Master Sensei

Let’s shake up a Mojito with a unique twist! On this week’s episode of Flavor Odyssey, we’re wrapping up our series on classic cocktail variations. Join Robby and Randy as they explore the Mojito, tweaking the recipe for a fresh take, and pair it with the perfect cigar. Pairings Randy: Hibiscus Basil Mojito & Casa Fuente 👍🏻 Robby: Spiced Pineapple Mojito & Gellis Family Absolutos 👍🏻 Votes Randy 47% Robby: 53% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Steve Toth (Mock Mojito & Fuente Fuente OpusX Dubai) & Mike Heykens (Florida Sunset Mojito & AVO Syncro Caribe).

In this four-episode segment, Flavor Odyssey hosts Robby Ras and Randy Griggs explore classic cocktail recipes, creating new variations designed to pair perfectly with a premium cigar. This week, they tackle the Manhattan, typically made with bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Mix up your own Manhattan variation and join the fun! Pairings Randy: Black Walnut Manhattan & Liga Privada No. 9 👍🏻 Robby: Rob Roy cocktail & Artista Midnight 👎🏻 Votes Randy 89% Robby: 11% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings OTTERS! (all otters tie).

Not to be redundant but it’s time to kick that mule in the ass… This week on Flavor Odyssey, hosts Robby and Randy continue their quest to bring fun twists to classic cocktails. They’re shaking things up by testing variations of the mule cocktail, swapping out the traditional vodka base for spirits like bourbon, rum, mezcal, and more. Pairings Randy: Kentucky Mule & Espinosa Warzone 👍🏻 Robby: Darker & Stormier & Davidoff Escurio 👍🏻 Votes Randy 47% Robby: 53% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Sam Finnell: Mezcal Mule & Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel Aged Sun Grown.

Flavor variations are the next stop in our pairing odyssey! That’s right, folks, we’re diving into classic cocktails with bold, creative twists. This week, your hosts Robby and Randy take on a show favorite, the Old Fashioned, swapping out bourbon for smoky, funky Mezcal. Shake things up by crafting your own Old Fashioned variation and join the the show! Pairings Randy: Mezcal Old Fashioned & Herrera Estelí Brazilian Maduro 👍🏻 Robby: Mezcal Old Fashioned & RoMa Craft Maestranza 👍🏻 Votes Randy 29% Robby: 71% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Joe Machado: Gonzalez Mezcal Old Fashioned & Tatuaje Lomo de Cerdo.

It’s the final episode of the Big Screen Bracket Challenge! In this episode, we pit Harry Potter’s Butterbeer, The Big Lebowski’s White Russian, Glass Onion’s Cuban Breeze, and Casino Royale’s Vesper Martini against each other to determine the ultimate movie cocktail for pairing with a cigar. Grab your favorite cinematic cocktail and join the show! Pairings Randy: Butterbeer Old Fashioned & Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro 👍🏻 Robby: White Russian & Tatuaje T110 Corojo 👍🏻 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Josh Rivas (episode) & Jeff Endrizzi (segment contest winner).

Bond… James Bond. On this episode of Flavor Odyssey, we explore the iconic Vesper Martini, famously known as James Bond’s drink of choice. But does this classic cocktail pair well with a cigar, and if so, which one? Mix up a martini (shaken, not stirred – err, well that’s debatable) and join the fun with our Big Screen Bracket Challenge. Pairings Randy: Vesper Martini & Davidoff Aniversario No. 3 👍🏻 Robby: Vesper Martini & Davidoff Grand Cru Diademas Finas 2024 👍🏻 Votes Randy 54% Robby: 46% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Bill Powers & Nathan Stewart.

This week on Flavor Odyssey, we tackle the ultimate pairing challenge: the Bloody Mary. That’s right, folks—this cocktail’s intense, spicy tomato flavors make it a daunting match for cigars, one that most professionals would avoid. But no mission is too tough for the Flavor Odyssey hosts, who bravely risk it all for your benefit. Are you bold enough to tackle an impossible pairing? It doesn’t have to be a Bloody Mary—choose a drink and cigar combo that defies your better judgment and join the fun! 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Randi Harrison & Nathan Stewart.

Flavor Odyssey returns with the next Big Screen Bracket Challenge cocktail contender from the movie Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The Cuban Breeze takes the spotlight, vying to be the ultimate movie-inspired cigar pairing. Mix up this cocktail, light a cigar, and join the fun! *There are many recipes for a Cuban Breeze, and instead of requiring you to use ours, we invite you to find or create your own perfect version of this refreshing cocktail.* Pairings Randy: Cuban Breeze & Arturo Fuente Hemingway 👍🏻 Robby: Cuban Breeze & Aganorsa Aniversario Connecticut 👍🏻 Votes Randy 53% Robby: 47% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Sam Finell: Cuban Breeze & Diamond Crown 👍🏻

This week on Flavor Odyssey, we’re diving into a wildcard edition! Join us as we explore unique cigar pairings you may not know. Robby Ras will smoke the Entropy from Domain Cigars, while Sensei tries the Viso Horny 555 from Tyler Jeffery. To round out the theme, our hosts will pair these cigars with an under-the-radar bourbon. Tune in for an intriguing episode! Pairings Sensei: Still Austin Cask Strength & Viso Horny 555 👍🏻 Robby: Sabbatical American Single Malt & Stolen Throne Crook of the Crown 👍🏻 Votes Sensei 71% Robby: 29% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Sam P: Old Pepper Rye & Patina Oro de Nicaragua 👍🏻 

Careful, man, there’s a beverage here! This week on Flavor Odyssey, our Big Screen Bracket Challenge continues with movie-themed cocktails. In this episode, the Dude abides as we dive into the iconic White Russian, the pivotal drink from the Coen Brothers’ classic, The Big Lebowski. So, pour yourself a White Russian, grab the perfect cigar pairing, and join the fun! Pairings Randy: Sarsaparilla & White Russian 👍🏻 Robby: Illusione OneOff Black & Black Russian 👍🏻 Votes Randy 55% Sensei: 45% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Sam Finell: Tiramisu White Russian & Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne 👍🏻

Last week on Flavor Odyssey, we kicked off the Big Screen Bracket Challenge, where we selected four movie-themed cocktails to explore over the next four episodes. First up, from the beloved Harry Potter series: Butterbeer! So grab your wand, shout ‘Bevifors Butterae,’ and conjure up this magical drink. You can craft a ‘traditional’ Butterbeer (if such a thing exists) or whip up your own creative twist—then pair it with a cigar of your choice. Pairings Randy: Butterbeer Old Fashioned & BLTC Bishops Blend 👍🏻 Robby: Butterbeer Old Fashioned & Foundation El Güegüense 👍🏻 Votes Randy 54% Sensei: 46% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Sam Finell: Butterbeer Old Fashioned & Perdomo 12yr Maduro 👍🏻

In our most ambitious episode yet, Flavor Odyssey hosts Robby and Randy set out to craft cigar and drink pairings inspired by iconic cocktails from the big screen. First, they need to narrow down the options to the top four movie cocktails. That’s where this bracket challenge comes in! Join the hosts and the audience as they debate and determine which four cinematic drinks will star in our next pairing segment. Pairings Randy: Sazerac cocktail & Partagás Casa del Habano 👍🏻 Robby: Squeaky Wheel cocktail & AJF 20th Anniversary 👍🏻 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Craig Lee: Chianti & My Father No. 3 👍🏻

Red, red wine goes to my head—come on, you know the song! This week on Flavor Odyssey, we’re diving into a cigar and drink pairing that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Your Flavor Odyssey hosts are on a mission to find the ultimate cigar and red wine combinations, and we invite you to join the fun with your own pairings! Pairings Robby: True Grit Petite Sirah & HVC 10th Anniversary 👍🏻 Sensei: Saldo Zinfandel & Mi Querida Triqui Traca 👍🏻 Votes Robby 35% Sensei: 65% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Thane Russey: Casa de Uco El Salvaje Malbec & Toscano Extravecchio 👍🏻

It’s Wildcard Madness on Flavor Odyssey! Hosts Randy and Robby are tossing out the rulebook as we celebrate the most outlandish cigar and drink pairings imaginable. Fancy a chocolate-infused cigar with a spicy mule? Or perhaps a bold maduro with a frothy piña colada? As March Madness approaches, bring your most bracket-busting combinations and show us what flavor chaos you can create! The crown awaits the most daring flavor explorer—so what wild pairing will you bring to the table? Pairings Randy: Courtside Punch & Southern Draw 300 Hands Maduro 👎🏻 Sensei: Aperol Spritz & Tatuaje Karloff 👎🏻 Studio: Dark 'n Stormy (w/ Soy Sauce) & Psychedelic Turtle II 👍🏻 Votes Randy 44% Sensei: 56% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Bill Powers: Mtn Dew Old Fashioned & La Zona Farm-Rolled Maduro 👎🏻

Sure, ’tis our grand annual St. Paddy’s Day edition of Flavor Odyssey, so nab yer green cigars and yer Irish-themed cocktails and drinks, and come join the craic! Randy and Master Sensei will be on the hunt for the audience members with the finest St. Paddy’s Day cigar and drink pairings, so ye’d best bring yer A-game, lads and lassies! Pairings Randy: Alec Bradley Filthy Hooligan & Tipperary Cocktail 👎🏻 Sensei: Alec Bradley Filthy Hooligan Shamrock & Shamrock Sour 👍🏻 Votes Randy 47% Robby: 53% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Jeff Endrizzi: Irish Negroni & All Saints St. Patrick's Firecracker 👍🏻

In this episode, we’re focusing on the Otters! During the first segment of 2025, we’ve been exploring the best drink pairings for our Cigar of the Year Sampler, available at Smoke Inn. Our audience (aka “The Otters”) have joined in, creating their own pairings. Hosts Robby and Randy will highlight the top audience submissions, choose the best one, and award the winner with a sampler of their own. Pairings Randy: Randy: Bill Powers' Busted Pipe & Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro 👍🏻 Robby: Nathan Stewart’s Modified Manhattan & Tatuaje TAA 2020 👍🏻 Votes Randy 38% Robby: 62% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Darrell Whitacre: Walnut Old Fashioned & Aganorsa Arsenio 👍🏻

It’s the final episode of Flavor Odyssey’s segment spotlighting the Cigar of the Year picks from The Dojo’s Cigar of the Year Sampler at Smoke Inn. In this episode, hosts Robby and Randy pair a drink with the Aganorsa Leaf Arsenio, ranked No. 4 on our 2024 Cigar of the Year list. So, grab an Arsenio, pour a drink, and tune in! Pairings Randy: TWG Quiet Professional cocktail & Aganorsa Arsenio 👎🏻 Robby: Almond Reposado Old Fashioned & Aganorsa Arsenio 👍🏻 Votes Randy 40% Robby: 60% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Sam Finnell: Banana Bread Old Fashioned & Aganorsa Arsenio 👍🏻

Steve Saka’s Umbagog Bronzeback landed at number 9 on The Dojo’s 2024 Cigars of the Year list. This week, hosts Robby and Randy explore the best drink pairings for this flavorful and budget-friendly release. As they continue their journey through the Dojo COTY sampler from Smoke Inn, grab a Bronzeback and join the conversation. Pairings Randy: Carajillo cocktail & Umbagog Bronzeback 👍🏻 Robby: Cynaretto cocktail & Umbagog Bronzeback 👍🏻 Sensei: Henry Mckenna & Umbagog Bronzeback 👍🏻 Jordan: Henry Mckenna & Umbagog Bronzeback 👍🏻 Votes Randy 50% Robby: 50% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairing Bill Powers: The Full Montenegro & Umbagog Bronzeback 👍🏻 Mike Henkins: Bastardized Millionaire & Umbagog Bronzeback 👍🏻

The No. 16 cigar on our Cigar of the Year list is the Redemption from El Titan de Bronze—everyone’s favorite little factory in Miami. Your Flavor Odyssey hosts, Robby Ras and Randy Griggs, are on a mission to find the perfect drink pairing for this exceptional premium cigar. Grab the Cigar of the Year Sampler from Smoke Inn, which includes the Redemption. Find your favorite pairing and join the fun! Pairings Randy: Dirty Kentucky Mule & ETDB Redemption 👍🏻 Robby: Offshore Account & ETDB Redemption 👍🏻 Sensei: Henry Mckenna & ETDB Redemption 👍🏻 Jordan: Elijah Craig & ETDB Redemption 👍🏻 Votes Randy 52% Robby: 48% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairing Bill Powers: Busted Pipe cocktail & ETDB Redemption 👍🏻

Flavor Odyssey is back! This season, we’re discovering the perfect drink pairings for every cigar in The Dojo’s Cigar of the Year Sampler. This week, Robby and Randy feature the No. 19 COTY—the Black Works Studio Paper Crane. Wrapped in a stunning Ecuadorian Connecticut Desflorado leaf, this cigar promises an intriguing pairing experience. Grab a Paper Crane, pour a drink, and join the show! Pairings Randy: Paper Crane cocktail & BLK WKS Paper Crane 👍🏻 Robby: Paper Plane cocktail & BLK WKS Paper Crane 👍🏻 Sensei: Fortaleza Blanco & BLK WKS Paper Crane 👍🏻 Jordan: Old Forester SB BP & BLK WKS Paper Crane 👎🏻 Votes Randy 37% Robby: 63% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairing Mike Heykens: Paper Crane with & Chrysanthemum cocktail 👍🏻