The Cigar
La Herencia Cubana Toro
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Fillers: Jalapa, Condega, and Esteli regions of Nicaragua
Size: 6.5 x 52
I bought a box of these cigars so long ago I don’t recall
when I bought them. I have never
reviewed this stick either. I have
started several times and each time something else came up and I never
completed a review.
Today, I have time and nobody to interfere (wife) with this
research project of mine. It is a
Wednesday afternoon (snow day – Feb. 27) and not even a sporting event can take
my attention away from this review. So,
let’s get busy.
Off the Light: mild-medium toasted grains right off the
light. The toasted grains continue as
the main profile and I am thinking Beer.
This cigar would go nice with a porter, stout or ale with some hearty
toasted grains. A nice woody note
appears – I’m not picking up cedar or oak at this point – it just reminds me of
a hardwood.
As I am sitting here trying think of tasting notes what this
cigar smoking experience is reminding me of is ‘forest floor.’ Semi-composting leafs, dry fall leafs,
fertile soil, and twigs. This makes
since with my first impressions of toasted grains (dry fall leafs) and a
nondescript hardwood (twigs, composting leafs and soil). That works for me.
I just read on Cigars International site that it has a bold
peppery style. So far today and on my
past to review this cigar (I did write a few notes down) I have not experienced
any pepper or even bold pepper. Let’s
see as the smoking experience continues.
The pairing with the poperings hommel ale is very
pleasing. The medium body of the cigar
works well with the medium-full of the ale.
The hint of lemon twist and spice in the ale is a nice contrast to the
earthy style of the cigar.
Mid-Point: this cigar holds a very solid gray ash. I am enjoying smoking this cigar and it is
making me think why I don’t smoke this stick more frequently … probably because
I have too many choices in my humidor and it just gets overlooked. The mild-medium earthy forest floor notes are
hitting the spot today. The mouthfeel is
smooth.
As for the beverage pairing the earthy style of the cigar
seems to bring out that little touch of lemon and floral notes. To me this is a really nice pairing. Medium in body; tasty flavors; does not
become jammy or puckering on the palate.
At the true halfway point a little cedar spice shows up to
the dance. With each puff the cedar
spice seems to become the major profile over the earthy tones during the first
half.
The cedar spice is bringing out the pink peppercorn note of
the ale.
Damn, this is my last bottle of poperings hommel and the
glass is running dry. Oh, that last sip
was so tasty.
Down the Stretch: as the cigar enters the final third the
toasted grains description seems to fit here with a moderate cedar spice and
rich soil. The smoking experience
becomes more medium to medium-full here on the finish. The toasted notes become a bit burnt and the
smooth earthy style becomes fuller in body.
To the Point: I really enjoyed this cigar. I’ll have to smoke this a little more often
for I have plenty in the humidor.
The Ale
poperings hommel ale
Brewed & Bottled by:
NV Van Eecke
Watou, Belgium
7.5% abv
11.2oz bottle
$16.99 a four pack
Aroma: light floral hops, a twist of lemon rind, hint of
fresh apple and pear, hint of sweet malts and Belgium yeast. Nice aromatic hops – sorry hopheads not
bitter hops.
Flavors: let this ale warm a little after taking it out of
the fridge for the flavor pop once it hits the 50 degree mark; floral, a
rosy-floral note, hint of lemon meat – just a hint, a little fruity – white
fruit like, a pinch of coriander, a dash (one dash) of pink peppercorn, low
sodium saltine cracker, sweet malts – sweet dough like
Mouthfeel: good Belgian carbonation, there is an oily feel
from the hops, the nice fizzy and oily feel gives it a semi-creamy feel,
lingering floral and that twist of lemon rind on the aftertaste
To the Point: this ale is soooo easy to drink and at 7.5%
watch out for it will catch up to you.
This is one of my favorite Belgians – right up there with Piraat – I am
not saying that it is like Piraat – I am saying it is one of my favorites like
Piraat.
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