The Perfect Pairing
For Beginners
The Cigar
Cigar aficionados Lou Piscitelli and Robert Caruso love cigars and they love marketing. After purchasing revered Angry Teddy Cigars, and with some influence from the famous Buc-ee’s beaver, Lou and Robert created Angry Beaver Cigars. Lou mentioned their “goal is to be a premium cigar brand, and put forward cigars consumers would specifically return to the store for.”
Robert added that lavender is the color for their attention grabbing t-shirts and merchandise, but emphasized they are not a merchandise-focused company.
I have to agree because their premium line of Connecticut, Corojo, and Sumatra cigars speak for themselves!
“Angry Beaver Cigars are a new Premium Cigar Company along with The Beavers Den Podcast. No Filter, Everything Cigars, Laughs, Music and Whatever Comes Out of Our Twisted Mouths.” ~ Angry Beaver Cigars
These guys are working hard, or should I say, “beavering away” alongside one of the industry’s top producers, Ismael ‘Ish’ Olivan, Owner of The Rodriguez Olivan Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic. They even have an international sister cigar line, Cugino Arrabbiato, which translates to Angry Cousin in Italian. This line is exclusive to Marsala Sicily, I’m on my way! Ciao Bella!
Check out their custom Angry Beaver Harley. How cool is that!?
The Whiskey
Sumatra wrapper leafs tend to be milder and sweeter, so I decided to pair this Angry Beaver Sumatra with a milder 43% ABV and sweeter, sherry-influenced Swift Single Malt Texas Whiskey. Brand owner Nicholas Swift says this American Single Malt is actually “a hybrid of the Speyside (Scotch) style and the precision and lightness of Japanese whisky.” Of course he is only able to accomplish this with his wife and Master Distiller, Amanda Swift, at the helm. Amanda says “whiskey is a marriage of art and science.” Nick and Amanda are obviously in it for the long haul, “living the life they want to live,” making this awesome Texas whiskey for us to enjoy!
“Swift Single Malt is a hand-crafted, Texas whiskey. We take tight cuts off our hand-hammered, copper stills to fine-tune the spirit by taste. Twice-distilled from 100% Scottish malted barley, each batch is aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels and finished in Oloroso sherry casks from Spain. The result is a smooth, buttery whiskey with notes of toasted vanilla and chocolate-laced with hints of rose and ripe peaches.” ~ Swiftdistillery.com
According to Google: “The Swift whiskey logo features a fox because little gray foxes were seen at the distillery when it was being built, becoming part of the brand’s story. The logo is a red fox, representing the owner’s red hair, and is painted in a watercolor style that is also used in the artist husband’s work. The “Swift” in the company name comes from the owners’ last name, with the fox representing one of the owners, together making whiskey.”
Before we get into the pairing, a quick toast from Swift Whiskey Representative, Steve “The Highlander” Harris II.
Toast:
Here’s tae smoke and spirit both bold and grand—
The beaver that’s angry, yet steady of hand.
To leaf that burns slow, and malt that runs deep,
May the night be long and our memories keep.
Wi’ pipes a-glow and drams in glass,
We toast tae friends, may the good times last!
Slàinte mhath—to Swift, tae Angry Beaver and the Great Cigar and Pipe Show, and tae all who gather here!
Sumatra
Brand: Angry Beaver Cigars
Produced By: Rodriguez Olivan Cigars Factory, Dominican Republic
Blended By: Ismael “Ish” Olivan & “Master Blender Lou Piscitelli
Vitola: 6×52 Toro
Tripa (Filler): Criollo 98 Viso, Piloto Cuban Seco, & Ligero IT-13
Capa (Wrapper): Indonesian Sumatra
Capote (Binder): Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Body: Medium Boldness
Price: $16
Purchase Online Here
Or at Fat Boys Cigars in Beaver County.
At 154 Pleasant Drive in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.
Visual/Pre-light Draw
We have a nice light brown Sumatra wrapper that is slightly oily and rough to the touch. The black and gold main band displays the Angry Beaver, lighting his cigar. Marketing at its finest!
Just look at those glowing eyes and vicious fangs. The suit and bow tie does it for me! The lower secondary brown and gold band carries the brand name, but nothing identifies the cigar as the Sumatra.
I’ll gladly smoke it anyway!
The side sniff is packed with dark chocolate and fresh hay notes while the dry foot odor reminds me of fresh rain hitting soil. Very lovely. There is no spice while prepping the cigar’s head for my favorite Colibri V-cut. Success!
I get light hints of fresh berries on the dry foot odor, one hundred percent indicative of quality tobacco.
Yes!!!
First Third
Lighting into the cigar there are immediate and obvious notes of freshly baked sugar cookies on the foot smoke odor. Puffing the cigar is like walking into an Italian bakery, as the amazing aroma of the fresh baked goods entices all your senses, and appetite. The cigar is delicate in this first third, with soft approachable vanillas and light hints of leather. There is little to no spice on the retro-hale, which is full of vanilla and a slight baking spice on the finish.
I can’t neglect mentioning the cigar’s amazing light draw, and the high volume smoke output. This cigar fills the room! If you’re the type, like me, that wants everyone to know you’re smoking a cigar, this is your stick! Now getting more zesty notes of vanilla cake batter as we head into the second third, but before we do, let’s take a ‘Swift’ hit of whiskey.
Cigar to the whiskey: We get an explosion of exotic fruits, some pineapple custard, and slight apricot spice on the finish. This is a very approachable pairing for beginners and tropical fruit lovers alike.
Second Third
Saddle up, because there is suddenly a big transition to chocolaty, charred, and sweet notes of leather. This second third is to die for! The perfect ash is making me nervous, while the cigar’s burn line remains straight as can be. Amazing!!! The retro-hale is bold, with dark chocolates and charred leathers, and slight baking spice on the finish.
This is one of those cigars you hold and smoke vertically, because the lengthy ash is that impressive, and obviously holding all of the cigar’s amazing flavors for the next puff. There are now some nice sandalwood notes overlaying these beautiful notes, which coat and linger over the entire palate.
There is nothing boutique about this obvious premium level cigar.
Let’s take another ‘Swift’ swig of whiskey.
Whiskey to the cigar: Mango spice turns to coconut and pistachio-infused cake batter. Incredible and so ‘unusually awesome.’ My favorite direction for this awesome and easy going pairing.
I could enjoy this fruit bomb pairing for “Hours,” a very psychedelic track by my favorite cigar and whiskey pairing artist, called Tycho.
Enjoy!
Final Third
The secondary band comes off as the ash remains. I have the patience, let’s keep the party going shall we!? The cigar really opens up and slows down all the same. No re-lights required for this Angry Beaver! Those awesome vanilla and leather notes become bolder, yet creamier. And there goes that amazing ash, don’t worry, it fell off with dignity. The very angry main band comes off. We’re safe! Now back into this premium cigar. Those sandalwood and leather notes start to dominate the experience, with the creamiest vanilla-infused baking spices on the finish. Some nuttiness entered the situation, as I sat back in the saddle, and fully enjoyed every bit of this awesome Angry Beaver expression.
Cigar smoked whiskey: This direction is an explosion of more exotic fruits, with a dominant note of smoked Italian Limoncello (lemon liqueur) over garnished orange peel. Perfect for any moment, and perfect for anyone to enjoy.
I mean, who doesn’t need a little Italian in their life!?
Overall…
There is nothing angry about this beaver! This trip to the Italian bakery pairing is packed with exotic and approachable fruit notes. It’s an easy going experience for those interested in exploring or beginning an incredible pairing journey, like the one I have had here at Whiskey Network.
Cheers!
Acknowledgment & Live Pairing
Thank you Angry Beaver Cigars Owners, Lou Piscitelli and Bobby Caruso, Swift Whiskey Representative Steve “The Highlander” Harris II, and our very charismatic Whiskey Network Staff Writer, Tommy Simpson, for joining us Chooches on the Great Cigar & Pipe Show. Together we discovered the perfect beginner level cigar and whiskey pairing.
Special thanks to Galaxy Whisky Gala Board Member, Col. Dennis Stuckey, for joining us on the show, and sharing the deets on his incredible charity whiskey event, which will be held Saturday March 28, 2026 in Austin Texas.
Visit www.galaxywhiskygala.com for more information.
Also, definitely check out our incredible beginner pairing revelation here:
Whiskey & Cigar Photography by: James Archie
