Editors Note: Please welcome Chris Kumnick to Whiskey Network! This is his inaugural post and we are excited to see his expert palate work magic with whiskey and cigars.
You know that moment when North Texas finally decides to get serious about winter? One day it’s a comfortable 75 degrees around Christmas, and the next, locals are declaring, “Hell hath frozen over!” When that chill sets in, even if it’s just for a few days, there’s nothing better than pulling up to the wood-burning fire, pouring a warming whiskey, and lighting a fine cigar. I reach for bold, flavorful options that wrap you in that deep, comforting warmth only the best spirits and smokes can deliver.
This pairing celebrates the classic tug-of-war between sweet and savory, Yin and Yang at its finest. On the sweet Yin side, it’s RD1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Double Finished in Oak and Maple Barrels, from RD1 Spirits, proudly named Whiskey Network’s 2025 Whiskey Maker of the Year. For the savory Yang, the Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Toro, featuring a 12-year-aged Honduran Maduro Broadleaf wrapper.
Whiskey Details
Whiskey: RD One, Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double Finished In Oak and Maple Barrels
Distillery: RD1 Distillery, Lexington, KY
Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
Proof: 99.9 (49.95% ABV)
Age: Minimum 4 years
MSRP: Approx. $70 per bottle.
Bottle Size: 750ML
Cigar Details
Cigar: Rocky Patel 1990 Vintage
Brand: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, Inc.
Vitola: Toro (6 x 52)
Filler: 5-7 year-aged Nicaraguan and Dominican leaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Honduran Maduro Broadleaf
Flavor: Medium+
MSRP: $11.45 per stick
The combo feels like hearty chili with sweet cornbread on the side, or, perhaps even closer, fluffy pancakes drizzled in maple syrup paired with crispy, black-peppered bacon. They play off each other beautifully, each enhancing the other’s strengths.
The RD1, our Yin in this pairing, is essentially a dessert-like bourbon in a glass. Right from the bottle’s neck, that pronounced maple syrup aroma greets you, but it’s balanced by those familiar bourbon notes: vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak. It reassures you this is a legitimate 4+ year-aged straight bourbon, not just liquid pancake breakfast. The magic comes from their patented process: French oak staves are steeped in maple syrup under controlled pressure, oxygen, time, and temperature, then inserted into the barrels for additional aging. The result is seamless integration.
Turning to the cigar: The Rocky Patel Vintage 1990, our Yang in the pairing, which launched in 2003, remains the brand’s flagship line bearing the Rocky Patel name. It features a sun-grown Honduran Broadleaf Maduro wrapper aged 12 years (far more intense than the typical Connecticut Broadleaf), a Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of 5- to 7-year-aged Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. That extended aging mellows the wrapper’s rugged power, coaxing out a balanced sweet creaminess beneath the bold character. The Toro (6 x 52, often box-pressed) is a sight to behold: dark, oily, leathery, with prominent veins that give it an authentic, artisanal, old-world charm. The pre-light aroma bursts with cocoa and dark-roast coffee, accented by leather, pepper, and the deep richness of the aged Maduro.
I start with a sip of the RD1 in my trusty Glencairn; on the palate, sweetness arrives first—right at the tip of the tongue, as it should, with rich maple leading the way. Then it evolves into a wonderfully complex mid-palate: layers of vanilla, caramel, warm baking spices, and a bready, almost pancake or crème brûlée quality. The mouthfeel is luxurious, thick and coating, letting those flavors linger luxuriously. At 99.9 proof, the finish is impressively long and satisfying, stretching far beyond any quick “one second per 10 proof-points” rule I might apply. It’s like a gentle, lingering Kentucky hug, full of warmth and comfort.
Then to the cigar: the pre-light draw echoes the wrapper’s cocoa and coffee, while toasting brings earthy cedar. The first puffs reveal plenty of action—medium-plus in this vitola, with cocoa, espresso, warm spice, and Maduro depth unfolding steadily. It burns evenly, produces generous smoke, and delivers real complexity throughout the entire experience.
As you alternate between the two, the bourbon’s maple sweetness softens and rounds out the cigar’s earthy, spicy edges, while the cigar’s savory notes—espresso, leather, subtle pepper—cut through the richness to keep things balanced and lively. They truly bring out the best in each other.
Sweet versus savory may be an eternal rivalry, but in moments like this, they prove they’re better together—each one completing what the other lacks. On a cold North Texas night, this Yin and Yang pairing delivers pure comfort. The RD1 offers that cozy, dessert warmth, and the Vintage 1990 adds bold, well-aged depth. If you get the chance, give them both a try. You might just find your new favorite fireside duo. Stay warm out there!
To learn more about RD 1 Spirits or Rocky Patel cigars use the following links to access more information.
Whiskey Network 2025 Whiskey Maker of the Year: https://whiskeynetwork.net/2026/01/2025-whiskey-maker-of-the-year-rd1-spirits/
RD One Distillery: https://rd1spirits.com/
Rocky Patel Cigars: https://www.rockypatel.com/cigar/vintage-1990/
