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I realize this review isn’t super-pertinent in today’s landscape of Joseph Magnus Cigar Blends. At the time of writing – August 2025 – there are almost 500 batches of Cigar Blend released. If you didn’t know any better and just did the basic math, you might be inclined to believe they make somewhere around 70 batches per year; but that’s not actually the case. From November 2016 to July 2019, only 14 batches had been released. So why the sudden jump?
The owners of the Joseph Magnus brand saw its popularity (as well as dollar signs) and instructed Nancy Fraley to turbocharge the blending process. I’m not saying she was told to cut corners on the blending and finishing process, but she was told to ramp up production to several dozen barrels per year and is now probably on pace to produce over 100 batches per year (if she hasn’t already).
The operation is now so large, Nancy penned a letter to her fans that she would no longer be able to do detailed tasting notes for every batch. Instead, she would simply do one for every Coupe Mere she created. In terms of upscaling, this is now a massive operation. But what was it like back in the days before things got so large?
Simpler times in 2019
The introductory batches of Cigar Blend were basically microblends that filled one or two barrels at a time. There was always an older and a younger component of MGP bourbon with a little bit of Joseph Magnus Triple Cask blended in for consistency. Starting at Batch 11, Nancy began to institute the Coupe Mere method whereby she would create a standardized batch first and then split it equally into a set of 4 Armagnac casks. This lasted until Batch 23 where the Coupe Mere grew in size and was able to fill 6 Armagnac casks. The last time I checked in with Nancy, the average Coupe Mere was filling upwards of 12 Armagnac casks at a time. Maybe it’s more now.
For today’s review, I’ll be concentrating on Batch 14. I’ll come right out and say this much, reviewers have praised Batch 14 as not only the best batch of the 11/12/13/14 Coupe Mere, but possibly the best batch ever put out of Joseph Magnus. Even Nancy posted on various reviews across the internet back in the day about how she shared that same opinion.
What makes it better than the other three from that Coupe Mere? Nancy has said it all came down to the Armagnac cask itself. They always have some variation between them, but this one in particular had some of the best flavors she felt. Of note, I have actually reviewed another batch from this series, so follow the link if you want to read about my experience with Batch 13.
I’m going to do something I rarely do and skip telling you the small details on this batch. The reason is because I have already made an infograph that might help you understand just what I’m talking about. In fact, this details this exact Coupe Mere. If you want to read about other batches, check out my write up on the history of Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batches here.
That should tell you all you need to know about what’s in Batch 14. So I guess with that covered, let’s get down to tasting! This review has been a long time coming and I owe a special thanks to my friend Vinny out in New Jersey. He gifted me this bottle a couple years ago and I’ve sat on it for too long. Vinny also was one of my main sources for Scotch education back in the day and I know I owe him some reviews on those bottles as well. But in the meantime, this one’s for you, bud! I sampled this neat in a glencairn.
Tasting Notes
Nose: An absolutely stunning nose full of rich, dark scents like antique oak and sweet tobacco. Some leather notes join the party with pastries filled with raisins, dates, clove and cinnamon (mincemeat pie?). Toasted brown sugar and dark red fruit reductions add lots of sweetness. While 105 proof might seem hot to some or not strong enough for others, I think it allows for a full throttle experience for the nose. Everything smells twice as good as a typical finished bourbon. This cask really is awesome.
Palate: This dram packs so much flavor per sip, it’s almost too much to handle. The spice, leather, tobacco and oak work in perfect harmony with the dark, dried fruit notes. It’s hard to describe what a “dark fruit” is, but dates, raisins, figs and plums come to mind whenever I drink something that’s so dense and concentrated. It’s the exact opposite of bright fruit like berries or even juicy orchard fruits. Anyway, the dark, jammy fruits pair well with other flavors like cedar wood and cocoa. Sweetness once again comes from brown sugar and is aided by thick syrupy flavors.
Finish: The finish is a bombardment of cocoa, figs, dates, raisins, oak and cinnamon. I can feel the tannins and spices sliding around on my tongue, revealing more age with every passing minute. This is a very special bourbon.
Score: 9/10
After my time with this batch, it’s clear to me that this is an extremely special bottle. And while the score I rated it might be the same score as the Batch 13 I previously reviewed, I would rank this one the better of the two. Keep in mind that my review on Batch 13 was from five years ago when i was still relatively new to whiskey, but it’s too late to change things now.
Batch 14 isn’t just dripping with mature, tannin-forward notes; it’s sopping wet. The finishing cask seems to fill in every missing flavor profile while letting the bourbon remain in the spotlight. That’s what the majority of enthusiasts want with their finished whiskies. Every sip is so rich and decadent that it’s truly something you could drink the whole night and not feel compelled to change it up by opening another bottle. That says a lot, no matter what whiskey you are.
Final Thoughts
The top 10 questions I get asked is if a particular batch of Cigar Blend is worth it to buy. I honestly don’t know how to answer that because there are so many batches out there and obviously I can’t taste them all. But I will say this, I think that Batches 1 through 18 are no brainers for some of the best examples of Cigar Blend out there. I know they don’t pop up too much on the secondary market, but if you can buy one – or even taste one – it’s worth it.
Changing people’s minds is one of the hardest things to do in bourbon and in life. But if you’re a person who has typically despised finished whiskies, I’d bet good money that Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 14 will change your mind.