Final Game – March Matching 2015
(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 4 seed Latitude Zero Robusto: Size 5 x 52; 2011
Habano Ecuador Wrapper; 2010 Nicaraguan fillers; flavor profile: toasted
grains, oak up front, single twist of the black pepper mill, good touch of
earth. Medium-full body
These two cigars really mirror one another. I did not notice this until I put them side
by side here for this match up.
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.
Here is how the brackets started off
In the North Northeast but slightly South of the boarder Bracket
we had:
Number 1 seed Camacho Maduro (old label) Robusto
Number 8 Morro Castle Robusto
Number 4 seed Latitude Zero Robusto
Number 5 Signature Collection Toro
In the West Southwest but almost next to nowhere Bracket
there was:
Number 2 seed Camacho Triple Maduro (old label) Robusto
Number 7 Villiger Robusto
Number 3 seed Man O War Ruination
Number 6 Latitude Zero Experimental Robusto
Now we are left with only two cigars still standing and a
glass or New Belgium Portage Porter waiting to wash over my lips.
It is tip off time and Man O War Ruination No. 1 Robusto
gets the nod. Off the light there is a
solid fresh earth; reminding me of some spring time soil. I am not picking up the usual peppery spice
off the light – interesting? A sip of
the Porter and it looks like dinner time; time to feed the big boys. The fresh soil note of the cigar plays right
into the hands of the dark chocolate and medium body roasted coffee notes of
the Porter. A few more puffs of the cigar
and the oaky woody tones show up to play with the slightly burnt wood character
of the Porter. A hint of pepper, from
the cigar, peaks in to see what is happening.
This is one great pairing and the Number 6 seed Latitude Zero is going
to have to have the game of its life to battle here folks.
Let’s light up the Zero.
A slightly firm draw pre-light.
No big problem during the light.
A nice spicy note mixes in with some toasted grains during the first few
puffs. Just like the Man O War – LZ sends
in the oaky note off the bench to come and play. A very pleasing exchange between the cigar
and the Porter. This is a nice pairing
but there seems to be something missing compared to the Man O War Cigar. Let’s go back the Man O War.
Smooth easy draw. The
Portabella Mushroom and forest floor earthy tones kick in to add some good
depth to this cigar. Sip of the Porter
and boy is this one fine operation here.
The earthiness of the cigar transfers over to the Porter and
intermingles with the notes from the Porter.
Latitude Zero is back to play and the oak, toasted grains,
and the hint of dry soil while tasty just seems to be a bit shy compared to the
Man O War notes. A few sips of the
Porter with the LZ and this cigar shows it does have some game while paired
with this tasty Porter. A hint of black
pepper appears now and then and adds a little character to the pairing. This is one nice pairing: this Porter likes
this Cigar from Latitude Zero.
Man O War reaches in and grabs the ball for a steal. The rich moist soil tones and solid oak of
the cigar just fits perfectly with the Porters robust style. The medium roast coffee and dark chocolate
like notes of the Porter likes to play with the cigars flavor profile and seems
to add a little coffee note over to the cigar as well. From the one quarter point of the cigars burn
to the halfway point the cigar mellows for a pleasing experience but at the halfway
point the cigar builds for a robust profile.
This is no run away game here but, the depth off the bench
for the Man O War shows that it is for my liking here with this Portage Porter
from New Belgium Brewery.
The toasted grains and oak profile of the Latitude Zero sure
had some game here with this Porter but the single earthy style of dry soil and
a hint of pepper now and then was not enough when up against the complex forest
floor earthy style of the Man O War Cigar.
The toasted grains, hint of walnut, and solid oak of the Man O War just
kept pace with the overall notes of the LZ but, those bench players of the Man
O War would come in and take control.
The Man O War Ruination No. 1 Robusto, the number 3 seed of
the 2015 tourney, is the clear winner of this year’s March Matching.
