Signature Collection Cigar and Bordeaux Barrel Aged Scotch Silly Ale

The Ale

Bordeaux Barrel Aged Scotch Silly Ale

Brasserie De Silly

Silly, Belgium

Globalbeer.com

Scotch Silly Ale aged in Bordeaux Barrel.

9% abv

750ml bottle

$13.00 from Ashley’s of Westland, Michigan

I could not find any information on the Global Beer website.

I was pretty excited about the Port Barrel Ale and I have to admit that I was a little disappointed.  I don’t know what to expect now with this one.  If you ever visit my wine blog you know I love my wines so, once again my expectation is high but, I am ready for the letdown.  So, I am skeptical going into this now.   

Appearance: murky brown body with a one finger tan head that leaves no lacing on the glass; the barrel aging added some darkness to the body

Aroma: some black fruit like black currant, mulberry, black raspberry; firm malty note; not as sweet as the Port Aged Scotch Silly.

Flavors: one sip, two sip; not bad; third sip – I am liking this one; oh yes, the Bordeaux Barrel aging is coming thru; the black fruit of the Bordeaux is blending well with the Ale; the nose and the flavor are working together like a fine wine should; black currant and black plum mingle so well with the ales toasted caramel malts; hint of toffee; light coffee; slight hint of oak

Mouthfeel: dry feel like a fine Bordeaux; low carbonation; medium-full body; very nice ale notes mix so well with the wine barrel notes; moderate bitterness really controls the sweetness of the Scotch Silly Ale. 

To the Point: I really like how the Bordeaux Barrel Aging stood out and added a lot of character to this ale.  The nose was very pleasing and match the flavors.  If you like good red wines and you like a good ale this should do the trick.  I will plan to buy more of this ale.

The Cigar

Signature Collection Vintage 2004 Sun Grown

Wrapper: 8 year old Ecuadorian Sun Grown

Fillers: Nicaraguan  

Robusto 5.7 x 50

Yes, it looks like a Toro

Flavor Profile of the Cigar: this cigar has a very nice woody style; firm cedar spice, oak and alder wood come to mind; a nice dose of musty white pepper mixes in with some dry fall leafs and a mild nutty note that can remind you of almonds;

The Pairing: these two pair well with one another; the woody profile of the cigar mingles with the ales barrel aging; the black currant and black plum, of the ale, seem to standout during this pairing; the toasted caramel malts from the ale fit in just perfectly with the toasted fall leafs of the cigar; the oak barrel note of the ale was just a hint and I really had to be thinking about it when I had the ale by itself but, here with the cigar the oak note of the ale is getting a little more attention – so the cigar helps to bring out the oak wood in the ale;

With cigar and beer pairings sometimes if you drink the ale first and then puff the cigar has a different effect than when you puff the cigar and then the ale.  Sometimes there is a big difference and other times it just does not matter.  Well, here there is a slight difference if you take the time to notice.  When I drink the ale first and then puff the cigar - the black fruit note seems to have a black cherry note during this experience.  When I puff the cigar first and then sip the ale the focus is on the woody profile. 

The longer I sit here and enjoy this experience the more I LOVE it.  It brings three of my favorites together: Cigars, Wine and Ale.  

Time to Call it Quits

It has been a fun four years of doing reviews on cigars and pairing some great beverages along the way.  Come to think of it there were some bad tasting cigars and beverages along the way as well. 

It takes a lot of effort to prepare for each pairing.  I have to be mentally ready to think about the variety flavors and mouthfeels that I am experiencing.  Some I did on the fly and most I had to experience the cigar and write some notes and then drink the beverage and write some notes and then pair the two together and write more notes. 

I have always enjoyed smoking a variety of cigars.  I have smoked cigars now for 30 years and I will still continue to smoke ‘a variety’ of cigars.  Yes, I have the cigars I like but, damn variety is the spice of life like they say.  Plus my cigar humidor has over 600 cigars in it right now.  And, I have a good variety in that humidor. 

I tested myself over the last few months by not doing many reviews… and … I just enjoyed the experience. 

I will be doing my wine and beer blogs for now.  I will probably do a cigar review on one of them now and then. 

Cigars are a great pleasure to experience.  They take time to smoke and take patience experience. 

Maximize your experience by knowing what you are smoking and drinking.

Thank you for visiting my cigar blog.  

Camacho 10th Anniversary Gordo: Review

100% Corojo tobaccos from the Jamastran Valley in Honduras

You can find this cigar on Cigars International for around $75 a box on their Make Me an Offer.  This is the now ‘old band’ and they might not be making this cigar any longer.

I have always liked this cigar but, here in Michigan it always cost around 13 to 15 bucks a stick.  With Cigars International doing a clearance on this cigar – I bought two boxes of this cigar and a couple of the other sizes. 

Profile: To me this cigar has a very nice mineral earthy tone with toasted grains and walnut flavors.  It seems to be smooth overall for a big 6 x 60 size stick. 

To the Point: if you have had this cigar before and like it – get on Cigars International and buy a box or two while you can.  I am going to buy another box. 

I enjoyed this cigar with a glass of Cappuccino Stout from Lagunitas.  See the Stout review on my beer blog.  This cigar seemed to cut the sweetness of the stout a bit.  The Stout is tasty but, a little too sweet to me.  

La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial Robusto: Review

Wrapper: Cuban-seed Ecuadorian Sumatra

Fillers: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan

Size: 5 x 50; Robusto

Billed as: medium-full body

Off the Light and First Half: a mild-medium roasted coffee; rich mineral soil quality; a touch of cedar and a hint of sweet floral on a puff here and there; good medium body feel; smooth

Second Half: medium roast coffee; mineral soil; cedar; mild dusty white pepper shows up; medium body overall

To the Point: a very nice Robusto cigar; 

Click here to read the review on Little Sumpin Ale

La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial Churchill and Chimay Ale Premiere: Pairing

The Cigar

La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial Churchill

Wrapper: Cuban-seed Ecuadorian Sumatra

Fillers: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan

Size: 7 x 49

Billed as: medium-full body

Off the Light: rich mineral soil quality; a medium roasted coffee; nice touch of sweet cedar; good medium body feel; smooth

Mid-Point: the soil, coffee and cedar are still present with a touch of dusty white pepper in the mix; still hanging in around the medium body strength but, seems to be building strength; smooth leathery texture

Down the Stretch: the cedar note has picked up its head as it entered the final third and then mellowed; the soil and mild-medium roast coffee are still present; just a hint of peppery spice; smooth leathery feel and dry; medium body; smoked it to the nub;

To the Point: smooth, solid medium body smoke, decent complexity; this was a very good Churchill; I would buy this again;

The Ale

Chimay Ale Premiere

Brewed at Scourmont Abbey

Bottled by S.A. Bieres de Chimay

Baileux, Belgium

Chimay.com

7% abv

1pt 9.4oz/75cl bottle

$12.99 a bottle at The Super Fine Wine & Liquor in Canton, Michigan

Appearance: misty copper to dirty copper body with a big two finger head that leaves very little lacing on the glass

Aroma: wheat bread, yeast, light dry dark fruit,

Flavors: caramel; raisin; toasted bready malts; earthy yeast

Mouthfeel: plenty of fine fizzy carbonation; smooth; not sweet, not bitter – so it is well balanced; easy to drink; too simple;  

To the Point: rather boring overall, I reviewed this Ale three years ago and thought the same thing; Beer Advocate reviews still have it as an A-; I’ll give it a low B;  83% at best;

The Pairing

Not much to say (surprising for a Professor); this Ale did nothing for this cigar; the ‘flavors’ were just too simple and mild to add anything during this experience; this cigar deserves better

Oliva Serie V Special V Figurado and Bell’s Expedition Stout: Pairing

The Stout

Bell’s Expedition Stout

Bottle Dated: 10/22/12

BellsBeer.com

Comstock, Michigan, USA

10.5% abv

$17.99 a six pack

The 2010 vintage was super powerful, yes super powerful not just powerful.  I just finished the last bottle of the 2010 here in March 2013 and it was just as fine as can be.  Let’s see how the 2012 vintage is doing. 

Appearance: a wonderful black body with a dark 2 finger tan head that leaves plenty of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: dark roasted notes of grains and coffee with some nice burnt sugar

Flavors: dark roasted grains, coffee, and dark chocolate like notes; toasted molasses, oily bitter hops,

Mouthfeel: fairly smooth for a Russian Imperial Stout, syrupy, a good alcohol feel on the finish with a 90% dark chocolate dry bitterness,

To the Point: the 2010 had a medicinal alcohol bite and I don’t taste that here with the 2012 vintage.  The alcohol does play a role in the taste and feel.

The Cigar

Oliva Serie V Special V Figurado

6 x 60 Perfecto

Nicaraguan Puro

This cigar has been aging for a year or so in my humidor and has mellowed a bit.  This cigar is similar to the Expedition in that it needs a little time to age to mellow. 

Flavor Profile: smooth toasty grains with a nice touch of earthy coffee with a slight nutty and hardwood note; the spice is settle and pleasing to the palate.

Mouthfeel: smooth, tasty, and sophisticated.

To the Point: damn I only have a couple left so; I need to buy a box.   

The Pairing

This is a terrific pairing.  I thought I was going to have a collision of the titans here with this pairing but, the cigar has mellowed to work well with this strong Stout.  The slight nutty and hardwood notes of the cigar add some nice character to the Stouts rich and dark toasted notes.  The mouthfeel is very dry so have water on the side.  

La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial Belicoso: Review

Wrapper: Cuban-seed Ecuadorian Sumatra

Fillers: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan

Size: 5.5 x 52 – Belicoso 

Billed as: medium-full body

Off the Light: it is like you can taste the black volcanic soils of Nicaraguan where the tobacco plants are grown; rich mineral soil quality; a medium-full roasted coffee note appears; pinch of sea salt; easy draw; nice firm gray ash; holds an inch or so of ash; medium body;

Mid-Point: the soil profile continues and a touch of cedar spice shows up; medium coffee with a dash or white pepper; medium body

Down the Stretch: medium-full coffee; dry soil; dry mouthfeel;

To the Point: a pleasing medium body smoke; worthy to try 

Gurkha XO and Fish Tale Wild Salmon Pale Ale: Pairing

The Ale

Fish Tale Wild Salmon Pale Ale

Organic

Fish Brewing Company

Olympia, Washington, USA

5.5% abv

$12.99 a six pack

Appearance: misty burnt orange body with a one finger egg shell colored head that leave some lacing.

Aroma: very light nose; very light non-descript citrus and fruit; it is more biscuit than anything else; uneventful

Flavors: lightly toasted grains; faint minty-herbal hop; herb biscuit; dust

Mouthfeel: low-moderate carbonation, closer to low; a soft yet strange bitter note; flannel texture; dusty-dirty mineral like aftertaste; the aftertaste does seem to linger – longer than I want it to; the aftertaste makes me want to go brush my teeth; just inside of medium body, the flavors are mild and the dirty aftertaste is medium and the weight feels mild-medium

To the Point: a dirty Pale Ale; you’ve heard of a dirty martini right; to bad I bought a six pack – should have bought a single bottle; organic hell … give me some pesticides; 13 bucks a six pack forget it; save your money; go buy some roundup 

The Cigar

Gurkha XO

Size: 6 x 60

It has a copper colored band which I can’t identify on the Cigar International website.  It came in a three pack as a freebie on a recent purchase and when I went to my account to see what the name of the cigar was it was no longer listed on their site.  The only Gurkha that I found with a copper colored band, most have a bronze colored band, was the Gurkha Grand Age. (Found out today - Estate Vintage Shaggy) But, it is not really shaggy - just a half inch of wrapper missing on the foot.  

Flavor Profile: soft earthy style and mild coffee; very simple; not even close to complex; smooth and delicate; medium- mild body; one might say ‘boring’ and one might say ‘because of its simplicity it is pleasing’ ; there is a very faint plastic smell in the aroma of the smoke during the second half

Burning issues: it needed corrections with the lighter for canoeing; the burning issue became so bad that I was ready to pitch the cigar but, I still had three inches to go. 

To the Point: to me it is kind of uneventful, a mild cigar smoker may like this stick; save your money – don’t buy this cigar; I had two and a half inches to go on the smoke and I pitched it - crap just plain crap

The Pairing

These two deserve one another.  Actually, these two, together, are not all that bad which means, they are not all that good.  The soft earthy tones and mild coffee of the cigar mingle well with the dusty-dirty aftertaste of the ale. Unfortunately the aftertaste of the ale sticks around. 

The lightly toasted grains; faint minty-herbal hop; herb biscuit; and dust of the ale seem to want to help the cigar but, the cigar just goes back to boredomville. 

These two are like two C minus students working together.  Both want to do something but, they just aren’t smart enough to know what to do so they end up with a D on the project. 

I’m telling you … don’t buy either one of these products.  Unless you are a married man and you know what boredom is all about.      

La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial Minuto: Review

Wrapper: Cuban-seed Ecuadorian Sumatra

Fillers: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan

Size: 4.5 x 42 - Corona

The cigar on the far right in the picture

Billed as: medium-full body

This little stick has a nice kick.  It burns warm as most little cigars do; solid dose of white pepper with a dash of black pepper, cedar wood, and mineral soil underneath; spicy on the aroma; burns evenly; holds only a small gray ash; ½ inch or so and it needs to be removed

To the Point: looking for a little spice bomb; this is it

La Perla Habana Black Pearl Cobre Robusto: Review

La Perla Habana

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut

Binder: Criollo

Fillers: Nicaraguan

Size: 5 x 52

Profile: the smoking experience starts off with a medium black pepper spice.  During the first inch the cigar comes across medium to medium full because of the peppery style.  After the first inch the spice settles and the flavors start to evolve.  During the second inch of the smoke the body is more medium.  A woody tone that seems like cedar blends in with a dash of pepper.  Soon a toasted barley grain mixes in with a hint of creamy oatmeal grain with the cedar note swirling around.  The pepper is still present, just a dash, but it is more on the back and aftertaste.  During the second half of the smoke the pepper seems to be more like a white pepper note.  After the second inch of the cigar to the finish the body is more mild-medium with a smooth and almost creamy feel.   

To the Point: take your time smoking this stick and experience the ever-changing flavor profile.   At three bucks a stick it is a very good value.   

Read the other La Perla Habana reviews:

La Perla Habana Classic

Black Pearl Rojo

Black Pearl Original

Black Pearl Morado

La Perla Habana Black Pearl Original Robusto: Review

Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro

Fillers: Nicaraguan, Mexican, and Dominican

Size: 5 x 52

Flavor/Mouthfeel Profile: thick earthy dark roasted coffee, toasted forest floor, oak, meaty, thick, chewy, long lingering thick smoky feel; 6.5 on my strength scale: medium-full body

To the Point: not very complex but, I don’t think any of the cigars in the La Perla line is complex.  The mouthfeel is also pleasing.  Nice tasting and for around three bucks it’s worth the price.  

Read the other La Perla Habana reviews:

La Perla Habana Classic

Black Pearl Rojo

Black Pearl Cobre

Black Pearl Morado

La Perla Habana Black Pearl Rojo Robusto: Review

Wrapper: Habana Criollo

Fillers: Nicaraguan blend

Size: 5 x 52

Flavor/Mouthfeel Profile: nice nutty note that reminds me of a soft pecan, grain bread, damp earthy notes of moss and mushroom, black tea on the aftertaste, smooth and tasty. 

I was looking forward to smoking my second stick and I paired it with Hoppin’ Frog B.O.R.I.S. Barrel Aged Stout.  This was not a good pairing.  The stout was great but, the stout overpowered this cigar.  The nutty flavor was no were to be found.  Mild earthy notes – nope.  The cigar came across like a dry weak coffee from an above average diner. Visit the beer blog to see the full beer review.

I would pair this cigar with a Pinot Noir red wine or other milder type red; a white wine might be very good; how about a tasty Belgian double or triple.  

Read the other La Perla Habana reviews:

La Perla Habana Classic

Black Pearl Cobre

Black Pearl Original

Black Pearl Morado

Lotus L27 Lighter

Lotus L27 Lighter

I love this lighter.  I costs around $50.  I had one and lost it so I bought two them next time I saw it at Smoky’s. 

My pictures don’t do it justice but, it has a nice shape that fits in your hand like … like you are holding something of substance and every guy likes that. 

It has a nice dual flame for lighting larger cigars.

It has a nice flame adjuster.  No need to find a screw driver that fits.

It has a window to see the fuel level.

If you are looking for a dependable lighter ... Lotus Lighters are the way to go.  

La Perla Habana Black Pearl Morado Robusto: Review

Wrapper: Cameroon

Binder: Nicaraguan

Fillers: Nicaraguan

Size: 5 x 52

Flavor/Mouthfeel Profile: off the light it is tasty with a nutty tone and a light sweet note of caramel.  During the smoking experience the nutty style continues with a woody character of oak and oak spice along with a lightly sweet yet dry earthy note.  The texture is smooth, dry and mild-medium in body.  I’ll give it a 4 on my strength scale.  Overall, a pleasant smoke how it got a 93 rating I don’t know maybe the company bought lots of advertising in the publication that gave them that rating.  But, for 3 bucks or under it is a worthy purchase.  

Read the other La Perla Habana reviews:

La Perla Habana Classic

Black Pearl Rojo

Black Pearl Original

Black Pearl Cobre

La Perla Habana Classic Robusto: Review

Wrapper: Indonesian

Binder: Ecuador

Fillers: Honduran, Nicaragua, and Dominican

Size: 5 x 52

Flavor/Mouthfeel Profile: light soil earthy tone, mineral stone, light salt, alder wood, very smooth, very pleasing, 3.5 on my strength scale: mild-medium overall. 

To the Point: I would not call it complex, semi-complex maybe, pleasing to smoke, I like this stick, I would buy it again because it is inexpensive 

Read the other La Perla Habana reviews: (links will be available when posted)

La Perla Cobre

Black Pearl Rojo

Black Pearl Original

Black Pearl Morado