Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon Review Batch 228
“Cigar Blend”
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon is a unique and expertly crafted spirit, the result of a collaboration between the Joseph Magnus team and renowned Master Blender Nancy Fraley. Fraley, recognized globally for her exceptional blending skills, was brought in to work alongside the Joseph Magnus team in the creation and ongoing refinement of this distinctive bourbon. Today I will be working on a Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon Review batch 228. If you have a batch of JMCB, grab a pour and taste along with me!
Each “batch” of the Cigar Blend Bourbon is carefully crafted by Fraley to maintain the consistent quality and flavor profile that has made this bourbon a standout in the industry. Fraley’s expertise in blending and her deep understanding of the nuances of bourbon production have been instrumental in developing this unique expression.
The cigar-inspired nature of this bourbon is a direct result of Fraley’s guidance. She works to impart subtle notes of toasted oak, dried fruit, and spice that evoke the character of a fine cigar. The result is a bourbon that delivers a sophisticated and complex drinking experience.
Series: Cigar Blend series – Batch 228
Classification: Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Finished in: Armagnac, Sherry, and Cognac Casks
Age: NAS but rumored to be 9 yr (with some 14 – 16 yr, and some 20 yr)
Proof: 108.92
Proof Designation: Barrel Proof
Filtered Status: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash bill: NAS but rumored to be a blend of 4 bourbons:
9 yr MGP 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
14 – 16 yr Barton 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
20 yr MGP 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
10 yr Joseph Magnus Triple Cask 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Distillery: Undisclosed distilleries in Kentucky & Indiana
Company: Jos. A. Magnus & Co.
Bottled By: Jos. A. Magnus & Co.
Distilled/Aging Location: Holland, Michigan
Release Date: Ongoing beginning in November 2016
MSRP: $179
Secondary Market: $200 – $400
Availability: Low/Rare
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon Review Batch 228
My tasting reviews are unique in that I include the notes of several well-known whiskey critics. The hope is that this format will help me and others to explore and expand their tasting experience. After you have taken your own tasting notes, read the reviews and see if there is a flavor note that others discerned that now you can detect as well.
For this tasting: Opened Bottle (about 24 hours), Glencairn Glass, Neat, Room Temp, Breathe: 5 minutes
Legs
Beads began to form on the crown at about 5 seconds, the legs began to form at about 21 seconds, and the first legs reached the bowl at about 71 seconds. As the legs began to form, they merged together several times before finally forming and falling. Both the crown and the legs started out thin, but then became very thick as the liquids merged.
I’m not sure what causes this to happen, but the result is that the legs take longer to fall, the legs and crown have a thicker “wall”, and the legs are farther apart they originally would have been.
Nose
Dark fruits, fig, maple syrup, old oak, aged leather, dark caramel, brown sugar, dark cherry, tobacco, molasses, maybe toasted pecans.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Whiskey Trails – Reddit: (Batch 228) Oak, toffee, dark fruits (figs, overripe grapes, cherries), vanilla cream, nutmeg, and burnt cinnamon raisin bread toast.
Vine Pair: (Batch 204) Lemon peel and baking spice (cinnamon and allspice) lead on the nose.
Those quickly coalesce into a heavy note of dense, store-bought fruitcake dense with dried and candied fruit. There’s a relatively minor note of medicinal cherry — compounding the fruitcake — along with both vanilla and almond extracts.
The brand’s own notes suggest aromas of tobacco, which is certainly present, but there’s something more complex just beneath that smell. For this batch, the oak influence is closer to leather bindings and printed paper, much like a first whiff upon entering an old library.
Dramguard: (Batch 205) An initial wave of heat with leather, sweet brown sugar, plum, toasted pecans, tobacco.
Palate
Caramel, dark cherry, mild maple syrup, hints of cinnamon, black pepper, dark chocolate, old oak, leather, tobacco, cognac, blackberry.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Whiskey Trails – Reddit: Moderately oily mouthfeel with initial dark fruits (ripe figs, grapes and dark cherries), creamy vanilla icing, toffee, and oak, with chewing can detect burnt raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg and tobacco, drinks below its proof.
Vine Pair: Dried and sweet pipe tobacco is much more pronounced at first sip. Right behind that is blackcurrant, fig, and dried date. As the flavors transition to the midpalate, brown sugar and heavily toasted pecan become more pronounced. A melody of chocolate and nutty notes increase toward the back and sides of the tongue, including roasted peanuts, hazelnuts, and macadamia.
On subsequent sips, the fruit notes evolve to slightly lighter varieties, with small hints of citrus peel, red delicious apples, and canned pears in syrup. It’s where the Armagnac and Cognac finishes (finally) shine through.
Dramguard: Very fruit forward with a nice blackberry flavor. Leather is front and center, then it transitions into toasted pecans and brown sugar notes.
Finish
Long finish with maple sugar, leather, dark cherry, mild baking spices and toasted oak.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Whiskey Trails – Reddit: Moderately long finish with oak, creamy vanilla, dark cherries, toffee, and lingering notes of tobacco and toasted cinnamon raisin bread.
Vine Pair: The finish starts powerfully with plenty of rye spice and continued elements of roasted nuts. Instead of a gradual dissipation of flavors, there’s a somewhat sudden dropoff into tannic and borderline sour territory (lemon again). Tobacco makes a reappearance, but not nearly as sweet as on the palate… I found it a small step below the experience on the palate.
Dramguard: A little bit of spice and leather on the finish.
Mouthfeel
(Thin – Watery | Silken – smooth & slippery, but not mouth coating | Creamy – coats the tongue like heavy cream does. | Rich or Unctuous – coats the entire palate like olive oil)
The mouthfeel is pleasantly silken in texture.
The Burn
4 out of 5. This means that the burn from the alcohol is a bit lower (5% to 9%) than what I would expect it to be. I would guess this to be around 100 proof, not 108.92 proof.
Tasting Summary
The Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 228 is such a well-balanced and intriguing pour. Complex, dark, sweet flavors of dark caramel, maple syrup and dark cherry hit the palate first and is immediately balanced by baking spices and the savory, earthy notes of old seasoned leather, dark chocolate, tobacco, toasted pecans, and old oak.
My Rating
The higher the score the better the whiskey is in my opinion. For reference, my best rated bottle so far is the George T. Stagg 2022 (138.7p) with a score of 9.7.
| Score Type | Score | Examples |
| Likability Score | 8.7 | 1.0 – 10.0 |
| Availability Score | 2 | 1-Rare, 2-Hard to Find, 3-A Little Hunting, 4-Easy to Find |
My Tasting Notes
A blank version of this tasting notes wheel is available in both a color and a black & white version in the member’s area.
Notes and History
Follow the link and scroll to the bottom of the page for our more detailed notes on the history, batch profiles, Coupe Mere’s and other interesting notes about Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend.
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