Welcome to
The Best Cigar Shop Online
Call us free today at (928) 782-6700
by John Dade
The History
I’ll be honest….I have been looking forward to this pairing for a few weeks!
After being named Cigar of the Year for 2012 by Cigar Aficionado, finding a cigar lounge that had the Flor de las Antillas in inventory had become a quest. Finally, my friend Rahbi over at Vintage Cigar Lounge in Santa Ana, California let me know he had some in stock.
I have been a fan of My Father cigars since I was introduced to the line by none other than Jaime Garcia himself during a MF launch event here in SoCal a couple of years back. Jaime is an intense presence; especially when talking about cigars and tobacco where his conversation slips between English and his native Spanish as his enthusiasm reaches its peak.
Jaime is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to his passion for tobacco. After spending some time with him, one is left with no doubts about why he is the master blender for My Father cigars. He is one of the reasons why the cigars are so good and why the Flor de las Antillas was the 2012 cigar of the year.
My choice of spirit for this pairing was another much anticipated selection.
I’m a Scotch guy. I like Scotch! That said, I am also one who is open to experimenting and new experiences. I am always ready to test the waters when spirits and cigars are involved. Hence my journey down the “Bourbon Street”.
Then Maker’s Mark launched “46”. The chemistry of this pour was amazing with oak, vanilla and hints of caramel. There was enough oomph not to be too sweet. I liked it.
The Pairing
Rolling the Flor de las Antillas between my fingers, the chocolate brown Nicaraguan Sun Grown wrapper of this 6 x 52 Toro was veiny, yet simply alluring and looked good enough to bite into. The aroma of aged tobacco and a woodsy note of this Nicaraguan Puro just added to the allure. A whiff of the foot yielded notes of cocoa and aromatic tobacco. Luscious. The pre-light draw was flawless and left a note of tobacco sweetness on the tongue. As I toasted the foot and proceeded to light up, the smoke was thick and dense and the draw had spice, mild pepper and a bit of dry wood on the palate.
Taking my first sip of the Maker’s Mark 46 was a moment of pure satisfaction. These two complimented each other like the proverbial “Bogie & Bacall”. The Flor de las Antillas was solid, the draw was open and the flavors, while not “complex” were smooth yet bold enough to keep my attention. The ash was a firm grey/white and held on until “it” decided to leave on its own.
The Experience
Flor de las Antillas, which translated means “Flower of the Antillas”, and is a reference to Cuba, the largest and frequently called the ‘Gem” of the Antillas island chain, and is a tribute to the Garcia families roots in the Cuban cigar industry with the renowned Don Jose “Pepin” Garcia, Jamie’s father, entering the family business around 1961 at the age of eleven.
This is the heritage reflected in their “Cubanesque” style of cigars and ever present in the detailed construction, masterful blends and visually stunning cigars.
The Maker’s Mark 46 line of Bourbon which was developed using seared new French Oak staves which were inserted into barrels refilled with fully matured Maker’s Mark which was then left in the racking house to age a few months more. This produced (at least in this Scotch lovers opinion) a spirit with a tell-tale lingering of oak and caramel akin to a nicely aged Sherry or Port cask Scotch and was altogether very enjoyable. Remarkably, it was the “46” attempt during this creative process that lead to perfection and hence the name “Maker’s Mark 46”.
As I puffed away through the final third of my Flor da las Antillas, the draw was still perfect and the flavor profile unchanged. with the pepper fading a bit and tastes of woodsy sweetness and slight spice combining for a lush aroma which held though the enjoyably cool finish. The slightly sweet oakiness of the “46” was a fine balance to the light pepper and aged tobacco of the Flor da las Antillas and both mingled on the palate wonderfully.
Final Thoughts
Definitely a “two thumbs” up. Sitting on the patio a bit longer after spending time with these two fine examples of their respective lineages, I found myself thoroughly relaxed and satisfied with our time together. No fuss…no drama…just a very enjoyable experience that reminded me of the “why” one should make the time to enjoy a fine spirit and a great cigar.
John Dade has been in the Financial arena since 1995. He is now a Senior Account Specialist with Essex Futures in Irvine CA. His passion for the good life has lead him to Exploring the Cigar & Spirits of the world and enjoys writing about the almost infinate pairing possibilities. John is also the founder of The Cigar Night Business Mixer Group in The OC. John can be contacted on Face book http://Facebook.com/CigarBizMixerGuy or by email at CigarNightBizMixer@earnware.net or by phone 877-331-2533.
By John Dade
The History:
As the deadline approached for this paring article I found myself scrambling to find the time to sit and prepare for the pairing. To make things worse, the publisher of Cigar & Spirits Magazine offered me a Montecristo EPIC cigar to smoke and review. This cigar was just released by the Altadis company as a Limited Edition. I knew I wanted something special to pair with this cigar, but what?
As the cigar Gods would have it, a couple of days before my deadline, I ran into another good friend and fellow cigar enthusiast Kirk G. He is the So Cal Market Director for Moet Hennessy USA and headquarters in our building.
Kirk is one incredibly busy guy and as we were both bee-lining it to the elevator, I shared my paring challenge with him, and without hesitation he said he had just the spirit for the pairing and to drop by the front desk the next day to pick it up.
The next day I was in possession of a luscious bottle of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban Single Malt Scotch. Problem solved, Cigar and Spirits people are great.
The Pairing:
I rolled the Montecristo EPIC between my fingers and was impressed by the firmness and heft of this 5 X 52 Robusto. As I held the milk chocolate, brown, Ecuadorian Habano, wrapped beauty to my nose, I was greeted with rich coffee and tobacco aromas. The pre-light draw was nice and had hints of cedar and spice.
As I gently swirled the Quinta Ruban scotch in my Glencairn glass, the legs flowed like honey down the sides into a pool of shimmering, dark-reddish, honey shades. The 12 year old port cask made this an extra matured spirit.
The nose was simply luscious with notes of more honey, dark chocolate and a hint of Port.
Once lit, the EPIC began with a nutty, cocoa wave and slight cedar tinge with volumes of dense smoke following a near perfect draw. With it's Nicaraguan and Dominican filler, Nicaraguan Binder, this smoke touted as a more full bodied extension of the Montecristo line. However, I found it to be more medium to full bodied with a surprise later.
The Experience:
I took a sip of the Glenmorangie and rolled it over my tongue, the ultra smooth feel was followed by rich fruit and touches of Oak. There was a slight sweetness of Port that left a smile on my lips, and my palate craving more. Glenmorangie is know for it's Journey of Passion approach in creating one of the worlds best Scotches. Matured in the finest American Oak Bourbon casks. Using the highest quality Portuguese Port casks sourced from the famed cellars of the Quintas, Douro valley.
I smoked on to the middle 1/3 of my Monte EPIC, the profile shifted. It became a bit more robust, with more full body earth tones. The taste of chocolate leather was unexpected yet, very enjoyable as it complimented the sweeter port notes nicely. As I sipped along, it flowed well over the newly emerged fullness of my EPIC.
I moved into the final inch or so of my EPIC, the complexity of the cigar was exciting with up front cocoa, spice, and earthy tobacco leading the way.
Final Thoughts:
Near the finish of my EPIC--Journey of Passion, I found myself wishing for more time with both, as each of these excellent creations engulfed my senses. My appreciation of premium cigars and fine spirits were enhanced. Seek out these two pairing choices, then find a couple of hours to relax and experience the luxuries they can bring you.
John Dade has been in the Financial arena since 1995. He is now a Senior Account Specialist with Essex Futures in Irvine CA. His passion for the good life has lead him to Exploring the Cigar & Spirits of the world and enjoys writing about the almost infinate pairing possibilities. John is also the founder of The Cigar Night Business Mixer Group in The OC. John can be contacted on Face book http://Facebook.com/CigarBizMixerGuy or by email at CigarNightBizMixer@earnware.net or by phone 877-331-2533.
By: John Dade
The History:
The Don Carlos line was once again introduced in 1986 as a tribute to the Fuente family patriarch Arturo Fuente who passed away in 1973 at the age of 85. This was Carlos Senior’s father and Carlos (Carlito) Junior’s grandfather. At the time, this release was only available for the European market. It was introduced to the US market awhile later and was well received by Fuente enthusiasts.
With its beautiful Cameroon wrapper embracing some of the Fuente families’ oldest aged Dominican tobaccos as filler and binder, the Don Carlos #2 is visually alluring and beckons to be enjoyed. The pre-light draw was easy, with the deep brown reddish tinted Cameroon wrapper imparting a sweet spiciness on the lips & tongue. Upon lighting, notes of cinnamon/leather accompany volumes of smoke and a pleasant coffee-tobacco aroma.
The Pairing:
While being a big fan of premium Single Malt Scotch, Dark well aged Rum and Anejo Tequilas, I also realize that there are many cigar enthusiasts who prefer a “craft” beer or fine wine with their cigar of choice. In addition, a number of those I know in my Cigar Networking circles either don’t drink spirits at all or actually prefer a soda or cup of coffee with their smoke. This would seem especially appropriate with a morning cigar or early afternoon smoke.
Paring this with a fresh, drip brewed, dark French roast cup of coffee was a new experience for me. The combo was recommended by a few devoted Fuente followers. I found this paring of an artisan blended 100% Arabica bean coffee harvested from some of the highest altitude growing regions to be a robust and complimentary companion for my Don Carlos #2. This particular blend was roasted using a hot air convection process which is said to unlock the rich, smoky flavor of these select beans without leaving a trace of bitterness associated with the more traditional drum roasting methods. It turned out to be an excellent choice.
The Experience:
As my don Carlos burned on, coffee and cocoa mad appearances with whiffs of cedar which played nicely with the sweetness as I brushed my tongue against the cut tobacco. The draw was perfect on this 6 X 52 torpedo…filling the mouth with flavorful puffs of smoke which I occasionally let drift in my nose to capture more complex notes of leather and spice. The grey ringed ash held on nearly two inches before yielding to gravity.
Sipping my cup of joe only enhanced the sweeter tones of my Don Carlos while the deep richness of the coffee was brought through with a new subtle lingering smokiness. The Don Carlos burned flawlessly speaking volumes about the care taken towards the rolling of this very well constructed Torpedo.
Final Thoughts:
While the Don Carlos line is part of the Fuente’s evolution to a bolder, more full bodied profile, I found the #2 more complex and rich than the general Fuente offerings while leaning towards a more robust, medium bodied note. The final 1/3 continued to burn well, with the flavor profile remaining wonderfully consistent….another Fuente hallmark. Not knowing what to expect with this duo in the beginning, I have to confess that I found the experience both very relaxing and satisfying while the aroma of the lingering smoke very pleasing.
I would highly recommend to those who haven’t yet tried this paring for themselves to do so. I would be most interested in your thoughts.
John Dade has been in the Financial arena since 1995. He is now a Senior Account Specialist with Essex Futures in Irvine CA. His passion for the good life has lead him to Exploring the Cigar & Spirits of the world and enjoys writing about the almost infinate pairing possibilities. John is also the founder of The Cigar Night Business Mixer Group in The OC. John can be contacted on Face book http://Facebook.com/CigarBizMixerGuy or by email at CigarNightBizMixer@earnware.net or by phone 877-331-2533.
By: John Dade
It seems so long ago…yet just like yesterday.
No, these are not the lyrics from a favorite song that seeped to the top of my mind on an occasion of quiet and solitude, but were my musings as I thought about the recent paring of a La Gloria Cubana with one of my favorite spirits Courvoisier VS. Whenever I start toasting the foot of a La Gloria, it takes me back to my roots. The start of my journey down the tobacco road of cigars over 17 years ago.
Fast forward almost two decades to a more seasoned palate for fine cigars and premium spirits we roll into this months paring with a La Gloria Cubana No. 1 Torpedo. I knew that choosing the right spirit to wed with this rich and earthy vitola would take some attention too. The day of the paring was one of those rare days in So Cal where it was both rainy and colder than normal (in the 50’s!!). I knew that my choice of the Courvoisier VS was going to be perfect. So I bundled up and hit the patio with anticipation.
Firing up a La Gloria is always a treat. The line has expanded since my first stick back in the 90’s to include the Serie-R, the Serie-N, and most recently the Artesanos Retro Especiale line up. Today, I am staying with my first, and many times my ‘go to” smoke. Considered one of the “strongest’ brands hailing from the Dominican Republic, the La Gloria boasts Cuban Seed Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers and a Nicaraguan binder, beautifully covered in an aged Ecuadorian wrapper, all melding together to produce a full, rich and satisfying “Cubanesque” flavor profile beloved by it’s devotees.
Courvoisier’s origins can be traced back to the time of the French Revolution and France’s first Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. The VS I am sipping is a blending of fine Cognacs each aged for up to 8 years and produced from grapes sourced from the Fins Bois and Petite Champagne crus of France. These select grapes and the use of new French Oak barrels along with the unique “upright” storage method of the barrels during aging, all contribute to the unmatched depth and richness of this spirit.
Upon lighting the La Gloria, wonderful volumes of smoke with a near perfect draw and earthy, woodsy aroma fill the air.
My nose is in the “rocks” glass, that I use on occasion (rather than a snifter) to sip the Courvoisier, bringing aromas of ripe fruit and hints of oak as the amber liquid slides over the tongue to release a rich assault of spiciness than fades smoothly into a light oak-floral finish that compliments the sweet-woodsy spice of the La Gloria.
The cigar burns evenly and effortlessly as the ash stays firm. These two work very well together as the rich depths of the Cognac let the high notes of the La Gloria sing out in its own bold and spicy way. The grand couple make worthy house guests for a cool evening on the patio.
John Dade has been in the Financial arena since 1995. He is now a Senior Account Specialist with Essex Futures in Irvine CA. His passion for the good life has lead him to Exploring the Cigar & Spirits of the world and enjoys writing about the almost infinate pairing possibilities. John is also the founder of The Cigar Night Business Mixer Group in The OC. John can be contacted on Face book http://Facebook.com/CigarBizMixerGuy or by email at CigarNightBizMixer@earnware.net or by phone 877-331-2533.
John Dade has been in the Financial arena since 1995. He is now a Senior Account Specialist with Essex Futures in Irvine CA. His passion for the good life has lead him to Exploring the Cigar & Spirits of the world and enjoys writing about the almost infinate pairing possibilities. John is also the founder of The Cigar Night Business Mixer Group in The OC. John can be contacted on Face book http://Facebook.com/CigarBizMixerGuy or by email at CigarNightBizMixer@earnware.net or by phone 877-331-2533.
with Appleton Estate Reserve Rum
By: John Dade
My anticipation grew as the time drew near for the paring of one of my favorite spirits with a fine cigar. Though I am normally a Scotch drinker, I find that certain times of year and certain moods call for a well-aged rum. And of course a fine cigar to pair it with makes for a great duo to share an evening with.
For this paring I choose the Appleton Estate Reserve Rum to accompany my Diamond Crown Julius Caesar Pyramid, rated an amazing 95 by Cigar & Spirits Magazine.
The Julius Caesar Pyramid is a 6 1/2 X 52 Dominican that was so named to honor the 135th birthday of the founder of the J.C. Newman Cigar Company, Julius Caesar Newman, and to celebrate the 115th anniversary of the company itself. The Julius Caesar is part of the Diamond Crown cigar series from the J.C. Newman Cigar Company, and is wonderfully crafted in the Dominican Republic in limited quantities, at the renowned Tabacalera A. Fuente factory.
While the exact blend of long filler tobaccos and selected binder tobaccos are kept “secret,” the gorgeous Ecuadorian wrapper that embraces this Pyramid beckons the holder, like the sirens song, to partake of the treasure within. But here, the pleasures are realized rather than revoked.
The Appleton Estate Reserve is an excellent Jamaican rum that boasts an artful blend of some 20 Estate aged rums, each distilled in copper pot stills specifically designed for Appleton Estate. These distillations are then carefully aged in handcrafted oak barrels for approximately 8 years. Only then are the rums personally selected by Appleton’s Master Blender, and crafted into the finished rum bearing the Appleton Estate Reserve name. This is truly a sipping rum to be enjoyed neat in a snifter, or in a rocks glass with one cube.
Following my usual routine, after I remove my Julius Caesar from the humidor, I give it a slow pass beneath my nose and I’m again enamored by the alluring aromas of tobacco tinged with wood. Once clipped, the pre-light draw is firm, yet open, and as I roll this solid Pyramid between my fingers, the oily sheen of the reddish-chocolate wrapper speaks of good things to come.
I choose to sample my Appleton Reserve after first gently swirling it in my glass, to release its essence and delight in the long “legs” trailing down my glass. As I hold it up to the bright blue sky on a clear afternoon, the colors of dark amber with scarlet hints foretell of the pleasure soon to be sipped.
I then toast the foot of my Julius Caesar and fire up the super-premium stick. The draw opens up and copious amounts of white and gray smoke dance around me. The first notes that I notice on my palate are earthy and sweet.
The first nose from the Appleton Reserve is of spicy alcohol which quickly gives way to molasses, burnt sugar and spice. With the first sip, a blast of sweetness laced with spicy notes is apparent. Then the flavor of caramel fills my mouth offering a slight burn on the back of the palate. The draw on my Julius Caesar cuts through the spice to complement the oak and molasses that lingers on my tongue. Though usually considered a medium bodied cigar, the Julius Caesar’s bold flavor profile intermingles wonderfully with the spiciness of the rum.
Half-way through the cigar, the flavor profile remains consistent, as is the even burn and firm gray-white ash, that holds on for almost 2 inches before gracefully dropping on its own. I am thoroughly enjoying the comfortable and relaxing relationship that I’m having with these two premium creations.
As I puff into the final third of the Julius Caesar, a slight shift to nutty and woody tones seems to bring out traces of vanilla and warm caramel in the rum, adding more delight to the experience. As the duet progresses, each sip of Appleton Estate seems to bring out even more of the peppery personality of the Julius Caesar. Each draw on the Pyramid highlights the caramelized depth of the sip that follows. This all plays well into the great finale.
With the sun beginning to set on a wonderful day, the relationship with these two fine friends smoothly comes to an end. Both left me pining for more time together and happily looking forward to a hasty reunion. We shall meet again!
© 2009 Yuma Cigars Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.