Curivari Seleccion Privada Diplomaticos and Swordfish Double Cascadian Dark Ale

The Cigar

Curivari Seleccion Privada Diplomaticos

Curivari.com

Nicaragua Puro

Criollo and Corojo Tobaccos

Size: 6.25 x 54

Personally, some guy must have measured this one … I would bet it is no bigger than 52 on the ring gauge. 

Off the Light: the palate is greeted with roasted grains and a medium roast coffee style.  As the smoke continues there seems to be an Alder wood quality in the mix. Smooth delivery and medium in body.

Mid-Point: The woody quality continues with a mild-medium coffee and roasted grains.  The Curivari web site says it has a sweet finish.  I’ll call it a semi-sweet finish.  Also on the web site it says it has flavors of vanilla and wood.  I am having a hard time picking up the vanilla note.  The smooth texture makes for a pleasing smoking experience. 

Down the Stretch: a pretty consistent smoke throughout.  Medium body, nice toasted notes and a smooth delivery. 

To the Point: I like this stick.  If you like a medium bodied smoke with some good roasted notes this is it. 

The Ale

Swordfish Double Cascadian Dark Ale

Reel Ales

Fish Brewing Company

Olympia, Washington, USA

Reelales.com

7.5% abv

64 IBUs

1pt 6oz bottle

The store I go to gave me this bottle.

Appearance: black body with a two finger tan and creamy looking head that leave some massive lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: nice hoppy presence that reminds me of soft pine; roasted grains in the mix, a touch of semi-sweet chocolate

Flavors: the hoppy notes come through with a tasty mix of pine and citrus rind; the toasted malts are present with roasted grains, bitter chocolate bite, toasted … slightly burnt caramel, I think you can even throw in coffee … medium roast coffee

Mouthfeel: low carbonation, nice bitter style (it does have a 65 IBU), the malts are doing their job for some balance, lingering roasted notes on the aftertaste, a touch of 99% dark chocolate bitterness, not heavy like a stout – closer to a porter in mouthfeel 

To the Point: to me it is a tasty dark ale and perfect on this cold fall day here in Michigan. 

The Pairing

This is one fine pairing.  The roasted grains, medium coffee and nice woody style of the cigar comingles well with the Ales hoppy tones and roasted malts.  The medium body of the cigar keeps the bitterness of the Ale in check.  A stronger or spicier cigar would bring out the bitterness of the Ale and may be too much.  

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.  

Curivari Reserva Limitada 4000 and Frankenmuth Brewery Red Sky: Pairing

The Ale

Frankenmuth Brewery Red Sky

Red Sky Irish Style Ale

Frankenmuth Brewing Co.

Frankenmuth, Michigan, USA

Frankenmuthbrewery.com

5.25% abv

23 IBU

This is the craziest beer I have ever experienced.  It is just too inconsistent.   

I drink it from a bottle and I really like it – it had a nice malt and spice style;

I pour it from the bottle to the glass and it is okay – I don’t notice the spice as much;

I have had this on tap at the brewery and it was a malt bomb that I could not finish. 

Poured into a pint glass:

Appearance: it’s a clear red with an amber tint, the off white head was bubbly and with an aggressive pour I barely got a one finger head.

Aroma: lager like, some sweet malts,

Flavors: lightly toasted grains and malts, light caramel, very light grassy hops, light spice

Mouthfeel: clean, too clean, no aftertaste, watery edge, low to moderate carbonation.

My Strength Rating: 2 – for this review

From the Bottle

The carbonation comes across stronger than from the glass (moderate).  The grassy and spicy hops are a little more noticeable but nothing that stands out.  The malts are still the same.    

The only thing I can think of with this Ale is that it depends on what batch you get for the ones I had last summer (in the bottle) had a better spicy style.  But, I then went next door to the brewery and had it on tap and it was a malt bomb. 

This should be a good Red Ale to pair with most cigars.  The light sweet style should be a nice balance to a cigar. 

The Cigar

Curivari Reserva Limitada 4000
Size: 6.25 x 54 Torpedo

Nicaragua Puro that sports a Colorado wrapper

Curivari.com

This cigar has a nice medium roast coffee, green and white peppercorn spice, toasted grains and a semi-dry mouthfeel. 

The Pairing:

This cigar pairs well with this light bodied Red Ale.  The sweet malty style is needed to go with the cigars spice and dry mouthfeel.  Going to the hoppy side makes for a tight and dry mouthfeel.

I paired this cigar with an ale a few weeks ago that had a dry mouthfeel to it and it was a bad match for this cigar.  The cigar was not all that enjoyable that day.  I wish I remembered what Ale I had that day. 

Curivari Seleccion Privada Maduro and Meantime Coffee Porter: Pairing

The Porter

Meantime Coffee Porter

Meantime Brewing Co.

London, England

Meantimebrewing.com

11.2 oz bottle

6% abv

$4.99 a bottle

Malt beverage fermented with ground coffee and lactose

This is a great looking bottle and that builds my expectation.

Appearance: almost black body with a cola like edge.  One finger tan head that disappeared before my eyes. 

Aroma: coffee mocha nose

Flavors: what else? Coffee.  And, a tasty coffee taste at that.  Roasted nut shell.  A little thin after that.  But, I like the coffee flavor.

Mouthfeel: low carbonation, a thin watery feel,

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – low on the medium side, the thin mouthfeel plays a big role.

To the Point: for 5 bucks a bottle I expect more out of my porter.  Get it around 2 bucks a bottle it’s not bad.  There are better porters out there for less money. 

The Cigar

Curivari Seleccion Privada Maduro?

Curivari.com

The web site doesn’t have any information on this stick.  It looks like a maduro and my tobacconists said it’s a maduro and she had no further info either.

The size is 5.5 x 54

I smoked one the other day and enjoyed it and I think it should pair with this coffee porter.  Let’s see how it reviews.

Off the Light: a little maduro sweet note along with a medium roast coffee note.  As the smoke continues the medium-dark roast coffee note is the main profile and this should match well with this porter that I have selected.  There are some firm toasted grains that remind me of pumpernickel-rye bread.  I’ll have to give it a 5.5/6. 

One thing about these Curivari cigars is that they have a firm ash and they don’t ash all over you.  This one has a firm gray ash. 

The Pairing: the coffee flavors are a mingling here. It seems a little one dimensional here.  Good thing the porter has a nice watery edge to add a little refreshing feel to the palate.  

Second Half: this cigar seems simple in its coffee and roasted grains profile but, there is something that I like about it in its simplicity.  The roasted notes seem to be a little fuller than the first half.  I’ll have to give this stick a 6/6.5 on my strength scale at this point with a couple of inches to go. 

The Pairing: pretty much the same.  It is one dimensional and easy to get bored with.  This cigar needs a better porter to make it interesting. 

My Strength Rating (cigar): 6 – medium-full overall due to the roasted notes. 

To the Point (cigar): a decent smoke.  The roasted coffee note is tasty but, seems too one dimensional during this pairing. 

Curivari Seleccion Privada Royales and St Bernardus Christmas Ale: Pairing

The Beer

St Bernardus Christmas Ale

Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV.

Watou, Belgium

10% abv

75 cl bottle

$12.00 a bottle

Appearance: dark brown body with mahogany highlights shining through around the edges.  Light tan head and it is easy to pour a two finger head. 

Aroma: pouring the ale into the chalice I can smell some spicy notes.  Dark bready yeast tones, raisin, brown spice mix,

Flavors: tasty brown spice box like quality, black bready tones, earthy yeast, dark fruits like raisins, sweet caramel malt undertone, spicy and tingling hops dance on the tongue,

Mouthfeel: fine carbonation gives the tongue a fizzy feel, the spice pinches the cheeks and gums, prickly and dry texture on the palate

My Strength Rating: 6.5 – the dark bready notes, brown spice box, and raisins along with the spice makes for a good medium-full bodied ale. 

    

The Cigar

Curivari Seleccion Privada Royales

Curivari.com

The Seleccion Privada comes in three different sizes:

Robustos 5 x 50

Royales 5 x 54 I am reviewing this size

Diplomaticos: 6 ¼ x 54

The Curivari is a Nicaraguan Puro and is blended with Criollo and Corojo tobaccos.  

Here is the description on the web site:

“Perfectly balanced, with medium body, this cigar has
a creamy smooth flavor profile, woody with a touch
of vanilla, and a sweet finish”

This sounds like it should pair well with this Christmas Ale but, I have to admit that ‘I’ don’t care for the accuracy (in-accuracy) of their descriptions of their cigars. 

Off the Light: nice mild-medium forest floor like quality with some light soil, dry leafs, and wood.  About three minutes into the smoking experience I start to notice a creamy smooth texture.  On the first three minutes of the cigar I thought it was more smooth leather like.  Now, a little sweet tobacco starts to swirl around the palate.  I think I am going to call it vanilla-almond. 

The cigar holds a light gray ash. The pic shows a one inch ash.

I think it is a good time to introduce the Christmas Ale.

The Pairing: an interesting combination.  The ale has the dark fruit, dark bready yeast, and a spicy style and the cigar comes in with a mild-medium body with a slightly sweet vanilla-almond and light forest floor style.  It is like the cigar refreshes the palate after sipping the ale.  No, not ‘like’ it does refresh the palate.  The ale has a prickly spicy texture and the cigar has a smooth creamy style.  I guess this is the ying and the yang of this Christmas pairing.  At first I did not know what to think about this pairing.  It was a little too much ying vs. yang at first.  Then, it started to grow on me. 

Second Half: the light soil seems to becoming a little fuller and the wood is reminding me of a soft alder wood.  The texture is smooth but, not as creamy as before.  The almond nut note is still in the mix but, the vanilla is not as noticeable. 

With only about an inch and a half left on the cigar the flavors are becoming a little more toasted.  Toasted leafs, smoked wood, and roasted almond. 

My Strength Rating (cigar): 4 – medium-mild flavors and body. 

To the Point (cigar): a tasty medium-mild cigar.  I am looking forward to smoking my second cigar that I purchased of this cigar. 

The Pairing: the ying and yang experience is over at this point.  The toasted notes of the cigar are mixing with the raisin and dark bready yeast notes of the ale.  This is a very interesting pairing if you are paying attention. 

Merry Chirstmas from Cigar Postings

Curivari El Gran Rey Emperadores: Review

Curivari.com

This Nicaraguan puro is made with Cuban seed Criollo and Corojo tobaccos.  Here is the skinny according to their web site on the El Gran Rey: this ‘full-bodied cigar is rich and spicy, exquisitely balanced, with a core of sweet spices, caramel, honey and a long, complex finish.’

The El Gran Rey comes in three different sizes:

Emperadores 5 x 50 which I’ll be reviewing

Belicosos 5 3/8 x 52

Prominentes 6 ½ x 50

College Football Bowl Games start today. 

Here are my picks for the games today. 

Temple over Wyoming; Wyoming is going to need more than the 6-1/2 points. 

Ohio over Utah State; Ohio is only getting 2-1/2 points but, I think they show up today to finish the game.

La.-Lafayette over San Diego State; I think the 5 point spread gets Lafayette the win. 

I bought two of these Emperadores and I smoked one of them yesterday.  Let’s see how it reviews today. 

11:52 am

Off the Light: light soil and a hint of floral.  As the smoke continues that hint of floral has a little perfumy taste.  About four minutes into the smoke a touch of spice starts to appear.   As the spice starts to develop some character it reminds me of green peppercorn.  I am looking for the sweet notes that they used to describe this cigar and I don’t notice any yet (20 minutes into the smoke).

The cigar is holding a slightly ruff salt and pepper colored ash.  The picture shows a ¾ inch ash.  I removed the ash at the one inch point. 

The floral note that I noticed, off the light of the cigar, seems to come and go.  I am not getting that perfume note thank god.  During this first half there is a nice rich soil and dry leafs that swirl around that green peppercorn spicy quality.   I’ll have to give this a 5.5 on my strength scale.

Second Half: as the smoke enters the second half the floral note is a little more consistent but, it is not strong.  One might make an argument for a roasted caramel note.  It is so settle that I don’t think it is much of a factor.  There is a toasted rye bread quality along with that soil, dry tobacco leaf, and that peppery style is reminding me of a dusty white pepper at this point.  The strength rating is still in the medium range.  I’ll give it a 5 on my strength scale. 

My Strength Rating: 5 overall.  Medium bodied at best. 

To the Point: an okay smoking experience.  I liked the second half better for I did not get that perfumy note as I did during the first inch or so.