My Unicorn Pairing
Our Whiskey Network 2025 Cigar Of The Year
Marvel
Brand: BAMF Cigars
Produced By: Rodriguez Olivan Cigars Factory, Dominican Republic
Blended By: Ismael “Ish” Rodríguez Oliván
Vitola: 6×58 Gran Toro
Tripa (Filler): Dominican, Nicaraguan, Trinidad, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Italian, Transylvania, and Spanish
Capa (Wrapper): Brazilian Arapiraca Habano Oscuro
Capote (Binder): Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Body: Medium Plus Boldness
Price: $18 (Limited)
Purchase Online Here
The Cigar
And here we are, saving the best for last. Our Whiskey Network 2025 Cigar of The Year is Marvel by BAMF Cigars. Marvel means Maravilloso in Spanish. An appropriate name for this absolutely fantastic cigar. To be honest, this is by far the best cigar, to hit my palate, ever! We’ll get into it, but I mean, just look at all those unique tobaccos in this crazy blend. There’s simply no way to know what to expect with eleven different tobaccos, aged ten years, from around the world, in your cigar. Epic!
Of course, we would only see this crazy type of blend from the one and only, Ismael “Ish” Rodríguez Oliván, a Spanish Ops Veteran Owner of BAMF Cigars and The Olivan Rodriguez Cigar Factory, which is located in The Dominican Republic. He is literally the most badass ‘m-effer’ in the industry (BAMF). This Marvel cigar was even personally rolled by him. Ish confirmed, “we are probably the only factory in the world that doesn’t use the most common tobaccos. We love to find tobaccos from everywhere in the world for our blends. We are blenders and are always for something different, something no one has dared to try.”
This is the very reason why nearly 130 cigar brands, including many reviewed here at Whiskey Network, has Ish rolling their cigars. His blends are both unique and spectacular. His ‘Around The World Cigar’ had 17 tobaccos in it. That’s wild!!!
Ish explained his special yet unconventional approach to pairing his cigars. “Everyone talks about pairing cigars with drinks that are alike, we believe it’s better to pair a cigar with a beverage that is totally opposite, so all the flavors come together and make it unique, instead of just intensifying the same flavor from each other.” Marvelous!
I admit, Ish’s bold decision to pair his Marvel Cigar with the Fettercairn 24, took me and the pairing experience to a whole new dimension.
Stay tuned and read on…
The Whisky
Whyte & Mackay’s Fettercairn Distillery is still on fire!* Their coveted Unicorn logo, a mythological symbol of purity, innocence, and power, remains the national animal of Scotland. Its horn is believed to purify poisoned water and is the only animal capable of defeating England’s mighty Lion. Pay attention here because we are amidst an amazing rebirth or relaunch of the distillery’s signature unpeated, light, and fruity spirit. Their incredible 24 and 28 year expressions, fully matured in ex-bourbon casks, are already here in the USA. We are honored to be reviewing them both right here at The Whiskey Network. Definitely be on the look out for their core range 12, 16, and 20 year old expressions, which are coming to the USA next year. I personally will be after each and every single one of them!
To create a purer expression of their spirit, Fettercain runs continuous water over their still via a “cooling ring,” which cools the copper, creating condensation inside, and a lighter ‘tropical’ distillate. This is one of Scotland’s most unique distillation techniques, portrayed on the neck of each new bottle, running down its shoulders, body, and unparalleled Unicorn logo.
*In 1887, a fire almost completely destroyed the Fettercairn distillery. The distillery was closed for three years before it reopened in 1890.
Aged in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels, the 24 Year Old is perfectly aged, for a richer exploration of our distillery character, offering notes of rich sweet cooked tropical fruit notes. This whisky is golden brown in color, with notes of rich tropical fruits, expect Madagascan vanilla and red liquorice with a sweet, spiced finish. ~ Fettercairn Distillery
Undoubtedly, this Highland whisky’s 46% ABV and bright tropical richness should pair excellently with the rich and rare tobaccos in this Marvel(ous) BAMF cigar. To back that up, Fettercairn 24 was recently selected as the Scotch Whisky Release Of The Year by The Beverage Testing Institute. So we have the best of both worlds, poised and ready to present us a ‘Unicorn’ cigar and whisky pairing.
My Tasting Notes:
Nose: Soft, delicate, and creamy notes of sweet and orangy Clementines over white chocolate, banana pudding, and a hint of cinnamon glazed graham crackers.
Palate: Nice thick viscosity as red apple and tropical Canary melon notes glide smoothly over the tongue and palate.
Finish: More slightly spiced Canary melon, pineapple, and lingering banana notes.
Score: Over The Top! 10/10, A Unicorn!
MSRP: $599.00 and rightfully so!
Visual/Pre-light Draw
First things first, just look at that incredible shiny gold, blue, and bronze tinged main band, glistening and carrying that giant shiny gold ‘M.’ The lower secondary band, which carries the cigar’s name, is just as dazzling as the main. Both bands display fancy, attention grabbing tobacco leaves, surrounded by royal designs. Both bands are simply ’Marvelous!’
We have a very tough and well constructed looking cigar here. Its Brazilian Arapiraca Habano wrapper is medium brown in color, slightly oily, and rough to the touch. Again, solid construction, and it appears to be packed perfectly, by Ish himself.
The side sniff is subtle with nice hints of cocoa, fresh hay, and some floral notes. The dry foot odor is moist and intense, with bold notes of Hersey’s chocolate, and nose tingling eucalyptus. Love it!
There is no spice on the palate when prepping the cigar’s head for my favorite Colibri V-cut. The dry draw is also very intense, with bold notes of purple grapes, oats, and berries.
Time to smoke and drink!
First Third
It took me a while to fire up all the tobaccos in this crazy blend. Immediately there are awesome notes of dark roasted chocolate infused pecans on the foot smoke odor. Then BOOM! An incredible burst of candied marzipan on the first puff. Ish, you just won my heart! Wow!!! The draw is light and easy going, but full of awesome vanillas and leatheriness now. Then comes some awesome cinnamon infused nutiness, sweetness, and creaminess. What is happening!? My mind is blown with everything going on here, within the first few puffs. Then comes a very bold gingerbread and leather packed retro-hale, with the perfect brief moment of intense spice on the finish.
Now I’m getting notes of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, still on the cookie sheet, right out of the oven. Some slightly salted nuttiness lingers on the palate, very cool! This cigar is high volume, deceptively sweet, and full of bold flavors. In fact, this first third is smoking like most other cigars’ final third, when all their flavors finally blend together. No waiting here, this cigar is super complex and super incredible. ‘Cousin Frank’ Minutillo from The Great Cigar & Pipe Show calls it “a ‘Marvel’ of a cigar, full of nutmeggy notes of buttery croissant and baking spices.” I trust his palate!
Time to see what Fettercairn’s Unicorn 24 year old whisky can do for this Unicorn cigar!
Cigar to whisky: Pure candy! It’s like popping a handful of tropical skittles in your mouth! There are so many sweet pistachio infused tropical fruit flavors that hit the palate in this direction of the pairing. There’s no room to list them all here, so how about a summary video demonstration from San Diego’s favorite Scotch loving Anchorman, Ron Burgundy.
BAMF Cigars and Fettercairn Distillery, you guys can “take me to pleasure town!”
Because “I friggin love you!”
Second Third
That sexy perfect ash is holding strong. The cigar becomes creamier but with darker and bolder notes of roasted chocolate. Then an incredible transition to ginger infused cookies and cream ice cream, with a hint of caramel coated vanilla on the finish. My palate is salivating for more as this has got to be the smoothest and creamiest draw I’ve ever experienced on a cigar. Amazing, and anyone will love it!!!
The retro-hale is packed with more light leatheriness over vanilla frosted confetti cupcakes. My favorite party cupcake ever! Ish, you are really stealing my heart with this Marvel(ous) cigar. More vanilla frosted gingerbread cookie notes glide across the palate, with awesome leathery vanillas that linger on the palate. That perfect ash is creeping on the secondary band. It slid right off, easily, toward the foot, taking all the ash along with it, while maintaining the cigar’s perfect burn line. I’ve never experienced that happen with any other cigar. Incredible!
Time to continue this Unicorn party with more Fettercairn 24.
Whisky to cigar: All that tropical fruitiness of the whisky marries perfectly with the freshly baked cookie notes of the cigar, to create an awesome and creamy, coconut infused pistachio note. Super incredible and definitely the most ‘unusually awesome’ result I’ve ever experienced on a pairing.
Ish, my man, Fettercairn, you guys have done it. I love it!
This Unicorn pairing has definitely got me dreaming…
And doing some “Magical Thinking,” by Shallou:
Final Third
So far I am simply blown away by this cigar, which is now at full body strength. My mind has gone in so many different directions, maybe I need a break? Hell no! Let’s get back into this fantastic ‘Maravilloso’ cigar.
My favorite marzipan note returns. Marzipan is nutty almondy cream paste note I only get only the highest quality cigars. Ish affectionately calls me ‘Officer Marzipan,’ and for good reason. That amazing shiny main band comes right off, the party continues, and we reach the highest peak of cigar enjoyment. Yes, the cigar is starting to kick my ass, in a good way. Time to, as they often say in The Dominican Republic, “Go Slow!”
More chocolate infused ginger and cake battered vanilla hits the palate. The final third is simply out of this world. Intense, sweet, and continuously pulling me back in for more. The retro-hale intensifies, with bold spicy notes of chocolate and leather. This cigar has everything any cigar connoisseur could ever desire. A real banger, which easily and immediately became our Whiskey Network 2025 Cigar of the Year.
Cigar smoked whisky: The smoke smells sweet as can be, as we get a cherry vanilla swirl of smoked tropical pineapple notes. This is like eating cherry jello packed with chunks of pineapple, with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Maravilloso!!! Congratulations Ish!!!
Overall…
There was a time I thought I could control the world…
But it’s like a speeding train,
There’s a glowing light still,
Try to hope again, to dream! ~ Shallou
And this pairing is a “glowing light still!” The absolute best pairing I have experienced during my whiskey and cigar, four year adventure tenure, here at The Whiskey Network (2021-2025). It’s a complex ‘opposites attract’ Unicorn pairing that everyone will enjoy!
Cheers & Happy Holidays!
Acknowledgment, Announcement, & Live Pairing
Thank you Whyte & Mackay Senior Single Malt Specialist, Ben Boice, for this amazing collaboration opportunity and Fettercairn samples. Thank you to Whyte & Mackay’s Single Malt Specialist, Koray Kaan Özdemir, @WhiskyMonster on Instagram, for helping us navigate this amazing Fettercairn 24 on The Great Cigar & Pipe Show. Definitely check out Koray’s awesome Fettercairn Distillery visit on youtube.
Thank you to The Olivan Rodriguez Factory and BAMF Cigars Owner, Ismael “Ish” Rodríguez Oliván, for allowing us cigar lovers such an incredible smoking and pairing experience. Congratulations to you on one of our highest Whiskey Network recognitions, our 2025 Cigar of the Year. Well deserved brother!
Thank you Bill Varnell, Mark Pruett, Col. Brian G. Miller, and the entire Whiskey Network. You guys without a doubt are the best in the industry! I learned so much from all of you! I am continuing my amazing whiskey journey with The Whiskey Lab, and cigar pairing collab with The Great Cigar & Pipe Show.
Finally, thank you to The Great Cigar & Pipe Show Chooches, ‘Cousin Frank’ Minutillo, Ronnie Pecorini, ‘Retired Bob’ Pecorini, and Kyle ‘Lancero’ Jesso for an incredible 2025 season of live pairings. We truly discovered so many amazing pairings, culminating in this over-the-top and dreamy cigar pairing experience. Check out the live pairing here:
Whisky & Cigar Photography By: James Archie
