Casa Magna Diadema and Old Speckled Hen Ale

The Ale

Old Speckled Hen Ale
Morland Brewing

England

5.2% abv

$10.99 a six pack

12oz bottles

English Pale Ale

I have not had this ale in a long long time.  This use to be one of my favorite English Ales and when I saw the six pack sitting there in the store I just had to pick one up.  They also make Hen’s Tooth which I like a lot as well and I have not seen that around in years.  I can’t believe that I have never reviewed this ale. 

Appearance: nice copper body with a 2 finger off-white head.

Aroma: lightly toasted malts, citrus meat, a little sharp

Flavors: rich toasted malts, the citrus meat is still playing along in the taste, pecan shell bitterness, mineral water tea like note,

Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, light malts on the delivery and a mild bitterness on the mid and finish, when I think about it – it seems a bit thin on the front, a typical amber ale bitterness that leaves a spicy feel on the palate

To the Point: why was it one of my favorites … I just could not tell you.  It really is nothing all that special.  Just a decent pale ale overall but, it is very easy to drink.  The bitter notes are mild-moderate overall and don’t weigh on the palate.   

I just did a search on my posts and I did do a review back in 2010 and I just never made a link to it.  I’ll make the link (see side margin – under England).  I’ll have to  check my old review for differences myself.

The Cigar

Casa Magna Diadema

I’ll have to tell you that I have not been doing too many cigar reviews this summer so, in the coming month or two, I will not have too many postings. 

Yes, a little bit has to do with the hot weather and a big part has to do with that I put my summer place up for sale and I have been looking for a new place. 

My summer place is in Grindstone Michigan and it is an RV community.  You own your own land and all you can place on the lot is an RV or a Park Model.  Quarry Fields is one of the first if not the first of its kind (in Michigan) when they started it back in the early 80’s. 

I know that Brad, one of the followers of this blog, is an RVer and I think he should be thinking about buying this baby.  Well, maybe he should just visit one day!

Enough of that … let’s get to the review!

Nicaraguan Puro

Wrapper: Ligero Cuban seed Colorado

Fillers: Ligero and Visos Cuban seed

Size: 6 ¾ x 54

The Colorado wrapper gives this cigar a nice reddish brown color. 

Off the Light it has solid soil earthy tones right off the bat.  As the smoke continues a woody note starts to develop that reminds of cedar.  There is a good full body coffee note that sure pleases my palate and I sure love coffee.  There is a nice dusting of white peppercorn to add some spicy interest. 

The Pairing

This is a nice pairing.  The spicy notes of the cigar bring out the spiciness of the English Ale.  The ale is still refreshing enough to please the palate during this pairing.  The toasted malts mingle well with the coffee profile of the cigar.  I think I remember why I liked this “Old Speckled Hen” for it pairs well with a cigar. 

I am enjoying this so much that I am going to pitch a fire and sit by it and enjoy the rest of this experience.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban and Curivari Reserva Limitada Café 60: Review

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban

12 Years Old Matured in Portuguese Port Casks

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% abv
100ml bottle from a sampler pack  

Appearance: deep amber honey

Aroma: it sure is nice but, this is a hard on for me; if I think port while sniffing … I can come up with dark chocolate and pecan … if it came in a chocolate box they would call it a pecan turtle … right … now I pick up a little caramel.

Flavors: I get that pecan turtle on the tip of the tongue and on the mid and finish a nice pink peppercorn and a hint of ginger

Mouthfeel: smooth, nice warmth, the aftertaste has that mint mouthwash feel,

To the Point: I sure like this one and I don’t think I did it justice … I am going to their web site to see what they have to say.

That was easy it is Glenmorangie.com   

On the Aroma they say, “Dark mint chocolate, tangerines and Seville oranges mingle with sandalwood and walnut before giving way to a spicy finish of pepper and nutmeg.”

On the Flavors they say, Mint chocolate and walnuts envelop the palate like velvet, laying the foundations for rose, Turkish delight and sweet Seville oranges.

That was fun.  They have mint in the taste; I picked mint up in the aftertaste.  Now as I sip it I can see how they call it dark mint chocolate but, I like my pink peppercorn and ginger over their nutmeg and pepper. 

To the Point: this is one tasty little scotch.  I would buy this again. 

Time to light up a cigar and finish off the rest of this little bottle of Quinta Ruban Scotch. 

The Cigar is a Curivari Reserva Limitada Café 60.  The length is 5.5” and the ring gauge is 58.  I can’t believe that I have not reviewed this cigar yet.  Out of the Curivari line-up this is one of my favorites.  I think this will be an excellent match with this Scotch.  The flavor notes are mild-medium roast coffee (main profile), a touch of hardwood, and soft soil, it is like you can taste the soil the tobacco was grown in.  The texture is smooth and the aftertaste is pleasing.  I’ll call it mild-medium in body – I’ll give a 4 on my strength scale. 

The interplay is just wonderful.  This is one of the few times for me when a Scotch and a Cigar just matched up perfectly.   And, this all makes sense because I love a fine cigar and a tawny port wine.  The mild-medium roast coffee of the cigar mingles so well with the pecan caramel chocolate on the front and that mint chocolate on the finish of the Scotch.  The pink peppercorn and ginger, of the scotch, brings a nice dimension on the next puff of the cigar.  

Glenmorangie Original 10 Years Old

I bought a four pack sampler of Glenmorangie

Each bottle is 100ml
Contains:
10 Year Old Original
12 Year Old Lasanta Matured in Sherry Casks
12 Year Old Quinta Ruban Matured in Port Casks
12 Year Old Nectar D'or Matured in Sauternes Casks


This Review: Glenmorangie Original
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
43% abv

This is the Glenmorangie you will usually see in restaurants and bars. 

Appearance: straw-yellow

Aroma: alcohol overwhelms, kind of grassy, nothing impressive

Flavors: sweet grains, then the peppery warmth from the alcohol kicks in, little pear, touch of oak,

Mouthfeel: fairly smooth, good warmth, the aftertaste is not much to talk about,

To the Point: to me not that impressed, sure glad I didn’t buy a fifth or a shot at the bar.  I’ll skip this one.  I had half the bottle and I'll pass the other half on to someone else. I am not going to waste a cigar on this one.