I can't think of anything more uniquely southern than enjoying a cigar with a glass of bourbon. It is what gentlemen did when they retired to the parlor and slipped on a smoking jacket. Today it is not just restricted to men or folks who reside in states with warmer summers, and thanks to Ted's Cigars you can enjoy the experience by making just one purchase.

I am speaking of the Maker's Mark cigar, which is a handcrafted stick from the state that not only gives us bourbon, but also bluegrass and the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. Plus, it’s free in ABC stores with purchase of Maker’s Mark bourbon 750mL or larger from June 3-30^th!

The cigar incorporates quality Dominican filler tobacco with a nice Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Maker’s Mark bourbon is infused into the tobacco, utilizing a process that doesn’t expose the leaf directly to the Kentucky nectar. In other words, the tobacco isn’t soaked in bourbon. Their process is proprietary but I would venture that it is similar to the one Drew Estate uses for its infused line of smokes. The cigar is then sealed in a glass tube, utilizing their trademark red wax. This not only makes for an attractive visual presentation but it also serves to protect the cigar and ensure that the bourbon flavor is securely locked in, along with the proper humidity.

So how does it taste? There is a definite sweetness in this cigar. It's not the normal flavors that I would expect from an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapped cigar. The bourbon flavor is definitely there but it is subtle. I am not someone who gets a lot of fruit flavors in cigars but there is definitely an almost grape flavor in this one. The sweetness continues throughout the entire cigar but it never becomes over-powering. There is a mild earthiness and some mild woodsy flavors. Although there isn’t the oak one would get in a cigar that uses “dark-fire” tobacco, the bourbon does provide a little of that signature vanilla flavor.

This is a medium bodied cigar and one I would recommend for even the most novice smoker. This cigar would make for a nice Father's Day gift, just don’t forget to give dad a bottle of the bourbon as well.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits North Florida regional manager. Certified Tobacconist and Cicerone Beer Server. Follow me on Twitter @abccigarchris.