killer. Not like tequilla in Tijuana, like the scotch we just drank-great. It reminded me of ether with baked apple pie. But extremely drinkable like high end Brandy. I was so surprised I inquired as to the legalities in ordering some mason jars from the shiner.  I'll get back to you on the pursuit of the shine.