Gurkha Beauty Cigar and Blue Water Cab Sauvignon and Franc '09

The Wine

Blue Water Winery Cab Sauvignon and Franc

2009 Vintage

Blue Water Winery

Carsonville, Michigan, USA

North of Lexington and South of Port Sanilac

13.5% abv

$16.00 I think, damn I forgot to get the price list from them.

Bluewaterwinery.com

Appearance: Bright and shiny ruby color with a little watery edge on the rim.  Lighter in color than I would expect but, this is a fairly new winery they have been around since 2004. 

Aroma: fruity, cherry and raspberry like with a dusting of spice.

Flavors: very pleasing, sweet cherry, black raspberry, just a dash of pink peppercorn,

Mouthfeel: smooth, fresh, pleasing to the palate, clean aftertaste, tannins seem low, and the acidic level seems low.  I would guess this one is not for aging. 

My Strength Rating: 4 – a mild-medium Cab Blend.

To the Point: Okay, it is not going to make it with the big boys, yet.  But, it is very enjoyable to drink.  They have only been making wine for six or seven years now and I am looking forward to following their wines in the future. 

I enjoyed it with a homemade pizza.

I think this will pair well with a good mild-medium bodied cigar and I have one in mind and I just reviewed it yesterday.  So, let me grab a new one out of the humidor and let’s do a wine and cigar pairing.

The Cigar

Gurkha Beauty

Wrapper: Connecticut-seed – Ecuadorian

Binder: Dominican

Fillers: Nicaraguan

5 year old tobaccos

Size: 6.5 x 56 according to CI

Sure looks bigger.  I just plucked a 60 ring gauge stick out of the humidor and it is the same size of this baby. 

Gurkhacigars.com

I got a 10 pack for $50.00 from Cigars International.

This stick can be $20 or more.

This blonde beauty has one flaw – it has a heavy leaf vein right on the butt side.

Off the Light: nice smooth woodsy note right off the bat.  The texture is smooth and almost creamy off the light.  As the smoke continues I am going to pigeon hole the wood note to a mild oaky flavor.  Late in the first third I am reminded of a meaty walnut taste.  My Strength Rating 2/2.5

The Pairing: This cigar really adds some body to the wine.  The cherry and raspberry notes feel a little fuller on the tongue. This is much better than I thought it would be. 

Mid-Point: This is a pretty straight forward mild cigar with that oaky and walnut like taste.  It is very enjoyable to smoke.  And, it has an elegant style to the smoking experience.  My Strength Rating at the mid-point: 2.5 – an elegant mild-medium smoke.  

The Pairing: The oak and walnut like notes of the cigar complement the fresh berry notes of the wine.  The hint of sweetness, from the wine, comes through during this pairing yet, the wines dry style is still pleasing.     

Down the Stretch: the solid woody note continues with a dusty earth style as I smoke this ‘beauty’ down to the nub.  That vein on the butt side did not become a factor.  The texture continued to be smooth with a pleasing aftertaste.  My Strength Rating on the finish: 3

The Pairing: I think the cigar helps to bring out the wines acidic nature – in a good way.  Remember, I said that the wines acidic level seemed low when I reviewed the wine by itself.  The mouthfeel from these two is definitely on the mild-medium side.  The aftertaste is relatively clean and that means this would be a very good before dinner experience.  I have to admit that I really like this pairing.

My Strength Rating for the Cigar: 2.5 – a great mild-medium smoking experience.

To the Point: for the right price this cigar is a must buy.  I am a full to medium-full bodied fan but, as always I enjoy all ranges.

Pair this cigar with a mild-medium Pinot Noir, a mild Beaujolais Nouveau, or this should pair well with some good whites.  With the third week of November heading our way keep an eye out for that Beaujolais and make a night of it. 

Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon,

35% Cabernet Franc

La Aurora 107 Toro: Review



How will this stick measure up



Serie 107 Aniverario

This medium-full bodied cigar was crafted in honor of their 107 Anniversary.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun-grown

Fillers: Nicaragua and Dominican Republic

Size: 5.5 x 54

Here on this College Football morning I am going to smoke this La Aurora cigar with a good cup of coffee from Higher Grounds Trading Company in Traverse City Michigan.

Off the Light: nice sweet tobacco and light dusty earth.  As the smoke continues it settles to a good earthy tone of moss, mushroom, and light soil.  There is a slight sweet tobacco finish that hits the back of the palate. The body weight is medium at best here at the start. 

To me there is nothing like a great cup of coffee and a fine cigar.  The profiles of these two (in general) products really match up well. 

Mid-Point: the earthy tones seem to be the main profile.  As the burn enters the mid-point a light cedary quality starts to swirl around the palate.  The cedar adds a little ping or twang to the mouthfeel.  Overall, the texture comes across as smooth and medium body. A pleasing medium body smoke for this morning. 

People ask me, ‘What do like best with your cigar, a glass of wine or a beer?’  I have to say, a cup of coffee then, a bottle (Glass?) of wine and then the beer.  A cup of coffee and a cigar does not take a lot of planning to match up.  Think of the tasting notes for each: earthy tones, coffee, maybe some chocolate notes, sometimes nutty or spice might be on the scene.  Don’t forget about the acidic nature.  Also, the mouthfeel and texture seem to be comparable as well. 

Down the Stretch: the feel of the cigar and the cup of coffee seem to be leaving a dusty earthy coating on the tongue.  The flavor of the cigar still carries that earthy style with a touch of woodiness and a medium roast coffee tone at this point in the ball game.  Thinking of ball game – football starts in a half an hour. 

My Strength Rating: 5 – a solid medium bodied smoke overall.  This cigar is billed as medium-full but, I don’t find that to be true to my palate. 

To the Point: a worthy smoke, nothing special, nothing that complex, just a nice cigar to have in the morning or before a meal.  I think I am going to pair this cigar with a Nut Brown Ale or a Gamay or Baco Noir Wine. 

Pinar del Rio Oscuro Short Gordo: Review

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.

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. 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.  Along the way I notice a nice pumpernickel bread like quality.    

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. 

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. 

Since I have done this review I have smoked another one and the draw was really good and so was the burn. 

Gurkha Black Dragon Fury: Almost a Review

I am not a Gurkha fan, they do have a few that I like, but I am looking forward to this little fat boy. 

Off the Light: nice medium robust start, composted soil earthy tone.  ¼ inch into the cigar and there is a bad burning plastic smell and it is affecting the taste as well.  Right when I said, boy is this going to be a very fine cigar to have with my coffee – this plastic aroma and taste showed up. 

The worst of it is over – it lasted several puffs – I hope this is not part of the profile of this cigar.  Hopefully, it was a mistake.  The taste is settling down but, I am going to scrub this review right here for I think it may affect the rest of this stick.    

I’ll kick back and do some reading on today’s NFL football match-ups.

Look for a fresh review of this stick coming soon. 

Pinar del Rio Habano Sun Grown and Arcturos 2008 Cabernet Franc: Review

The Cigar

Pinar del Rio Habano Sun Grown

Liga Cubana No. 5

Wrapper: Dominican Republic Habano Sun Grown

Binder: Criollo ’98 from Dom.

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Dom. Rep.

Size: 4.5 x 60

Beverage: Water – when I first tried to review this cigar

Off the Light: Nice earthy tone on the first two puffs and then Wham SPICE!  A blast of peppery spice just dominates the palate for the next ½ an inch. 

As the smoke continues the peppery spice is still full and the earthy tones are heavy.  I am going to give it an 8 on my strength rating scale here on the first half. 

Late in the first half the peppery spice starts to calm down and the roasted earthy tones are a little more in control of the show. 

Second Half: well, that crack in the butt (on the cigar!) became a big problem.  As you can see by the picture it exploded.  Hell, I’ll smoke it.  I’ll smoke another one later and add any updates. 

The earthy tones are full and abundant.  Woody, rich soil … okay I give up this is just fallen apart too much. 

A few weeks later >

Okay, I am ready to go again with this cigar.  I have a fresh one with no cracks.

I am drinking a Cabernet Franc Wine from Black Star Farms with this cigar to re-due this review.

This time I did not get that big blast of spice off the light.  Maybe drinking this wine played a role.  I’ll bet it did for the earthy tones and the peppery spice of the cigar seem a little more under control during the first half of the smoke. 

The cigar has a nice medium-full roasted earthy coffee tone during this wine pairing.  The strength rating seems closer to a 7 this time around.  I don’t know if this inconsistency is from the beverage pairing or the cigar itself (I have not smoked enough of brand to know that) or is it just me and my palate.  Whatever it is I do like this pairing. 

The Second Half of the Cigar:

I am at the point where I had abandoned the first cigar that I smoked.  There is a good medium-full earthy tone (rich forest floor like) here and I am starting to notice that woody note just like last time.  It seems like a cedary spice taste. 

The Pairing: These two are meant for each other.  The cigar makes the body of the wine seem a touch fuller and that is a good thing.  The blackberry profile of the wine is just as tasty as can be.  The mineral soil note of the wine comingles with the rich forest floor tones of the cigar.  The spicy tendencies of each match up well for a pleasing taste on the palate.  

I do recommend a glass of water with this pairing for the mouthfeel is jammy during this session.  The flavors just coat the palate and a good refresher is needed. 

My Strength Rating: 7 – on the second cigar reviewed while drinking the glass of wine.

The Wine

Arcturos 2008 Cabernet Franc

Black Star Farms

Old Mission Peninsula

Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA

Blackstarfarms.com

12% abv

$29.50 a bottle

Visit WinePostings for the full review

Aroma: blackberry, soil earthiness, little smoky.  Overall, a nice little nose. 

Flavors: tasty blackberry, spice, mineral soil, smoky with a hint of oak on the finish (toasted oak). 

Mouthfeel: thick, close to the jammy side, tannins and acidity while present were under control, lingering dark berries that just coat the old teeth and gums. 

La Estrella Cubana and CEV Gamay Noir 2008: Pairing

The Wine

CEV Gamay Noir 2008

Colio Estate Vineyards

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Lake Erie North Shore

Coliowinery.com

12.1% abv

$14.00 a bottle Canadian

100% Gamay Noir

This Gamay has a good cedar spice along with a hint of cherry and currant berries on the nose.  There is a nice earthy tone mixed in there as well.  The flavors combine for a tasty Ontario wine.  The cedar flavors follow and remind me of a cedar cigar box smell.  There is a firm dark berry presence mingled with a green peppercorn spice and rich soil.  

While the wine starts off a little slow it does become a little fuller when it opens up.  The dark berries, earth, and spice seem to linger for a long while on the palate. 

Read WinePostings for the full review. 

The Cigar and Pairing

La Estrella Cubana

Wrapper: Costa Rica Maduro

Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan

Size: 5 x 50

My Strength Rating: 6.5

Off the Light: an earthy dark roasted coffee profile here at the start.

The Pairing: this cigar really seems to bring out the earthy style of this Gamay Noir.  The cedar note seems hard to detect within the wine.  The spice is still there but not as strong. 

As the cigar continues during the first half the earthy style of rich soil seems to be the main profile mixing it up with a strong but smooth dark roasted coffee and toasted grains. 

Mid-Point: the coffee note becomes slightly bitter; the earthy style is still at work, and the aftertaste has a slight burnt feel. 

The Pairing: the slightly heavier feel of the cigar makes the mouthfeel of the wine a little thicker and jammy like.  The dark berry notes pick up now and then but, the earthy style is still dominant.  The wine seems to manage the burnt grainy aftertaste of the cigar.

Down the Stretch: the slight bitter note has faded making the dark roasted coffee note a little smoother.  Along with the soil earthy tone there is a firm cedar note appearing here at the top of the stretch.  The burnt grainy aftertaste at the mid-point has been replaced with a touch of spice on the finish. 

The Pairing: This Gamay Noir has held up well with this cigar.  This is a good medium-full pairing that I have found enjoyable. 

AVO Heritage Robusto: Review

AVO Heritage Series

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun-grown

Filler: Dominican

Size: 4.9 x 50

$8.50 a stick here in Michigan

Purchased at Trader Tom’s now Smoky’s of Northville

I am enjoying this cigar with a chalice of Piraat Ale.

Pre-light: light barnyard and the wrapper is a bit peppery on the

Off the Light: firm soil earthy tone mixed with pinch of spice. That spice is clearly reminds me of black pepper (coarse grind) as the smoke continues past the initial light. I think this cigar should go well with a great steak because of that black pepper and there is a little salt here in the mix as well.   

The Piraat ale defiantly helps to balance this full bodied smoke.

Around that .9 point of the cigar the black pepper and salt start to settle down.  I don’t notice the salt at all.  The dark rich soil starts to build and mixes with a fine grind black pepper like character.  The texture during this first third is wool like. Let me call it an 8/8.5 on my strength scale because of the peppery style.  

Mid-Point: the dark rich soil continues with a good dash of fine grind black pepper, a bit of wood, toasted marble bread (rye and pumpernickel) and the texture starts to smooth out from the opening wool like quality.  Let me call it leathery on the mouthfeel.  I am going with a 7/7.5 for the mid-section.

Down the Stretch: roasted forest floor notes of rich soil, wood, and leafs; musty white pepper takes over from the dash of black pepper.  While the delivery is semi-smooth the body is full.  Lingering earthy tones cover the palate.   This was one fine smoking experience right down to the nub. 

Gurkha Empire Series I: Review

Wrapper: Honduran Habano

Fillers: ligeros fillers from Nicaragua and Peru

Size: 5.5 x 52

Sweet, earthy, touch of pepper

Back on March 22 of 2010 I did a fun review of the Gurkha Empire Series in my March Matching format.  I paired each of the cigars in this line-up with an Ale (Petrus Gouden) and the idea was to see which cigar paired up the best with this Ale.  See March Matching Post.

Since then, a year later, I still had some of these cigars left from that writing and I started to write a full review on each. 

(click on the name below to see posting)

Gurkha Empire II

Gurkha Empire III

Gurkha Empire IV

Gurkha Empire V

Gurkha Empire VI

So, I am finally finishing this line-up. 

Off the Light: How funny is this – it is plugged up.  The draw is as tight as can be.  The same reason it got kicked out of the final round of the March Matching Contest. In the first round I had a plugged one and I had to get a second one to smoke.  (Obviously a construction problem with that batch) The draw has opened up a bit, it is still firm, but not as the first ¼ inch.  This is draw where you have to puff so much to get any smoke that you miss the actual flavor experience and you get a head ache. 

Pass that ¼ inch mark I start to notice a mild-medium earthy style and a touch of sweet tobacco.  I am trying to remind myself to puff at a slower rate to work with this very firm draw. The best I can tell the smoke is a 4 on my strength scale. 

Well, I am going to break this down into halves instead of thirds.  There is not much going on here except the draw.  And, because of the draw this is burning really slow.  I hope I don’t fall asleep before the halfway point.

Second Half: finally got there.  A pretty simple cigar.  A nice earthy style.  I could even call it earthy coffee style.  Other than that nothing else.  The draw is still a little firm not as bad as the first half. 

My Strength Rating: 4

To the Point: I know I will never buy another one.  3 out of 4 cigars plugged.  Do I need to say more.