This year's Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest took place in Tampa, where throngs of whisky and cigar fans enjoyed an evening of both. Photos by Zack Wittman
Cigar and whisky lovers descended upon the Sunshine State over the weekend for the fourth annual Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest, held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa. This marked the first time the event took place in Tampa (also known as Cigar City), where the historic Ybor City neighborhood—once hailed as the “Cigar Capital of the World”—is a hub for hand-rolled cigars, making it a fitting locale.
The evening’s grand tasting commenced at 5:30 p.m. with a packed VIP hour, where throngs of ticket holders were treated to an exclusive array of whiskies and cigars. VIP drams included limited American whiskeys, among them Bardstown Bourbon Co. Collaborative Series with Foursquare Rum, Green River Distilling Co. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Single Barrel, George Dickel x Leopold Brothers Collaboration Rye, and a selection of bourbons and ryes from Middle West Spirits, as well as import offerings such as Fuji Whisky 50th Anniversary Single Malt and Johnnie Walker Blue.
Pouring at the Bardstown booth was Jaz Weaver, the distillery’s national brand ambassador and an avid cigar fan herself. “About a third of the time people are coming up knowing exactly what they want, and a lot of them are asking for the Collaborative Series with Foursquare,” she noted. “I find that the people who know us are super fans—they already own these bottles, but they’re eager to savor them here.” For the event, Bardstown partnered with Montecristo Cigars on pairings for each of its pours; the Origin Series bottled in bond bourbon, for example, was matched with the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edicion Diamante No. 2.
As the VIP hour ended, the floodgates opened and the main ticket holders streamed in. They had their pick of close to 100 whiskies, rums, and Tequilas coming from all over the world, as well as some 35 cigars. With so many options at hand, those looking to pair a whisky with a cigar might’ve been overwhelmed—but Tim Ozgener, proprietor of Oz Family Cigars, suggested trying a bourbon or Tennessee whiskey with a stogie to start. “The whole idea of having cigars with whiskies makes sense, and I’d shoutout the Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee whiskey in particular as a great pairing option, as it has a sweetness that’s well matched to a cigar,” he explained.
First-time Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest attendee Damon White enjoyed the bourbon-cigar matchup, spotlighting a dram from Green River alongside a cigar from Rocky Patel. “I tasted Green River wheated bourbon for the first time tonight and it was amazing, and of course meeting Rocky Patel and getting some of his cigars to enjoy was a highlight,” he said. White added that he’s looking forward to the next Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest, where he’ll be bringing his sons along.
WhiskyFest is on hiatus until the fall when it’ll return to Florida—this time at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. Tickets are set to go on sale soon.
