Eat! Drink! Smoke!

This week on Eat Drink Smoke, Tony and Fingers review the Foundation 10th Anniversario Salamone and Never Say Die Small Batch Bourbon — a whiskey that definitely splits the room. They also talk about turmoil at Brown-Forman, whether aging rock stars like David Lee Roth and Paul McCartney know when it’s time to walk away, the latest U.S.-Canada tariff fight and what it could mean for American spirits. Plus, they remember Dolly Parton and dive into a fascinating conversation about modern dating, relationships, feminism and why so many people are struggling to make lasting connections. All that and much more on this edition of Eat Drink Smoke.

Tony and Fingers are back with another round of cigars, whiskey, food and questionable life advice. This week, they light up the El Rey del Mundo King of the World VSOP, a cigar that makes a strong enough impression that buying more is definitely on the table. Then they pour the Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Rye, a 112.2-proof Kentucky straight rye that brings plenty of heat — but even more flavor. Also this week: Is the air fryer one of the greatest kitchen inventions ever, or just an oven with better marketing? A new survey says most families have one person who handles the meal planning, shopping and cooking — apparently this is now news. Plus, a Southern California community turns to former gang members to help keep the streets safe, and a Florida steakhouse sparks a conversation about what customers should expect when they go out for a nice meal. All that and more on this episode of Eat Drink Smoke.

This week on Eat Drink Smoke, Tony and Fingers light up the Liars Bench Silver Tongue, a 6x54 Dominican puro with a Corojo wrapper, Habano binder, and plenty of spice. It makes a better impression on Fingers than Tony, but both agree Liars Bench is a brand worth keeping an eye on. Then it’s back to one of the show’s longtime bourbon favorites: Old Grand-Dad 114. At 114 proof, it delivers caramel, oak, spice, a little vanilla and cinnamon — and remains one of the best values sitting on the bourbon shelf. Especially when Tony finds it for twenty bucks. Fingers also brings in a viral Greek yogurt dessert made with vanilla pudding mix and apple pie filling. Tony spends most of the show mocking it… right up until he tries it. Suddenly, the giant bowl of protein-packed “Apple Pie Kaboom” doesn’t seem like such a ridiculous idea. Plus, Pat McAfee gets dragged online for sitting next to President Trump, the guys wonder whether social media has made everyone completely insane, Allegiant Airlines discovers the mirac

Tony and Fingers review the new Catelli Boxare Habano, a 6x52 box-pressed cigar that proved surprisingly difficult to research. It starts with cedar, pepper, and a little cocoa — but does it develop enough to earn a permanent spot in the humidor? Then things get serious with Booker’s Batch 2026-02 “Milkshake Batch” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. At 124.4 proof, it sounds intimidating. Instead, the guys find plenty of oak, vanilla and rich bourbon flavor — and start wondering if they’ve found one of the best bottles of the year. Also this week, Tony gets unreasonably worked up about store-bought baked spaghetti, robo-taxis prepare to hit the streets of Las Vegas, pumpkin spice season arrives way too early, Buc-ee’s picks a trademark fight with a small Ohio mini-mart, and an airline comes up with yet another way to charge passengers for their luggage. Plus, a listener discovers some very old bourbon in a lake house and asks the dangerous question: “How do I sell this?” All that and more on this episode

This week on Eat Drink Smoke, Tony and Fingers review the Caldwell Crafted & Curated Savages Malpensante, a rich and surprisingly subtle cigar with notes of wood, leather, walnut and coffee. Is it worth $17 a stick? They have thoughts. They also pour the Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage Barrel, a seven-year-old Tennessee whiskey bottled at 100 proof. It brings plenty of sweetness, oak, vanilla and a little disagreement over whether there is any banana hiding in the finish. Plus, Fingers introduces Tony to the Pepperidge Farm Coconut Cake of his childhood, Costco faces a class action lawsuit over its promotional emails, and the guys test out a bristle-free alternative for cleaning the grill. They also discuss rising cigar prices, the future of AI-assisted writing, and some heartbreaking news from their friends at Defiance Beef. All that, along with brisket experiments, Costco shopping disasters, and a truly unreasonable amount of coconut cake, on this episode of Eat Drink Smoke. Find everything at

Tony and Fingers take the show outside to enjoy perfect deck weather, the A.J. Fernandez New World Decenio 10th Anniversary Toro, and a Four Roses Private Selection OESQ bourbon. They break down the Decenio’s Mexican San Andrés wrapper, cocoa sweetness, oak, leather and steady medium-bodied profile before deciding whether the $14 cigar deserves a permanent spot in the humidor. Then they taste a nine-year, eight-month Four Roses single-barrel selection that clocks in at 111 proof but drinks far smoother than expected. Also this week: steakhouse dress-code violations, whether shorts should ever be allowed near a serious steak, a massive alleged Medicaid fraud scheme, why millions of prime-age men are leaving the workforce, a possible Eat Drink Smoke road-trip to Orlando, pumpkin spice arriving far too early, and the mysterious cyclospora outbreak causing nationwide lettuce panic. Plus, listener questions, road-trip stories, expensive nightclub receipts and the shocking revelation that Tony may never successf

The guys review the Arturo Fuente Casa Cuba Divine Inspiration, the final cigar blend created by Carlos Fuente Sr. Does its combination of white pepper, wood, leather and unexpected nuttiness earn it a permanent place in the humidor? They pair it with Maker’s Mark Made for the Brave Cask Strength bourbon, a 110.5-proof bottle supporting Project One Vet at a Time. Plus, Snickers Cake Bites wildly exceed expectations, a parasite causes some very unpleasant digestive problems, Tony questions whether you can make real barbecue without a grill, and Fingers reveals the little white lies bartenders tell when the bar gets slammed. Also: homemade pastrami, permanent daylight saving time, China’s attempt to ban AI romantic chatbots—and perhaps the finest explosive-diarrhea callback in podcasting history. Find everything at [EatDrinkSmokeShow.com](EatDrinkSmokeShow.com)

The "Summer of Habanos" begins with the My Father La Lealtad, a hefty 6x60 cigar delivering balanced notes of cedar, coffee, tobacco, and subtle sweetness. Tony and Fingers also review Costco’s Patriot Eagle Bourbon, debate the greatest Southern foods, question the purpose of warm potato salad, and prepare themselves for Indiana State Fair creations involving honey buns, melted butter, and absolutely no restraint. Plus, Walmart cuts prices, Tinder heats up during the World Cup, Adam Sandler causes ridiculous social media outrage, and baby boomers are getting divorced in record numbers. Find everything at [EatDrinkSmokeShow.com](EatDrinkSmokeShow.com).

Happy Independence Day from Eat Drink Smoke — and welcome to our 400th episode! America turns 250, Eat Drink Smoke hits 400, and Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy celebrate with fried apple pie, patriotic cigars, cold beer, and a whole lot of fast-food nostalgia. The show kicks off with the triumphant return of the deep-fried McDonald’s Hot Apple Pie. Is it smaller than it used to be? Absolutely. Is it basically an apple pie egg roll now? Also yes. But does it still taste like Gen X childhood wrapped in flaky, cinnamon-apple joy? Oh, you better believe it. Tony and Fingers light up the John Adams from Liberty Cigars, a 6x52 torpedo featuring a Habano wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler. Is Liberty Cigars just patriotic shtick, or is there something real happening here? The guys break down the flavor profile, burn issues, construction, price point, and whether the John Adams belongs in your humidor. Since the Midwest heat index is roughly “surface of the sun,” bourbon take

America’s 250th birthday is coming, and Eat Drink Smoke is getting ready the only way it knows how — with hot dogs, cigars, bourbon and a little bit of chaos. Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy preview the perfect Independence Day setup with Costco hot dogs, the great charcoal vs. propane debate, and whether America can survive another 250 years if people keep putting pets on airplane tray tables. The featured cigar is the J.C. Newman The American 250th, a commemorative cigar celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial. Tony and Fingers break down the cigar’s classic American-made blend, its “beefy lancero” feel, and whether it belongs in your humidor for the Fourth of July. The drink review features the Evan Williams Single Barrel America 250 Commemorative Edition Bourbon, clocking in at a very patriotic 117.76 proof. It brings oak, heat, spice, caramel and enough firepower to make Fingers question several life choices. Also on this episode: bedbug travel fears, how late is too late for caffeine, Trader Joe’s

This week, Tony and Fingers review the Micallef White Label Connecticut Robusto and Puncher’s Chance The Undisputed Single Barrel Bourbon. The cigar is a 5x52 Robusto featuring a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, and the guys discuss why Connecticut cigars have come a long way in recent years. Once thought of as mild morning smokes without much depth, today’s Connecticut cigars are bringing real flavor — and this Micallef delivers wood, hay, bready sweetness, a touch of pepper, and plenty of value at around $8 a stick. The drink this week is Puncher’s Chance The Undisputed Single Barrel, a 108-proof bourbon from Wolf Spirit. Tony and Fingers break down the nose, palate, proof, rye spice, finish, and whether this bottle belongs in the liquor cabinet at around $55. Also on this episode: Fingers brings Tony another unforgettable Gas Station Find — Atomic Boss Blue Riz Hard Punch. It is 12% alcohol, bright blue, sold in a juice box, and may or may not taste like a fluoride rinse mixed with bad decisions. Plus, T

This week on Eat Drink Smoke, Tony and Fingers review the AJ Fernandez New World Puro Especial and Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The New World Puro Especial brings plenty of Nicaraguan character, with notes of coffee, wood, creaminess, dried fruit, and a medium-plus profile that may play bigger than advertised. At around $9 a stick, is it humidor-worthy? The bourbon review features Blade and Bow, a 91-proof straight bourbon with a big nose, fruit cocktail notes, oak, heat, and a very cool backstory tied to the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Is it worth nearly $50 a bottle? Also on the show: Fingers’ horrifying breakfast choices, dirty soda health warnings, inflation and gas prices, stolen bourbon, Amazon Prime Day confusion, beef prices, brisket shortages, New World Screwworm concerns, AI-designed vaccines, toxic dating gurus, and why a freezer full of Defiance Beef might be the ultimate dating profile upgrade. All that and much more on this episode of Eat Drink Smoke. Find everyt

This week on Eat Drink Smoke, Tony and Fingers review the Stoic Equanimity Justice, a hefty 6x52 cigar with an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper, Dominican Criollo 98 binder, and a flavor profile that brings spice, cedar, earth, richness, and a truly ridiculous amount of heft. It is the kind of cigar that makes you wonder whether you should smoke it or use it to break out of a locked car. The drink this week is Jacob’s Pardon Small Batch American Whiskey Batch #2, coming in at 109.3 proof. Tony and Fingers find vanilla, brown sugar, oak, butterscotch, a little heat, and enough flavor to make it a serious contender for the year-end list. Also on the show: Beyond Meat wants to become a protein drink company. Is that a smart pivot, or should they lean into brisket-flavored beverages and shock the world? Tony and Fingers talk summer foods, ribs, grilling, watermelon feta orzo salad, frozen grapes, and why kale should maybe just go directly into the trash. Plus, bourbon layoffs continue as the industry faces a serious

Tony and Fingers ask the important question: Is your HOA out of control? Fingers has a neighborhood watchdog, a grabber, and apparently a man monitoring street parking like it’s a federal investigation. This week, the guys review the Cuban Seed Cigar Company Cohiba Grand Pyramid and the Cody Road Single Barrel Rye. The cigar is a massive 6.5 x 54 pyramid with a Corojo Habano wrapper and a wood-forward profile, but construction issues raise the big question: is it worth the $55 price tag? The rye brings fruit, banana bread, light spice, and a little heat — but at nearly $50 a bottle, “pretty good” may not be good enough. Also this week: Las Vegas continues its war on the middle-class gambler, casino buffets are disappearing, brisket prices are ridiculous, Tony’s Memorial Day brisket cook goes sideways, Walmart and Ollie’s recall a children’s toy over asbestos concerns, and NPR faces newsroom cuts. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

Tony and Fingers light up the My Father La Gran Oferta Lancero, a 7.5 x 38 smoke with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Cuban-seed binder, and Nicaraguan filler. The cigar opens with leather, pepper, spice, and a debate over whether the finish is wood or bitter espresso. Because obviously, this is where civilization hangs in the balance. Also on the Happy Hour: Tony talks about his early-morning Indy 500 tradition, Fingers considers upgrading his Masterbuilt Gravity Series grill, and the guys get into Memorial Day barbecue plans, brisket strategy, ribs, grill deals, Cracker Barrel’s summer giveaway, Allegiant Air filling part of the Spirit Airlines void, and whether ordering Cracker Barrel for delivery is a crime against the Republic. Plus, Defiance Beef, smoked sirloin tip, reverse-seared steak, brisket logistics, and the eternal truth: there is no one “right” way to barbecue, despite what the brisket weirdos on the internet keep telling you. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

On this version of the Happy Hour, Tony and Fingers review the James E. Pepper Barrel Proof Decanter Bourbon, a gorgeous bottle with a proof that comes in just under 110 - though you would never know it from the nose. The guys get oak, caramel, vanilla, baking spice, a mystery fruit note they can’t quite pin down, and what Tony describes as a rich custard-like finish. At around $60, both agree this one is absolutely in the liquor cabinet. Also on the Happy Hour: six once-popular lunches you don’t see much anymore, including liverwurst sandwiches, chipped beef on toast, perfection salad, sardine sandwiches, and the deeply troubling possibility of a peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich. Plus, Cuba makes threats, gas prices hit the car market, used SUVs may become bargains, Tony considers a 1989 Corvette, and Defiance Beef has a Memorial Day deal worth checking out. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

Tony and Fingers review the My Father La Gran Oferta Lancero and the James E. Pepper Barrel Proof Decanter Bourbon. The cigar brings early pepper, leather, wood, and a mellowing medium profile that makes a strong case for the humidor. The bourbon turns out to be a hidden gem, with oak, vanilla, fruit, a rich mouthfeel, and a shockingly smooth finish for nearly 110 proof. Also this week: Memorial Day grilling, Indy 500 cigar traditions, brisket plans, grill deals, Masterbuilt vs. Traeger talk, Allegiant filling Spirit Airlines routes, Cracker Barrel giveaways, old-school lunches, used car chaos, EV range anxiety, and whether anyone should ever order Cracker Barrel delivery. Plus, Tony explains why the radio call of the Indianapolis 500 is unlike anything else. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

Tony and Fingers pour Mayor Pingree Small Batch Red Label Bourbon from Valentine Distilling in Ferndale, Michigan — a 94-proof bourbon that blends Valentine’s triple pot-distilled bourbon with traditional column-distilled bourbon casks from Lawrenceburg, Indiana. They get notes of vanilla, oak, honey, bread, pepper, citrus, and a little orchard fruit — then find that a cube or a little water brings the bourbon together nicely. Also on this Happy Hour: Jack Daniel’s reportedly saying no to a massive Brown-Forman offer, why Malört keeps showing up in people’s feeds, St. Elmo’s shrimp cocktail, hot wings, blue cheese vs. ranch, cigar note-taking, Fingers’ deeply troubling food diary, the cars thieves love most, Byron Allen buying BuzzFeed, older trucks, Chevy Avalanches, and why Defiance Beef may be the better place to spend your money. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

Tony and Fingers light up The K by Karen Berger Connecticut Toro, a soft box-pressed 6 x 52 Connecticut with an Ecuadorian wrapper, Nicaraguan core, silky presentation, light spice, creaminess, cedar, and a little sweetness. They talk about why Connecticut cigars deserve more respect, when this cigar fits best, and whether it earns a spot in the humidor at around $12. Also on this Happy Hour: the proper way to reheat leftover pizza, why skillet pizza may be the superior method, Tony’s appliance-unplugging habits, cigar humidor headaches, Subway’s continued decline, Eric Clapton getting hit by a fan-thrown record, concert etiquette, Weird Al, Rod Stewart, and a Defiance Beef road trip that may or may not require a flatbed. Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com.

This week, Tony and Fingers review the K by Karen Berger Connecticut Toro, a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut with Nicaraguan binder and filler. Connecticut cigars get dismissed too easily, and this one makes the case for why that is a mistake. The Karen Berger Connecticut brings creaminess, cedar, a touch of white pepper, some sweetness, and an easygoing profile that works in the morning, at night, with coffee, or whenever you feel like smoking a Connecticut because you are an adult and can live your life. They also review Mayor Pingree Red Label Bourbon from Valentine Distilling in Ferndale, Michigan. It is a 94-proof bourbon that brings vanilla, oak, honey, spice, pepper, and a little orchard fruit — especially after adding water or putting it over a cube. Also discussed: the best way to reheat pizza, using leftover pizza toppings in an omelet, Tony’s toaster paranoia, Subway closing hundreds of locations, Eric Clapton ending a concert early after being hit by a thrown record, whether Malört should be revie