Strawberry | Peach cobbler | Vanilla | Fig | Cinnamon frosting | Cigar leaf | Citrus peel

Dried apricot | Seared orange rind | Vanilla | Plum | Charred oak

Maple syrup | Dried fig | Ancho pepper | Toasted walnut | Chocolate | Dry charred oak

Jos. A. Magnus & Co. is the second iteration of the Magnus brand. Joseph A. Magnus started the company in 1892, and it focused on producing whiskey until Prohibition took hold. Afterward, the brand was revitalized when Joseph Magnus’ great-grandson discovered a few unopened bottles bearing the family namesake. Re-established in 2015, the company now focuses on the blending and finishing techniques Joseph Magnus initially employed.

Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon was developed by Nancy Fraley, a master blender and widely revered whiskey and rum consultant. The finished bourbon was created to pair with a cigar, giving it its name. Fraley has since left the company and now works as a consultant, but her Cigar Batch bourbon remains a key part of the Joseph Magnus brand. This release marks the 10th anniversary of its Cigar Batch line.

Previous editions of Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon often paired many different finished bourbons together - the hallmark of cigar batch bourbon and one that Magnus brought to bourbon. For Batch 516-532, the base is a blend of PX sherry, oloroso sherry, and Cognac finished bourbon. It then goes into an Armagnac barrel for 8 months. Surprisingly, Batch 527’s Armagnac finishing doesn’t leave an overly acute Armagnac taste and integrates well into the base bourbon, resulting in a bourbon that is balanced but still robust.

Another key aspect of batches 524-532, which the company nicknamed “I’ll Have What She’s Having,” is how incredibly flavorful they are at only 101.06 proof. So much so that it tastes like the hydrometer might have malfunctioned, because this bourbon packs way more flavor intensity in its sip than what you’re probably used to for a 101 proof whiskey.

The aroma features a wide array of scents that all come together in unison: strawberry, peach cobbler, vanilla, fig, cinnamon frosting, cigar leaf, and citrus peel. The palate layers in dried apricot and seared orange rind against vanilla, plum, and rich charred oak. The finish offers a nice contrast of maple syrup, dried fig, ancho pepper, toasted walnut, chocolate, and dry charred oak.

Although this falls under the company’s Cigar Batch line, don’t let the name fool you into thinking it's best paired with a cigar. This is an exceptional pour, and I’m not even sure you'd want to pair it with a cigar and lose the nuance and complexity it offers. Despite the brand line now spanning over 500 batches, Jos. A. Magnus & Co. isn’t resting on its laurels and is still at its A-game. The result is one of their most memorable Cigar Batch bourbons yet and a fitting tribute to its 10th anniversary.