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Worth the Wait: Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon & L’Atelier LAT56

David — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:06:46 +0000

Between a busy — but enjoyable — travel schedule and uncooperative weather, opportunities to sit back with a cigar and whiskey pairing have been few over the past couple of weeks. When I finally had the chance to relax this week, I opted for a long smoke and a bold pour.

For the whiskey, I reached to the back of the shelf for Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon. I picked up this bottle back in December 2024, and it hadn’t seen much attention lately. For the cigar, I selected the 6½ x 56 L’Atelier LAT56. Coincidentally, it had been resting in the humidor for nearly as long as the bourbon had been on the shelf, having been added in August 2024.

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon is a distinctive release that showcases the craftsmanship behind its production. Even the specific corn seed used in the mash bill was selected for this bottling. With a mash bill of 52% corn, 35% wheat, and 13% malted barley, it contains significantly more wheat than most wheated bourbons, which typically use around 20% wheat or less. The whiskey is aged for six years and bottled at a robust 121 proof.

The bourbon opens with an inviting nose of brown sugar, toasted oak, and cinnamon. On the palate, it arrives with rich caramel and sweet vanilla before layers of cinnamon and baking spices build across the tongue. I’ve often remarked that it reminds me of a spicy Christmas cookie.

The L’Atelier LAT56, produced by Pete Johnson at Tatuaje, feels even larger in the hand than its dimensions suggest, perhaps because of its substantial weight and firm pack. It features an Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The cellophane had developed the characteristic golden-yellow tint often associated with a well-aged cigar. The Sancti Spiritus wrapper is a hybrid developed by the Oliva tobacco family from Pelo de Oro and Criollo seed, created specifically for the L’Atelier line. Even after nearly two years in the humidor, the reddish-brown wrapper remained soft, supple, and oily.

The cigar opens with notes of cedar, nutty cocoa, and toasted bread. As the smoke progresses, darker cocoa and espresso emerge, supported by an underlying earthy sweetness that adds balance and complexity throughout the experience.

After a few sips, I added a few drops of water to the bourbon. The slight dilution softened the alcohol and tamed the spice just enough to let the sweetness of the wheat shine through. The LAT56’s refined profile of cedar, cocoa, and subtle sweetness allowed the bourbon’s unique high-wheat character to remain the focal point without overwhelming the palate. In return, the bourbon seemed to accentuate the cigar’s creamy wood and cocoa flavors while gently pushing its pepper and spice into the background.

The pairing continued to evolve over the course of the smoke, gradually taking on an almost dessert-like character. With the L’Atelier LAT56 providing nearly two hours of smoking enjoyment, there was ample time to appreciate the uniquely sweet yet peppery personality of Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon. It proved to be exactly the prescription I needed after a hectic couple of weeks.

Cheers!

Grayson Highlands Camping 2026

Chris O'Donnell — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:50:00 +0000

Grayson Highlands Camping 2026

A heatwave hit the east coast just in time for the July 4 weekend. It was over 100F (38C) in RVA. Luckily we were 240 miles away and 1 mile up camping, where the 80F (27C) temps also constitute a heat wave, but one I can handle.

We arrived on Thursday, July 2, meeting up with friends for the weekend. After our traditional arrival night dinner of WaWa subs, we retired to the campfire with our friends.

On Friday I took everyone out to see the wild ponies that are the star of the show here. There was only 1 mare and her goal in the first half-mile where most people go to see the ponies. My wife and our friends headed back to camp after that, and I continued on towards Mt. Rogers, the highest peak in VA. Ultimately I stopped short of the peak at an AT shelter and turned around there, turning the planned 9-mile hike into an 8-mile hike. I've bagged the Mt. Rogers peak several times, and there is no view from the top, so that final climb seemed pointless on a hot and sunny day.

I've done this hike 5 times in the last 20 years, and it gets more difficult each time. What's up with that? While on the trail, I saw more than enough examples of poor decision-making to fill up a couple of bad hiker bingo cards. I hope there were no rescue calls on Friday, but if there were, I probably saw the victims (of their own bad decisions) earlier in the day.

Once I got back to camp, a shower and nap were my priorities, in that order.

While headed back, my wife saw and heard a Vesper's Sparrow, which would be a lifer for me.

On Saturday we took our time getting up and going, eventually going out birding, searching for another Vesper's Sparrow. We didn't find one. That afternoon we explored more of the park, including the homestead of the farm that was here originally. There are several original buildings still standing.

On Sunday our friends headed back home, so we decided to drive into Damascus for lunch and a beer before they continued on home. There is not much in Damascus, so after lunch and browsing (and buying) at a couple of outfitters, we headed back. The road from the camp to Damascus is 24 miles of switchbacks. It was a fun drive, but I'd had enough by the time we returned. The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging at camp. I mostly read, finishing my book, a true crime novel about an unsolved murder of two young women on the Appalachian Trail. Did I mention that my hike on Friday was mostly on the AT, although the murders occurred over 100 miles north? Maybe not the best choice for reading material, but it is very well written, and the multiple failures by Park Police and the FBI mean that the families will never get real closure.

The new camper that rolled in across from us on Sunday had an Escape, which is made in British Columbia and is on my short list of possible upgrades from the Ascape someday. It's slightly larger and has 1 of the 2 features we lack today that I'd like in our next camper, a bed separate from the dining area. The other feature is a dry shower/bathroom, but that may be a stretch if we want to stick with small campers. He came over to say hi as he had looked at Ascapes when buying, and I got a tour of his camper.

The drive home on Monday was uneventful, just the way I like my drives.

The Saint with Cigars in His Pocket

David — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, July 4, marked the first celebration of the feast of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati following his canonization by Pope Leo XIV on September 7, 2025.

Known simply as Pier Giorgio among his friends, he was born into an affluent family on April 6, 1901, in Turin, Italy. An avid outdoorsman, he was athletic, adventurous, and rarely seen without a smile. Tragically, he contracted polio and died on July 4, 1925, at just 24 years of age.

During his brief life, he became known for his quiet generosity, frequently giving away money, possessions, and even his own clothing to those in need. The full extent of his charity became apparent only after his death, when thousands of the poor and marginalized whom he had helped lined the streets of Turin for his funeral.

His life of joyful charity earned him the title “Man of the Beatitudes,” a description given by Saint John Paul II, who saw in Pier Giorgio a remarkable embodiment of Christ’s love for the poor and those in need.

Though often depicted with climbing gear and a pipe, Saint Pier Giorgio’s enjoyment of cigars is also well documented. FrassatiUSA, a website devoted to his life and legacy, preserves several delightful anecdotes that reveal another facet of his warm and engaging personality.

One comes from a story titled Pier Giorgio’s Last Christmas, recounted by his friend and teacher, Gian Pietro Ravera:

Christmas 1924 was celebrated according to the Club’s tradition, and in fact about fifteen members gathered that night in a private chapel at 9 Via Ormea where Canon Bues celebrated Mass. I was among those who were invited by Pier Giorgio, who went on and on about how beautiful the Mass would be, as well as the gastronomic delights that would follow. Pier Giorgio and Carlo Pol served the Mass, and I remember how it was difficult to move in the chapel because it was standing room only.

Pier Giorgio had some cigars in his suit coat pocket, and they started to fall out when he was making a genuflection. He blushed deeply as he stuffed them back into his pocket. Then, turning toward my side of the chapel and seeing that I had seen everything that had happened, he made a face as if to excuse himself and he suppressed a smile, returning to his prayers with greater intensity than before.

I continued to watch him, and the longer the Mass went on, and the more intense and spiritually delightful it became, the more I was moved to see that group of university students follow the liturgy of the Mass with such devotion.

Another story recounts the last gift Pier Giorgio received from his sister on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, his name day:

... we know that the last gift he received from his sister was a cigar case that he chose for himself that day while they shopped together. Later, he joked with a maid, “Two cigars. Today you have to give me two cigars: one for St. Peter and one for St. Paul; it's a double feast today!”

In honor of his canonization, Regina Cigars released the PGF ST-090725, a cigar bearing Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati’s likeness on its band. I had the opportunity to review the cigar earlier this year.

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati lived only 24 years, yet he left an extraordinary mark on the Church and the world. He loved the mountains, cherished his friends, appreciated the simple pleasures of life, and possessed a joyful sense of humor. Above all, he devoted himself to Christ by serving the poor with humility and generosity. These small stories about cigars remind us that holiness does not erase our humanity, but perhaps even enhance it.

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati Ora Pro Nobis!