Viral on LinkedIn again

Author: Chris O'Donnell From https://chrisod.org • May 19th, 2026
Category: Blog Entries.Local

Viral on LinkedIn again

I went viral on LinkedIn again.

Viral post about Cigna dropping out of individual healthcare market

Birding at Dorey Park

Author: Chris O'Donnell From https://chrisod.org • May 16th, 2026
Category: Blog Entries.Local

Birding at Dorey Park

It's difficult to photograph birds at all times; it's especially difficult when they mostly live in the leaves. I did get this one decent shot this morning of a brown thrasher. We saw 33 species, including my best-ever look at a Great Crested Flycatcher. There were two examining a potential nesting spot in a hole in a tree right in front of us. We'll have to go back in a couple of weeks and see if there is a nest there. It is right on the walking path and parking lot, so I think they'll pass on it.

Brown bird in green grass looking into thicker foilage

The Luxury of Too Many Options

Author: David From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • May 14th, 2026
Category: Blog Entries.Local

Decisions, decisions. A true cigar “first-world problem” is choosing what to smoke when the moment presents itself. My humidor is modest by some standards, yet it holds more than 240 different blends and vitolas — plenty to keep me deliberating.

There are old favorites I return to time and again, alongside new releases and recent acquisitions I’m eager to try. At times, I find myself simply standing there, pondering — like staring into the fridge, trying to decide what will satisfy the moment.

Recently, I’ve been making more box purchases rather than singles or five-packs. That means more opportunity to focus on favorites, I’ve also paused, at least for now, any “cigar of the month” memberships. Smoking a single example rarely offers a full understanding of a cigar. Even so, I’m not convinced a reduced variety will make the decision any easier.

And once the cigar is chosen, my attention turns to the whiskey shelf. Again — decisions, decisions. My selection isn’t quite as extensive, but it still numbers around 100 bottles, mostly bourbon, with a few other spirits mixed in. Beer, coffee, and even water make occasional appearances as well.

Most often, I choose the cigar first and then select a complementary pairing. Other times, the craving starts with a particular drink — usually a bourbon or a cocktail — and the cigar decision follows with equal consideration. And, admittedly, there are moments when I simply grab a cigar and a pour with little thought and see what serendipity delivers.

Life is an adventure.

Cheers!

Exploring an Aged Beer and Cigar Pairing: Bigfoot and Padrón Maduro

Author: David From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • May 11th, 2026
Category: Blog Entries.Local

The rains had stopped, but the air remained cool, and my thoughts turned to a hearty beer to accompany the evening’s smoke. I grabbed an old bottle of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale from the stash in the basement. This bottle dated from the 2010 release, making it just over 15 years old.

When selecting a cigar to pair with the beer, I wanted something that could stand up to Bigfoot’s expected caramel and port-like dark fruit character while contributing a complementary sweetness of its own. I chose the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro in the Torpedo vitola. It was shaping up to be a dessert-like pairing.

The bottle released a small “poof” when opened, proof that some carbonation remained. I poured a bit too quickly at first, building a moderate beige head that dissipated almost immediately. A sweet molasses aroma rose from the glass. The liquid itself glowed a bright red-mahogany hue.

At 9.6% ABV, the well-aged Bigfoot carried surprisingly little noticeable alcohol on the palate. Though known for its aggressive hop bitterness, I was somewhat surprised that citrus and bitter notes remained fairly robust after 15 years. The ale offered a rich blend of dark caramel and dark fruit sweetness reminiscent of port wine. Hints of fig, raisin, and toffee emerged as I sipped the rich beverage.

Not nearly as aged as the beer, the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro had rested in my humidor for only four months. The cigar's construction was flawless, with the dense feel and clean lines expected from the line. The Torpedo size measures 6 x 52 and uses aged Nicaraguan tobaccos throughout.

The smoke opened with bittersweet cocoa and espresso notes. As the cigar warmed, the profile deepened with molasses-like sweetness and hints of dark fruit. A soft peppery spice lingered into the finish.

The pairing of the vintage Bigfoot Ale and the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro proved delightful and fully met my dessert-like expectations. The cigar’s cocoa and espresso notes complemented Bigfoot’s dark-fruit richness particularly well, while the shared molasses undertones tied the pairing together.

We’ve been enjoying opening some of the beers we tucked away for aging 10–15 years ago. I’ve found them immensely rewarding. Some come from breweries that now exist only in memory, yet all feel irreplaceable. Like cigars, they are ultimately meant to be enjoyed — even if that enjoyment comes years down the road. There is something bittersweet in finally opening a carefully aged bottle, knowing it can never truly be replaced.

Cheers!

Camping at Machicomoco State Park

Author: Chris O'Donnell From https://chrisod.org • May 10th, 2026
Category: Blog Entries.Local

Camping at Machicomoco State Park

Trip: 56
Nights: 187-190

And the 2026 camping season has started. We spent the weekend at Machicomoco State Park near Gloucester, VA. It's only a 70-minute drive from home. Until a few weeks ago it was Virginia's newest state park, as it opened in 2021. It is dedicated to the history of the native people who lived there for centuries before any Europeans showed up.

The park features the Timberland mansion, which was built in 1793. It was open for tours, but we had the dog with us, so we did not take the tour. It also features an open-air pavilion that highlights the history of the land and the people inhabiting it, starting with the end of the last ice age. Furthermore, it is waterfront, so there is also a car-top boat launch.

The campground has a total of 27 campsites: 13 with electric and water hookups for various equipment—tents, pop-ups, and RVs up to 60 feet long—and 14 walk-in tent-only sites. The RV sites are mostly open with very limited shade. We had a beautiful weekend, but I don't think I'd want to camp there in July and August. The bathhouse is immaculate, featuring 10 or so private, large bathrooms, a few of which also have showers. The campsites are only mowed in a 3 or 4 foot perimeter around the camping pad. The rest of the area is managed in a natural state for pollinators.

Outside the campground, the grounds are a mix of York River and tributary shoreline, large, expansive meadows, and some forest. It's fabulous birding habitat. We got 53 species on Saturday and 50 on Sunday. On Saturday afternoon we ventured into town to kick back at the Gloucester Brewing Company, where I had fine examples of a red ale and a brown ale. Our evenings were passed as they usually are, with us playing cards or board games.

It was a fabulous start to the camping season. Machicomoco State Park is a wonderful addition to the Virginia State Park system, and we will likely return in the fall.

collage of photos from Machicomoco SP

Coffee-Flavored Comfort: Undercrown Maduro and the Revolver

Author: David From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • May 8th, 2026
Category: Blog Entries.Local

Searching for a smoke on a cool evening, I was drawn to the Drew Estate Undercrown Maduro. It’s a cigar I’ve enjoyed many times over the years, though surprisingly I hadn’t reached for one in well over a year. I pulled a stick that had been resting in the humidor for nearly 18 months — further adding to my astonishment that it had been so long since my last one.

I’ve also been on a bit of a Revolver cocktail kick lately. The coffee-forward drink feels especially fitting on a cool evening. Truth be told, I’m a fan of almost anything coffee flavored. The Undercrown Maduro has always paired naturally with a mug of black coffee, so it seemed reasonable that it would work just as well alongside the cocktail.

The Undercrown Maduro is often described as “overlooked” or “under appreciated,” though I’m not sure I agree with those labels. While smoking, I posted a photo to an online cigar forum I frequent, and within minutes several members replied with pictures of the same cigar they were enjoying at that very moment. It hardly seemed forgotten.

The cigar features a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper over a Connecticut River Valley Habano binder, with Nicaraguan and Brazilian Mata Fina fillers completing the blend. The result is a medium-to-full-bodied smoke known for notes of espresso, cocoa, earth, and creaminess.

Even after its long rest in the humidor, the San Andrés wrapper retained a dark, oily sheen. Rich flavors of espresso and cocoa sweetness dominated the profile, while the smoke itself was thick and creamy on the palate.

For the Revolver, I used Four Roses Small Batch Select at 104 proof. The higher-proof bourbon stood up well to the cigar’s richness without being overshadowed. The coffee liqueur amplified the cigar’s espresso and cocoa notes, while the orange bitters and expressed peel added a touch of brightness that kept the pairing from becoming overly heavy.

As I had hoped, the Revolver and the Undercrown Maduro proved to be a natural match. I smoked and sipped slowly, appreciating the interplay of coffee, cocoa, citrus, and sweetness throughout the evening.

Cheers!

Off the Beaten Path: Slow Burn Cigar Co. in Remington

Author: David From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • May 6th, 2026
Category: Blog Entries.Local

A few weeks ago, I came across a mention online of a cigar lounge in the area that I had never heard of. Intrigued, I looked up Slow Burn Cigar Co. and realized it was just a short drive away in the small town of Remington. Interestingly, I pass through Remington regularly, yet had never had occasion to venture into the quiet rural community itself.

Opened a little over a year ago, Slow Burn occupies a renovated former feed supply store that suits the lounge perfectly. The building’s open layout and high ceilings create an airy, comfortable atmosphere, with ample seating spread throughout the space. Several large air cleaners help to keep the environment fresh. On warm days, additional seating is available on the front porch, offering a relaxed outdoor option for enjoying a cigar.

Owner Len is both welcoming and knowledgeable. Beyond simply running a cigar shop, he is clearly focused on building a destination for enthusiasts by bringing in boutique and harder-to-find cigars. The humidors may not be massive, but they are thoughtfully stocked with a balanced selection that should appeal to a wide range of smokers.

On both of my visits, I enjoyed the shop’s “house blend,” the Farmhouse Blend Maduro. The 6.5 x 52 vitola delivers a flavorful, slow-burning smoke with enough complexity to remain interesting throughout its long session. Slow Burn also participates in monthly releases from the Limited Cigar Association through Privada, giving regulars access to limited and often unique offerings. I look forward to exploring some of those selections on future visits.

Adding to Slow Burn's appeal is its unexpected location. While the surrounding region is heavily populated, Remington itself remains a small rural town of roughly 650 residents, tucked between Warrenton and Culpeper. Finding a dedicated cigar lounge of this quality in such a setting feels like discovering a hidden gem.

Len is actively working to spread the word about the shop, and the sense of community already seems to be taking hold. During my visits, conversations with several regulars added to the welcoming atmosphere.

After a couple of visits, Slow Burn has already earned a place on my list of regular stops. Though the driving mileage is greater than some other nearby cigar shops, the drive through winding country roads takes about the same amount of time — and is considerably more enjoyable than navigating traffic through town. For cigar smokers in the area, it is well worth the detour.