CAO Mx2 Gordo: Review

Wrapper(s): outer Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro; inner wrapper Brazilian

Fillers: Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru, and Dominican Republic

Size: 6 x 60

Off the Light: full soil earth and an almost burnt coffee note.  The smoke is heavy in weight.  As the smoke continues I notice a touch of pink peppercorn spice. 

Mid-point: The slightly burnt coffee is still brewing, the soil earthiness is thick, and there is a bitter note picking up.  There is a bit of campfire ash.  It has been such a long time since I have smoked one of these Mx2 that I forgot about this strong bitter note.  The mouthfeel is a fine steel wool like. 

Down the Stretch: get the big boy pants on.  The bitter note is strong and is getting tough on the swallow.  Burnt coffee, burnt forest floor, campfire ash.  Make sure you are outside when smoking this baby because you’ll need the fresh air.

My Strength Rating: 9

Gurkha Empire Series IV and Wellington Arkell Best Bitter: Cigar and Beer Pairing

The Cigar

Gurkha Empire Series IV

Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca

Fillers: Nicaraguan, Dominican ligero tobaccos

Size: 5.5 x 52

$3.00 a stick on sale

My Strength Rating: 5

Off the Light: this cigar has some nice roasted notes working right off the bat.  Wood and earth notes mixed with some spice.  I thought it started off on the full side of medium and then after that first inch it started to move toward medium.

Mid-point: toasted oak, slightly roasted notes of forest floor and the spice has dissipated.  The mouthfeel is right around a 4 or 5 on my strength rating.  Not a complex flavor profile but, it is only $3 a stick.  I would not pay any more than three for this cigar. 

Down the Strecth: The Wife is calling – shit – I have to go. No real loss with this cigar.

The Beer

Wellington Arkell Best Bitter

4% abv

341 ml bottle

Wellington County Brewery, Inc.

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Wellingtonbrewery.ca

On the six pack it says, “A refreshing Ale described as ‘the most flavourful light beer in Ontario.’”

Appearance: copper colored body with an egg-shell colored head.

Aroma: very faint grains and yeast

Flavors: grainy, grassy, dried floral, sourdough, stone mineral,

I have to say on my first few sips I was not impressed.  Then, I had to start thinking about what are the notes and the more I sampled it the more I started to like it.  It does not have the run of the mill flavors – oops, sorry that is flavours in Canadian. 

Mouthfeel: almost moderate carbonation, light off-dry feel, light watery edge, and very easy to drink.  This would be great to pair with a quality burger or my favorite a cigar.  This ale should have some good range to pair up any strength cigar and has some interesting flavors that should work with most cigars. 

My Strength Rating: 4

If you want something different it is an okay pick-up.  It is nothing to go out of your way to find. 

Let me grab a stogie because I am ready for the second beer.  I selected the Gurkha Empire IV.  I think the woody and earthy style should mingle well with this ale. 

The Pairing

This is a nice pairing.  Two nice average products at best.  The flavors work well with each other.  The ale refreshes the palate after a few puffs of the cigar.

5 Vegas Relic: Review

Dominican Puro

Corojo Wrapper

Ligeros fillers mingled with a single 12 year old leaf

Size: 5.75 x 54 Perfecto

Off the Light: butter toasted rye bread on the first few puffs.  Then, the Corojo, Criollo, and ligero spices started to show up.  Rich soil earthy tones. 

Mid-Point: Soil earthy tones continue with a strange prickly spice playing on the tongue.  The cigar has a decent toasty tobacco note.  The texture has a fine steel wool like feel. 

Down the Stretch: pretty much like the mid-point with an old dusty pepper note mixing in as the cigar finishes. 

My Strength Rating: 6 – the spice profile brings it up from the medium category along with the lingering thick tar feel on the palate. 

To the Point: an okay stick at best to me. The strange spicy note bothered me to make it an enjoyable smoking experience.  Glad I only bought two sticks.  I have to say that I had good expectations for this cigar and I am disappointed that it was not as flavorful as I hoped for.

Partagas Gigante Cigar and Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock 2011: Cigar and Beer Pairing

The Cigar

Partagas Gigante

Wrapper: Cameroon

Binder: Mexico

Filler: Dom. Rep. / Mexico

Size: 6 x 60

I bought this sampler pack of the 60 ring gauges over a year ago.  I still have a couple left so let’s give them a whirl again and pair it up with a spring time beer – Maibock Style. 

Off the Light: smooth and mellow (2 or 3 strength rating), a light nutty taste (almond like), a dainty dusting of earth.  If you like mild and mellow this is a good stick for you.  As the cigar continues there is a mild woody note appearing. 

Mid-point: That woody note is reminding me of ‘alder wood.’  This is a mild sweet wood that is great for smoking salmon.  And, that should be a great pairing with this cigar.  I recommended last year to smoking some shrimp and scallops with some apple wood and pair with this cigar. 

The body of this cigar is still on the mild side (3 at best). That mild nutty and earthy profile is going to be a nice to pairing with the beer that I have selected.  (I hope)

The Partagas Gigante holds a solid grey ash and burns well from start to finish.

Down the Stretch: More of the same.  This cigar did not get bitter or strong during the finish.  It stayed in the mild range the whole way.  Not the most eventful cigar in the world.  But, if you just want to sit back and relax and enjoy a mild smoke and a beverage to boot this could the one for you.

My Strength Scale: 3 at best.  Mellow the whole way through.

The Beer

Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock 2011

6.4% abv

12 oz bottle

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Chico, California, USA

Appearance: an electric golden color with a fine white one finger head and not much on the lacing of the glass.

Aroma: To me this bouquet is too light to tell.  I even changed rooms to smell this beer (worked before on other beers) and the same thing – too light to tell.  Faint bready, maybe a hop note – I give up.  I even poured another one to see if I could pick up any aroma notes – nothing different. 

Flavors: On the front of the sip there are some bready malts, a touch of pecan nuttiness, and grains.  Then, on the finish the green peppercorn spice hits the back of the palate and I also think there is a pine needle like quality playing on the palate. 

Mouthfeel: a moderate hoppy tingle tantalizes the tongue, lemon ring note hanging around, very crisp,

Strength Rating: 4.5 – for some that peppery, pine needle like quality will raise their personal strength rating. 

The Pairing

This cigar seemed to pick up the malty characteristics in this bock, a bit.  The bready and grainy notes mingled a little longer on the palate and the green peppercorn and slight pine needle notes didn’t seem as sharp as before.  This could be because of the woody and light earthy notes of the cigar. 

This is a nice pairing and I wish I had a plate of smoked seafood in front of me. 

This cigar should have a very good range to be paired with most beers.  It will not interfere with the flavor profile of your malted beverage.  May not make the most interesting pairing but, putting it into baseball terms; a walk is better than a strike out.

Camacho Corojo 10 Anniversary 11/18 and Allagash Tripel Reserve: Pairing

The Ale

Allagash Tripel Reserve

Batch #152

9% abv

750ml bottle

$9.00

Allagash Brewing

Portland, Maine, USA

Allagash.com

Appearance: what a beautiful beer once it is poured into the chalice.  A perfect two finger, shaving cream white, head on top of a spectacular neon golden body.  Nice white sticky lacing on the side of the glass.   

Aroma: light herbal biscuit, yeast, and crisp fruity notes.

Flavors: Red banana, light pineapple juice, Jazz apple, honeysuckle, and earthy yeast to bring it all together.  

Mouthfeel: medium body on delivery with a tingling tropical fruit sensation.  On the finish there is a warm alcohol and dry texture that gives this ale a medium-full feel on the back of the palate.

My Strength Rating: 5.5

The Cigar

Camacho Corojo 10 Anniversary 11/18

Corojo wrapper, binder, and filler

Jamastran Valley of Honduran tobaccos

Size: 6 x 54 slight tapering on both ends

The 10 year Anniversary Edicion Limitada

$14.95 in Michigan

camachocigars.com

Off the Light: white mushroom and a dusting of chopped pecan nuts. 

Right where it is natural to place my thumb on the side of this cigar there is a big soft spot.  Feels like some tobacco beetles may have been busy on the inside or just a roller issue.

As the cigar continues there is a light dusty earth, mushroom, and the pecan nut is still noticeable.

Mid-Point: mineral earthy notes develop, toasted grains and nuts.  This cigar has a smooth and sophisticated mouthfeel. 

Down the Stretch: The strength builds just a little (maybe a six rating).  Pretty much the same notes as the mid-point. 

My Strength Rating: 5.5 all the way through. 

The Pairing

The earthy notes of white mushroom and mineral soil along with the toasted grains and pecan nuts mingle extremely well with the tropical fruity notes of the ale. 

After one chalice of this ale I thought this cigar would be perfect so I made my way to my humidor to find this baby and I am not disappointed. 

After a weekend of setting up the new gazebo, buying new patio furniture and new outdoor carpeting, this was a perfect pairing to reward myself for all this work and expense.

Preparing the Palate: Raisins, Figs, and Prunes

When describing the flavors of some cigars you will see the notes: dried dark fruits or raisins, fig, prune, and maybe dates.  Each of these can have its own taste.  So, the best thing to do is go out and buy a variety of these.  Pick up some golden raisins, fancy raisins or regular raisins, figs, currants, prunes and do your own flavor sampling.  Do not get the ones that are sugar coated or sweetened in some way.  Try to understand the differences between each one. 

I know after sampling fig that I have experienced that dry flavor plenty of times when smoking and reviewing a cigar.

Sampling these fruits on a regular base can help you to prepare your palate when trying to review your favorite stick. 

Padilla Achilles Corojo: Cigar Review

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano-seed Corojo

Fillers: Nicaragua, Honduras, and Dominican

This is one consistent cigar in its flavor profile.  It has a smooth yet tasty earthy profile from start to finish.  The earthy profile and hardwood notes make for a fairly simple smoking experience and that is not always a bad thing. 

This cigar should be good to pair with an IPA.

Floor Cigar Ashtray

I wish I took before and after pictures for this ashtray stand was a mess.  This is the ashtray that was in Trader Tom's Cigar Shop in Northville, Michigan.

The color is metallic bronze but, it looks like brass in this picture.  I painted the scotty dogs, the shaft, and the disc a metallic black.

El Mejor Emerald Campana Pyramid and Harpoon Single Hop ESB: Pairing

The Cigar

El Mejor Emerald Campana Pyramid

Wrapper: Honduran Corojo

Binder: Nicaraguan

Fillers: Nicaraguan

Size: 5 x 58

Freebie (around 2.50 a stick)

Off the Light: earthy tones, toast, and then after a few puffs some spice hit the palate.  Nice black pepper and ginger spice tantalized the tongue for a half an inch of the stick.  One inch into the stick and the spice is all gone and there is a nice earthiness as the main profile.

Mid-Point: the smoke has a good forest floor earthiness, a hint of hardwood (oak), and there is an undertone of spice going on.  On a couple of puffs I thought I detected a little wet musty old wood. 

Down the Stretch: the experience is smooth at this point with the earthy tones and that slight hint of hardwood as its main stay. 

To the Point: for a freebie it’s nice.  If I had to pay for it … I wouldn’t.  Okay, 2 bucks a stick I would say sure.  It’s not that bad.  It is just between okay and good.  I’ll give it a B-.

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – the peppery spices at the front end brings this rating up.

The ESB – Extra Strong Bitters

Harpoon Single Hop ESB

100 Barrel Series

Session 31

5.8% abv

38 ibu

$6.99 a bottle

Harpoon Brewery

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Appearance: deep amber with some shiny copper highlights when held to the light.  The tan head was plentiful and the lacing on the glass is heavy.

Aroma: sweet malts and grains, with a moderate hoppy note. 

Flavors: a mix of golden and fancy raisins, a soft pine, sweet grains, a hint of nuttiness maybe fresh pecan.  It seems fairly simple overall. 

Mouthfeel: surprisingly smooth, a touch of a water edge, not much on any lingering notes. 

To the Point: Not bad.  I would give it a B-. 

My Strength Rating: 4 – that smooth and light water edge holds it to a four rating. The overall flavor profile seems simple. 

The Pairing

Both these products seem simple and they kind of deserve each other.  The earthy tones of the cigar mix well with the earthy and slight nutty notes of the ale.  Neither one of these I would go out of my way to pick up.  I would grade each one around a B- and the overall pairing experience is a B-.  I don’t know about you but, I don’t look to maximize my experience with a B- pairing. 

Carlos Torano Fortress Double Toro and Sanson 2008 Reserve Baco Noir: Cigar and Wine Pairing

The Wine

Sanson 2008 Reserve Baco Noir

12.5% abv

$25.00 Canadian

Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada

Sansonestatewinery.com

My Strength Rating: 4/4.5

Baco Noir is pronounced: BA-koh NWAHR

I can remember stopping by this winery back when they first opened up.  The wine was the usual start-up wine taste a little on the thin side.  Well, now is the time to stop on by this little winery.  I have sampled a few of their wines and I have enjoyed them.  I enjoyed the Bird Dog Red so much I went back and bought four more bottles. 

Appearance: Garnet with ruby crystal highlights

Aroma: plump big dark berry notes and a whiff of oak

Flavors: this is a fruit forward wine here for the taking.  Mulberry, touch of blueberry, hint of boysenberry, red currants, and sweet cedar.  The tannins are low, which it should be for a Baco, and the acidic level is pleasing, which can be high for a young Baco Noir.

Mouthfeel: light and lively feel on the palate.  The sweet berries linger for a spell on the palate.  There is a light edge

The Cigar

Carlos Torano Fortress Double Toro

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Rosado

Fillers: Nicaraguan, Peruvian, and Honduran

Size: 6 x 60

Off the Light: some nice spice plays on the palate and as it passes through the sinuses.  There is a forest floor earthiness to the start of this smoke.

As the smoke continues I think the spice reminds me of a pink peppercorn and black peppercorn mix.  The forest floor earthy tones are pleasing and there is a touch of sweet cedar in the mix.  There is also a good roasted tobacco and toasted grains on the palate. 

The mouthfeel is surprisingly smooth for these hearty flavors.  It’s not quit velvety nor is it wool like, so I call it flannel! 

Mid-Point: it is a continuation of the rich flavors that I experienced in the first third.  The only difference I think is the sweet cedar is more of a cedary note. 

Down the Stretch: at the top of the stretch the smoke is still smooth in its delivery.  Yes, still flannel like in feel.  The forest floor earthy tones are still tasty.  The spice notes of peppercorn have settled down.  The cedary note is still in play. The roasted tobacco and toasted grains are still present and have not become strong or bitter. 

I am smoking this big boy down to the nub.  As this cigar crosses the finish line it is a winner in my book. 

I bought two of these sticks and I am looking forward to smoking the second one.  I am thinking right now that I would buy more of these Fortress Double Toro Cigars. 

The Pairing

This cigar really brings out the body in this wine.  There seemed to be a light side to this wine when I enjoy it by itself, but with this cigar it seems a little fuller.  The cigar helps to accent the boysenberry and mulberry notes and controls the sweet cedar to a cedary note. 

This was an excellent pairing.  I really enjoyed the flavors of the wine and the cigar as they mingled together.

My Strength Rating: 6.5

Sanson Estate Winery

Nica Libre 1990 Principe and Southern Tier Choklat Stout: Review

The Cigar

Nica Libre 1990 Principe

Wrapper: San Andres Maduro
Binder: Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 4.5x46 box press
My Strength Rating: 4.5

Let’s get it straight, I have smoked a few of these Principes from the sample pack and this is my last one of this size and thank God.  I don’t like this size.  It comes across as dry and boring and tastes like a cheap Nicaraguan cigar from the 1990’s.  Let me open my mind and review this last one.

Okay, this cigar is going to need big time help.  So, today’s pairing is Souther Tier Imperial Choklat Stout.  A damn good stout too bad I am smoking this cigar.  Oops – open minded – yes I am.

Off the Light:  Dry soil earthiness abounds.  No name brand coffee likeness.  I don’t even like the smoke blowing in my face! 

Is it just this stick?  Is it this useless size – 46 ring gauge?  I really don’t like too many cigars 48 and under.  They burn warmer than the bigger ring gauges and the flavor lacks in comparison as well. 

Let’s introduce the stout at this point. 

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 are smelling 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. 

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! 

Back to the cigar and beverage pairing. 

This stout can’t even help this little baby cigar.  I was hoping that this cigar would pick up on its flavor with this tasty stout. 

The stout seems to control the dryness of the cigar a bit.  This cigar is just too boring for me.  Thank God this is the last one!

Some people say there is no such thing as a bad cigar if it is free.  Yes there is.  I would turn this one down all day long.  

Let me pair this wonderful stout up with a good cigar.

Don Lino Africa Victoria Falls and Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2007: Pairing

The Cigar

Don Lino Africa Victoria Falls
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habana-seed
Binder: Nicaragua
Fillers: Cameroon Africa, Dominican, Mexico, Nicaragua (I have seen Honduras in place of Mexican tobacco)
Size: 7 x 58 Salomon
My Strength Rating: 8

I really like this line of Don Lino Africa Cigars.  When they first came out they called them Out of Africa and I am sure Hollywood came a calling and said, ‘we have a movie called that and drop that name.’  Don Lino cigars are usually mild to very mild cigars and when this came out they made a true medium-full to full bodied cigar. 

The Don Lino Africa cigars need a full bodied beverage to maximize the experience.  It’s hearty and robust style can overpower a milder beverage.  And, one thing that I have learned is not to pair it with an IPA beer.  The bitter level is just out of control and makes a bad pairing.  I usually smoke this cigar with a full bodied red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Meritage. 

Off the Light: Nice cedar notes with a touch of sweet cedar, forest floor earthiness, and a good dose of dark roasted coffee that is espresso like.  The ash is rugged looked and salt and pepper in color. 

The first few puffs has a good medium-full bodied mouthfeel and then mellows to a nice medium as the burn continues during the first third. 


Mid-point: good spicy-peppery flavors, a firm cedar, and a tasty dark roast coffee note all make for a solid 7.5 or 8 strength rating. 

Down the Stretch: Now, if you smoke this cigar too fast the bitterness level can get out of control.  I have had a good burn going so far and I can tell that the bitterness level is starting to show but, it is not out of control.  More burnt notes are noticeable at this point in the game.  Charred wood, a bit of charcoal, burnt forest floor.  The finish of this cigar is for the smoker who likes a full flavored smoking experience.  The finish always seems to reach my strength ratings of 9 or 10.  In this case today a good 9. 

I got to smoke this stick all the way down to the nub.  The dark roasted coffee flavors were rich the earthy notes finished strong and overall I enjoyed this big baby.

The Wine

Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

13.5% abv

Justin Vineyards & Winery

Paso Robles, California, USA

JUSTINwine.com

I think I got this bottle for around $20.00.

My Strength Rating: 7

This 2007 cab has been a favorite of mine and I am now down to my last two bottles so I better do a review while I can.  I attempted to do a review a couple of times but I was enjoying the wine so much that I did not want to sit back and ‘think’ about it.  Doing these reviews take a lot of energy and concentration and that can take away from the experience itself. 

Appearance: dark ruby body with some lighter edges

Aroma: nice spice box nose with cinnamon leading the way.  Good dark berries and I am picking up a Bing cherry and black currant like aroma. 

Flavors: Oh this is sooo good.  There is a berry explosion on the palate with red and black berries intermingling.  The acidity seems low and the tannins are soft.  Oh, I wish I had more left in the cellar.  A nice earthy style of forest floor and a leathery texture just adds to the experience.  At times I think I notice a sweet cedar note and a thread of caramel on the palate. 

The Pairing

This is bliss.  The spicy-peppery style of the cigar is a good contrast to the smooth berry notes of the wine.  The wine has enough body to work with this hearty cigar.  The earthy notes are similar to one another with their forest floor and cedar likeness.  The wine has a sweet cedar style and the cigar has a firm cedar note.  That thread of caramel that runs through the wine mingles with the dark roasted coffee style of the cigar. 

Cuba Libre One Toro: Review

“Ultra-bold and Mega-flavorful” - as it is being billed as    

This one better be strong, peppery, flavorful.  They do have a lot of schlocky salesmanship over there at Cigars International but, I hope they are right on this one for it sounds like my kind of cigar. 

Wrapper: Habano-seed ligero from Jamastran Valley, Honduras

Binder: In this case two – Habano leaf Jalapa Valley and a Costa Rican leaf

Fillers: Honduras; Esteli and Condega Cuban-seed ligero

Size: 6 x 52

My Strength Rating:

With all the ligero tobaccos being used this should be a fuller smoking experience. 

Off the Light: slight earthiness and a little mild coffee greet the palate.  Where is the spice?  Okay, puff #4 then 5 … a little spice starts to build.  Okay, there it is!  Black pepper hits the back of the palate and fills the air from the smoke of the cigar.  Bring it on.

During the first third of the stick it seems like a peppery mix of a fine grind black pepper and a musty white pepper.  The earth notes have a combination of a soft moss mixed with a solid soil style.  The coffee comes across like a medium-dark roast blend. 

At the Mid-point: The cigar is still nice and spicy.  It has a firm medium-full body on the mouthfeel.  The ash is a nice salt and pepper color.  The burn has been very good so far.  The cigar smoke fills the air and is spicy in itself. 

This cigar is pairing well with a cup of Biggby Best Blend which is a smooth and mellow coffee. 

Down the Stretch: it has a smooth soil earthy note with a good musty white pepper profile.  The mouthfeel is robust and leaves a lingering spicy and roasted coffee note on the palate. 

Overall, it has a very good peppery mix with a solid earthy style and a medium-dark roasted coffee note that should satisfy the medium-full cigar smoker. 

A good mild or medium roast coffee beverage should be a good complement to this cigar.  I also think a porter or a stout would be a good pairing. 

Rocky Patel ‘The Edge’ Toro Maduro and Atwater VooDooVator: Cigar and Beer Pairing

The Cigar

Rocky Patel ‘The Edge’ Toro Maduro

Wrapper: Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Fillers: ? Secrete

According to Rockypatel.com -

Size: 6 x 52

My Strength Rating: 6.5

I can’t believe I have never reviewed this stick.  A few years back every time I went in to the cigar store I would pick up 4 sticks just to store away in my humidor.  Well, I have a good collection of these babies.  So, it is time for a review. 

I have always liked this cigar for its size, price, and flavor.  The flavor is fairly consistent all the way thru the smoking experience.  Dark roasted French Roast coffee notes mingled with some dried brown spice and toasted pumpernickel.  The mouthfeel is very pleasing and smooth for a medium-full bodied smoke. 

This cigar should pair well with most stouts, porters and dopplebocks.

The Beer

Atwater VooDooVator

9.5% abv

12 oz bottle

$11.00 a four pack

30 IBU

Atwater Block Brewery

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Atwaterbeer.com

A solid black body with plenty of foam. 

Solid hop bitterness, nice caramel taste, a touch of plain milk chocolate, roasted malts, and a medium peppery spice.

The Pairing

This is a very good pairing.  The medium peppery spice and hops of the dopplebock mix well with the spices of the cigar.  The roasted malts, caramel, and the milk chocolate play well with the coffee profile of the cigar. 

I really enjoyed this pairing