Gurkha Grand Age and Allagash Victor Ale: Pairing

The Ale



I'll get a picture of the right cigar - I changed at
the last minute and didn't take pics I guess



Allagash Victor

Ale Brewed with Grapes

9% abv

1pt 9.4oz (750ml) bottle

$17.00 a bottle

Allagash Brewing

Portland, Maine, USA

Allagash.com

One of my favorite grapes, Cabernet Franc, was used in the brewing process to make this tasty ale.

Appearance: hazy burnt orange if you roll the bottle before opening or a bright semi-transparent burnt orange if you do not roll the bottle.  I like to stir up the sediment.  A ½ finger eggshell colored head.

Aroma: very light yet fruity when chilled.  A little more spice on the nose as the ale warms up. 

Flavors: there is a nice earthy yeast and grain like quality.  Knowing that Cab Franc is used in this ale has thrown me for a loop.  My brain is looking for big blackberries, black raspberries, tobacco and a big earthy style.  I am picking up more white wine and beer like qualities; like a splash of tart apple, plum (okay a red wine note), apricot (back to beer and white wine), a little nectarine to keep things smooth.  The malts are sweet but, not overwhelming.  The hops are in the mix to add some good balance to this brew. 

It is funny reading beeradvocate on this ale for they think it tastes too much like ‘cab franc’ or wine.  I am a big time cab franc slappy and this is not even close to a cab franc wine.  It is more beer like with some white wine qualities.

And, for you beer geeks – white wine and beer have a lot of tasting notes in common.  How about this profile: “ripe citrus and pineapple flavors followed by floral notes and subtle minerality.”  IPA or Chardonnay?

Mouthfeel: fine carbonation that leaves a light fizz on the tongue.  Moderate body weight and a lingering apricot skin (slight bitter/tart note) aftertaste.  Dry on the palate.   

My Strength Rating: 5

The Cigar and Pairing

Gurkha Grand Age

Wrapper: Cameroon (dark)

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan and Peruvian

Size: 7.5x54

Off the light: light to moderate earthy tone.  After a few puffs I am thinking of a firm cedar bite along with some earthy notes. 

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.  There is a sharp cedary bite that adds a little twang to the palate. 

The Pairing: wow, does this cigar change the profile of this ale.  I don’t notice any of the sweet fruit or sweet malts and I don’t get the tart fruit skin on the aftertaste.  I do get a big time earthy profile on this ale while I am smoking this Gurkha. 

Mid-Point: I would say this is a medium bodied smoke. The sharp cedar, not cheddar, is still the main profile.  Underneath there is the earthy coffee taste. 

The Pairing: boy, oh boy, this ale is certainly different.  I don’t think I like the changes.  In other words, I don’t like this pairing.  I think the firm cedar profile of the cigar is affecting the sweet style of the ale.

The ale does not even affect the cigar.   

Down the Stretch: 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 cedar has settled; it is not as sharp. 

The Pairing: I just can’t recommend this pairing.  The cigar has too big of a negative effect on the ale. 

My Strength Rating (cigar): 6 – during this pairing. 

My New Used Cigar Chair

I picked this chair up at a garage sale in Grindstone City this summer.  Here it is at my summer place in Grindstone.  I had to shove it inside my 40 foot RV till I can bring the Explorer up to take it home (won’t travel 165 mile in the trunk of my Sable).  I can’t wait to get it home to go in my cigar room back home. 

I got it for $30.00 with the ottoman.  And, it is a Thomasville.  I have Thomasville in my family room – damn this had to be originally a $1,200 chair and ottoman set (at least).

I can sit in this chair all day.  Hell I can sleep in it too. 

Gran Habano Cabinet Selection and Vision Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir: Pairing

The Wine

Vision Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir

Coster Vineyard

Russian River Valley

Vision Cellars

Rutherford, California, USA

Visioncellars.com

14.2% abv

$42.00 a bottle

Visit visioncellars.com and read about the owners interesting story.

Appearance: ruby pinot color with a light amber edge

Aroma: big summertime plum, touch of berries, and a hint of spice.  Delicate bouquet.

Flavors: dark cherry adds a nice sweetness, plum helps to lighten up the body, black raspberry, a Dr. Pepper quality, nice light touch of spice.

Mouthfeel: velvety smooth, perfect for a relaxing evening.  Lingering berry/cherry notes.  Tannins are light. 

My Strength Rating: 3.5 – velvety, silky, satiny whatever you want to call it’s just damn smooth – I’ll just say it is just plain sexy. 

You want to impress your date or mate, buy this bottle.  Just don’t forget to open it.  And, that is easy – it is a twist off.

93 pts. Wine Spectator

91 pts. Wine Enthusiast

The Cigar

Gran Habano Cabinet Selection Gran Consul

Wrapper: Corojo

Fillers: Nicaraguan

Size: 4.7 x 60 box-pressed

$12.00 in Michigan

You can find for under $10 online

Off the Light: tasty forest floor earthy notes right off the bat.  Around the first inch mark I start to notice a toasty cashew nut quality.  An easy, smooth, medium bodied smoke at this point.

Mid-Point: nice firm salt and pepper ash.  The forest floor earthy tones have evolved into a light mineral rich soil note.  There are toasty grains (oats?), pecan, fennel, and a dusting of cinnamon.  I have never had this cigar before but, from this impression I may have a new favorite.  I am glad I bought two sticks. 

The mouthfeel is very pleasing, rich, smooth leather, inviting, and I am thinking about a 4.5 or a 4 for my strength rating at this point. 

Down the Stretch:  the rich soil becomes a little firmer; there is still a good mineral quality to the smoking experience.  The sweet spice is just a hint, the toasted grains become a bit stronger.  The mouthfeel is clearly in the medium body range.  A firm 5 on my strength rating. 

The Pairing

This is one tasty combination.  The complex flavors of the cigar mingle eloquently with the smooth and sexy style of this Pinot Noir.  The rich earthy tones, tasty toasty grains, and sweet spices of the cigar are lavished with the wines wonderful dark cherry, ripe plum, black raspberry and Dr. Pepper likeness.  This is bliss.  I don’t want it to end. 

Ashton VSG Wizard and St. Bernardus Prior 8: Pairing

The Ale

St. Bernardus Prior 8

Belgian Abbey ale

Watou, Belgium

Flavors:  It has some malty sweetness that kind of reminds me of a thick slice of cinnamon raisin bread, the main profile seems to be dried dark fruits, raisins, figs, and dates.  Ok, it is not that complex or exciting but, it is just a pleasure to drink.  This is one nice brown ale. 

Mouthfeel: fine fizzy carbonation, dried dark fruits on the short aftertaste

The Cigar and Pairing

Ashton VSG Wizard

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown

Binder: Dom. Rep.

Filler: Dom. Rep.

Vitola: 6 x 56; toro

$17.00 in Michigan

The Wizard and Spellbound are my favorite sizes out of the VSG lineup. 

Off the Light: nice soil earth and dried dark fruits.  Once past the half inch mark the flavors remind me of: rich mineral soil, bright medium roast coffee, and a touch of spice is starting to develop.  The smaller ring gauges have a bigger spice bite.  The spice is … is … a dried spice box with a fine grind white and green pepper thrown in. 

The first third is medium bodied at best.

The Pairing: these two are working well with each other.  The dark fruits of the ale match perfectly with this cigar.  The raisin and fig like characteristics of the ale intermingle with the rich mineral earthy tone and medium roast coffee of the cigar. 

Boy, did I choose the wrong ale and cigar to review!  This is going to take some time for this is one big stick.  I cleaned my 40 RV today, yes I’m in Grindstone City my summer place, and I have a ladder, water hose, buckets, brushes, and who knows what else is lying around.  Hell, I have tomorrow to clean up. 

Mid-Point:  the mouthfeel is dry yet smooth with a soft wool like texture.  The coffee note is a bit fuller moving up to a dark roast, the soil is also a touch fuller, and the spice is clearly a pepper mill mix of black, green and white peppercorns. 

The Pairing: I am enjoying taking a few puffs of the cigar and then a few sips of the Abbey Ale.  The fine fizzy carbonation helps to refresh the palate.  All the flavors, from these two, are still working well with each other. 

As for the interplay between these two (cigar first then ale or ale first then cigar) it just does not matter.  The ale refreshes the palate if I have been puffing on the cigar first.  If I drink the ale first and then a few puffs of the cigar it seems like the dried dark fruits are transferred to the cigar.  I usually have a preference but, not with this pairing.  And, yes with this big cigar you have time to think of these things.  Today being July 7^th and I don’t have to be back to work till the end of August … I think I’ll just think about these types of worldly matters.  I have been without a TV for one week and the only thing I am worried about is if Robin Mead (CNN Headline News – Morning) is still good looking. 

Down the Stretch: I am about an hour and a half into this big boy and I wish now that I brought another Wizard with me.  The earthy notes have taken over with soil and woody tones.  The wood is like a mixture of firm cedar and a touch of oak. 

The Pairing: I am down to the last few sips of the ale and the last couple inches of the cigar.  Yes, if I had another bottle of this ale and one more Wizard cigar I would do it again.  This has been delightful.  The ale is defiantly helping to manage the full strength of this cigar at this point. 

My Strength Rating: 7 

I am enjoyed this pairing and looking at the woods with all its wildlife sounds.  The dog ran a big fat raccoon up a tree, the birds are singing, the hummingbirds are a buzzing by and I don’t won’t this to end. 

Romeo y Julieta Clemenceau: Cigar Review

Back when these came out on the market in Michigan I had three RyJ Clemenceau from the factory in Cuba.  Some of the instructors at work went to Cuba on an ‘educational experience.’  The department head at the time brought me back those cigars.  She bought them right at the factory.  Yes, they got to tour the factory and not one of them smoked cigars.  Here is the crazy thing.  I finally smoked one and I enjoyed it. 

When I went to Trader Tom’s to pick up some cigars, two days laters, there they were sitting on the shelf.  Same packaging, same cigar, it just says, ‘Made in Dominican Republic.’  Of course I bought a box of them then.  Then, I got to do a side by side tasting of the Cuban and the Dominican Romeo y Julieta Clemenceau.  No difference.  Both had that classic cigar tobacco profile. 

Needless to say these were a favorite of mine for a few years.  They are very simple and straight forward.   They are on the mild side and I have always leaned toward the fuller bodied cigars but, this is just a fine smoke now and then. 

Being packaged in the cedar lined tubo this cigar smells wonderful.  Spend a few moments just smelling it before you light it.

Off the Light: light, dry, yet rich earthy tones.  As the cigar continues the earthy tones are still present with a light toasting of grains.  Yes, to me it is just a ‘classic cigar tobacco taste.’

Mid-Point: no surprises here.  This cigar is consistent.  Rich earthy tones, faint cedar, toasted grains, and a touch of nuttiness.  Nuttiness – I like that!  It reminds me of almond with a dusting of walnut.  I’ll give it a 2 on my strength scale.

As the burn passes the halfway point the cedar note builds a little.  While I am enjoying this smoking experience I am wondering why I have not had this stick in a long, long time (years).  I’ll have to buy a box soon. 

This cigar would be nice paired with a Chardonnay, maybe an IPA and it is always good with a cup of coffee (that is what I have right now).

Down the Stretch: this cigar is taking me down memory lane.  I had just bought my summer place in Grindstone, Michigan (2001).  I remember doing that cigar pairing of the Cuban and the Dominican out by the fire pit. I think that had to be in 2002. 

The roasted notes are a tad fuller.  I’ll give it a 3 or 3.5 on my strength scale.  The cedar and earthy tones are a little firmer on the finish. 

Oliva Serie V Double Toro and La Chouffe: Cigar Review

The Cigar

Oliva Serie V Double Toro

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown

Binder: Nicaraguan

Fillers: Nicaraguan Jalapa Vallery ligero tobaccos

Size: 6 x 60

Olivacigar.com

I have to start with this disclaimer: I really like this puro and especially in this size.  It has to be one of my favorites.

Off the Light: the first few puffs reminded me of sweet raisin bread.  As the smoke continued the raisin likeness reminded me of a mix of fancy and golden raisins. The spice starts to creep in and it seems like a delicate ginger taste. 

By the inch mark I am reminded of a bright Guatemalan coffee that I just had yesterday morning.  The texture is smooth and the earthy notes are rich.

Mid-point: a medium oaky note kicks in, earthy coffee builds, dried dark fruits, and a sweet cedar note comes onto the scene.  The texture is smooth in its delivery, semi-creamy in its style and the body weight seems full to medium-full.  Take your time smoking this big boy so you can enjoy this experience. 

Down the Stretch: as the smoking experience moves into the final third it is real similar to the mid-point notes.  If you don’t smoke it too fast the tobacco notes are rich, creamy, and smooth.  I have been smoking this big boy for two hours and I still have an inch to go.  Slow and easy – just how I like it!  Smoking this cigar that is, well what you were thinking is also good ‘slow and easy.’ See smoking a cigar is like sex.  

My Strength Rating: 7.5 – fine complexities, smooth texture, firm body weight, and an overall wonderful smoking experience. 

The Ale

La Chouffe

Artisanal Belgian Golden Ale Brewed with Spice

8% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$12.00 a bottle

Brasserie D’Achouffe

Belgium

Appearance: I’ll tell you it is hard not to pour a two finger head with a Belgian beer.  A beautiful two finger white shaving cream head and this baby has staying power.  A nice fuzzy golden body color.  When I got to the bottom of the glass there was still a thin layer of head and tons of lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: Belgian yeast, touch of coriander spice, fairly pleasing bouquet.

Flavors: the coriander is soft and pleasing, the English Golding and Saaz hops are rich and mild, the pilsner malts are sweet yet well balanced, sweet herbal likeness.

Halfway through the bottle the sweet spices seem like a touch of cinnamon and a hint of clove.  The nose of coriander is maintained but as the glass is moved away there seems to be some other sweet spices on the palate. 

Mouthfeel: the acidity and bitterness is low, sweet grassy linger note, light, smooth and oily texture.  The ale seems to have a flat champagne carbonation feel.  Come to think of it … it has a flat champagne like taste at times.  Since it is not champagne that is okay. 

My Strength Rating: 4/3.5 – I have never had this ale before but, I find it very pleasing and interesting. 

To the Point: I don’t think I can give it an A but, an A- or B+, let’s call it 90%, right on the edge.  This would be perfect for a hot summer day … if summer ever gets here this year. 

The Pairing

This is great to me tonight.  It is not too heavy or overbearing.  The ale seems to have a soothing effect on the cigar.  The soft coriander and sweet herbal notes mix well with the woody notes of oak and sweet cedar from the cigar.  The light sweet malts and yeast of the La Chouffe play fairly with the earthy coffee profile of the cigar.

601 Green Habano Oscuro Trabuco and Allagash Victoria Ale: Pairing

The Ale

Allagash Victoria Ale

Ale Brewed with Grapes

9% abv

1pt 9.4oz

$17.00 a bottle

Allagash Brewing

Portland, Maine, USA

Allagash.com

Chardonnay grapes were used in the mash to make this tasty ale.

Appearance: hazy orange with dusty golden highlights

Aroma: sweet fruit and malts

Flavors: I can’t tell if it’s grapes but, the sweet fruit style comes through front and center.  Soft earthy yeast mixed in with that nectarine and grape taste.  There is a dusty spice on the finish. 

There is a slight bitterness that builds as the ale warms.  So, the hops are in the mix.  On this hot summer day the ale did get too warm and the sweet fruity notes did disappear and I was left with a nice earth yeast taste.  It was still tasty but, warm. 

Mouthfeel: semi-creamy feel due to the low carbonation that leaves just a hint of fizz on the palate.  Moderate body weight.  Somewhat refreshing. 

My Strength Rating: 4

The Cigar

601 Green Habano Oscuro Trabuco

Wrapper: Habano Oscuro from Nicaragua

Binder/filler: Nicaragua

Size: 6.1 x 58

Price: $11.50 in Michigan

Wonderful barnyard nose when you smell the stick.

Off the Light: moderate earthy style coming through.  As the smoke continues the main profile is forest floor like (earthy).  Rich mineral soil, toasted tobacco leafs and throw in a few twigs for good measure.   There is a nice pink peppercorn finish (nothing too strong).

Late in the first third I start to notice a medium roast coffee note.  For this first third I’ll have to give it a 4 on my strength scale. 

The Pairing: The earthy style of the cigar mixes well with the sweet fruity style of the Victoria Ale.  On this warm 90 degree day the ale is getting warm already but, it is still tasty. 

Mid-Point: it seems that the medium roast coffee note is making its mark.  The rich earthy style is still very pleasing to my palate.  I have never had this cigar before and I have to say that I am enjoying the experience.  I could call it a 4.5 on my strength scale.

The Pairing: with the ale on the warm side, during this hot summer day, it had a nice earthy note and it still worked with the cigar.  I just went to fetch the bottle from the fridge and poured the last glass of this tasty ale.  The fruity notes are back and they are tasty with this stick.  The coffee note from the cigar plays well with the fruity notes from the ale.

Down The Stretch: the medium roast coffee is just a tad fuller and there is a nice spiciness that is mixing it up.  The earthy notes are bit more roasted like.  Let me call it a burnt forest floor at this point.  The strength rating is kicking up a bit to a 5.5 on my strength scale. 

The Pairing: The ale is very refreshing at this point with the cigar.  The cigar really brings out the earthy yeast in the ale while the sweet fruity notes are a little subdued. 

Overall, this has been a very enjoyable pairing.  I would recommend it.

Rocky Patel The Edge Torpedo Maduro and Samuel Adams Boston Ale

Rocky Patel The Edge Torpedo Maduro

’for professional smokers only.’

Blend is a secrete

Probably Nicaraguan tobaccos

Size: 6 x 52

Samuel Adams Boston Ale

Brewmaster’s Collection

4.94% abv really .94 not .93 or .95

$8.99 a six pack

Boston Beer Company

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Samueladams.com

See BeerPostings for full review

I just can’t believe I have not reviewed this cigar yet.  I have a dozen or more of these torpedos in the humidor along with the toro and missile sizes.  With over 800 sticks in that box I guess something’s can get overlooked.

The Cigar and Ale Pairing

Off the Light: Rich soil and coffee with a smooth creamy feel.  As the cigar continues the smoke leaves the mouth while gliding over the tongue with a sweet creamy feel.  The mouthfeel is medium.  I’ll rate it a 5 here. 

The delicate hoppy spice of the ale is a good contrast to the cigars smooth soil and coffee profile here at the start.

Moving into the late part of the first third of the cigar the spice profile picks up a bit.  It is a nice peppercorn mix.  The dark roast coffee profile seems to have picked up as well.  It reminds me of a thick and heavy French Roast blend.  I’ll rate the cigar a 5.5 on my strength scale at this point. 

The Boston Ale with its toasted malts and sweet caramel is a good complement to this medium-full bodied cigar.  The cigars smoke has a thick and weighty feel on the palate and this ale refreshes the palate. 

Mid-Point of the Cigar: This is why I really enjoy this stick: the coffee flavor is full bodied; the rich soil earthy tones are pleasing; the spice level is medium at best; and there is that sweet maduro note as an undertone.  The cigar is a good medium-full at the mid-point.  I’ll rate it a 6 on my strength scale.

The Boston Ale is mingling well with this cigar.  The delicate hoppy spice, toasted malts and sweet caramel notes of the ale is a nice treat with the coffee and earthy profile of this cigar. 

Down the Stretch for the Cigar: the spice level is picking up.  A coarse black peppercorn like feel, the coffee like note is full, and the earthy tones are thick. They bill this cigar as ‘full tilt’ and ‘for professionals only’ – this is the section of the cigar they are referring to.  When smoking this cigar by itself it can become pretty strong.  Good thing I have a good malted beverage.  I’ll have to rate it an 8 or 8.5 on my strength scale. 

The Ale is needed at this point.  The smoke is thick on the tongue and the dark roast coffee aftertaste lingers with a touch of spice dancing on the palate.  The sweet malts and caramel notes, of the ale, are a nice necessity at this point in the game.  The ale refreshes the palate for another puff of this bold down the stretch run.  The delicate spice of the ale is hard to notice at this point with the bold spice of the cigar overpowering it. 

Blend Lab CI TO-554 Cigar and Main Street Chardonnay 2009

The Wine

Main Street Chardonnay 2009

Santa Barbara County

Main Street Winery

St. Helena, California, USA

Mainstwinery.com

I have seen prices of $10 to 13

I paid $31 at the Bank Restaurant in Port Austin Michigan

See WinePostings for the food pairing 

Appearance: light golden straw

Aroma: tropical and sweet fruit on the nose reminding me a little of papaya juice and a splash of pineapple.

Flavors: the sweet and tropical nose follows to the taste.  White peach, throw in that splash of pineapple, fuji apple, and there seems to be a touch of oak on the back. 

My Strength Rating: 4 

The Cigar and Pairing

Blend Lab CI TO-554

Wrapper: Honduran Criollo Oscuro Viso

Binder: Dom. Viso

Fillers: Dominican Olor and Ligero, Pennsylvania Broadleaf

Size: 5 x 54

On Cigars International site they recommend a fuller bodied beverage but, I can’t follow rules for some reason.  One, I thought this Chardonnay would be able to be paired with fuller dishes than your usual white fish and shell fish routine.  I visited the Main Street web site and they said this wine should pair well with spicier dish.  Now, I am not the smartest guy in the world but I did put two and two together and I ended up with four!  A cigar with a nice touch of spice and this Chardonnay – let’s give it a try. 

First Half: nice soil earth tones, good spice-box, and nice roasted grains.  The texture is leather like and the body is a solid medium.  I’ll give it a 5.5 on my strength scale. 




Of course the deer did not show up
today when I have my camera

 

The Pairing: this is working well.  The cigar has a mild affect upon the Chardonnay.  The wines body seems a touch fuller and the citrus note seems to be a little more involved.  I don’t think of earthy and white wine but, during this pairing there is a nice wet mineral stone taste when I puff the cigar first and then take a drink of the wine.   

Second Half: the body strength seems to be picking up as the smoking experience moves into the second half.  The complexity seems to be in the earthy tones; with toasted twigs and leafs mixed with soil (forest floor).  The roasted grain like quality seems a touch fuller as well.  The spice does not seem as involved at this point; it’s more on the finish.  I’ll give the cigar a 6 on my strength scale during the second half. 

The Pairing: I think the touch of oak, in the wine, helps to give some balance with the earthy tones of the cigar.  The sweet and tropical fruits are more of an undertones during this pairing but, still recognizable especially when you drink the wine first and then puff on the cigar. 

This was a very nice pairing on this 80 degree day with 70% humidity. 

I definitely maximized my experience with this pairing on this day.    

Gran Habano Cabinet Selection Robusto and Red Stripe Jamaican Lager: Pairing

The Beer

Red Stripe

Jamaican Lager

4.7% abv

11.2 oz bottle

Desnoes & Geddes Limited

Kingston, Jamaica

Redstripebeer.com

Appearance: typical golden lager with a white head.  Plenty of head that leaves some lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: crisp, clean, yeasty white bread

Flavors: delicate sweet malts on the delivery with a grainy profile, minimal hops, light bittering note 

Mouthfeel: light, crisp, clean, plenty of carbonation to refresh the palate, no lingering notes of any kind.

To the Point: a decent yet worthy beer.  Nothing special.  A fine beer to session on a hot summer day.  To me it is a lager that I enjoy for a six pack or two and then get bored with.  Then, it is two years later till I remember I have not had it in a while. 

The Cigar

Gran Habano Cabinet Selection Robusto

Wrapper: Corojo

Fillers: Nicaraguan

Size: 5 x 52  box-pressed

Off the Light: good touch of cedar, sweet spice and toasted rye bread like notes.  As the smoke continues it reminds me of toasted rye bread with caraway seeds.  The cedar becomes a bit of an undertone and a light earthy style develops.  An easy, smooth, medium bodied smoke at this point.

Mid-Point: the rye bread quality has faded and the earthy style is taking hold.  Toasty grains, tobacco, light mineral rich soil notes are in the mix.  The cigar holds a nice firm salt and pepper ash and the burn is even.  Late in this third I notice a bit of sweet spice now and then.  It seemed like a light dusting of cinnamon. 

The lager is refreshing while smoking this cigar.  It is a typical lager and cigar pairing where the beer really does not have an effect on the cigar.  There is not much in flavor, from the beer, to interfere here. 

The mouthfeel is very pleasing with a leathery texture. 

Down the Stretch:  the soil note becomes a little stronger, there is forest floor earthiness, the toasted grains become a bit stronger.  I had to correct the burn a few times during this final third. 

The beer helps to refresh the palate after a few puffs of this cigar.  This is an okay pairing.  This cigar would be better paired with a quality beer and might be interesting to try it with an IPA due to its earthy profile. 

Pinar del Rio Oscuro Short Gordo and Three Philosophers Ale: Pairing

The Ale

Three Philosophers

True Belgian-Style Quadrupel 2009

By: Brewery Ommegang

Copperstown, New York, USA

Belgian Style Blend

98% Ale – 2% Ale with Cherries Added

9.8% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$8.99

Let’s see how this ale has aged. 

Appearance: brown body with a tan foamy head

Aroma: dusty dried dark fruit and a strange little herbal or floral note and a touch of spice.  I am not a fan of this aroma. 

Flavors: dry tart or sour cherry, raisins, earthy yeast, mineral notes, port wine like quality.  This bottle is two years old so I think the candied fruits, which I have seen in other reviews, have settled down.  With age this ale is a bit earthier in style. 

Mouthfeel: dry yet smooth with a bitter twang on the back of the palate, thick, nice body weight, very fine fizzy carbonation giving it a semi-creamy feel. 

My Strength Rating: 7 – nice bitter twang with a solid earthy quality on the two year old bottle.  This 2 year old ale has a good port wine like quality.

The Cigar

Pinar del Rio Oscuro Short Gordo

Liga Cubana No. 2

Wrapper: Brazilian Oscuro

Fillers: Dominican and Nicaraguan

Size: 4.5 x 60

$2.00 a stick

The wrapper has a big vein running through the length of the cigar wrapper.  The maduro leaf has a nice sheen.

(This cigar was reviewed two weeks ago and was paired with a glass of water)

Off the Light: sweet soil here at the start.  As the smoke continues there is a rich coffee with light cream tone and a low percentage dark chocolate say 50% type.  Along the way I notice a pumpernickel bread like quality.

The draw is a bit on the firm side of town.  Come to think of it this is one heavy cigar, as in weight, I mean it weighs more than the Clasico (its brother cigar).  It has to be twice the weight as that cigar.  This just means puff real slow.     

Yes, this is a slow burner.  This cigar does not produce plumes of smoke.  This is a cigar you can keep in your mouth and puff on and the smoke won’t get in your eyes. 

Toward the end of the first half the cigar opened up.  All of a sudden the amount of smoke just increased.  The draw is still a bit firm.  But, I like a slow smokin’ cigar. 

Second Half: the coffee note is a deep dark roast at this point, the dark chocolate note is more bitter like than earlier, and there is a white and black pepper mill grind tang on the aftertaste. 

The notes are more roasted at this point.   Burnt, chard wood, scorched forest floor dominate during the final third of this cigar.   You should be sitting down during this portion of the cigar.  A good beverage is going to be needed and water won’t work.  That is what I have today.    

This cigar is a slow burner.  I don’t remember the first one smoking this way. 

My Strength Rating: 8.5 – full roasted and burnt notes on the final third. 

To the Point: if you are looking for a true full bodied cigar this is it.

The Pairing

I am looking forward to pairing this cigar with this ale.  One, when I reviewed this cigar the other week (the above review) the cigar that I selected had a very firm draw on it.  Two, these two should pair up well. 

I thought the coffee and deep earthy tones of this cigar should pair well with the ales tart and tangy cherry note, raisin like quality and its earthy yeast.  The ale has a good bitter note yet still shows some sweet malt like tones.  And, yes they are working well together. 

This cigar has a perfect draw today.  The notes on the first half are still the same as above.  Good coffee, chocolate like notes and a good Russian bread quality.  I think the earthy style of the ale is transferring some of that quality over to the cigar. 

This pairing so far is a good medium-full bodied experience. 

I am interested in the second half of this cigar because the one last week, with its tough draw, became pretty strong on the second half.  I don’t remember that happening on the one that I had smoked before. 

These two have a really good earthy style during this pairing.  I am well into the second half of this cigar and those burnt strong notes are not present on this cigar.  The flavors, on the cigar, are soil and dark roast coffee.  There is a nice peppery like finish on the palate.  I am having to work the cigar with the lighter for the heavy wrapper is having some burning issues.  You may want to dry box this cigar for a couple of days before smoking. 

This has been a very good medium-full to full bodied pairing.