Maritime Snow storm season has officially begun. 
We have been lucky until now in that there has really only been one decent snow storm and a couple lil'er ones since December, but this weekend was predicting a doozie. 
Frankie, and for those that might not know Frankie, if you search Frankie MacDonald on You Tube you will be in for a treat. This is the only person I get my weather from, he shoots from the hip and recommends stocking up on chips before any impending weather bomb. How could you go wrong with professional advice like that.
So with the workouts in the books, the weather starting to roll in and a possible work commitment lined up for Sunday it was a perfect time for a #cigarSaturday.
Now as I completely blew the budget last week on the Longmorn 16 it was time to dip back into the scotch cabinet to revisit an old friend. Winking at me from the back was my bottle of Yamazaki Single Malt that my brother had sent me a Christmas or so ago.
On my mothers recent trip to Japan, she had returned with some presents, one of which was a glass that my she and my brother had picked out with the specific purpose of drinking scotch out of for my #cigarSundays.
It came in its own satin lined wooden box, and is probably one of the coolest glasses I have ever seen. Not wanting it to get put into the regular glass rotation and used for like grape juice or something, I hid this box away so that no harm would come to it.  In doing so I hid it so well I couldnt find it when it was time to break it out for a following #cigarSunday.
So for the last few months his stylish glass remained in its top secret hiding place, like an Oak Island treasure waiting to be unearthed.
Okay maybe that was a little too dramatic in that the box was tucked behind a serving tray on top of the dish cabinet, but, hey look at that, I found it!
Finally the match that was meant to be, my Yamazaki in a glass made in its homeland. Not that the glass made the scotch taste any different, but it just felt right. The cigar I selected was my go to Don Thomas Corona. I chose this for one reason only, the other cigar I had on hand would take longer to smoke, and as weather conditions were not super awesome, I wanted something that would not overpower the lighter notes of the scotch but also put me in the snow and wind longer then a typical #cigarSaturday would. 
I bundled myself up in a few layers including my cigar sweater, hoodie and snowpants and boots, had to do the obligatory, forgot to pee, take everything off, pee and put everything back on again, and then off I went into the beginnings of what would end up being a above average snow dumping by the time it was said and done Sunday.
When the wind died down it was actually not too shabby out for mid January in the maritimes. My pairing was very good, both the mild flavors of the scotch and cigar worked well together, and the dusting of snow blowing this way and that was fun to watch. Some words to the departed and thinking about how awesome this would be from the seat in a hot tub instead of an old plastic deck chair, and after about 20 minutes it was time to head in. 
Now I would never admit that sitting out in a blizzard smoking a cigar contributed to whatever demons decided to set up shop in my body Sunday evening, followed by them doing everything they could to take everything inside my body and bring it out in a multitude of different forms. 
I have never encountered 'sour burps, belly" before, and I hope never to have it again! For those of you that may suffer from this on a regular basis you have my deepest sympathy. It felt and tasted like every burp i had was made up of spoiled egg, and rancid orange juice. These belches were not only causing me to get nauseous, but filling my house with the an oder that really defies description, save to say it was foul, most most foul.
It would also not stop at escaping through one exit point but had others join the party. 
Being awake, I had ample time to review what causes this condition online.
Basically everything I had eaten and drank in the last 24 hours contributes to this condition. 
I have not really been sick at all this cold/flu season so I think i was due.
Luckily, after about 4-5 glasses of baking soda/water glasses, and some pepto chewables, the great gas escape of 2016 was over. 
I want to say that I will try to stay away from the foods and beverages that bring on 'sour burps/belly' but I know that will not be true, however, I will try not to combine them again in such a way that brings about this cyclone of noxious pollutants.
But to be clear, #cigarSaturday not to blame!
Sean "BigBoyRunning" Ryan

This first week back at work and i have to say it was a pretty amazing week last week. Two very large projects were accomplished, one that has been in the works almost since i started here, so that was a great way to start the new year. Second project being a convenience store opening on our campus, again this has been in the works for about 5-6 months, so to see the doors open on it the first day back was pretty exciting. 
So with that in the lead up to the weekend, and it looking like all the workouts were going to be put in the books, I started to look at what new to me Scotch would be on the list for this #cigarSunday.
After being back and forth to the liquor store a few times over the last week I had it narrowed down to 2. 
One more then the other because it had been out of stock at the liquor store all through the holidays and its that thing where if you cant have it you want it even more. So as luck would have it, it was back in stock. Glenlivet Founders Reserve.
It has a pretty Georgian blue box and it caught my eye almost immediately whenever i see it on the Glenlivet FB page.
So, holding it in my hand and reading the box, I couldnt find anywhere on it how long it was aged. Not that that is the be all end all for me, but I was curious.
A quick look online, turned into a lengthly look online standing in the scotch row of the liquor store. I couldnt find anywhere how old it was but what i did start to find was review after review of how disappointing people found it. That it was over sweet, indicating that there was a strong pear flavour that was off putting. Yikes!
I wanted a good celebration scotch for this week, also, as previously written, there was a recent departure in our family and someone else to be remembered this #cigarSunday.
I was put off picking up this bottle this week, and the other one i had selected was out of stock. 
Now there was a bottle I have had my eye for a while. But its price was a little more then i would want to typically spend so it kept moving down the list.
While I was still on the line, I decided to look it up to get the skinny before i decided to shell out the bucks on it.
All the reviews were 4 and 5 stars with amazing notes, it was also pointed out that the NSLC have discontinued it as an active product. GET IT BEFORE ITS GONE!! one post yelled at me.
Done.
Longmorn 16 you are coming home with daddy.
It was the last bottle at our liquor store so I was feeling pretty good leaving the store with it in hand.
I selected a Don Thomas Maduro Presidente to have with it for 2 reasons. I wanted a longer smoke this #cigarSunday and it is on the darker side of medium and I after reading the reviews I knew this scotch would hold up to the vibrant flavor of coffee and spice that this cigar has.
The scotch was amazing. I am always so surprised that a 16 year old scotch is so different in flavour then a 12 year old scotch. It has a great colour of carmel, incredibly smooth, and has a fantastic balance of smoke, heat, spice and sweet. I may be in love.
It paired really well with the cigar, so yay me for picking a great match.
To echo the other reviewers, if you have the chance to get one of these before they are discontinued in NS, you should do it. Was very happy with this #cigarSunday selections.
The day kinda went to cat crap directly after, as my Vikings, long awaited return to post season action is now nothing but the brunt of 'Laces out' jokes and Ace Ventura shares on my FB page.
Im a Leafs fan, so i am bred to endure the harsh slings and arrows of others in the realm of the sportsing. But holy crap that was an awful way to lose a game.
I hope Walsh doesnt go all Ray Finkle and kidnap the cast of Vikings or hold up a #SKOL factory somewhere. On the upside now i get to take my traditional role of chirping for the teams still left to be defeated, looking at you Steelers and Pats fans!
Sean " BigBoyRunning" Ryan

Happy New Year!
When can you stop saying that, what is the rule? I have never figured that out. I think if there is no rule then January 7th should be the cut off. If you say it past that date, then you should be treated the same way you are treated if you pull a prank on April Fools after 12pm, with derision and public shaming.
Okay maybe that is a little to far.
Its still before the 7th so the spirit is there. And speaking of spirits...#masterofsegue #notofasegway
I got to reunite with a little friend that I met in Las Vegas.
On this particular evening in Las Vegas it was the beverage of choice prior to seeing my first US college football game. Most of our group was heading out to see Brittany Spears, while myself and friend of the show Paul Tucker were off to the wilds of the UNLV Rebels Stadium. Paul has an interesting video of me in shorts and a Blue Jays tshirt sitting amongst throngs of fans dressing in parkas, winter hats and blankets. It was a very fun night.
But along with most of the memories from that night, this particular spirit also stayed with me as well, and was on my list to look at when we got back to Canada.
On my first trip to the liquor store I was very happy to see it there on the shelf, but I had imposed my no personal alcohol memoranda as all funds needed to be diverted to holiday spending legislation so it was going to have to wait. And wait i did. I did drop some not to subtle hints when asked what I wanted for Christmas. Booze, always my reply and a laundry list of bottles with varying price points. 
Im a charmer.
So huzzah, holidays were pretty much in the books, so time to hit up that credit card for one more purchase before it is put into freeze mode for the next six months while I pay off the recently received joys of the season.
Jamiesons Reserve. It was worth the wait. It is a fantastic dark amber, almost carmel color and has an equally subtle nose. This is some dangerous stuff. With or without ice it has amazing flavor and is incredibly smooth. My wife, also enjoys a whiskey, and was shocked at how smooth this was. 
I paired it with my standard Don Thomas Classico Corona, and it was a perfect fit for the medium flavor of the cigar. You cant go wrong with this cigar, and I keep going back because the 9.89 price point and the attributes are hard to match. It lights extremely well, holds its ash and smoke, and doesnt turn harsh as you get close to the paper band. 
While the sun had started to go down, and the wind took on a chill, it was awesome to be out in my cigar smoking sweater again on this #cigarSaturday
If you have the chance to pick up either the Jamiesons Reserve or the Don Thomas, give it a go, they are wonderful separate or together they are a couple of beauties.
​Sean "BigBoyRunning" Ryan