CAO VR Full Fathom 5: Review

Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro Arapiraca

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Mexican

Size: 5.5x55 box press

Off the Light: Charcoal and burnt woody notes dominate on the first few puffs.  As the experience moves along the strong notes smooth out a little and open up to some solid black pepper, brown spice, and a solid earthy flavor.  This is full bodied.  The texture is thick and heavy on the palate. 

Mid-point: This cigar has one fast burn going and I am a slow smoker.  The body has settled down to a good medium to medium-full strength.  The flavors seem to have some complexity going on here with a dark roast coffee, a nice touch of mocha, a pleasing spice, and rich soil earthy notes. 

I am enjoying this smoke with a quality Fuller’s London Porter. 

Down the Stretch: As the cigar burns into the final third the mouthfeel has a much smoother feel than the first third.  The notes are richer and there is a hint of creaminess to the mouthfeel.  The roasted coffee and soil earthy notes dominate at this point in the ballgame. 

This cigar has an excellent finish.  Overall, very tasty and complex.  The flavors are plentiful and the body changes throughout the smoking experience.

Morro Castle Toro and CEV 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon: Review

The Cigar

Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Honduran

Size: 6 x 52

My Strength Rating: 4.5/5

This cigar starts off smooth and mild and ends around medium in strength. 

Off the Light: Smooth buttery wheat bread, touch of wood

As the smoke continues there is a touch of light oak, mossy earth, and the wheat bread is still present.  The texture is smooth and pleasing for a mild smoke.

Mid-point: The oak picks up a toasted note along with a light soil earthiness.  The mossy earth is still in the mix.  The wheat note has stepped to the side.  There seems to be a light ginger spice that plays on the tongue.  Maybe I should be pairing this with a Vernor’s or Canada Dry Ginger Ale. 

This cigar has a nice elegance to the smoking experience.  I am thinking about a 4 strength rating at this point.

Down the Stretch: A stronger peppery spice profile develops.  The earthy profile is a mix of soil and forest floor goodies.  The oak note is stronger at this point.  The overall strength rating is picking up.  I am thinking 5.5 on my strength scale. 

The Wine

CEV 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Colio Estate Vineyards

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Coliowines.com

$19.75 Canadian

My Strength Rating:6

12.2% abv

18 months in European Oak

Aroma: currants, cigar box, green pepper, and smoky

Flavors: red and black currants, boysenberry, spice, touch of pink peppercorn. 

The more this wine opens up I notice a blackberry bite, tart red berries, and a dry dark chocolate. 

The aftertaste is dry and tart and it coats the palate for a nice lingering mouthfeel. 

The Pairing

This is a very nice pairing.  This is a fruit forward wine and this cigar is smooth and elegant.  The berry notes of the wine mingle well with the oaky wood and delicate earthy profile of the cigar.  The spices blend well with each other. 

As I smoked the cigar ‘down the stretch’ the body strength developed and this was not an issue for this pairing.  It actually made the wine feel a little fuller in body. 

I really enjoyed this pairing. 

Gurkha X - Fuerte Fuerte Cigar and Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Artisan Amber Ale: Review

The Ale

Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Artisan Amber Ale

Ale aged in oak barrels.  Barrel aged and bottle conditioned

7.2% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$11.00 a bottle

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Dexter, Michigan, USA

Jollypumpkin.com

This ale pours a murky amber color with a beige colored head.  The aroma has a bit of a sour note with a touch of caramel and spice.  The spice seems to have a ginger like quality.  The sour note is coming from the oak barrel aging process.  I bought this one because of the oak aging.  I have learned over the last year that I really like this type of ale. 

The sour green apple and oak taste is right up front and center.  The caramel and spice mix well with the other flavors for a tasty ale.  I am looking forward to sitting back and drinking this bottle tonight. 

The Cigar

Gurkha X - Fuerte Fuerte

Wrapper: Costa Rican Maduro

Size: 7 x 54

My Strength Rating: 6.5/7 The body weight seems medium but, the bold robust flavors kick this baby up a tick or two. 

While, tiding things up in the humidor I found a few of these one of a kinds that have gotten buried.  Just the other day I finished off an Indian Tabac stogie that was the last of the bunch well, here I am finishing off the last of this bunch a Gurkha X – Fuerte.  I bought a couple of bundles of these back when the guys from the cigar store and I bowled on a bowling team together.  Our name – Ash Kickers.  My God, that has to be six or seven years ago.   I wonder if they even make this cigar anymore.  I’ll have to check the net later.   

Right off the light I get a mild-medium coffee note.  The mouthfeel is a bit dry here at first.  As I get a couple of inches into the cigar the black medium coffee note is maintained and there is an 80% dark chocolate like bitterness.  This bitter note just adds a slight pinch on the palate.  There is a touch of spice that is developing at this point as well. 

As the cigar reaches mid-point I think the spice is a pink and white peppercorn.  I am going with the pink peppercorn because of the touch of sweetness that soon has a citrus pepper bite.  And, I am saying white peppercorn because of the musty like flavor of white pepper.  I also notice a salty taste that has developed. 

I have always liked this cigar and I am glad I still had one to remember this smoking experience.  This cigar is not for anybody.  The mild and medium bodied smokers may not enjoy this strong flavored stick. 

The cigar burns perfectly for me tonight.  It holds a nice gray ash for a half an inch to an inch.

The Pairing

I am thinking I may have selected the wrong stogie here to go with this ale.  Don’t get me totally wrong here – I do like this pairing.  It has a big pucker effect.  The sour apple, oak, and spice of the ale are really mixing it up with the peppery profile, black coffee, and slight bitterness coming from the cigar.  The pairing is not for the faint of heart.  Get the women, girls and little boys off the street this is a big boy pairing.  Full of flavors and a complex pairing this sure is.  The flavor notes are lingering long and heavy on the palate.  Sour oak, pepper, sour apple, ginger, and more pepper and while we are at it throw in a pinch of salt.

Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ Natural and Detroit Red Wing 2007 Merlot: Cigar and Wine Pairing

The Cigar

Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ Natural

This in a Nicaraguan Puro

The wrapper is Nicaraguan Corojo

$13.50 in Michigan

Size: 6 x 54

Off the Light: light earth, woody, and a little nutty note off the first few puffs.  Then, a slight spicy note started to appear.  As I continued to smoke this stick past that first inch the spice started to really appear.  Black pepper and a solid woody note become the main profile. I can’t make up my mind on the wood; is it spicy cedar or a firm oaky note?  The strength rating for me is about 4.5 on the beginning.

Mid-point: As the cigar enters the mid-point I believe that woody note is oak.  It is a pleasing toasted oak at this point.  The black peppercorn taste has mellowed a bit to a green peppercorn note.  The earth profile has a forest floor style and there seems to be a dry coffee note. 

The texture is fairly smooth overall and the body is medium in style.  I am going to give it a 5 strength rating at the mid-point.

Down the Stretch: good earthy notes, smooth green peppercorn, seems like a toasty rye bread, nice oaky notes.  The cigar finishes with a good 5 strength rating.

The Wine

Detroit Red Wing 2007 Merlot

North Coast

13.8% abv

Cellared and Bottled by:

Wine World Estates

St. Helena and Napa, California, USA

Alright, I do not have much hope for this wine.  I seems gimmicky to me but, let’s give it a good review and see.  Plus, this is game 4 of the first round tonight.  What a good way to watch the game.  Go WINGS!

Appearance: rich ruby color

Aroma: currant, berry, and a hint of alcohol spice

Flavors: dark berry like, black cherry, hint of green peppercorn spice on the finish.

Mouthfeel: light, smooth in its delivery, touch thin, linger berry note

My Strength Rating: 4 and I could see 3.5.  The aroma is light, the flavors are smooth and mellow.  There is not much in texture or long lingering notes. 

Gimmicky?  No.  It’s not a bad wine.  A good restaurant wine to go with pizza, sandwiches and the like.  Good wine to serve at a party.  Maybe a Stanley Cup Party!!!

The Pairing

I did not plan these two.  I just bought this cigar yesterday at my favorite cigar store which is closing next month.  Thirty plus years in business and time to retire.  Good bye Trader Tom’s.  I am not a Don Pepin fan so; I just thought it was time to review one. 

This pairing is actually surprising me.  I thought maybe the spiciness would overwhelm this mellow Merlot.  These two are complementing each other well.  I get a good spicy smoke and a nice mellow berry taste from the wine.  I also think the cigar helps this wine some.  While smoking the cigar the wine seems to have a little more body than what it has while drinking it by itself.

Gurkha Empire Series VI: Review

Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro

Fillers: Dominican Piloto and Cubano; Nicaraguan ligero

Size: 5.5 x 52

On sale for $60.00 a box of 20

My Strength Rating: 6

This cigar is pretty consistent throughout.  It has nice medium roast coffee and dry soil earthy notes on the first third.  The mid-section carry notes of medium roast coffee, dark chocolate like notes and tasty soil earthy notes.  The hearty roasted notes build a bit toward the final third.  Mouthfeel is on the dry side and the roasted notes cover the palate. 

I enjoyed this stick with a cup of Biggby French Roast Coffee and this was an excellent pairing. 

It is what it is – a three dollar cigar and not a bad three dollar cigar at that.

Gurkha Titan and Southern Tier Imperial Choklat Stout: Review

The Cigar

Gurkha Titan

Wrapper: 1996 Vintage Costa Rican

Binder: 5 year old Nicaraguan

Fillers: 5 year old Dominican, Honduran, and Columbian

Size: 6.25x56

My Strength Rating: 6

Off the Light: Forest floor earthiness that has a smooth start.  As the cigar continues a slight cedar spice picks up along with some deep roasted tobacco notes. 

Mid-Point: a toasted rye bread note appears along with dark roasted coffee, a dry grassy note, a touch of burnt wood, and there is a touch of that cedar and spice mingled into the flavor profile.  Even with this bold flavor there is a smoothness to the texture. 

The smooth style is really kicking in at this point and this is making an enjoyable smoking experience with this stout.  The flavors of the cigar are mingling well with one another and the roasted coffee notes are starting to shine. 

Down the Stretch: The flavors never bitter on this big boy cigar.  The roasted and toasted notes are a bit stronger and the earthy notes seem to take center stage during the finish. 

To the Point: this is a great value from this sampler pack.  $4.oo a stick!  I have seen 25 plus for this cigar.  25 bucks not a great value.  I would not pay over $12.oo a stick. 

The Stout

Southern Tier Imperial Choklat Stout

A Stout Brewed with Chocolate

11% abv

650 ml bottle

$8.00 a bottle

My Strength Rating: 7

With a 650 ml bottle and an 11% abv this made a three cigar bottle of stout.  I am smoking this big Gurkha Titan with the last half of this bottle. 

Made with: 2-row barley, caramel 60 malt, barley flakes, chocolate malt, and bittersweet Belgian chocolate.  Don’t forget the hops: kettle hops; Chinook and Willamette.   This stout is best served at 48 degrees.

Southern Tier Choklat Stout has a black body and a rich dark tan head.  This 11% abv stout has a rich deep dark chocolate nose that makes you want to bite the rim of the glass while you smell this stout.  The aroma even has a creamy style. 

The flavors are wonderful.  This is a quality chocolate stout.  If you want to compare chocolate stouts for quality this is your template.  They use bittersweet Belgian chocolate in the brewing process and it shows up on the palate.  This is a chocolate lovers dream (if you like beer that is).  The caramel, barley, chocolate malts, and the Belgian Chocolate combine for one tasty treat. 

Chocolate just covers the palate.  As the stout warms there is a better bitter-sweet style coming through.  A touch of burnt sugar and creamy caramel add to this tasty chocolate stout.

The mouthfeel is rich, smooth, and creamy.  There is a lingering bitter chocolate coffee note on the tongue. 

This 650 ml bottle will run you around $8.00 a bottle and it is worth every penny. 

Recommendation:  Run to the store today and pick up two bottles!

The Pairing

During the first third of the cigar when the cedar note picked up it brought out a bitter note in the stout. 

The roasted coffee notes started to take command in the flavor profile of the cigar by mid-point and this really made the experience with the stout enjoyable.  Coffee and chocolate a good combination.  This is what I was expecting. 

Both the cigar and the stout have a smooth mouthfeel and this is making a good match.

Gurkha Beast and Louis M. Martini 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon: Review

The Wine

Louis M. Martini 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

13.9% abv

Louis M. Martini Winery

Healdburg, Sonoma County, California, USA

$20.49 on sale for $14.49 a bottle

Wine Advocate Rating:

My Strength Rating: 6.5

Appearance: garnet in color with a lighter ruby edge around the glass.

Aroma: Nice little peppery spice, hint of earth and dark berries on the nose.

Flavors: To me I like the spice-box profile.  I’ll call it a pepper mill mix because, it is like having pink peppercorn, green and a little black peppercorn on the taste.  To me there is this little hint of tea or an herbal tea like taste.  I think it happens when it first hits my tongue.

The berries are lush in style.  No bitter or bite from the berry notes.  More like a boysenberry, bing cherry, and plum.  There is a mild earthy style with a little oaky presence on the finish. 

Overall mouthfeel is soft, flavorful, and pleasing to the palate.   

I have to say that I like this bottle of Loui better than their Napa Valley bottle that I reviewed yesterday.  The Sonoma County bottle is about $7.00 a bottle cheaper to boot. 

The Cigar

Gurkha Beast

Wrapper: Costa Rican Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Fillers: Colombian, Dominican, and Honduran

Size: 6.5x56

My Strength Rating: 5.5

I have never understood the packaging on this cigar.  For a ‘top shelf’ cigar why in the world is the main ring band gold in color and the extra (use less) band, with the name on it, silver? It is like it was an afterthought.  “Hey, we need to use these labels with the word Beast on them.  Do we have a cigar that we can use them on?” … “Let’s call this cigar the Beast!” … “Great idea.” … “But, they don’t match.” … “Who cares.”

Off the light: to me it has a nice mild earthy flavor with a mild-medium roast coffee.

As the smoking experience continues, thru the first third, I think the earthy notes remind me of mushroom, mossy earth and a little soil.  There is tasty wheat and rye bread toasted flavor.  The mouthfeel is smooth in its delivery.   

Mid-point: Smooth delivery of some tasty roasted tobacco, nice hardwood, and a toasted rye bread like quality. 

Down the Stretch: This cigar is consistent in its smooth delivery and seems to change in its flavor profile.  It has a very pleasing mouthfeel and aftertaste.  It is never bitter, strong, or overwhelming.  I would say the toasted notes are gone but, the smoke has a good roasted like quality and a dry soil earthiness. 

The overall taste on this cigar is very pleasing to my palate.

As for the price point: Taste plus Cost equals Value; I’ll say it is an excellent value at $4.00 to $12.00.  Going 12 bucks to $16.00 it is a good value.  Above 16 bucks this cigar would be losing value.

The Pairing

These two complement each other well.  The nice toasted and earthy flavors of the cigar mix well with the berry flavors and spice profile of the wine.  I would defiantly recommend this pairing.  To me there is nothing better than a good red wine and a fine cigar.

Gurkha Grand Age Cigar and Maredsous 8 Dubbel: Review

The Cigar

Gurkha Grand Age

Wrapper: Cameroon (dark)

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan and Peruvian

Size: 7.5x54

My Strength Rating:

Interesting, the cigar that I selected from this six pack is a lot darker than the Grand Age in the other six pack.  See picture below.  This makes my point that Cigar International can sell these at a great price point because they are probably ‘Seconds.’  These cigars did not make the cut to be sold a full price because of flaws.

Off the light I get a strange bitter bite.  After a few puffs I am thinking of a strong cedar bite and earthy notes.  That little flaw in the wrapper was not an issue on the burn.  But, I did get a big crack in the wrapper just before the half-way point on the cigar. 

Once past a couple of inches that strange cedar bitter bite calmed down.  Now, I can start to think of what are the other flavors here.  There is a dry soil earthiness that is mixed with a medium roast coffee profile.  The texture seems to be dry and a little wool like.  The overall flavor is much better than when it started off.  Here at the mid-point I would say this is a medium to medium-full bodied smoke.

I made it past the spot where the wrapper  had busted open.  The wrapper did not continue to bust open.  The cigar probably got bumped in shipping and created that spot. 

The cigar is tasty as it passes the halfway point.  The coffee and earthy profile is pleasing to the palate.  The earthy notes are soil and wood like in quality.  The coffee note is still a medium roast style.

The Beer

Maredsous 8 Dubbel

Belgain Abbey Ale – Refermented in the bottle

8% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$10.00 a bottle

Duvel Moortgat NV

Puurs, Belgium

Best before on the side of the bottle: 09 2010 – Just 4 months past date.

Being bottled conditioned this should not be a big factor.

Dried dark fruits on the nose with some crisp slightly toasted malts.

The body is brown in color with a beige colored head that dissipated fairly fast leaving a thin layer of foam.  Nice lacing on the glass from the head.  Just swirl the beverage in the glass and the foam is kicked back up.  Typical fine carbonation for a Belgian Ale. 

On my first glass I notice the dried fruits right off the bat.  Dark raisin and prune like.  On the bottle it says, ‘subtle hints of chocolate and toffee.’  I detect a bit of chocolate but, nothing to write home about.  But, then I am at home.  I am missing the toffee note.  The ale seems to have a pleasing earthiness as its main profile a bit mineral like in quality.  There is a slight bitterness on the aftertaste. 

I just visit beeradvocate.com and they give it an A- out of 527 reviews.  I don’t think I would be that generous.  But, maybe the freshness factor (9-2010) is playing a factor after all. 

I am thinking that I would not buy this bottle again but, then again, I’ll just have to check the freshness date on the next bottle and maybe give it one more try. 

The Pairing

I like these two together.  They seem to help each other out.  The earthy style of each work well together.  The coffee notes of the cigar seem to mingle well with the dried dark fruits of the ale making a tasty experience.

Gurkha Crest Churchill: Review

Wrapper: Connecticut Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Size: 7x52

My Strength Rating: 3.5/4

The Gurkha Crest sells for around 20 bucks a stick.  Sure glad I got it from CI for only $4.00. 

This cigar has a good looking deep brown leather look the kind you would see on a rich looking sofa.

Off the Light: Toasty tobacco notes with a bit of soft earthiness.  The cigar has a nice medium bodied start. I’ll give it a 4.5 on my strength scale, for off the light.

After the first half an inch, or so, the toasty style mellow to a toasted white bread like note.  As the cigar approaches the mid-point the body weight of the smoke mellows to a three strength rating to me.  There seems to be a touch of cedar swirling around and an undertone of a dark berry note now and then.  The mouthfeel is smooth overall with a lingering cedar taste on the palate. 

The burn has been a bit uneven at times needing at least one major correction.  The ash is a rough looking salt and pepper color.  This is not what I would expect from a ‘top shelf’ cigar. 

Past the mid-point: toasted grains, touch of cedar, I could be talked into a mild coffee note, and nothing developed out of that hint of berry that I thought I detected.  I’ll call it a 3.5 on my strength scale at this point.  I just can’t call it a 4 yet. 

The burn is more consistent (even) since the first half. 

Down the Stretch: The toasted flavors continue to be the main show here.  The cedar note is minimized here on the finish.  The earthy notes are picking up speed as it comes down the stretch.  I’ll give it a 4 on the finish.

As for the price point: Taste plus Cost equals Value; I’ll say it is a good value at $4.00 to $7.00.  Going above 7 bucks this cigar would be losing value. 

This would be good to pair with a Pinot Noir, a good Chardonnay, or a Valpolicella.

Gurkha Black Dragon Imperial Presidente and Franciscan Magnificat 2005 Red Wine: Review

The Cigar

Gurkha Black Dragon Imperial Presidente

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf maduro

Binder: Cameroon

Fillers: Dominican

Size: 7 x 52

My Strength Rating: 6

Source: gurkhacigars.com  I have seen other descriptions for the wrapper, binder, and fillers but, I’ll go with what the company/manufacturer says.

This cigar has a good earthy profile with some roasted mild coffee notes.  The very delicate sweet tobacco and slight spicy notes remind me of a mild pink peppercorn flavor.  There was a moment here or there where I thought maybe it had a pecan nut taste but, on the next puff – nope.  The texture is a bit leathery yet smooth.

The Wine

Franciscan Magnificat 2005

Napa Valley Red Wine

Franciscan

Oakville, California, USA

Franciscan.com

My Strength Rating: 7.5

14.5% abv

Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Franc

Aroma: rich dark berries, spice, and a touch of dark cocoa powder

Flavors: Blackberry bite, a squeeze of black cherry, 80% dark chocolate bite and dryness, spice.

Mouthfeel: dense and dry on the palate. There is a blackberry bite and green peppercorn on the aftertaste that seems to linger.  Overall very pleasing for a medium-full mouthfeel. 

The Pairing

These two are bringing out the deep rich flavors in each other. 

When I drink the wine first and then puff on the cigar the cigars earthy and coffee profile really seems thicker and heavier almost meaty like. 

When I puff on the cigar and then drink the wine the wines berry notes are note as noticeable but, the spice and the dry dark chocolate seem to stand out.  Maybe it is that coffee note in the cigar that eliminates the berry and cherry notes in the wine. 

One thing that I have noticed during this pairing is that the cigars spice profile seems to be more pronounced than when I have smoked it by itself. 

These two do feed off of one another to make a fuller bodied experience.  This is a very good after dinner treat.

The Gurkha Cigarnivore Sampler III Review this Month

The Gurkha Cigarnivore Sampler III from Cigar International

Gurkhacigars.com

cigarsinternational.com

How in the world can they sell these babies for 4 bucks a stick?  It is my personal belief that CI buys them as ‘seconds.’  These cigars did not make the cut for some reason, wrapper issue, wrapper color, roll issue (flat on one side), band issue, and/or other issues.  But, at this price it works for me.  It is half the price or more. 

I’ll be reviewing these six cigars with beer, wine, or just by themselves this month.

Here they are in the wrapper they come in from Cigars International.

CAO Italia Ciao: Cigar Review

Wrapper: Honduran Habano-seed

Binder:  Honduran

Fillers: Nicaragua, Peru, and of course Italy

Size: 5 x 56

My Strength Rating: 7.5

I have always liked the Brazilia line-up of CAO cigars over this Italia line-up.  Due to that opinion of mine I have not smoked many of these Italia’s.  So, let’s start with this little stick.  

Off the light: nice touch of earthy tones for a couple of puffs and then some spice enters the picture.  The spice reminds me of a fine grind black pepper at first and then it builds to a coarse black peppery bite.  On this first third there is a mineral soil earthy profile mixed in with the spice.  I also like the espresso like coffee notes. 

The burn on this cigar is a little rough on this first third and the ash is really rugged. 

Here is a good example of a cigar that tunnels, burns in the center and not burning well at the binder or wrapper.

I have this CAO Italia paired up with a full bodied coffee; French Roast by Biggby Coffee.  And, this is a good pairing. 

As the stick approaches the halfway point the bold black pepper bite calms down but, don’t get me wrong it does not go away.  I still enjoy the earthy notes and the bold coffee taste.  I am asking myself at this point, ‘why I didn’t smoke more of these cigars?’ 

The texture on the first third of the cigar was definitely more wool like due to the strong peppery profile.  The texture seems to settle down a bit during the mid-point as the pepper notes calm down. 

The body weight comes across as medium-full. 

I still have to use the lighter to touch up the burning of this cigar. 

The final third: This robust smoke changes on the final third.  The taste moves to more burnt notes.  A scorched earthy profile appears along with a burnt coffee feel.  The bold peppery notes are gone.  It still has a touch of spice.  The mouthfeel is thick with a charcoal like dusting on the tongue.   I think it is this finish that I like the CAO Brazilia better. 

To the Point: I really liked the first two-thirds of this stick.  The final third a bit too dry and burnt on the palate. 

Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Corona Maduro and Southern Tier Imperial Choklat Stout: Review

The Cigar

Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Corona Maduro

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro

Fillers: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras

Size: 5.2x43

My Strength Rating: 5 

I can remember when these babies hit the market.  That had to be in the late 90’s.  This has to be one of the few small ring gauge sizes that I do like.  I have to admit that I don’t like this cigar the way I did back when it first came out.  My palate has changed, taste expectations have changed, and there are more, if not, better cigars on the market today.  But, I do enjoy this cigar as my morning cigar with a pot of coffee. 

Off the Light: smooth soil earthy note right off the bat.  As the cigar continues there is a slight hint of chocolate. 

Mid-point: The flavors pick up at this point.  With a hint of chocolate, mild coffee, rich soil earthiness, fig, and toasted pumpernickel are the flavors I am reminded of. 

Down the Stretch: The earthy style dominates at this point with a bit of mild coffee and toasted tobacco notes. 

The Stout

Southern Tier Imperial Choklat Stout

A Stout Brewed with Chocolate

11% abv

650 ml bottle

$8.00 a bottle

My Strength Rating: 7

Made with: 2-row barley, caramel 60 malt, barley flakes, chocolate malt, and bittersweet Belgian chocolate.  Don’t forget the hops: kettle hops; Chinook and Willamette.   This stout is best served at 48 degrees.

Southern Tier Choklat Stout has a black body and a rich dark tan head.  This 11% abv stout has a rich deep dark chocolate nose that makes you want to bite the rim of the glass while you smell this stout.  The aroma even has a creamy style. 

The flavors are wonderful.  This is a quality chocolate stout.  If you want to compare chocolate stouts for quality this is your template.  They use bittersweet Belgian chocolate in the brewing process and it shows up on the palate.  This is a chocolate lovers dream (if you like beer that is).  The caramel, barley, chocolate malts, and the Belgian Chocolate combine for one tasty treat. 

Chocolate just covers the palate.  As the stout warms there is a better bitter-sweet style coming through.  A touch of burnt sugar and creamy caramel add to this tasty chocolate stout.

The mouthfeel is rich, smooth, and creamy.  There is a lingering bitter chocolate coffee note on the tongue. 

This 650 ml bottle will run you around $8.00 a bottle and it is worth every penny. 

Recommendation:  Run to the store today and pick up two bottles!

The Pairing

This is a decent pairing.  I do enjoy the stout more with this cigar compared to the Nica Libre cigar that I just had with this stout.  I think what this chocolate stout needs is a cigar with a deep roast coffee style or maybe even a better chocolate profile. 

This maduro only has a hint of chocolate and I think the stout was a bit too strong for this cigar.  It was a nice pairing but, nothing to write home about.