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.
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