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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Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy light up the Espinosa Murcielago, a 6x52 box-pressed cigar with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, and quickly find out this is no lightweight smoke. What starts with a cracked wrapper and a wounded ego turns into a full conversation about bold flavor, oak, spice, richness, and whether this big, powerful cigar is worth about $11 a stick or just a little more than Fingers wants to commit to humidor-wise.

Also in this Happy Hour episode: Fingers battles a swollen lip from an unfortunate steak incident, the guys talk through what to do when a cigar hits a little too hard, and Tony walks through his cigar notebook method for figuring out your own flavor profile over time. Along the way, they get into a Costco pan recall that sounds like frying-pan roulette, cast iron steak experiments, overpriced used cars, YouTube growth, Byron Allen buying late-night TV time, ESPN layoffs, and why everything suddenly feels more expensive than it should.

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Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy step away from bourbon for a rare tequila-focused Happy Hour, pouring LALO Tequila Blanco and finding a surprisingly smooth, easy-sipping pour with notes of agave, citrus, tropical fruit, and a little creaminess on the palate. Tony tries tequila because of Passover restrictions, Fingers brings the bottle on a recommendation from a liquor store clerk, and the two of them try to figure out whether this blanco belongs in the liquor cabinet at around $45 a bottle.

The guys spend most of the episode digging into what makes this tequila work, why it drinks easier than expected, and whether tequila fans would see LALO as a legit sipping option. The Alec Bradley Safe Keepings Toro is along for the ride, but this Happy Hour really belongs to the bottle.

Also in the mix: a little talk about news, travel, cast iron cooking, and the usual Eat Drink Smoke Happy Hour wandering into places it probably didn’t plan to go.

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