This week on Eat Drink Smoke, Tony and Fingers review the Oliva Serie V Melanio and Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Other topics this week include -- Amazon to launch a cheap new grocery line. It's National Bourbon Heritage Month! Wholesale prices rose 0.2% in August. Gen Z is ditching Google for this next most popular search engine. McDonald's extends $5 value meal at most US locations. A major grocery store chain is raising starting pay to $23 an hour. One state is trying to ban 'deepfakes.' Phrases people use when they are showing empathy.

All that and much more on this week's Eat Drink Smoke.

Follow Eat Drink Smoke on social media!
X (Formerly Twitter): @GoEatDrinkSmoke
Facebook: @eatdrinksmoke
IG: @EatDrinkSmokePodcast

The Podcast is Free! Click Below!

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This week on Eat Drink Smoke, Tony and Fingers review the Oliva Serie V Melanio and Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
<a href="https://www.plasenciacigars.com/"></a><a href="https://sierranevada.com/brews/summerfest"></a>Other topics this week include -- Amazon to launch a cheap new grocery line. It's National Bourbon Heritage Month! Wholesale prices rose 0.2% in August. Gen Z is ditching Google for this next most popular search engine. McDonald's extends $5 value meal at most US locations. A major grocery store chain is raising starting pay to $23 an hour. One state is trying to ban 'deepfakes.' Phrases people use when they are showing empathy.
All that and much more on this week's Eat Drink Smoke.
Follow Eat Drink Smoke on social media! X (Formerly Twitter): <a href="https://twitter.com/GoEatDrinkSmoke">@GoEatDrinkSmoke</a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/eatdrinksmoke">@eatdrinksmoke</a> IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eatdrinksmokepodcast">@EatDrinkSmokePodcast</a>
The Podcast is Free! Click Below!
<a href="http://bit.ly/eatdrinksmoke">Apple Podcasts</a> <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/09697f78-947d-4008-92f6-18f6b241774a/Eat-Drink-Smoke">Amazon Music</a> <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/show/eat-drink-smoke">Stitcher</a>  <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6Qf6qSmnpb5ctSMEtaB6lp">Spotify</a>

Eat Drink Smoke is the bourbon and cigar review show for everyone!
You'll get reviews you can use, in a way you can understand them. There's also great takes on the stories dominating the week, but without the anger of social media. Eat Drink Smoke is the podcast that fits into your life because it's just like you - interested in new things, good people and honest, funny conversation.
Eat Drink Smoke is hosted by long-time radio host and entertainer Tony Katz, with co-host Fingers Malloy.

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy talk amazing spirits, brilliant cigars and great food.

Eat Drink Smoke

Is Google In Trouble?

Happy Hour kicks off with a box-pressed Robusto and a simple question: what happens when a cigar everyone’s been whispering about finally gets lit?

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy fire up the OZ Family Cigars Karatoba Robusto, a 5x52 that wastes no time making its case. Early impressions land on wood, white pepper, and a creamy, nut-forward profile that quickly turns into what may be the most accurate tasting note of the night: chew the cashew. Cedar spice, nutty creaminess, and a steady, easy burn make this one worth slowing down for—and worth revisiting as it moves through the thirds.

From there, Happy Hour does what it does best. The conversation drifts into humidor reality, not humidor mythology—why there is no universal “right” humidity, how winter messes with everything, and why results always vary depending on where you live, what you store in, and how much control you actually have. Rules get challenged. Dogma gets tossed. Notes get written.

Then things loosen up.

Winter storms, busted snowblowers, regional weather envy, and the emotional toll of shoveling your own driveway all make an appearance. So does a surprising deep dive into restaurant bankruptcy, food-court nostalgia, and the sudden realization that Hot Dog on a Stick is a real place with real uniforms and very real debt.

It’s cigars, weather, food, business, and chaos—exactly the way Happy Hour is supposed to feel.

Pour something. Light something. Pull up a chair.
This one’s for letting the conversation wander and seeing where it lands.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com — and follow along for more episodes, videos, and subscriber-only extras.

Follow Eat Drink Smoke on social media!

X (Formerly Twitter): @GoEatDrinkSmoke
Facebook: @eatdrinksmoke
IG: @EatDrinkSmokePodcast

Happy Hour kicks off with a box-pressed Robusto and a simple question: what happens when a cigar everyone&rsquo;s been whispering about finally gets lit?
Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy fire up the OZ Family Cigars Karatoba Robusto, a 5x52 that wastes no time making its case. Early impressions land on wood, white pepper, and a creamy, nut-forward profile that quickly turns into what may be the most accurate tasting note of the night: chew the cashew. Cedar spice, nutty creaminess, and a steady, easy burn make this one worth slowing down for&mdash;and worth revisiting as it moves through the thirds.
From there, Happy Hour does what it does best. The conversation drifts into humidor reality, not humidor mythology&mdash;why there is no universal &ldquo;right&rdquo; humidity, how winter messes with everything, and why results always vary depending on where you live, what you store in, and how much control you actually have. Rules get challenged. Dogma gets tossed. Notes get written.
Then things loosen up.
Winter storms, busted snowblowers, regional weather envy, and the emotional toll of shoveling your own driveway all make an appearance. So does a surprising deep dive into restaurant bankruptcy, food-court nostalgia, and the sudden realization that Hot Dog on a Stick is a real place with real uniforms and very real debt.
It&rsquo;s cigars, weather, food, business, and chaos&mdash;exactly the way Happy Hour is supposed to feel.
Pour something. Light something. Pull up a chair. This one&rsquo;s for letting the conversation wander and seeing where it lands.
Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com &mdash; and follow along for more episodes, videos, and subscriber-only extras.
Follow Eat Drink Smoke on social media!
X (Formerly Twitter): @GoEatDrinkSmoke Facebook: @eatdrinksmoke IG: @EatDrinkSmokePodcast

Happy Hour: Karatoba Robusto from OZ Family Cigars

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/78a347aa-3282-4ac5-837c-a72300032082/clips/6f99ddd8-2a26-4bac-bcf6-b3e3014c2623/transcript

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy light up a cigar that’s been getting a lot of buzz: the Oz Family Cigars Karatoba Robusto (5x52 box press)—Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan/Dominican filler. Early impressions land in the sweet spot: cedar spice, nutty creaminess, and that “chew the cashew” texture that turns into an instant running joke. At around $12, the big question becomes simple: is this a daily-humidor staple?

Then they pour something neither of them expected to like as much as they do: Old Soul High Rye Bourbon (90 proof) from Cathead Distillery (with MGP in the mix). The nose screams vanilla cake, but the palate surprises with rye spice, tongue-tingle heat, and a cinnamon edge—plus a full debate over whether oak is even present. Water changes the profile, the pairing clicks, and both hosts land on the same conclusion: at about $45, it’s a yes.

Also in this episode:


The winter weather misery report (and Fingers’ snowblower betrayal: reverse-only)


Why humidor “rules” are mostly nonsense—and why your perfect humidity is whatever makes your cigars smoke right


A restaurant empire with $1.3 billion in debt and a portfolio that reads like a food court fever dream (Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Twin Peaks, Smokey Bones… and yes, Hot Dog on a Stick is real)


A quick hit on Real ID and the new $45 TSA fee for travelers without a compliant ID


U-Haul migration rankings: who’s leaving, who’s winning, and why


The “classy person” list that somehow turns into Frasier, jealousy therapy, and “don’t be weird”

It’s cigars, bourbon, winter frustration, humidor truth, bankrupt restaurant chains, and just enough nonsense to make it feel like home.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com — and follow along for more episodes, videos, and subscriber-only extras.

Follow Eat Drink Smoke on social media!

X (Formerly Twitter): @GoEatDrinkSmoke
Facebook: @eatdrinksmoke
IG: @EatDrinkSmokePodcast

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy light up a cigar that&rsquo;s been getting a lot of buzz: the Oz Family Cigars Karatoba Robusto (5x52 box press)&mdash;Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan/Dominican filler. Early impressions land in the sweet spot: cedar spice, nutty creaminess, and that &ldquo;chew the cashew&rdquo; texture that turns into an instant running joke. At around $12, the big question becomes simple: is this a daily-humidor staple?
Then they pour something neither of them expected to like as much as they do: Old Soul High Rye Bourbon (90 proof) from Cathead Distillery (with MGP in the mix). The nose screams vanilla cake, but the palate surprises with rye spice, tongue-tingle heat, and a cinnamon edge&mdash;plus a full debate over whether oak is even present. Water changes the profile, the pairing clicks, and both hosts land on the same conclusion: at about $45, it&rsquo;s a yes.
Also in this episode:
<ul data-start="1174" data-end="1851">
<li data-start="1174" data-end="1261">
The winter weather misery report (and Fingers&rsquo; snowblower betrayal: reverse-only)
</li>
<li data-start="1262" data-end="1379">
Why humidor &ldquo;rules&rdquo; are mostly nonsense&mdash;and why your perfect humidity is whatever makes your cigars smoke right
</li>
<li data-start="1380" data-end="1593">
A restaurant empire with $1.3 billion in debt and a portfolio that reads like a food court fever dream (Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli&rsquo;s, Twin Peaks, Smokey Bones&hellip; and yes, Hot Dog on a Stick is real)
</li>
<li data-start="1594" data-end="1681">
A quick hit on Real ID and the new $45 TSA fee for travelers without a compliant ID
</li>
<li data-start="1682" data-end="1748">
U-Haul migration rankings: who&rsquo;s leaving, who&rsquo;s winning, and why
</li>
<li data-start="1749" data-end="1851">
The &ldquo;classy person&rdquo; list that somehow turns into Frasier, jealousy therapy, and &ldquo;don&rsquo;t be weird&rdquo;
</li>
</ul>
It&rsquo;s cigars, bourbon, winter frustration, humidor truth, bankrupt restaurant chains, and just enough nonsense to make it feel like home.
Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com &mdash; and follow along for more episodes, videos, and subscriber-only extras.
Follow Eat Drink Smoke on social media!
X (Formerly Twitter): @GoEatDrinkSmoke Facebook: @eatdrinksmoke IG: @EatDrinkSmokePodcast

Chew the Cashew and Old Soul

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/78a347aa-3282-4ac5-837c-a72300032082/clips/57adaa51-5c02-4e53-80c2-b3e301302f34/transcript

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy crack open one of their first new bourbons of 2026: 15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — a 98-proof blend of 5, 6, and 7-year bourbons out of Bardstown.

The nose comes in sweet and easy — caramel, vanilla, oak — with no ethanol bite. The palate? Lighter and thinner than expected. But then the finish shows up late with oak, spice, warmth, and just enough intrigue to start an argument about value.

Is this a $70 bottle?
Or is it a very solid yes at $51?

Tony and Fingers break it down neat, with water, and with a cube — debating thin palates, delayed gratification, and whether people are willing to wait for a bourbon to do its work.

Then Happy Hour does what Happy Hour always does:


Fancy cocktails allegedly explode stomachs


Liquid nitrogen becomes the enemy


“Lunch meat” vs. “cold cuts” turns into a regional civil war


Kroger’s AI-powered shopping carts summon Skynet


Indiana football glory gets its moment


The NFL tries to stretch the season (and the players)


And somehow, Defiance Beef fixes everything

Bourbon opinions, cultural irritation, and conversations that refuse to stay on topic.

That’s Happy Hour.

Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com
Pour something good and hang out.

Follow Eat Drink Smoke on social media!

X (Formerly Twitter): @GoEatDrinkSmoke
Facebook: @eatdrinksmoke
IG: @EatDrinkSmokePodcast

Tony Katz and Fingers Malloy crack open one of their first new bourbons of 2026: 15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey &mdash; a 98-proof blend of 5, 6, and 7-year bourbons out of Bardstown.
The nose comes in sweet and easy &mdash; caramel, vanilla, oak &mdash; with no ethanol bite. The palate? Lighter and thinner than expected. But then the finish shows up late with oak, spice, warmth, and just enough intrigue to start an argument about value.
Is this a $70 bottle? Or is it a very solid yes at $51?
Tony and Fingers break it down neat, with water, and with a cube &mdash; debating thin palates, delayed gratification, and whether people are willing to wait for a bourbon to do its work.
Then Happy Hour does what Happy Hour always does:
<ul data-start="1002" data-end="1339">
<li data-start="1002" data-end="1046">
Fancy cocktails allegedly explode stomachs
</li>
<li data-start="1047" data-end="1082">
Liquid nitrogen becomes the enemy
</li>
<li data-start="1083" data-end="1145">
&ldquo;Lunch meat&rdquo; vs. &ldquo;cold cuts&rdquo; turns into a regional civil war
</li>
<li data-start="1146" data-end="1196">
Kroger&rsquo;s AI-powered shopping carts summon Skynet
</li>
<li data-start="1197" data-end="1237">
Indiana football glory gets its moment
</li>
<li data-start="1238" data-end="1293">
The NFL tries to stretch the season (and the players)
</li>
<li data-start="1294" data-end="1339">
And somehow, Defiance Beef fixes everything
</li>
</ul>
Bourbon opinions, cultural irritation, and conversations that refuse to stay on topic.
That&rsquo;s Happy Hour.
Find everything at EatDrinkSmokeShow.com Pour something good and hang out.
Follow Eat Drink Smoke on social media!
X (Formerly Twitter): @GoEatDrinkSmoke Facebook: @eatdrinksmoke IG: @EatDrinkSmokePodcast

Happy Hour: 15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Bourbon

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/78a347aa-3282-4ac5-837c-a72300032082/clips/e94ccbc7-a0b7-4062-b529-b3e30026e2d9/transcript

Is Google In Trouble?

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