Perdomo Reserve Cabinet La Tradicion Oscuro and Gulden Draak Ale

The Ale
Gulden Draak Ale
10.5% abv
330ml
Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Belgium

The nose on this Triple Ale makes me think of roasted sweet caramelized malts. There is also a nice aromatic feel to the smell. The taste follows with toasted toffee sweetness and some yummy yeast. Playing off the aromatic nose there seems to be some fancy raisin and fig on the taste. There is a little spice coming from the alcohol and the hoppy intonations. The texture is smooth and creamy while the slight carbonation gives my palate a cleansing effect. The sweetness is never overwhelming. The hops must be doing their job to keep things in check. There is an herbal tea and a rich milk chocolate that blends in with the other yummy notes to create a wonderful taste experience.

Skip that pie dessert after your Holiday dinner and pour yourself a liquid dessert – Gulden Draak is perfect for that Holiday dessert.

The Cigar
Perdomo Reserve Cabinet La Tradicion Oscuro
Wrapper: Oscuro
Filler: Blend of Nicaraguan Long-leafs
Size: 7 x 50 Churchill
My Strength Rating: 6.5

Off the light there is a good toasted rye bread note. The taste starts to build in character during the first third. A robust earthy and full dark roast coffee style becomes the main profile. There is a dry yet rich mouthfeel with each puff. I’ll give this cigar a five, on my strength rating, off the light and then it builds to a 6.5 during the first third.

As the experience moves to the mid-point there are still good earthy notes mingling with the dark roasted coffee notes. There is an undertone of sweet cedar which can be overlooked because of the robust scorched earth flavors. The strength rating hangs around that 6 texture on my scale.

The ash is gray and holds for a strong inch or so. The burn has been even throughout. This has been a good robust smoke so far. While the mouthfeel comes across a bit dry it maintains a rich style.

As the cigar burns into the final third the earthy and roasted coffee notes are still flavorful. I believe the strength rating is just short of seven. The cigar does not get harsh or build to any bitter notes.

This cigar would be good paired with a dark roast coffee, a porter or stout beer.

The Pairing
I am basing this pairing on the word description of each of these products. The cigars main profile is earth and dark roasted coffee while the ale has a toasted toffee and milk chocolate sweetness. These two should complement each other.

The sweet style of the ale seems to control that slightly dry mouthfeel of this cigar. That touch of sweet cedar on the cigar plays off the sweet malts of the ale. The robust earthy notes and roasted coffee from the cigar circulate with the rich milk chocolate and toffee notes of this triple ale. And, I think this makes the ale feel a little thicker because the earthy notes are transferred. The richness of this cigar really seems to elevate from this pairing. I think this ale makes this cigar better than when I have smoked it by itself.

Overall I have to say this is one yummy pairing. This would be a wonderful way to end the night after one of those Holiday dinners.