A Cigar and Beer Review: AVO Heritage Toro and Maracaibo Especial

The Beer

Maracaibo Especial By Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Special Brown Ale Brewed with Cacao and Spices

Belgian Strong Dark Ale
7.5% abv
1 pt. 9.4 oz bottle
$13.00 a bottle
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Dexter, Michigan, USA
Jollypumpkin.com
My Strength Rating: 5

Caution: get this bottle near a sink when you open it! Foam was flying out of the bottle and I didn’t even open it all the way. Needless to say, the kitchen counter and floor was a mess. Clean-up isle 3.

Murky dark amber color with plenty and I mean plenty of foam and then more foam. That bottle has been open for 45 minutes now and the beer is halfway down the bottle but the foam is still bubbling around the cork I had to put in the bottle. Oh yeah, the color of the foam is beige.

The overall bouquet has some character to it with notes of tart apple, spices, and some fresh apple. I think the amount of effervescence in this ale keeps the aroma up.

On the taste there is a moderate level of tartness. The spices are pleasing to my palate along with some earthy yeast and dried dark fruits. There seems to be a good balance between the malts and hops for it is not too sweet nor is it too bitter. I would call this a Brown Mild Sour Ale or Tart Ale.

Now, on the bottle they have written sweet orange peel, cinnamon, and cacao. I don’t feel any of these flavors standout all by themselves but, they add to the spices, earthy notes, and overall taste. The one I notice more of is the sweet orange peel and that is as an undertone on the aftertaste.

Speaking of aftertaste, it is pleasing overall. The tartness does not have a pucker effect but leaves a settle lingering twang on the palate. The fine carbonation has a nice cleansing effect.

The carbonation puts on a show coming from the bottle and when it is poured into the glass. I wish I ran the video I was afraid to drink it. I thought it was going to just explode in the mouth. The texture was a fine fizzy feel on the mouth. Like a Belgian ale.

I give this ale a 5 on my strength rating because I think the actual body weight is just below medium but, the tartness kicks it up just a smidge.

The Cigar
AVO Heritage Toro
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican San Vincente
Fillers: Dominican Ligero, Dominican Seco, Peruvian Seco
Size: 6 x 50 Toro
AVO.com
My Strength Rating: 6

I really like the Heritage for its spice profile, earthy, and cedar wood taste.

The spices: It is not quite black pepper like so I’ll call it green peppercorn spice and white pepper mustiness.

Earthy notes: moss, mushroom like, soft soil.

Wood: a mix of cedar and sweet cedar swirl on the palate.

I have never been a big AVO fan. I like to have one once in a while because of its unique flavor but, this Heritage is a winner in my book. I have smoked several of these and have enjoyed every single one. I think the Heritage will win a place in my humidor.

The Pairing

Soon as I got a chance to taste this ale, after the foam attack, I think I noticed the nice mellow earthy tones and that made me think of the AVO Heritage right away. Off to the humidor and I grab that AVO stick. But, that was after I cleaned the kitchen counter tops and doors and the kitchen floor.

This is a perfect pairing. The earthy notes of the cigar add a nice touch to the ale. The tart profile of the ale mingles with the spices of the cigar for a pleasing experience. The only thing that I found different during this pairing is that I thought I was picking up an oaky undertone in the ale.

Pair these up and enjoy the experience.

Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron and Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 – 50 Years

The Beer
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
Malt Beverage aged on Palo Santo Wood
12% abv
12 oz bottle
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, Delware, USA
Dogfish.com

This unfiltered brown ale is one tasty brew. It pours a dark body with brown highlights. The head is a dark caramel color that looks tasty. The nose seems complex with some sweet malts, burnt cocoa, vanilla dark cherry. When pouring the beer it had a thick appearance and that is how it feels on the mouthfeel. This ale is thick, almost syrupy in texture. The taste is complex as well, with notes of roasted malts, toasted caramel, rich vanilla, molasses, sweet flavors and slight sour notes. We could even throw in some coffee and rich chocolate into the mix. I don’t know what Palo Santo wood smells or taste like so, the best a can come up with it has a black walnut like quality. The alcohol does add some spice and boozy feel to the palate. This is a sipper.

This beer is not for your yellow water beer drinker. No amateurs here. I drank one about three weeks ago, then one yesterday and then this one for the review. I think this beer is growing on me. The first one I had I did not really enjoy.

The Cigar
Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 – 50 Years
Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca Sun-grown
Binder: Honduras
Fillers: Esteli and Pueblo Nuevo, Nicaragua
Size: 5 x 50 rubosto
My Strength Rating: 6
torano.com

This is an attractively wrapped cigar. A good looking dark sun-grown wrapper and the black and copper colored ring bands just scream – SMOKE ME!

The cigar starts off with some nice roasted coffee notes. A soft and slightly sweet pink peppercorn profile takes hold and is maintained through-out the smoking experience. There are some burnt dark chocolate and medium roasted coffee notes. By mid-point I am picking up a woodsy note. It is coming across like oak. The oak seems to overtake the sweet pink pepper taste. The mouthfeel is rich and balanced. The texture is smooth yet, has a nice spice presence from the pink peppercorn like quality. I find this a very enjoyable smoke.

The Pairing
This cigar really helps to combat the sweet profile of this brown ale. The coffee and burnt chocolate notes of the cigar help to bring out the same notes of the ale. The spice of the cigar balances the sweet molasses and other sweet malts of the beer. The cigar also seems to cut through the alcohol taste. The woody notes of each seem to mingle well. I have to admit that I really like this ale during this pairing. The ale was good by itself but, I thought the ale was really good when paired with this flavorful cigar.

Liberty Street Starkweather Stout and Gurkha Centurian Perfecto and Sancho Panza Double Maduro Escudero: Review

a Two Stogie Growler 

The Stout

Liberty Street Starkweather Stout

6.3% abv

Growler

Liberty Street Brewing Co.

Plymouth, Michigan, USA

Located on 149 W. Liberty Street

libertystreetbeer.com

My Strength Rating: 5.5

If you live in the Detroit Metro area make your way to Old Village Plymouth, Michigan.  This little brew pub has nine different beers on tap.  I made my way home with a growler full of their stout. 

Appearance: Black body with brown highlights.  Barely any head due to the low carbonation.

Aroma: Chocolate and coffee.

Flavors: Right off I notice the roasted grains.  This roasted profile is very nice in my book.  I get a bit of a dark chocolate note and the medium roast coffee taste is front and center to me.  There is slight hoppy bitterness that builds some character. 

Mouthfeel: Very smooth and easy to drink stout.  The carbonation is very low. The body is only medium weight to me and the aftertaste is not strong. 

To me: I like the overall taste profile of this stout.  I wish the body weight was a little heavier and the texture a little creamier.  But, I am going back for more!

To the Point: If you like a roasted style stout this is very nice.  Throw in some nice roasted coffee notes and a touch of chocolate this is it. 

The Cigar

Sancho Panza Double Maduro Escudero

Wrapper: Oscuro

Fillers: Honduran, Nicaraguan, Dominican Piloto Cubano

Size: 7.2 x 54 box press

My Strength Rating: 4.5

I have not smoked this cigar in years.  So, when I saw it the other day at the cigar store I thought let’s give it a try so, I bought one.

This is not a complex smoke at all and that is not a bad thing.  It has a mild-medium roasted coffee note and a touch of cocoa.  There is the sweet maduro taste along the way.  Overall, it is barely a medium bodied smoke.  I did enjoy the cigar.  On the final third of the cigar it did build some spice and roasted almost burnt notes. 

The Pairing

I had to drink the growler today because I am heading off to the Wine and Food Show in Ontario, Canada tomorrow.  I did not want the growler sitting around for another five days or more.  So, when I opened my humidor I saw this cigar, that I just picked up, I said, ‘maduro cigar and stout – that is a match.’ 

These two really mirror one another.  The coffee and chocolate profiles are very similar.  Both are fairly simple products but, tasty and enjoyable.  The one thing that I really noticed is that the sweet maduro taste helped to balance that slight bitter note from the hops. 

This pairing my not win an award in my book but, I know I could enjoy this any day of the week.

I have enough left in the growler for one more cigar after dinner.

The Next Cigar

Gurkha Centurian Perfecto

Wrapper: Connecticut dark natural

Binder: Cameroon

Fillers: Dominican Rep. Cibao Valley ligero

Size:  6 x 60

A perfecto shaped cigar is fatter in the middle and tapers on both ends. 

My Strength Rating: 5.5

The cigar has a light peppery spice that greets the palate on the first couple of inches.  Then a woody, earthy style develops.  To this point it has been pretty smooth and mellow. 

As the smoking experience approaches the middle part of the cigar there is a black walnut bite that develops.  The texture here is a little more wool like.  The flavors are a little more roasted and robust.  The body weight moves from mellow side to the fuller side. 

The Pairing

This cigar brings out the bitter hops in the stout.  I’ll bet that it is the black walnut taste in the cigar that helps to give this pairing that strong robust bite.  The coffee profile in the stout is coming across a bit stronger as well.

Liberty Street Red Glare Amber Ale and CAO America Potomac Cigar: Review

The Cigar

CAO America Potomac

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro and Connecticut Shade Leaf

The wrapper is pin striped with the maduro wrapper layered over the shade leaf.

Binder: Brazil

Fillers: 100% legero; Dominican, Nicaraguan, Italian, and American

Size: 5 x 56

My Strength Rating: 5

$8.00 in Michigan

Off the light: medium earthy notes of portabella mushroom and hardwood.  

During the first half I liked the walnut like nut taste and the mushroom earthiness.  Beyond that there is not much to offer.  The overall mouthfeel is smooth yet dry.  I always feel uninspired by this line-up. 

Half-way: an oaky hardwood note started to build to add some character.  The flavors are becoming a little more robust with roasted grains and that oak coming through.   A little inspiration here. 

On the finish: The robust style, while still present, did not continue to build.  The earthy notes returned to sooth the oaky taste that built in the mid-section. 

Of course I could not smoke one of these Americas without a wrapper problem.  Upon removing the band the glue took a chunk of the wrapper off.  Then as the burn got closer to this point the binder popped. 

But, I do know that the CAO America’s are good with a nice IPA.  But, today I’m pairing it with an amber ale from a local brewery. 

The Ale

Liberty Street Red Glare Amber Ale

5.2% abv

Growler – take home

IBU: under 25

libertystreetbeer.com

My Strength Rating: 4

The ale pours a dark burnt amber color with a thin beige head. The nose is grainy with a bit of caramel malt.

This ale is similar to the cigar in that it is pretty straight forward and simple. (I like this ale better than the cigar) I like the sweet touch of caramel followed by slightly toasted grains and a hint of grassy hoppiness.  The overall mouthfeel maybe a bit thin but, it is tasty and very easy to drink.   It leaves a soft and pleasing aftertaste on the palate.  This ale should have a good range for food and cigar. 

The Pairing

This is a decent pairing.  As the robust style started to build in the cigar the ale with its fine carbonation helped to keep the palate clean.  The sweet caramel mixed well with the oak and the toasted notes of the cigar.  The earthy notes of the cigar also mingled well with the slight grassy hoppy character of the ale.   The refreshing style of this ale made this an enjoyable pairing. 

A Cigar and Beer Pairing: Olde World Corojo Toro and Luciernaga The Firefly

The Cigar

Olde World Corojo Toro
Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 6.5 x 52 Toro
My Strength Rating: 4 for the lack of spice

Off the light: Spice on the first couple of puffs.

After the first few puffs the spice seemed to disappear to me. I would expect a better spice profile out of a Corojo wrapped cigar. The taste seemed woody with a sweet pecan nut taste. This cigar is an easy mellow smoke to this point.



Maybe she could add
some spice to this
smoke

 Mid-point: The woody and pecan like taste continued. I found myself getting bored with this smoke. I felt like I was eating peas for dinner.

Finish: more of the same.

To the Point: boring to smoke, smooth delivery, maybe an introductory stick to corojo cigars. Not worth the price.

The Ale
Luciernaga The Firefly

Ale Brewed with Spices
Barrel Aged and Bottle Conditioned
6.5% abv
1pt. 9.4oz bottle
$12.00 a bottle
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Dexter, Michigan, USA
jollypumpkin.com
My Strength Rating: 4.5 While, full of flavors and tart on the tongue the body weight is light on the palate. Making it easy to drink.

Appearance: amber or burnt orange with an off-white colored head and plenty of it.

Aroma: sweet spice and citrus zip; light overall

Flavors: tart almost sour taste greets the palate, grapefruit like bite, good oak, solid citrus rinds swirl around some grainy sweet malts and sweet spice. This Belgian-style Pale Ale sure is tasty. They say that they use coriander and grains or paradise to brew this ale. I don’t think the coriander stands out, which is okay by me.

Mouthfeel: a fine carbonation feel leads to a dry finish. Tart yet sweet, lingering notes on the tongue.

To the Point: some nice complexity on the flavors yet easy to drink.

The Pairing

This cigar did not bring anything to the table for this pairing. The good here: it did not interfere with this tasty ale. I still enjoyed the ale for all its flavors. It’s not a bad pairing. This means it’s not good either.

Tasting Experience: Objective vs Subject

Writing a review can have both.

When tasting a beer or wine we all have our opinions. When I sit down to review a product I do have my opinion but, when it is review time I try to set my opinion to the side and try to get my mind-set for the type of beer or wine that I am ready to review. There is objectivity to reviewing and when I review I have to concentrate on the type of product that I am preparing to taste. So, in my reviews I try to give some objective notes so you can make up your mind and I also give my opinion. My opinion only works for you if your perception (or palate) is similar to mine.

Let’s critique pizza for an example. Here is the subjective critique: “This is one great pizza.” “I hate greasy pizza.” “I only like thin crust.” Having an opinion is fine but, does not help us to critique the pizza.

When tasting beer or wine it helps to know some objective material to the beverage you are going to drink. Let’s go back to the pizza. We order a medium size, thin crust, double cheese, and pepperoni pizza. Looking at the pizza we observe: very thin crust with the toppings going all the way to the edge of the pizza. There are no baking bubbles that disfigure the look of the pizza. The pepperonis are curled and the edges are slightly burnt. There are about three pepperonis per slice of pizza. The cheese looks well baked. Coming from the cheese and pepperonis there is plenty of grease floating on top of the za. The information here is primarily objective material.

I can mix the objective material with my subjective opinion. The pepperonis are curled and the edges are slightly burnt – Oh, how I dislike burnt pepperoni. If you like slightly burnt peps you know the objective material to know this pizza is for you regardless of my opinion that I dislike them.

Let’s look at statements that are made in reviews.

“This is a bad Cabernet Sauvignon.” This is pretty much opinion. I would argue it depends who said it. If it is my friend who drinks nothing but Merlot, well it is only an opinion statement and not a good opinion at that – for he has no experience with wine beyond a Merlot wine. What would he know about a good or bad Cabernet Sauvignon?

“This is a weak example of a Cabernet Sauvignon.” While, the statement, by itself comes across as subjective we need to read the full review. “This Cab has a light body, some thyme, clove, pie spice, violet, and blackberry.” Now, we have something to work from to form our own opinion. This wine sounds like we may be drinking Mourvedre and not a Cab. Sauv.

So, know some objective material about your beverage. What type of beer or wine are you ready to drink. What are some of the basic characteristics of this type?

Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon

Basic Characteristics: Dark berries (currants, blackberries), eucalyptus, chocolate, good earthy notes, tobacco, … . Medium-full to full mouthfeel. Good acidic and tannins, astringent notes.

So, prepare yourself for your tasting experience. Learn to read some tasting notes and match your experience to those notes. Also, learn to broaden your horizons. Just drinking one type of beverage limits your view. You also don’t know much about Merlot until you learn and taste other wines. You may also find another wine that you truly like, maybe a Gamay Noir or Shiraz.

Enjoy the Experience

Alec Bradley Harvest Selection 97 and Goose Island 2010 Bourbon County: Review

Brand Vanilla Stout

Stout Brewed with Vanilla Beans and Aged in Bourbon Barrels

This Stout has the potential to age up to five years, if you can keep your hands off of it. 

The Stout

Goose Island 2010 Bourbon County

13% abv

650 ml bottle

gift from my The Fine Wine and Liquor Store in Canton, Michigan.

Goose Island Beer Co.

Chicago, Illinois, USA

My Strength Rating: 9; heavy weight on the tongue, with complex flavors and a long lingering aftertaste.

Wow, what an aroma.  The bourbon stands out for sure and there is a good chocolate and vanilla on the nose as well.  I feel like I have a bourbon barrel right in my glass.  Not much in the carbonation department.  There is just a little tan fizz that swirls around on the top of the black body.   

Wow, bourbon for sure on the flavor.  This is a sipper from the get go.  The vanilla bean is present with some good chocolate notes and rich toasted caramel notes.  The texture is thick yet smooth. 

On the back of the palate I taste the oak and get some good alcohol spice.  To me it has a boozy feel. 

As I continue this difficult research project here (tasting beer), I notice a good coffee taste.  The toasted notes change from toasted to roasted to charred and back again.  There is some underlying sweet caramel notes mixed in with some nice bitter notes.  But, the bourbon is still there.  As the stout warms up the thick texture moves to a syrupy mouthfeel.

The Cigar

Alec Bradley Harvest Selection 97

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano

Fillers: Dominican Piloto Cubano 1997, Mexican ligero 1997, and Nicaraguan Criollo 1998

Size: 7 x 50 Churchill

My Strength Rating: 5; Nice medium bodied flavors and a smooth delivery.  Does not change much from start to finish. 

I bought a box of these about a year and a half ago.  I find it to be an okay to good cigar.  I remember it to be a toasty and slightly earthy cigar so, let’s review it and see what it really is all about.  I also, think it should pair up well with this bold Stout.

Off the light it has some nice toasty notes.  As it moves along I think it has a toasty wheat bread character.  There is a woody and mushroom like earthiness to the smoke. 

The ash is super firm and strong.  It is hard to remove the damn thing.  I usually don’t try to remove my ash from the cigar but, I am working at my laptop.  

The Pairing

I believe these two complement each other well. 

When we define ‘body’ for a beverage or cigar it is the weight on the tongue or palate.  This stout is very heavy and the cigar is medium like.  This is one way they complement each other. 

Looking at flavors: The stout is complex.  It has a variety of definable flavors and undertones.  The Alec Bradley cigar falls short of complex and is closer to simple; it has a few definable flavors.  This is another way they complement each other.

Overall taste: Taste would be how the flavors work together.  Are they muddled, bland, definable, rich, soft, complex, simple, and on and on.  I would say the stout is ‘very tasty’, rich, bold, and complex.  The cigar I would describe as ‘tasty’, smooth, and just short of medium in its flavor profile. 

The pairing overall works and it is enjoyable.  This is one where I think the cigar refreshes the palate from the stout.  The simple earthy tones of the cigar seem to sooth the rich, bold characteristics of the stout. 

I have to admit that I did not know what to expect after tasting the Bourbon County Stout.  I think I am glad that I did not choose a big bold chocolate profile stick, but there is enough stout here to give it a whirl when I am done with this cigar.

A Cigar Review: Olde World Reserve Toro Maduro

Happy New Year!

The Cigar

Olde World Reserve Toro Maduro

Wrapper: Costa Rica Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 6.5 x 52 Toro
My Strength Rating: 6 due to the dry leathery texture

Now, this is the way to enjoy the last regular session game of NFL football.

I remember when these things hit the market. The store that I go to, Trader Tom’s, she could not keep them in stock. I was never that thrilled. I did try them. I do smoke one here and there. But, for the money I thought they were just okay. Throw the money factor out and they are good. Here in Michigan they run around $12.00 a stick. I bought these about 6 or 8 months ago so I don’t have the actual price.

Off the light; the first half an inch has an earthy coffee taste with some spice hitting the back of my palate. The smoke has some weight on the tongue during the start of the cigar. The taste is actually questionable during this start as in not that tasty. Maybe the cigar picked up some of that paper taste that is wrapped around the end. No, I did not light the cigar with that paper on the cigar. They say you can do so, but I have never done so and don’t ever plan to do so – not even for research purposes.

The taste did improve after that first half an inch. The coffee taste (espresso like) was clearer and the earthy note distinguished itself like a rich soil taste. This taste maintained that medium-full body weight on the tongue. At times I think I get a walnut shell taste. I feel the cigar has a nice robust quality. Yet, it still has a fairly smooth but, dry mouthfeel with a leathery texture.

To the point: espresso like, rich soil, dry cocoa powder, and dry leathery texture.

I pour myself a cup of Biggby French Roast Coffee. This really helps the overall taste of the cigar. I would recommend smoking this cigar with a bold cup of coffee. It helps to minimize the dry mouthfeel.

I am planning to smoke the second half of this cigar with a glass of red wine.

As I approach the halfway point the espresso like quality and rich soil tastes are still present. There seems to be a nice undertone of dry cocoa powder.

The Wine
Justin Isosceles 2006
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot - unfiltered
Justinwine.com
See the full review:
Flavors: Dark cherry, red and black currants, a soft blackberry note, an undertone of tasty vanilla-mocha with a touch of sweet caramel. Overall, one yummy tasting wine the way it covers the mouth in berry delight.

The Pairing

This is better than the coffee pairing. The berry profile of the wine just comingles with the earthy and coffee notes of the cigar for a tasty experience. The solid mocha taste of the wine helps the dry cocoa powdery note of the cigar. The wine also helps that dry leathery mouthfeel of the cigar. The cigar is not as dry and the focus is more on the semi-smooth texture.

Overview of the cigar: As for the cigar by itself, it is just okay. This cigar sure needs a good quality beverage to help bring out its taste. A full dark roast coffee or a bold red wine, with some complexity, and you are set.

A Cigar and Beer Review: Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Silver Edition Robusto and Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown

The Beer
Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown

4.9% abv
12 oz bottle
$7.50 a six pack
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, USA
My Strength Rating: 4

This Nut Brown pours an attractive clear copper color with a fine off-white head. It sure is hard to even pour a one finger head with this beer. The aroma is very clean on this brew.

The notes are sweet caramel like with a pecan nutty and woodsy flavor. There are some hops mixed in to add a little bitter note. Unfortunately there is a big watery style. It is this watery profile that makes this an easy beer to drink.

This beer is always a puzzle to me. Sometimes it comes across too sweet and grassy and then other times it just goes down just fine. I have to admit that I buy this beer every winter and enjoy drinking it now and then. But, it is not what I would call a good Nut Brown. If I was into grading beers I would give it a C. But, I still comeback to it for some reason.

The Cigar
Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Silver Edition Robusto
Wrapper: Criollo ‘98’
Fillers: Costa Rica, Honduran, and Mexican
Size: 4.7 x 52 Robusto Corto
My Strength Rating: 4.5

I was thinking that a good Cameroon wrapped cigar would be nice with this beer but, I saw this cigar sitting front and center. This cigar does have a nutty like trait with some coffee so let’s give it a try.

Off the light I notice the smooth style of the mouthfeel. The flavor has a mild-medium coffee presence on the first couple of inches. At this point I start to notice a nutty and woody character.

That mild-medium coffee has changed to an earthy style at this point. Overall, the taste seems muted. If you are not thinking about the flavors it would be easy to overlook them. To me it comes across pretty simple. The flavors just don’t seem to stand out. As I continue to smoke the cigar I think the main profile is earthy. Earthy notes of: dusty soil and forest floor. The cigar is just an easy smoking medium bodied smoke. Nothing special.

The Pairing

This is the ‘Nothing Special’ pairing. The cigar seems to control the sweet style of the beer. Other than that, I think I can say, “It is a boring pairing.” I wish I chose a Cameroon cigar with a better nutty taste.

A Cigar Review: Olde World Reserve Toro Maduro

Happy New Year!

Olde World Reserve Toro Maduro

Wrapper: Costa Rica Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 6.5 x 52 Toro
My Strength Rating: 6 due to the dry leathery texture

Now, this is the way to enjoy the last regular session game of NFL football.

I remember when these things hit the market. The store that I go to, Trader Tom’s, she could not keep them in stock. I was never that thrilled. I did try them. I do smoke one here and there. But, for the money I thought they were just okay. Throw the money factor out and they are good. Here in Michigan they run around $12.00 a stick. I bought these about 6 or 8 months ago so I don’t have the actual price.

Off the light; the first half an inch has an earthy coffee taste with some spice hitting the back of my palate. The smoke has some weight on the tongue during the start of the cigar. The taste is actually questionable during this start as in not that tasty. Maybe the cigar picked up some of that paper taste that is wrapped around the end. No, I did not light the cigar with that paper on the cigar. They say you can do so, but I have never done so and don’t ever plan to do so – not even for research purposes.

The taste did improve after that first half an inch. The coffee taste (espresso like) was clearer and the earthy note distinguished itself like a rich soil taste. This taste maintained that medium-full body weight on the tongue. At times I think I get a walnut shell taste. I feel the cigar has a nice robust quality. Yet, it still has a fairly smooth but, dry mouthfeel with a leathery texture.

To the point: espresso like, rich soil, dry cocoa powder, and dry leathery texture.

I pour myself a cup of Biggby French Roast Coffee. This really helps the overall taste of the cigar. I would recommend smoking this cigar with a bold cup of coffee. It helps to minimize the dry mouthfeel.

I am planning to smoke the second half of this cigar with a glass of red wine.

As I approach the halfway point the espresso like quality and rich soil tastes are still present. There seems to be a nice undertone of dry cocoa powder.

The Wine
Justin Isosceles 2006
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot - unfiltered
Justinwine.com
See the full review: winepostings2

Flavors: Dark cherry, red and black currants, a soft blackberry note, an undertone of tasty vanilla-mocha with a touch of sweet caramel. Overall, one yummy tasting wine the way it covers the mouth in berry delight.

The Pairing

This is better than the coffee pairing. The berry profile of the wine just comingles with the earthy and coffee notes of the cigar for a tasty experience. The solid mocha taste of the wine helps the dry cocoa powdery note of the cigar. The wine also helps that dry leathery mouthfeel of the cigar. The cigar is not as dry and the focus is more on the semi-smooth texture.

Overview of the cigar: As for the cigar by itself, it is just okay. This cigar sure needs a good quality beverage to help bring out its taste. A full dark roast coffee or a bold red wine, with some complexity, and you are set.