Joseph A. Magnus’ Grooviest Release to Date - Psychedelic Summer

Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch 46

Batch 46 of Cigar Blend Bourbon is known as Psychedelic Summer around the distillery. It’s part of a series #42 - 46 dubbed the ’Rock and Roll Series’ by Nancy The Nose Frahley These batches all hail from the same mother blend of six specific armagnac casks that made their way from DC to the current distillery home in Holland, Michigan. 

The pilgrimage from DC to Michigan is one that the company’s namesake Joseph Magnus himself made back in 1894 when he relocated from Cincinnati.

Magnus Family Crest

Joseph was a traveling Salesmen, Blender and Wholesale Liquor Magnate. The top selling spirit for Joseph and team was Murray Hill Club Whiskey.  This was up until 1918 when Prohibition ended the party.

The Joseph A. Magnus Co. was re-established a century later by Joseph’s Great Grandson in 2015.  A 120 year old bottle of whiskey was found by the family, so they invited some friends over to analyze samples. Those friends were a former Master Distiller at Woodford Reserve, a former VP at Buffalo Trace and the American Distilling Institute’s Director of Research, the aforementioned Nancy Fraley. 

On Ep. 46 of The Neat Pour Podcast we were back with a vengeance sampling Joseph Magnus Bourbon (8-9yr MGP triple finished in Oloroso Sherry, Pedro Ximéinez Sherry and Cognac Casks). Paired with Cigar Blend Bourbon (blend of 13 and 20yr old MGP finished in Armagnac, Sherry and Cognac Casks). 

Cigar Blend, as the name implies is meant be paired with a stogy. It made sense to compare this variant next to the original.   Where the Jos Mag Bourbon has notes of black walnut bitters and tea leaves. Cigar Blend takes the complexity higher with a rich ripe berry compote note. Its a mouth coating experience with hints of plum and dried mulling spices like a glogg wine. Its really fantastic stuff. 

Joseph Magnus Bourbon (100 Proof) and Cigar Blend (127 Proof)

Joseph A. Magnus Bourbon retails for around $100. Cigar Blend Bourbon after taxes will run you about $220 retail. They both pour like special occasion whiskeys.  It was said that Magnus formed his liquor dealership on Main Street in Downtown Cinicinatti on the principles of Kind Deeds and Pleasant Thoughts. Fast forward 100 years and the name still stands for remarkably artful blends that  you can enjoy in 33 states. 

-The Neat Pour

Other Notes: 

-Batch 46 Psychedelic Summer is the follow up to Shake, Rattle and Roll (Batch 45, 127.1 proof) and the precursor to Beatnik Brunch (Batch 47, 127 proof) 

-Cigar Blend Bourbon took Double Gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2018, 2019 and 2021. 

-A Double Gold means that every judge in the category gave the spirit a Gold.