Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2004 and Leinenkugel’s Big Eddy: Pairing

The Stout

Leinenkugel’s Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout 2011

“Dark and complex with 11 malts and grains balanced by three different and distinct hops.”

Jacob Leinenkugle Brewing Co.

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

9.5% abv

Appearance: black as night body with a fine one finger dark tan head. Thick lacing left on the glass and it look syrupy running down the glass with each sip.   

Aroma: dark roasted grains and a little anise, the overall bouquet is soft though. 

Flavors: dark roasted grains, salty, espresso like taste, bitter dark chocolate (95% dark chocolate), roasted molasses, 

Mouthfeel: the bitter notes dominate, little syrupy and creamy feel, low carbonation,

My Strength Rating: 8 – a good full bodied Russian Stout

The Cigar

Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2004

Habana, Cuba

Size: 6.5 x 54 is my guess

The wrapper has some big veins and the end cap looks rough. The cigar has an oval shape as well (which could happen

A friend sent this stick to me. I think he said he got it from someone who brought it back from an international trip. 

Now, I am no Cigar expert on Cuban cigars but, there are plenty of fakes out there.  The cap on the butt of this cigar is too jagged and the veins too big for starters. 

Then, look at the label.  Someone once told me the number of dots is a dead giveaway.  From the orange/yellow band and up there should be four dots and this one has five.  Let me get my book out on Havana Cigars.  Now, this book is dated 1997 so, this is based on old information.  But, here is a picture from the book.

The four dot band was discontinued
in 2003

Let’s search the web for more info.  Here is a good web site on Cuban Bands.  The web site says that the four dot band was discontinued in 2003.  The five dot band started in 2003 and the label is embossed.  Now, my question is, ‘is the name embossed’ or ‘the name and the other gold trim around the name embossed?’  On the cigar that I have the name looks like it is/was embossed and the gold trim box around the name is flat. 

Another way to tell is to smoke it.  A lot of the fakes will taste like dry hay or grassy and some can be very good.  The ash of the fakes will sometimes be flaky and hold a weak ash.  Let’s see how this one performs. 

Off the Light: soil and a light woody taste. As the smoke continues there is a good medium roast coffee note, along with the rich soil and a hint of dry cocoa powder.

The ash is very tight and there is nothing better than a tight ash.  The cigar also holds a very strong ash.  It took two firm taps to knock a one inch ash off this stick.  The burn is very even.   It smokes like a real one. 

Let me pair this cigar with a Russian Imperial Stout from Leinenkugel’s called, Big Eddy.  I had one of these last week and it was tasty. 

The Pairing: the dark-bold coffee and 95% dark chocolate like qualities of the Stout complement the medium roast coffee, rich soil and the dry cocoa powder notes of the cigar.  This is a full bodied pairing. 

Second Half: I would have broken this down in thirds on a big cigar like this but; I have been enjoying the beverage pairing with this cigar that I forgot what I was even doing here!!! 

Anyways, there is only three inches left on this tasty cigar.  The coffee note seems to have taken a step up from the medium to a medium-full roast; the rich soil quality is still present; and the dry cocoa powder seems to be more of a dark chocolate like note. 

The first half seemed to be a medium bodied smoke that was leaning toward a medium-full. This second half is starting to build some strength.     

The Pairing: the salty note from the stout seems to be more on the aftertaste while smoking this cigar.  Both products are showing their dark roasted coffee notes and some firm dark chocolate tones.  If you are looking for a full bodied experience – well, this is it.