Higher Grounds Dark Roast Sumatran Coffee and Hemingway Best Seller Maduro

Dark Roast Sumatran Coffee

Gayo Mountain

Higher Grounds Trading Company

Traverse City, Michigan

Here is the description on the bag: ‘Distinctive earthy, wine-like flavors. Very rich, full-bodied & Chocolatey. Very low acidity.’

This description is pretty darn close.  They call it ‘wine-like’ – what I was picking up was a little floral/herbal with a hint of berry.  I like the nice soil earthy tone.  When the cup cools a little I do pick up a little dry cocoa powder likeness on the finish. 

A Fuente Hemingway Best Seller Maduro

I am going with a high end cigar here to pair with this tasty cup of coffee from Higher Grounds.  This Maduro has a nice mild earthy tone of dry yet rich soil with a mild-medium roast coffee likeness.  I’ll give it a 4 on my strength scale – just inside the medium-mild zone. 

The pairing: this is a terrific way to enjoy a morning cup of coffee while looking at the NCAA March Madness Bracket Standing – especially since I am on top in our cigar store group.

What does the winner of the March Madness Bracket get?

I wish

Augusto Reyes Signature Gordo and Northern Hawk Owl Amber Ale: Pairing

The Cigar

Augusto Reyes Signature Gordo

Wrapper: Habano

Dominican Puro

Size: 6 x 60; double toro

Flavor Profile: Earthy dry grains, sweet tobacco, smooth and elegant style, not complex at all but, stylish in its simplicity.  This cigar does not change throughout the smoking experience.  Not a cigar to make you say ‘wow’ but it is a very enjoyable mild-medium smoke.  This cigar should be easy to pair with a variety of beverages.  And I like ‘variety of beverages.’     

The Ale

Right Brain Northern Hawk Owl Amber Ale

Right Brain Brewery

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Rightbrainbrewery.com

5.8% abv

22oz bottle / 1pt 6oz

I bought a variety four pack of 22 oz bottles while I was at the brewery and the cost is … $45.00.  Damn … this better be super great stuff.  Avery’s Maharaja is only $9.00 for a 22 oz bottle and that is super top shelf stuff.  They just started bottling so costs are high for them right now. 

I know, right off the bat, it is not super great stuff here – this is an Amber Ale – not one of my favorite styles.

Appearance: fairly clear amber body with a thin tan head and no lacing to speak of – I had to do a very aggressive pour to get some head.  Nothing worse than working to get some head. 

Aroma: smell … smell … smell again … lightly toasted white bread and not much else.  Once the ale warmed up some still no nose. 

Flavors: nice spice from the hops also a little sea grass feel, lightly toasted caramel, sweet bread – the kind that has a little fruit and nuts in it. 

Mouthfeel: thin on the delivery then opens on mid and finish; toasted bread texture, dry sea grass on the mid, very fine carbonation, spice on the finish with a touch of sweet bread, dry feel – a little water along the way won’t hurt. 

To the Point: as far as amber ales go this is tasty; no bouquet; an easy session beer with a nice 5.8 abv just don’t drink too fast but, at $5.50 an eleven ounce glass of beer here this is no session beer

Pairing: I would like to pair this with a Ruben sandwich and of course a fine cigar. 

The Pairing

A nice mild-medium pairing.  The soft earthy grains and sweet tobacco notes of the cigar seem to be a perfect match for this easy going Amber Ale.  The flavors all seem to mingle well with one another for an enjoyable experience.  

Perdomo ESV Robusto Natural and Peninsula Cellars 2010 Cabernet Franc: Pairing

The Wine

Peninsula Cellars 2010 Cabernet Franc

Peninsula Cellars

Old Mission Peninsula

Hog’s Back Vineyard & Ligon Vineyard

PeninsulaCellars.com

$25.00

13% abv

Appearance: a pretty crimson body with a ruby edge

Aroma just after opening: reminds me walking into a wine room at a winery; nice aromatic berry bowl and a touch of spice

Aroma after allowed to breathe: blackberry, black plum, black currant with a nice touch of spice.  The dark berry notes seemed to be a little more discernible after the wine opened up. 

Flavors: boysenberry, raspberry, currant, hint of earth, as the wine opens a slight tart cranberry with a touch of toasted oak, light spice probably coming from the oak, flavors come together well

Mouthfeel: mixed berries on the delivery and mid; light spice on mid and finish; smooth – they use the word elegant on the bottle to describe the mouthfeel;

My Strength Rating: 6 – just limping into the medium-full range

To the Point: I like this Franc

The Cigar

Perdomo ESV Robusto Natural

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut

Fillers: Nicaraguan

Size: 5 x 54

I smoked this cigar at the Perdomo preview at Smoky’s of Northville and it was full bodied on the first half and seemed to mellow a bit on the second half.  Let’s see how it reviews today. 

Off the Light: nice strong cedary spice right off the bat – it had me sneezing.  Underneath that powerhouse cedary style there are some earthy tones that remind me of dry fall leafs, mushroom and moss.  This cigar emits tons of gray smoke.  The cedar spice calms down a little and now the spice reminds me of white and green peppercorn mix. 

The Pairing: now this is a good pairing.  I paired this wine with that Bad Ass Cigar which was bad – I’m glad I had this cigar selected to do with the second half of this bottle.  The strong spicy style of the cigar is a nice contrast with this smooth and elegant Cab Franc from Peninsula Cellars.  The cigar seems to bring out the oak spice in the wine and the soil like earthy tone.  This is a good example of what a fine cigar matched with the right wine can be … a quality experience. 

Second Half: as the burn entered the second half the spice really subsided.  Toasted grains, dry leafs, cedar, and dry soil.  Boy is that first half a man’s cigar.  The first half is not made for the faint of heart.  The smoke from this cigar is just amazing.  The mouthfeel changes from the steel wool like texture on the first half to a semi-smooth wool like feel. 

The Pairing: the dark berries of the wine just seem to transfer to the cigar for a pleasing experience.  This is a very good medium-full matching.  The cedar from the cigar mingles with the toasted oak from the wine.  The wine seems to bring out a semi-creamy feel in the cigar.  This is just one fine pairing. 

What a difference in a beverage and cigar pairing – from the Bad Ass Cigar to this Perdomo SEV Natural.  The Bad Ass cigar did not add anything to the tasting experience and the Perdomo is just pure bliss to this cigar fan.  

To the Point:  I like this.  Perdomo is back on my radar.  I’ll be buying a few more of these.   

Bad Ass Cigar and Peninsula Cellars 2010 Cabernet Franc: Pairing

The Wine

Peninsula Cellars 2010 Cabernet Franc

Peninsula Cellars

Old Mission Peninsula

Hog’s Back Vineyard & Ligon Vineyard

PeninsulaCellars.com

$25.00

13% abv

Appearance: a pretty crimson body with a ruby edge

Aroma just after opening: reminds me walking into a wine room at a winery; nice aromatic berry bowl and a touch of spice

Aroma after allowed to breathe: blackberry, black plum, black currant with a nice touch of spice.  The dark berry notes seemed to be a little more discernible after the wine opened up.

Flavors: boysenberry, raspberry, currant, hint of earth, as the wine opens a slight tart cranberry with a touch of toasted oak, light spice probably coming from the oak, flavors come together well

Mouthfeel: mixed berries on the delivery and mid; light spice on mid and finish; smooth – they use the word elegant on the bottle to describe the mouthfeel;

My Strength Rating: 6 – just limping into the medium-full range

To the Point: I like this Franc; I only bought one bottle – I’ll have to get some more. 

The Cigar

Bad Ass Cigar

Frankenmuth Cigar Company

989-652-0511

Supposedly a Kid Rock cigar – If it is anything like the Bad Ass Beer … I should be ready to throw it in the trash halfway through.  I still ask myself ‘why the hell did I buy this cigar.’  They were probably selling them at the beer tent last year and the beer made me buy it.  One, I am not a Kid Rock fan; Two, the label is just pure tacky – two confederate flags stand behind the name Bad Ass with two stripper silhouettes. 

Actually, the cigar is not bad.  Not great but, not bad.  Smooth earthy tones with a touch of mild coffee.  This is a fairly simple mild-medium cigar.  The cigar is too one dimensional or simple so, it will bore the advance cigar smoker.

Oh, the second half of the cigar was a different story.  A strange note evolved.  The best I can call it is … factory floor.  I don’t know what a factory floor taste like but, it probably is not good and so is the second half of this cigar.  Time to say good bye to this cigar – I just can’t finish it.    

The Pairing

During the first half of the cigar:

This is an okay pairing.  This cigar really can’t hurt anything but; it is not going to maximize your tasting experience when you pair it with something.  The mild earthy tones of the cigar work with the mild earthy tones of the wine.  The nice thing about this simple mild-medium body cigar is that it does not interfere with the tasting notes of this wine.   

I am going to push the envelope with this wine and pair the second half of the bottle with a fuller bodied smoke that is peppery.  I’ll have to eat something to get that nasty taste of the Bad Ass Cigar out of my mouth.  

Another bad cigar with someones famous name attached to it.  

March Matching 2013 The Final Game

We have The Edge Maduro Toro going against the Padilla Limitado 2006.  The beer that I have selected for the March Matching 2013 is the Witch’s Hat Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  This is going to be a great game.  Both these cigars show characteristics that will match up with the Ales taste profile.  From what I experienced in Game 1 and Game 2 from these two cigars and the Sir Edward’s Ale I am going to love this experience. 

My only concern is with The Edge.  The Edge and the Ale became a little too rich in taste in the final third of the cigar.  The first two thirds of the smoking experience were just wonderful and hard to beat. 

The Padilla Limitado 06 was just smooth and delightful from start to finish. 

To read about (click on link below)

The Set-up – March Matching 2013

Play in Game Pinar del Rio’s Oscuro vs Habano

Game 1 Padilla Limitado 2002 vs Kinkycristo by KinkyFriedman

Game 2 The Edge by Rocky Patel vs Pinar del Rio Habano

March Matching 2010

March Matching 2011

No 2012

Today’s Match-up

Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006 Stats:

Size: 6 x 54

smooth rich soil, medium roast coffee, and baker’s chocolate

I am going to give this match up a 1:9 odds on favorite

The Edge Maduro Toro by Rocky Patel Stats:

Size: 6 x 52

Dark roasted French Roast coffee notes mingles with some dried brown spice and toasted pumpernickel.  The mouthfeel is very pleasing and smooth for a medium-full bodied smoke.

I am going to make the betting odds 2:1 with The Edge and Sir Edward’s match up

The Ale

Sir Edward’s Double Brown by Witch’s Hat Stats:

South Lyon, Michigan, USA

Witchshatbrewing.com

The taste profile follows the nose with toasted grains, rich coffee with a light shot of cream, dry sea grass swirls around the mid palate, and 85% dark chocolate like bitterness on the finish and more so on the aftertaste.  The mouthfeel has a moderate-syrupy feel with roasted notes lingering on the palate and a dry finish.

The Padilla won the coin flip to meet the lighter and be paired up with this tasty Double Brown Ale. 

No problems off the light and boy this cigar just hitting the spot.  This stick has been sitting in my humidor for about four years and the sad part is I will only have one more left after doing this March Matching.  The dark rich soil note of the cigar adds some nice depth and structure to the Double Brown Ale.  The medium-full coffee style of the cigar is playing well with the medium roast coffee tone of Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  The dry baker’s chocolate like style of the cigar mingles nicely with the ales dark chocolate like note.  This pairing is smooth, rich, and delicious. 

Time to light up The Edge: a perfect light of the cigar and a nice 1-1/2 finger pour of the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  The Edge shows a tasty display of dark roasted coffee notes right off the get go.  Some dried fall leafs; light dry green and/or brown spice; and the pumpernickel bread like quality starts to all mingle together on the cigars flavor profile.  A few sips of the ale and we have a game going on here.  The cigar really brings out that coffee with a shot of cream in the ale.  There is a sheet of lacing clinging to the glass and long syrupy legs gently glide down the side of the glass.  The rich flavors and mouthfeel – of both the cigar and the ale are just heightened in this pairing. 

Half Time Report:

What a battle.  The Padilla Limitado comes out hitting on all cylinders.  The experience was rich and delicious.  It looked like no other cigar could come close in maximizing ones experience then, The Edge hit the hardwood floor with its rich and bold pairing with the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  We have a tie here at the half in the March Matching Final Game. 

Second Half

The Edge takes the first possession.  The mild coffee note of the cigar shows up to play with the ales rich coffee and shot of cream.  The toasted fall leafs and light spice of the cigar brings out the roasted grains of the ale.  The experience is rich and full of flavors.  This is a must pairing. 

The Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006 Cigar comes out swinging.  The cigar is still maintaining its smooth style and during the pairing the cigar has a creamy feel to it.  This is a smooth, rich, and elegant pairing.  This cigar always the Sir Edward’s Ale to display all its tasty notes; the dark chocolate, dry sea grass, roasted grains and that wonderful coffee like flavor. 

This is one special March Matching – The Ale – The Cigars – The Experience – this is the place to be.  Let’s take a commercial break.  The Padilla leads by two points with 5 minutes to go.  In basketball terms that will be a half hour. 

For those of you who live in Michigan - Witch’s Hat Brewing is located in the town of South Lyon on 22235 Pontiac Trail.  They are in a strip mall located near Busch’s grocery store and Taco Bell.  The have a mug club and the mugs are hand blown glass made by the Dearborn Glass Academy and each mug is unique.  If I lived near the place I would be a member for sure. 

Back to the Game

What a classic game for the ages.  These two fine cigars found their perfect beverage pairing with this Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale. 

This Ale is named after the owner’s dog Edward.  Right now if you buy the Sir Edward’s they are donating 10% of their sales to the Huron Valley Humane Society.

Each time I smoke one of these cigars with the ale I think it’s the winner.  This is nip and tuck right up to the end.  The one thing that I do find interesting is that the 8.9% abv is not really a factor except that I am starting to feel it myself with only 10 or so ounces left in the 32 oz growler. 

The Padilla pairing is still so smooth and rich with each sip of the ale.  The Edge by Rocky Patel pairing is rich and bold and is not becoming too powerful like it did in Game 1. 

At the end of regulation we have a tie and we are going into overtime.  This is a first for the March Matching Games.  Hoop tee dew baby this is one great March Matching. 

With only two inches to smoke in each cigar let’s see which one comes out the winner.    

The Padilla comes out with a three point lead with its smooth and elegant style still hanging on.

The Edge’s bold style is now getting in the way.  The cigar picks up a slight bitter note that brings out the dry sea grass bite in the ale. 

In overtime we have the Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006 Cigar coming out on top with its smooth and elegant pairing with the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.

It was one of those games you don’t won’t to see a loser for there really is not one – expect for if you don’t ever experience either one of these with this tasty ale.  

March Matching 2013 Game 2

Pinar del Rio Habano and Rocky Patel The Edge Maduro go head to head while

I enjoy a 32 oz growler of Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale from Witch’s Hat Brewery.

sorry the best pic I could get

To read about (click on link below)

The Set-up

Play in Game

Game 1

Let’s introduce the Ale and the Cigars:

The Ale

Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale

Witch’s Hat

South Lyon, Michigan, USA

8.9% abv

Witchshatbrewing.com

The Double Brown Ale has a rich malty nose with touch of coffee and lightly roasted grains.  The taste profile follows the nose with toasted grains, rich coffee with a light shot of cream, dry sea grass swirls around the mid palate, and 85% dark chocolate like bitterness on the finish and more so on the aftertaste.  The mouthfeel has a syrupy feel with roasted notes lingering on the palate and a dry finish.

The pictures have been taken, the pre-game stats have been written, and a few sips of the Double Brown Ale have my palate ready to light these cigars up.

The Cigars:

The Habano

Pinar del Rio Toro Habano

Habano Sun Grown

Liga Cubana No. 5

Wrapper: Dominican Republic Habano Sun Grown

Binder: Criollo ’98 from Dom.

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Dom. Rep.

Size: 6 x 50

This cigar starts off with a nice Habano spicy flavor.  The spice reminds me of green peppercorn.  There is a good earthy tone with a touch of woody notes that help to give it some body.  I’ll give it a 6/6.5 on my strength scale. 

By the mid-point the peppery spice has settled.  The dusty earthy tone remains with a mild-medium coffee note and a sweet woody character – I am thing Alder wood.  I think I’ll give it a 5/5.5 on my strength scale here at the mid-point.

The cigar is pretty much like the mid-point as it smokes through the final third.  It is a little more robust in body. 

This cigar won the play in game beating its brother the Pinar del Rio Oscuro cigar.  It was the contrast in flavors that made this an interesting pairing.  The Edge is going to be similar to the Pinar Oscuro in that the cigar will complement the ales flavors.  Let’s see how they rumble here today on the hardwood.  

The Edge

Rocky Patel ‘The Edge’ Toro Maduro

Wrapper: Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Fillers: ? Secrete

According to Rockypatel.com

Size: 6 x 52

My Strength Rating: 6.5

Here is what I had to say about ‘The Edge’ back on May of 2011.

I can’t believe I have never reviewed this stick.  A few years back every time I went in to the cigar store I would pick up 4 sticks just to store away in my humidor.  Well, I have a good collection of these babies.  So, it is time for a review. 

I have always liked this cigar for its size, price, and flavor.  The flavor is fairly consistent all the way thru the smoking experience.  Dark roasted French Roast coffee notes mingled with some dried brown spice and toasted pumpernickel.  The mouthfeel is very pleasing and smooth for a medium-full bodied smoke. 

This cigar should pair well with most stouts, porters and dopplebocks.

The Habano cigar has won the coin flip

The Battle

The Habano cigar opens up with some spicy notes and woody tones.  A few sips of the ale and that nice contrasting experience is still pleasing.  The cigar brings out the dry sea grass and moderate dark chocolate bitterness in the ale.

The Maduro cigar starts off with some dark bread and mild earthy coffee like qualities.  After getting the burn established I take a few sips of the Ale; ooooh, this is nice.  The dark roasted coffee like flavor of the Cigar starts to kick in and mingles oooh so well with the coffee with a light shot of cream like flavor of the Ale.  The moderate syrupy texture of the Ale seems to be more noticeable during this pairing compared to the Habano and Ale pairing. 

The Habano cigar comes back with some of that nice Alder wood like flavor and a touch of earthy mild-medium coffee like notes.  The things that I am not picking up during this exchange are the toasted grains and the moderate syrupy like mouthfeel of the Ale.  Otherwise, I really like this pairing.  I do like how the peppery notes of the cigar bring out the hoppy notes of the Ale. 

The Maduro cigar plays oh so nice with the Ale.  The coffee flavors mingle well; the gentle brown spice and pumpernickel like bready notes comingle with the Ales hops.  The bitter notes are more of an undertone during this pairing.  The Ales toasted grains, coffee, and dark chocolate like qualities are very pleasing with The Edge Cigar.  The moderate syrupy feel that the Ale should have is in play during this pairing.  I really like this mouthfeel during the exchange of these two. 

This has been a classic battle on the old hardwood floor.  The Pinar del Rio Habano played a great game with its contrasting style to the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ales flavors.  But, the winner is Rocky Patel’s ‘The Edge’.  The Edge just plays so well with the Ales flavors and mouthfeel.  The toasted grains and dark chocolate like flavors of Sir Edward are spot on; the mouthfeel of the Ale is spot on.  I would smoke either one of these cigars with this ale and be satisfied.  But, The Edge by Rocky Patel just maximizes my experience.  It was the French Roast like coffee note of The Edge, the toasted grains, the mouthfeel, and the rich comingling notes of both that just hit the spot.  On this day The Edge wins by just five points.  

This should be a classic match-up with The Edge going against the Padilla Limitado.  Click hereto see the match-up 

Go to Smoky’s or Sit in my Cigar Lounge in my Garage

The guys at Smoky’s wonder and make fun of me for wanting to sit in my garage rather than sit at the cigar store.  Well – do they serve good food and drink at Smoky’s  … no … and here is what I serve at my Cigar Lounge (garage). 

Do you get, a fresh off the grill rib eye steak with black smoked sea salt, smoked black peppercorn, sage, a twist of my garlic spice, and Tuscan olive oil, at Smoky’s … No.

Spring green salad with red, yellow, and green sweet mini peppers, portabella mushroom, cucumber, sharp cheddar cheese, and sweet onion with spinach dressing, mix peppercorn, and oregano.  No.   

Grilled asparagus in violet vinegar, Tuscan olive oil, and veggie spice.  No.

Fried apples from Cracker Barrel. No.

Black Star 2010 Cabernet Franc. No.

VSG Spellbound.  Yes

I get one out of six at Smoky’s … I get six out of six at home.  

Enjoy your veggie pizza and wings boys

Not only do I get to talk food but live it!

March Matching 2013 Game 1

Final Four – Game One

We have the Padilla Limitado 2006 going against the Kinkycristo by Kinky Friedman.  This is the Belicoso match up. 

Cigar #1Stats

Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Honduran

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Honduran

Size: 6 x 54

Cigar #2 Stats

Kinky Friedman Kinkycristo

Wrapper: Honduras Habano

Binder: Costa Rican

Fillers: Honduran and Nicaraguan

Size: 6.2 x 54

Interestingly enough I have never reviewed the Padilla Limitado.  These cigars have been rolling around my humidor for years.  I think I even bought these before I started blogging three years ago.  I just can’t believe I have never written a review.  The next thing about this cigar I don’t think you can find it on the market anymore.  The 2006 Limitado is truly limited. 

These two cigars should be a tough battle because they should be so similar in their taste profile.  I am expecting an earthy profile with notes of coffee, wood, hints of chocolate, and a slight peppery spice.  

Odds: Padilla 1:1; Kinkycristo 2:1 with this Ale.

Beer Stats

sorry, the best pic I could get

Sir Edward’s Double Brown by Witch’s Hat

South Lyon, Michigan, USA

Witchshatbrewing.com

The Double Brown Ale has a rich malty nose with touch of coffee and lightly roasted grains.  The taste profile follows the nose with toasted grains, rich coffee with a light shot of cream, dry sea grass swirls around the mid palate, and 85% dark chocolate like bitterness on the finish and more so on the aftertaste.  The mouthfeel has a syrupy feel with roasted notes lingering on the palate and a dry finish.

The Padilla won the coin flip and will meet the lighter and Ale first.

Off the Light: rich dark soil, coffee and a touch of baker's chocolate.  I introduce the Ale after a few puffs and this is one nice exchange.  The dark soil of the cigar plays well with the toasted grains and grassy hops of the ale.  The coffee styles of these two mingle well.  The coffee note of the cigar seems to be a little fuller than the ales medium roast coffee style with a touch of cream.  The ‘nice exchange’ has a smooth creamy feel between these two.

The Kinkycristo is up:

Off the Light: forest floor notes swirl around the palate with notes of crisp fall leafs, composting soil, and light wood.  After a few puff I have a sip of the Sir Edward Ale and the forest floor notes of the cigar make a good interchange with the ales coffee, toasted grains and sea grass like flavors.  The ‘good interchange’ feel seems to be semi-smooth … maybe a little 0000 steel wool like.  The cigar seems to have a slight bitter note during the exchange. 

After the first quarter – I am liking the Padilla match up over the Kinkycristo.  It’s that smooth texture and the interplay of the coffee notes.

2^nd quarter:

The Kinkycristo shows signs of soil, light wood and a sweet spicy note starts to swirl around on the palate.  The sweet spice reminds me of pink peppercorn which has a sweet peppery note.  I think it is this sweet spicy note that is giving this exchange that semi-smooth texture.  I think I am not picking up that nice coffee note from the ale during this pairing. 

The Padilla still has that smooth rich soil, medium roast coffee, and the baker's chocolate still in the mix.  It might be the age of this cigar (around four years in my humidor).  This cigar brings out that coffee with a shot of cream in the ale.  The syrupy texture of the ale is play extremely well with the smooth style of the cigar.  The roasted notes of the ale are mixing well with the cigars toasted notes.  I thought this stick had a peppery style but, I did not experience it during this pairing. 

I have to make a call right now … the Padilla Limitado is the winner.  This is a slam dunk.  I thought they would be much closer in this battle.  It was not so much the flavors but the mouthfeel that won this encounter.  The flavors were a little better with the Padilla versus the Kinkycristo.  It was the mouthfeel that maximized the experience. 

So, it is the Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006 that will be going against the winner of the next round – the Pinar del Rio Habano versus The Edge by Rocky Patel. 

Click here to read:

March Matching the Set-up

March Matching the Play in Game

March Matching Game 2

March Matching Final Game

March Matching 2013 - The Play in Game

March Matching - Let The Games Begin  

Today I am pairing up the Witch’s Hat Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale against the Pinar del Rio Oscuro Cigar and the Pinar del Rio Habano Cigar.  When I do these March Matchings I smoke two cigars … yes at one sitting while I enjoy a fine beverage … whichever pairing taste the best with the beverage is the winner. 

The Ale

Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale

Witch’s Hat

South Lyon, Michigan, USA

Witchshatbrewing.com

The Double Brown Ale has a rich malty nose with touch of coffee and lightly roasted grains.  The taste profile follows the nose with toasted grains, rich coffee with a light shot of cream, dry sea grass swirls around the mid palate, and 85% dark chocolate like bitterness on the finish and more so on the aftertaste.  The mouthfeel has a syrupy feel with roasted notes lingering on the palate and a dry finish.

Going into this March Matching I am going to give the Oscuro wrapped cigar the odds on favorite 1:9 over the Habano at 6:1.  Let’s see how they do.  Place your bets.  

The Oscuro Cigar won the coin flip to be the first cigar up.

First Cigar to Light up

Pinar del Rio Toro Oscuro

Liga Cubana No. 2

Wrapper: Brazilian Oscuro

Fillers: Dominican and Nicaraguan

Size: 6 x 50

Flavors: dark roasted coffee and dry soil earthy notes make up the main profile of this Toro.  There is a touch of dry cocoa powder that floats around during the smoking experience.   In the background there is a fine grind black pepper that adds some character to this stick.  The mouthfeel is dry and a little wool like.  I’ll give it a 6.5 on my strength scale.   

The cigar becomes very robust on the last third of the smoking experience.  Strong coffee and burnt woody notes dominate.

The Pairing – First Half of the Cigar: This cigar is matching up very well with the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  The dark roasted coffee and dry soil tones of the cigar complement the Ales medium roast coffee and toasted grains.  Both have a dry finish and a little water along the way will help.  These two are looking in the mirror at one another.

Next:

Pinar del Rio Toro Habano

Habano Sun Grown

Liga Cubana No. 5

Wrapper: Dominican Republic Habano Sun Grown

Binder: Criollo ’98 from Dom.

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Dom. Rep.

Size: 6 x 50

This cigar starts off with a nice Habano spicy flavor.  The spice reminds me of green peppercorn.  There is a good earthy tone with a touch of woody notes that help to give it some body.  I’ll give it a 6/6.5 on my strength scale. 

By the mid-point the peppery spice has settled.  The dusty earthy tone remains with a mild-medium coffee note and a sweet woody character – I am thing Alder wood.  I think I’ll give it a 5/5.5 on my strength scale here at the mid-point.

The cigar is pretty much like the mid-point as it smokes through the final third.  It is a little more robust in body. 

The Pairing – First Half of the Cigar: Here we have a nice contrast in taste.  The cigar has a nice little spicy taste of green peppercorn and alder wood as the main profile.  This cigar brings out a nice touch of spice in the Ale.  Alcohol usually has a little peppery touch to it and this cigar is bringing that out during this pairing.  The sweet Alder wood like note in the cigar is contrasted with the Ales slight hoppy bitter notes of dry sea grass and then the 85% dark chocolate like bitter note on the finish.  This is a very interesting pairing and that is in a good way. 

During the first half of the smoking experience I cannot make a call to which one I like the best. 

Second Half of the Game:

The Habano wrapped Cigar opens the second half with a big run.  The cigars mild coffee note starts to mingle in along with a tasty earthy tone and mixes it up well with the Ale.  The spice has settled a little on the cigar but, is still present to add some good character to the experience. I am liking the viscosity of the Ale and that syrupy feel seems to be in good control during this pairing.  I am really like this pairing.

The Oscuro wrapped Cigar is not giving up the fight.  As I said, this cigar and ale, are one and the same.  The maduro wrapper has that sweet syrupy feel to it while I drink the Sir Edward Double Brown. The coffee flavors are mixing well.  Damn this is enjoyable.  I hate to see one of these cigars lose. 

The final glass of Ale has been poured and we need a winner!

A fine two finger head is poured as I empty the 32 oz growler. 

The Pinar del Rio Habano is a great match with the Sir Edward’s.  These two have the contrast that makes it interesting.

The Pinar del Rio Oscuro is a great match with the Sir Edward’s.  These two complement one another very well. 

The Habano hits the three point shot at the final buzzer for a one point victory.  Hoopty to do baby!  What a game this was.  The Habano came in with no chance to win … a big time underdog … and this cigar showed a good contrast in your tasting experience can be a good thing. 

I hate making this call for both cigars were excellent with this Ale. 

The Pinar del Rio Habano moves on to the final four.   

March Matching Set-up 2013

March Matching Set-up 2013

March Matching is where I setup cigars into a college basketball bracket system and match all of the cigars with a beer.  I smoke the two cigars at a time while enjoying the malted beverage.  The cigar that pairs the best with the ale is the winner and moves on in the bracket system till there is an overall winner. 

In 2010 I paired some cigars up with Petrus Gouden TripleAle.

In 2011 I paired some hearty sticks with Short’s Cup a JoeStout.

2012 I didn’t do a March Matching

Here is the plan for this year.

I have five sticks from my humidor that I’ll do this years March Matching. 

I am going to have a play in game and pair the Pinar del Rio Habano with the Pinar del Rio Oscuro.  This will give the final four grouping.

The winner of the play in game will be paired with the Rocky Patel The Edge Toro.

The other game will be Kinky Friedman Kinkycristo Belicoso versus the Padilla Limitado 2006

The beer that I have selected for the 2013 March Matching is … Witch’s Hat Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  See the Play In Game for the review on this Double Brown Ale. 

Click here to read:

The Play in Game

Game 1

Game 2

The Final Game