A NEW ROUTE

Well folks I have done some thinking (rare) about this blog and I have come to somewhat of a conclusion. I have no horizon I have limited myself vertically. WHAT? I am limited to a post only ever so often only about barbering. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy this but this is very limiting, how do I solve this problem: (thinking) “hey I like Robb Report, GQ, and things manly.” What if I include things, which are categorized as manly? Perfect I thought. So here it is my updated thought, I blog about things that I enjoy and other people might enjoy as well that might be categorized as “things manly”. This new update is NOT going to about posh, uber expensive, unattainable for common people things. I will blog about items men and women can afford. Yes ladies you too can enjoy “manly” things example whiskey, cigars etc and if you don’t enjoy these things this will be perfect place to learn more about men and what your man might enjoy (gift ideas that are original and make sense). Has anyone else noticed certain “men’s magazines” that feature stuff that most regular people dream about or when they get rich will buy. I know that is part of the purpose called “entertainment” and help sells them, but REALLY? I feel they have no real purpose to real people. BAM. My new blog offers a solution.

First thing cigars and whiskey! Note: I purchased cigars for a friend’s birthday and he already had some of Utah’s best whiskey (drinking it now). These two are perfect for this renovated blog. The cigars were purchased from Tinderbox. This place has some of the best selection in Utah. They also have flasks, shaving sets, real badger hair shave brushes, exquisite selection of pipe tobacco and much more. I went with an Ashton; they really complement whiskeys, cognac, and other sipping drinks.

First up an Aston 8-9-8 this was around $9. The burn was somewhat fast. Very little effort was needed for the draw and decent amount of smoke. The flavor was mild a java mix really complemented the whiskey. I had a real enjoyable time smoking this. The burn was even throughout. Would definitely try this again maybe in a torpedo. One thing was the cigar was more mild the first half and became more rough second half. I got a little light headed from the second half of this stogie. Probably a 30-45 min cigar.

Second up was the Aston Aged Maduro #40. Now I didn’t get the pleasure of enjoying this that was my friends job. Nick was able to get it to burn very even. He said it was strong and bold. This stogie took quite some time compared to my cigar. I would suggest a 45 – 1 hr to smoke this bad boy. I think I picked this up for around 10 or so.

Some people reading this might think “YUCK!” (mostly my wife) but the enjoyment out of a cigar is that you take your time. Your smoking not necessarily for effect but the flavors that makes each and every stogie unique. Get a chance to make memories with friends. So many times I smoke a cigar people tell me of stories the last time they enjoyed or didn’t enjoy a cigar.

While Nick and I spent our time sipping High West he mentioned how even though it was windy and poor weather he felt like he was on a beach. Mostly because he connected with the last time he spent time drinking delicious smooth spirits and a cigar was time well spent with his Dad on the beach in Hawaii. I could only imagine (boo whish I had an experience like that). We did talk about things the both of us will only know. These memories that are impressed in our mind is what smoking a cigar makes special. We still as a family talk about how my brother-in-law got ill from inhaling his first cigar at my bachelor party, ha, memories.

Moving on to the High West Rendezvous Rye Whiskey. Brilliant! I am not one who is huge on what other people rate things. What I want to do is to see for myself and with that said I can understand how this is getting raving reviews. This rye whiskey got a 95 rating from Malt Advocate magazine. From what I have read they take two different whiskeys to make this one. A rough 6-year (95% rye, 5% barley malt) and a smooth 16 year old (80% rye, 10% corn, 10% barley malt). This is a very high rye percentage for any rye whiskey; usually I am not a fan of rye whiskey, however this is fantastic!! You have to give this whiskey a shot (figure of speech, I prefer to sip). They do not chill filter this whiskey, which they say, allow the natural oils to be retained adding flavor and texture and “a lingering finish we really enjoy in a sipping whiskey.”

A little on rye whiskey: Rye whiskey use to be very popular before prohibition. Drink such as Whiskey Sour, Manhattans, Old Fashioned were originally formed with rye whiskey but were later switched by the bar tenders to bourbon whiskey. Some other popular brands, which you may be familiar with, are Jim Bean, Wild Turkey, and Old Overholt. Rye whiskey must be made of higher than 51% rye, can include corn or barley malt as well. This is just the tip, I encourage to educate yourself.

This is my story and I might stick to it. Hope you enjoyed. I would love to hear your first memories of either cigars or sipping whiskey. Please share with me. Be safe and savor responsibly.

True Professional

Wes the Barber

I put a vote on my blog: Who should I visit next? Wow I was not expecting so many people to come to the blog to vote for one specific barber. But they did. With all the votes being counted and re-counted I had a winner Wes the Barber.


The funny thing about it was the day I was calling to make an appointment a friend at work said “dude you have to check out my barber, he is legit.”

I was like “Neil you have a shag and girly hair why would I ever go to your barber?”

“Well all my friends get fades and he does the best one I have ever seen, he even cuts hair with a straight razor.” Said Neil the longhaired coworker

“Okay man I will at least look into him.” Then the longhaired fellow hands me a Wes the Barber card. I was like get out man this is who I was going to next. Already I was confident with my next SLC Barber Shop visit.

When I made the call to Wes the barber he only had appointment for a few days out. In my mind I thought, “okay this guy has plenty of customers that is good.” It is always weird when the barber is desperate like well I can get you in whenever I do not have any appointments. So once again I felt good about this SLC barber.



I set an appointment for 10 AM Saturday. That time rolls around and I am just walking in to The Hair People off of 152 South and 400 East right next to Crown Burger. Once I sat down it was a cozy comfortable waiting area, plenty of great magazines around. Old classic rock was playing over the shop.

Three little boys, I think they were brothers just got their haircuts before me. It was cute they were all matching and Wes asked them “so is today a matching day?” They were so happy he asked about that. They had little fades all lined up for Easter. They all ran over after the last one got of the chair and gave him high fives and thank you. They all liked their haircuts A LOT cause they said it multiple times.
I remember when I was young my dad would take my two brothers and I to get our haircuts for Easter on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. We felt so special like a million bucks afterward. Your little and you just think yeah I am cool after getting your haircut. You could tell this was how these little ones felt. Classic.

The layout of the shop is unique with each barber having a station with 5ft walls this makes it feels like you really are paid attention to. Wes’s station is really clean and well decorated. His great grandpa was a barber in Texas and he had tons of straight razors across the wall, a collection of his belongings that was framed, and multiple other barber items. One I my favorites was a special collection of aftershaves, lotions, and crèmes. Most of the time the barber uses his favorite, not Wes he uses his clients favorite and remembers if they don’t like a certain one or scent.



I asked for a low fade with short on top cause I like my hair messy spiky, if that is even a style? He went to work. AMAZING!! Truly I was very impressed with his talent. We talked about all short of things his great grandpa, stuff about my blog, barbering, our wives, etc etc etc. Something that you can only get from visting a barber. He is a genuine guy with some significant energy. I was asking about his website how it talked about a true “razor cut”. He taught me what is. This is where the barber takes a straight razor and comb and literally cuts the hair with it. He did my and it was awesome. He goes over the hair 3 or 4 different directions. Watching him perform his magic was very interesting. He is very good at what he does and very professional. If you have not been to Wes I recommend you go!! I am so pleased at the job he did and such a good guy. There at the shop they cut the mayors hair and the former mayor. What place can brag about that? Only at the Hair People. If not for the hair cut he is deep in the tradition of Barbering. I will be back to this place. This is yours truly SLC Barber signing out. Take care and may the shears be good to you!