Happy Hour - Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Cask Strength Rye

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy pour Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Cask Strength Rye and revisit one of Fingers’ favorite pours, only to find the higher-proof version might be even more impressive. At 115.4 proof, this rye somehow drinks smooth, rich, and dangerously easy, with notes of brown sugar, baked goods, cinnamon, citrus, oak, and just enough spice to keep things interesting. The guys break down why it doesn’t drink like a traditional rye, whether that matters, and why this bottle absolutely earns a spot in the liquor cabinet -- even at around $74.

Also in this Happy Hour episode: Tony and Fingers revisit the Espinosa Murcielago cigar, compare notes on its bold Mexican San Andrés profile, and talk through where it lands humidor-wise at about $11 a stick. Along the way, they get into breaking news about Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, gas-powered leaf blower bans, self-driving cars that apparently can’t avoid ducks, Lowe’s investing big in the skilled trades, and why the country may finally be waking up to the value of people who know how to work with their hands.

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