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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Gurkha Warlord XO: Review

Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Connecticut
Fillers: Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 60 Gordo XO
Freebie on a recent purchase from CI

Professed to be one of the greatest and full bodied Gurkha.  I can’t think of too many full bodied Gurkhas that I have had. 

Off the Light: smooth feel, delicate earth; as the burn continues it seems to be a mild-medium bodied smoke, not much on the flavor front, simple delicate earthy tone of rich soil, there is a big soft spot right where I bite on the cigar

Mid-Point: entering the second-third the cigar is more medium body at best; delicate soil continues with a dose of mild-medium roast coffee the kind made with well water.  This stick has been disappointing so far.  Thank goodness it was free. 


The burn is starting to canoe and the wrapper is starting to pop.  There was a spot on the wrapper were the Warlord band was.  This is where the wrapper is starting to crack. 

The wrapper did not pop.  Just a little crack and the burn went on by without an issue.  Must have been the glue on the band.  


Down the Stretch: I can’t believe I made it this far for this cigar is boring.  The cigar has needed several touch ups with the lighter to correct the uneven burn.  The flavor is a dry earthy coffee and nothing else.  The aftertaste just feels dirty.  I won’t be smoking this down to the nub.  I want to go get a good cigar to finish the day on a positive note.    


To the Point: if you want to be bored to death this cigar is for you.  I wouldn't pay a dollar for this stick.  You don’t want your buddies dipping into your humidor hand them this cigar … they well never ask for another one.   


Saturday, May 25, 2013

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros and Arbor Brewing Michael Faricy’s Stout: Pairing


The Stout

Arbor Brewing Michael Faricy’s Stout
Arbor Brewing Company
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
5% abv
42 IBU
Style: Dry Irish Stout
$9.99 a six pack

Serve this around 50 to 55 degrees
Served right out of the fridge the aromas and flavors will be muted. 

Appearance: a fairly aggressive pour to get almost a one finger tan head that sits atop the black colored body of this Irish Stout.  Some lacing is left behind on the first couple of sips; after that minimal lacing.   

Aroma: roasted grains, mocha coffee, nice touch of smoke

Flavors: smoky roasted grains, grainy coffee from a dive diner, spicy – like it was brewed with rye, so it reminds me of rye bread with a hint of caraway seed, lightly bitter style that makes me think of 85% dark chocolate on the back of the palate,

Mouthfeel: medium body for a stout (it is an Irish Stout), a light / very fine fizzy carbonation feel, I would not call it creamy – the spice style plus the 85% dark chocolate bitterness are just not creamy, nice spicy feel, light bitterness on the mid and finish, slight smoky burnt campfire aftertaste, dry-roasted aftertaste

To the Point: a nice Irish Stout, I found it easy to enjoy


The Cigar

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros
4.5 x 50? Rothchild
I have not found this size on the net
It’s not even on the La Gloria site
I’ll have to go back to Smoky’s and get the size
Two Wrappers: Connecticut Shade on the first inch and a half and the dark wrapper is an Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: a secret
Fillers: 5 year old Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican
Source:  lagloriacubana.com    
$5.50 at Smoky’s of Northville

I smoked one the other day at Smoky’s of Northville and thought it was a good full-medium bodied smoke with some strong roasted notes.  Let’s see how it reviews today.

Off the Light: full dose of dark roasted coffee beans, slightly burnt grains, coming across like campfire wood.  The cigar mellows a bit with the slightly burnt notes after the first half inch.  As the burn approaches the end of the Connecticut wrapper (1-1/2 inch point) the mouthfeel is smooth and almost creamy like.  Nice coffee flavor with a tasty earthy style and on a few puffs I thought I pick up a roasted walnut or black walnut note.  I’ll give it a 6.5 on my strength scale overall for this third. 


The Pairing: a nice exchange with this medium bodied stout.  The stout has that smoky roasted grain note that just says to me, ‘smoke a toasty cigar with me.’  The cigar plays well with the spicy note of the stout. 

The jet black Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper section: as the burn moves into this section the campfire note starts to reappear with the dark roasted coffee.  The campfire note becomes stronger as the burn moves to the final two inches.  Strong campfire and burnt coffee becomes the main profile as I finish the cigar.  I’ll give a 7.5 on my strength scale. 

The Pairing: the spicy notes of the stout seem to be transferring to the cigar for with each puff there seems to be a little spice present during the exchange.  The strong coffee note of the cigar seems to bring out the coffee note in the stout.  This medium body stout also seems to control the bold campfire note of the cigar.  When I smoked this stick the other day at Smoky’s I thought the cigar got a little full to bitter.  I didn’t have a beverage with it then.   

This was the right drink to have with this cigar.  The notes complemented each other and the medium body of the stout managed the bold mouthfeel of the cigar.  

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor Belicoso and Arcturos 2011 Cabernet Franc: Pairing


The Wine

Arcturos 2011 Cabernet Franc

Black Star Farms
Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA
50% Grand Traverse County
50% Leelanau County
Vineyards: Montague Estate, Capella and Isidors Choice Vineyards
$25.00 a bottle
Blackstarfarms.com

Click here to read full review

Flavor Profile: fruit forward; with black currant, pomegranate, and raspberry notes, a hint of mineral soil and light spice on the finish.  The only thing that seems to change after the bottle has been opened for a couple hours is the ‘hint of mineral soil’ is just a tad firmer – just a tad.


The Cigar

La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor Belicoso
Wrapper: Mexico
Fillers: Nicaraguan
Size: 5.5 x 54
$8.50 Smoky’s of Northville

Off the Light and First Half: moderate earthy tones of soil and coffee.  As the burn continues a medium-dark roast coffee hits the palate.  The wood starts to remind me of oak.  Spice shows up on the finish.  The texture is smooth at this point.  The earthy coffee profile during the first half is pleasing to the palate. The light spice adds some interest.  I’ll give it a 5 on my strength scale (medium body). 

Compared to the Toro I think I like the Belicoso better.  The earthy coffee note seems to be the main profile during the first half and the oak seems to be more of an undertone while smoking the Belicoso.  The oak seemed to be more upfront while smoking the Toro. 

The Pairing: this is a nice pairing.  Both are medium in body.  The berry notes of the wine mingle nicely with the earthy tones of the cigar.  The mineral soil note of  the wine really seems to bring out the coffee note of the cigar. 


Second Half: the rich soil note is tasty and the medium roast coffee is delicious.  There is a light dry cocoa powder hitting the palate, now and then, that is enjoyable.  Light oak spice still plays on the finish.  The texture is semi-smooth.  I’ll give it a 5 on my strength scale here on the second half.

The Pairing: I really like this pairing.  The rich soil and coffee notes of the cigar with the hint of dry cocoa powder just mingle so nicely with the dark berries and really brings out that mineral soil tone in the wine.  I thought the La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor Toro was a nice pairing with this wine well … I think this is a bit better. 

You want to maximize your experience … try this pairing.  

I thought I was going to buy a box of the Toro's but, now I am going to have to smoke a couple more of each of these before I buy that box.  


Saturday, May 18, 2013

La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor Magnifico and Arcturos 2011 Cabernet Franc: Pairing


The Wine

Arcturos 2011 Cabernet Franc

Black Star Farms
Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA
50% Grand Traverse County
50% Leelanau County
Vineyards: Montague Estate, Capella and Isidors Choice Vineyards
$25.00 a bottle

This pairing looks like Déjà vu all over again.  Yes, I just did a review on the Arcturos Cabernet Franc but, that was the 2010.  Yes, I just did a review on the La Aroma De Cuba but, that was the Double Toro and this is the Toro size.  Yes, I paired the 2010 Cab Franc with the Double Toro so why not smoke the Toro with the 2011 Cab Franc.   

Appearance: rich ruby body with lighter ruby edges

Aroma: blackberry, black plum, light spice,

Right after opening:

Flavors: fruit forward; with black currant, pomegranate, and raspberry notes, a hint of mineral soil and light spice on the finish.  The only thing that seems to change after the bottle has been opened for a couple hours is the ‘hint of mineral soil’ is just a tad firmer – just a tad. 

Mouthfeel:  a little thin on the front, dark berries swirl on the tongue, slight oaky spice on the finish, moderate acidity, it does not have that watery edge like the 2010.

My Strength Rating: 5/5.5- medium body
                
To the Point: While this seems close to the 2010 – I think I like this one just a tad better.  I have two more bottles left and I’ll check out the next one in a year or two.    


The Cigar

La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor Magnifico

Wrapper: Mexico
Fillers: Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 52 Toro
$7.99 Smoky's of Northville

Off the Light: moderate earthy tones of soil and wood.  As the burn continues a medium-dark roast coffee hits the palate.  The wood starts to remind me of a light oaky note.  There is a light spice that shows up on the finish.  The texture is smooth at this point.  I’ll give it a 4.5 on my strength scale (medium body). 

The Pairing: this is a nice pairing.  Both are medium in body.  The berry notes of the wine mingle nicely with the earthy tones of the cigar.  The oak in the cigar seems to bring out a little oak in the wine.

Mid-Point: as the smoke enters the mid-section a toasted oak; some earthy soil starts to coat the palate with light oak spice.  As the cigar gets to the mid-point the oaky spice gets a little more body and the medium-dark roast coffee is still pleasing.  The texture is semi-smooth.  I’ll give it a 5 on my strength scale here at the mid-point.


The Pairing: I really like this wine during this pairing.  The toasted oak of the cigar has become the main note of the cigar here and is adding a good dimension to the wine.  The oak like spice of the cigar plays well with the light spice of the wine.  The earthy note of the cigar brings out the mineral soil note of the wine.  The dark berries of the wine seem to transfer to the cigar for a tasty experience.  I swear the cigar picks up a little floral note during this pairing at times – during this mid-point.

Down the Stretch: as the burn moves into the final third the body becomes a little fuller moving into the 5.5 range maybe 6.  The toasted notes are still pleasing; with toasted oak, toasted oak spice, and toasted grains.  The toasted oak spice is more on the finish.  The soil is a little darker.  The mouthfeel is still semi-smooth like.  

The Pairing: I really don’t want this cigar to end during this pairing – I have more wine to go!  The flavors are all playing well together for a very pleasing medium bodied experience.  I think a fuller bodied cigar just might be too much for this wine and overpower its delicate flavors. 

To the Point (cigar): this is a very nice cigar.  Worthy to buy and I think I’ll pick up a box soon. 

To the Point (pairing): this was a very nice pairing.  These two were meant for each other.  





  

Saturday, May 11, 2013

La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor Valentino and Black Star Arcturos 2010 Cabernet Franc: Pairing

The Wine


Black Star Arcturos 2010 
Cabernet Franc
Black Star Farms
Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA
Montague Estate and Isidors Choice Vineyards
$25.00
12% abv

I really enjoyed the 2008 so, when I was in Traverse City I had the opportunity to pick up some bottles of the 2010 and 2011 Cab Franc. 

Appearance: crimson with shiny ruby highlights

Aroma: blackberry, black plum, light-moderate wood,

Right after opening:

Flavors: delicate floral on the tip of the tongue followed by light earth, firm blackberry, a pomegranate raspberry note, a hint of floral late on the palate, light-moderate oak 

Mouthfeel: thin in spots, earthy dark berries swirl on the tongue, watery edge on the mid and back, slight oaky spice on the finish, moderate acidity,

My Strength Rating: 5/4.5 - medium body

To the Point: not even close to the 08.  The mouthfeel on the 08 was thick and jammy, how I like my Cab Franc to be.  This is on the thin side. 


The Cigar

La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor Valentino
Wrapper: Mexico
Fillers: Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 60

I have smoked a few of these in the last month.  I enjoyed each one.  They came across as full-medium with a semi-smooth texture and hearty earthy tones.  I have been doing my Worst of the Worst Series so; it is time to have a good cigar.  Let’s do a review.

Off the Light: moderate earthy tones of soil and wood.  As the burn continues a dark roast coffee hits the palate with a light touch of pepper.  I removed a dark gray ash at just over the one inch point.  I’ll give it a 5.5 on my strength scale (medium body). 

Mid-Point: the toasty notes start to build a bit reminding me of toasted oak and fall leafs; some earthy soil starts to coat the palate with some oak spice – this is reminding me of a good red wine.  WINE – I’ll pair this with a wine.  I think it is still in the 5.5 range on my strength scale.

Down the Stretch: as the burn moves into the final third the body becomes a little fuller moving into the 6/6.5 range.  The notes move from toasted to slightly burnt.  Scorched forest floor with burnt fall leafs, roasted oak, and dark soil.  The mouthfeel is still smooth wool like during this pairing.  


The Pairing

This wine needed this cigar.  The cigar has just enough body to add some character to the wine.  This cigar seems to control the slight watery edge of the wine by bringing out the wines earthy tones and transferring a little spice. 

I have to say I was a little disappointed in the mouthfeel of this wine on the first glass and a half – till I lit up this stogie at that point.  I think this wine is also good for this cigar.  When I smoked this cigar at Smoky’s Cigar Shop all I had was a water to pair it with and the smoke seemed dryer and a bit fuller in body.  During this pairing the cigar seems to be in the medium body range maybe on the medium-full.  The texture was rough-wool like the other day at the store and today, with this wine, it is smooth-wool like.   

This wine needs a good medium to medium-full bodied cigar or a good hearty steak and I have a rib-eye waiting to go on the grill.  

Saturday, May 4, 2013

La Flor De Cano Churchill and He’Brew Hop Manna IPA: Pairing


The Ale

He’Brew Hop Manna IPA
Dry Hopped with Centennial, Cascade and Citra
Shmaltz Brewing Company
Saratoga Springs, New York, USA
1pt 6oz bottle
$5.99
65 IBU’s
6.8% abv

Malts: 2-row, wheat, Munich, Vienna, CaraMunich 40
Hops: Warrior, Casade, Citra, Amarillo, Crystal, Centennial

Appearance: hazy amber with light caramel highlights; finger and a half off white head that leaves plenty of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: light nose; citrus spice

Flavors: solid citrus notes with grapefruit salad coming to mind – white grapefruit leading the way with a little pink and red grapefruit in the mix, spicy citrus-pepper and pine, nice hoppy bitterness, dry dust earthy tone, very light on the sweet, malts must be doing their job to keep the bitterness in check for it is not overly bitter. 

Mouthfeel: medium citrus bitterness, moderate carbonation, sticky oily hops, medium body, lingering citrus twang

To the Point: a nice dry hopped ale, if you like citrus/pine this is for you, I would buy this again. 


The Cigar

La Flor De Cano
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Fillers: Honduran, Nicaraguan, Mexico
Size: ? 6.75x50 – I don’t see this size in my postings.
I can’t find any info on this cigar on the net. 
Must be a Churchill
I don’t think they make this cigar any longer.
I purchased this cigar so long ago I don’t remember when.  Looking at my postings it must have been in 2010 (not so long ago). 

I do remember that it has a nice earthy style that pairs well with an IPA and that is way I pulled this one out of the humidor.

From what I am reading on my reviews on the other sizes it was a pretty inconsistent smoke from one size to another.  One would have a nice earthy profile; the next one had an earthy herbal style and the other had a peppery earthy profile.  From what I remember (don’t trust the memory) this stick was or is earthy.  I smoked a couple last summer with an IPA.  Let’s see what it is

Taste Profile: from start to finish this is a medium bodied smoke with an earthy profile.  Toasted forest floor with campfire wood likeness.  Toasted wood, leafs, touch of soil, and smoked mushroom.   


The Pairing

This cigar has always been good with an IPA.  No spice to bring out the bitterness in an already bitter beverage.  The earthy style mingles so well with the citrusy Hop Manna.  

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Gurkha Black Beauty Gran Torpedo: Quick Review



Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Extra-fermented

Binder: Dominican Cibao Valley
Fillers: 5 year old Nicaraguan
Size: 7 x 56

Taste Profile: a good medium bodied stick with toasted grains, medium roast coffee, smooth overall,


This cigar should go well with Heavy Seas Black Cannon.  This Black IPA (India Pale Ale) has some nice toasted flavors, roasted grains, pine in the mix, a little semi-sweet chocolate, and a little wool like on the texture with lingering roasted notes.

This is a nice medium bodied pairing.  The ale seems to bring out a little coffee acidity and bitterness in the cigar – it must be that pine note in the ale.  The toasted notes really complement each other.