Now, to call this a Jagermeister tasting was a bit of a stretch.  When they host a, say, whiskey tasting, there are three or four different types of whiskey to sample.  But, to my knowledge, there are not multiple types or vintages of Jager, so the Jagermeister tasting consisted of one full-size shot of the liqueur, ice cold from the Jagermeister tap.  However, they did bring two Jagermeister girls, and I brought one of my own, so that makes it an official event.  As far as reviewing the Jager; it’s cold and it tastes like black licorice.  Try some before you die.

On the many big screens they showed the Ultimate Fighting Championship from Philadelphia.  Anderson Silva whooped Forrest Griffin, and in the main event BJ Penn dominated Kenny Florian.  I’d never take the time to watch a UFC fight on my own, but watching it in a bar makes it much more entertaining.

Out of all the night’s festivities, my Jager girl was most impressed by a cupcake given to her by Frank, the 888 General Manager, from Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills.  It was pretty amazing.  Frank is a great guy, even if he was trying to ply my girl with cupcakes.

For my cigar selections, I enjoyed, but was not wowed by a Gurkha of unknown description.  However, I was quite impressed with a La Perla Habana Maduro.  This cigar is a stronger cigar than the Classic line and is expertly handmade from a blend of Dominican, Nicaraguan and Mexican fillers, a Nicaraguan Habano binder and wrapped in a Brazilian wrapper.  Very nice spicy taste and aroma.  A solid 9.3 on The Morris Scale.

Posted on August 9th, 2009 by Aaron Morris

Original Article HERE

This was my second trip to the 8Eightyeight Diamond Crown Lounge, and I remain suitably impressed. I’ve noticed that many cigar stores tack “cigar lounge” onto the name, but it’s a total joke when you go inside. I recently did an abrupt u-turn when I spotted a previously unseen “Cigar Store and Lounge” in Tustin, California. When I entered, I discovered that the lounge consisted of a couch facing an old television in a corner of the store.

Not so with the Diamond Crown Lounge. From what I see at the website, there are a number of Diamond Crown Cigar Lounges, each with it’s own name. The one I visited in Fullerton is the 8Eightyeight. This is not a store with a lounge, it is a true lounge that just happens to sell cigars. You enter into the reception/store area, pass through a very large cigar display room, and enter a huge bar/lounge. There is a bar that seats perhaps 12 people, and numerous tables around the room. My favorite spot is in one of the reclining theater chairs that face a huge center screen, surrounded by six more large screens – all displaying various sporting events. There is also an additional room, as large as the main area, beyond the bar.

The bar is a full bar (not just wine and beer), with four impressive tappers. Look at the photo, and what may appear to be foamy beer flowing from the tappers is actually ice. The tappers are kept so cold that ice forms around them.

The last time I visited this lounge there were just a few people, but on the night of the tasting the place was packed and the cigar smoke was thick. For just twenty bucks I got two good cigars, a taste of four Alaskan beers (not full beers – around five ounces of each) and a raffle ticket for the door prizes (various humidors, ash trays, and an Alaskan Brewing Company golf bag). Quite a deal. Again, from the website, it appears there is one such event every month.

http://www.diamondcrown.com

After my last visit I was hot to join (membership is very reasonable), but Fullerton is a little too far for me to get much use out of a membership. If you happen to be closer, you’d do well to give this place a look.

Original Article HERE

I love the draft beer at this place. I generally switch between the Stella Artois and the Alaskan Amber. Full size pints filled to the brim and served so cold you’ll wonder how it is possible that it’s not frozen. I’m not kidding here. While hiking on a glacier, I drank water directly from the glacial stream (that’s the glacier in the photo), and it wasn’t as cold and refreshing as the beer at the 8eightyeight Diamond Crown Lounge. I could have saved myself a trip to the Arctic Circle. Sure, it was a moving experience at the time, knowing you are drinking water from ice that may have been frozen for thousands of years, but now, if I ever repeat the experience, I’m sure I’ll say, “eh, the beer at the Diamond Crown Lounge is more refreshing.”

The cigars provided were the Oliva “V” and “O”. The Serie O is a Nicaraguan Puro, “made in the original Cuban tradition of growing the same Habano seed in diverse regions of the country to produce a distinct blend.” Sadly, I couldn’t enjoy the O because the draw was too distracting. Very loose; like smoking a soda straw. I’ll withhold judgment on the O because it may have simply been the victim of improper storage.

The “V” on the other hand was a real treat. It is “a complex blend of Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos. Blended with specially fermented Jalapa Valley ligero, and finished with a high priming Habano Sun Grown Wrapper.” OK, if you say so. I just know that it was nicely complex with tastes of spice and chocolate. Admittedly, it is sometimes difficult to pick up the nuances of a cigar at these 8eightyeight tastings because the lounge becomes unbelievably thick with smoke, but the Oliva V was still able to impress.

Original article HERE

I encourage everyone to read it.