Second Round Game 2: March Matching 2015
Man O War Ruination No. 1 vs Villiger Talanga Robusto
(click here to view the 2015 Set-up)
Number 3 seed Man O War Ruination Robusto No. 1; Size: 5.5 x
54; Ecuador ligero wrapper; Cuban-seed Nicaraguan and Honduran long-leaf
ligeros fillers; Flavor Profile: Toasted oak; portabella mushroom, forest floor
earthy tones; roasted grains and nuts.
Number 7 Villiger Robusto; Size:5 x 50; Honduran Connecticut
wrapper; Jalapa Habano binder; three filler blend of Esteli Corojo, Ometepe
Habano, and Candega Habano; I have never smoked this one so I do not have any
flavor notes to go by.
I had to buy a five pack of the Villiger from Cigars
International because I only had that one that I paired up against the Camacho
Triple Maduro. The cigars just showed up
today on the door step and we have a game to play now.
Here is a quick profile of the New Belgium Portage Porter:
(click here to see my full review) This almost black bodied Porter has a nice
cola edge. It has a nice hearty, roasted
profile that reminds me of a medium bodied coffee, 65% dark chocolate and some
nice burnt woody notes.
It is tip off time and Man O War takes control. A nice dash
of peppery spice hits the palate along with a moist rich soil tone. A sip of the Portage Porter and we have a
good combination here. Turn right and
the earthy tone of the cigar mingles with the coffee and dark chocolate like
notes of the Porter for a two point conversion.
Turn left and that nice burnt woody style of the Porter blends with the
oak wood note of the cigar for another two pointer. I just don’t want to put this down. Look at that nice ash.
The Villiger Talanga Robusto says give me the ball and let’s
play. I am not picking up any sharp
cedar note this time. Right off the
light I get a sweet cedar and a toasted almond note. A sip of the Porter and this is a very
pleasing pairing. That sweet cedar,
toasted almond, and buttery wheat bread notes of the cigar seems to mellow out
the flavor profile of the Portage Porter.
Very interesting that this mild-medium bodied cigar has that kind of
impact on this robust style ale. I
thought this Porter would overpower this cigar.
But, the cigars sweet tones are on their game here and plays with the
malty characteristics of this Porter.
The Ruination No. 1 comes back with a solid punch. At the mid-point of this cigar it mellows a
bit and the portabella mushroom like earthy style takes over and intermingles
with the flavors of the Porter for a super pairing. The toasted oak, roasted grains and hint of
walnut all score three pointers with this ales woody tone and coffee
notes. For me this is bliss. And this Man O War Ruination No. 1 is
starting to run away with the game here.
Both cigars have a perfect burn and neither one has a
penalty to this point. Let me take the
bands off these cigars and prepare to smoke them down with this tasty Porter
from New Belgium Brewing.
The Villiger does not want to lose this game here. It is trying to make a comeback with some
solid exchanges with this Porter. The
Man O War steals the ball and converts. Look
at that solid ash. The coffee and
chocolate notes of the Porter seem to transfer to the Man O War at this point
and making it a big stand out here in the final minutes of this game.
The Man O War Ruination No. 1 is a clear winner here and is
ready to take on the Latitude Zero Cigar in the final round of this eight cigar
field in this March Matching 2015 tournament.
The Villiger Talanga has nothing to hang its head about – it played a
great game.
Click here to read the final game between Man O War
Ruination No. 1 and Latitude Zero Robusto.
(when posted)
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