The Art of Manliess Book - Review

My insightful fiance, knowing my affinity for all things manly and classic, purchased this little gem for me last Christmas. Accompanying me during hunting expeditions, late night front porch cigar sessions, and epic bowel movements, this offering by the writers of the Art of Manliness blog has been a pure joy to read, cover to cover. It moves fast, covering many topics like how to dress, how to act around women in certain environments, what giving a certain type of flower symbolizes, how to win a fistfight quickly and effectively, and some very good facts on survival situations. The readability and re-readability of this book are both very high.

Verdict: two thumbs up.

RedHead Rugges Series Oxford Casual Shoes - Review

Let's begin today with a disclaimer: a weakness of mine is owning too many pairs of shoes. It is imperative to me that I own a pair of shoes for every conceivable scenario that planet Earth can throw my way. It can be a frustrating thing for a man to require four to five shoe changes per day (work shoes, hunting or fishing shoes, sandals around the house, exercise shoes, etc.)So, while well founded, this impulse has led to some pretty frivolous purchases through the years. In a search to find a more hybrid shoe that coalesced as many of my pursuits as possible, this shoe was my choice.

Pros: First, the construction and comfort level of these guys are very quality. Very usable around the office and for longer walks. Can lead to a little soreness after a few miles of walking before they are broken in fully, but once broken in they feel like your favorite pair of tennis shoes. They are a very stylish quasi-boot, with the low cut look needed in an office environment. Can easily be worn with slacks, jeans, work pants, etc. Not recommended for suits, but could probably work in the more casual canvas/jeans/sportcoat look. They fit true to their size, and are plenty wide enough for those of you blessed with a sturdier base.

Cons: Not waterproof at all, but they aren't advertised to be that way, so this is hardly a con. The distressed leather seems to absorb liquid pretty quickly, and holds onto it. Do not expect any serious stains to come out easily, like coffee, grease, or blood.

Verdict: These are fantastic shoes, and can be worn in a casual work environment indoors or out. They're good for most recreational outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, walking, and exploring, as long as there's not much water or moisture in play. For the price ($70.00 on Bassproshops.com these shoes are a great addition to any Gentleman's arsenal. Another small advantage is that Bass Pro Shops constantly has a variety of online coupons active, so paying full price should almost never be necessary.

-PH

Java Corona by Drew Estate - Review

The Java Corona Maduro by Drew Estate is a cigar that I have had maybe three of in my life. The first two were a few years ago, and then I recently had one again. Overall, it did not please the cigar purist in me, but some merits it displayed could earn it a permanent place in the humidor.

First, the positives: it is a beautiful cigar to behold, box pressed with a dark, rich and smooth wrapper, subtle cap, and sturdy labels. It's flavor is advertised as sweet, creamy, coffee-mocha flavor, and for the most part these were the flavors experienced.

Negatives: although the flavors were as advertised, they were more over-powering than pleasurable. The sweetness in the wrapper flavor did not balance well with the tobacco filling, especially during the first one third of the smoke. Many other reviews spin this sweetness as a positive thing, some saying "like smoking candy" as if this is a good thing. The point of a premium cigar is to give the customer a quality experience of tobacco blending with a subtle addition of flavors that emphasize the tobacco, not to cover up the tobacco with flavoring. Also, the draw was too easy, and as a result the cigar burned very quickly. Also, during the last one third of the smoke, the burn had already reached the cap, burning the fingers and lips and making it difficult to finish.

Verdict: The Java is simply not a classic cigar. It is an experimental sideshow cigar that many people have found they enjoy for its coffee flavor. It is a medium strength only because of the strong sugary flavoring and its Maduro wrapper. Can be best enjoyed with coffee or anything savory. Would not recommend anything sweet with it, as it provides plenty of that itself. In summation, it's foreseeable to keep a small stock of these if you can afford it, because sometimes a purely sweet treat can be what you're after. But for the money, do yourself a favor and head to the gas station and pick up some Swisher Sweets, because the Java is mostly a gussied up version of the aforementioned.

-PH