Old Elk and All Saints: A Backyard Review

When a friend was visiting last week, we spent some time outside enjoying an afternoon smoke and drink. In selecting a cigar, I kept the recently deceased Pontiff in mind and chose the All Saints St. Francis to honor him. When then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope, he chose the name Francis in homage to St. Francis of Assisi—after whom this cigar is named.

The All Saints St. Francis is rich with Catholic imagery. The dominant symbol on the band—a gold cross on a white shield with red trim — is the Cross of Saint James. Fittingly, St. James is the patron saint of Nicaragua, where this cigar is crafted at the Rocky Patel Tavicusa factory. The band also bears the Latin phrase “Pax et Bonum,” meaning “Peace and Goodness” — the traditional greeting of St. Francis of Assisi.

To accompany the cigar, I poured some Old Elk Cigar Cut Bourbon. It’s one of the few bottles I actually “nurse,” indulging only on special occasions. Generally, I believe bourbon — like cigars — is meant to be enjoyed, not shelved. But when it’s something I particularly enjoy and it’s hard to find, I try to make it last.

The St. Francis cigars have been resting in my humidor for just over six months. This box-pressed 5 1/2 x 50 stick features an Ecuadorian Oscuro wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. It’s a medium-to-full-bodied smoke with notes of black coffee, chocolate, and black pepper. At times, the coffee leaned more toward espresso, and the chocolate toward cocoa.

I found the profile more balanced than I remembered from the fall when I last smoked one. The pepper had mellowed, letting the coffee/espresso and dark chocolate notes shine through. The burn was occasionally wavy, and we both had to relight our cigars a few times.

The Old Elk Cigar Cut Bourbon was a treat to savor. It’s a masterful blend of bourbons finished in a variety of casks: Sherry (1.5 years), Armagnac (1.25 years), Port (3–8 months), and Cognac (3–6 months). It greets the nose with inviting aromas of caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, and spiced fruit. The palate offers layers of dark chocolate, toffee, and baking spices, with subtle notes of tobacco and leather lingering on the finish. As a fan of port- and sherry-finished bourbons with cigars, I found the added complexity from the multiple cask finishes especially pleasing.

We enjoyed our smokes and sips in the backyard beside the unlit fire pit. The screen porch and deck are still under renovation, but the yard itself was peaceful — the moderate temperature, light breeze, and low humidity made for an ideal setting. 

Cheers!

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