A cigar and whiskey pairing
JDH
Posts: 2,107 ✭
How lucky am I?
When I came home from work last Friday evening, I found a package waiting for me. For Christmas, the wife gave me a box of 12 month old Robania Famosos early because she wanted me to put them in the humidor. I burned one yesterday afternoon and paired it with the Jeffersons Presidential Reserve 18 year old bourbon that Mr. Thantos gifted me.
Magnificent! It was a perfect pairing.
Jeffersons Presidential Reserve is a wheated bourbon (which indicates that wheat is used instead of rye) from the old Stitzel-Weller distillery that has produced the Pappy Van Winkle line. Because it is a wheated bourbon, its a departure from my comfort zone because Im a big rye fan, so I was just a little bit skeptical of the credentials of this bourbon. Boy, was I wrong. I found the predominant flavors to be wooded oak with caramel and apple, while a hint of cherry, cinnamon and creamy vanilla played in the background. It was incredibly smooth with perfect balance; an absolute delight. This is a bourbon that should be savored slowly, never rushed; a perfect sippin whiskey. Highly recommended.
These Robanias are almost the same color and texture as a Padron 26 natural just a tad lighter, and not as smooth as a Padron26. The wrappers are a little bit rougher, with more predominant veins than the Padron 26. They are well constructed, with no soft spots along the body of the cigar, and have a great feel in the hand. The pre-draw was nondescript, with maybe a faint hint of walnut, but not much else. It lit easily with my torch, and never needed a touch-up. The only burn issue was that it wanted to follow one of the veins of the wrapper, but it never tunneled, and burned slowly for about an hour. It never burned completely straight, but it held an ash for almost 2.
The Famoso started out very mild with just a touch of grassy walnut, and I poured about an ounce of the Jeffersons over ice with just a little too much water. The mild body ever so gradually began to increase in strength, and by the time the cigar had entered the second third, the walnut was completely gone. A burnt honey, was prevalent, which paired perfectly with the caramel of the whiskey, so I poured another 2 ounces of Jeffersons straight, with a single ice cube.
Entering the final third, the bourbon and the cigar were just fantastic together. The bourbon was no longer "in front" of the Famoso, they were paired equally. The Famoso was a solid medium body now, and the honey was almost all gone, replaced with an earthy caramel, and the whisky and the cigar melded together like nothing I've ever tasted. It was just perfect. I really did burn my fingertips. I didnt want this cigar to end, it never got bitter, it only kept getting better and better and better. Now I understand why Rip recommended the Don Alejandro.
It lasted just about an hour and I only had two pours (about 3 oz.) of Jeffersons. I cant thank Mr. Thantos or my wife enough for this guilty pleasure. Am I lucky or what!
When I came home from work last Friday evening, I found a package waiting for me. For Christmas, the wife gave me a box of 12 month old Robania Famosos early because she wanted me to put them in the humidor. I burned one yesterday afternoon and paired it with the Jeffersons Presidential Reserve 18 year old bourbon that Mr. Thantos gifted me.
Magnificent! It was a perfect pairing.
Jeffersons Presidential Reserve is a wheated bourbon (which indicates that wheat is used instead of rye) from the old Stitzel-Weller distillery that has produced the Pappy Van Winkle line. Because it is a wheated bourbon, its a departure from my comfort zone because Im a big rye fan, so I was just a little bit skeptical of the credentials of this bourbon. Boy, was I wrong. I found the predominant flavors to be wooded oak with caramel and apple, while a hint of cherry, cinnamon and creamy vanilla played in the background. It was incredibly smooth with perfect balance; an absolute delight. This is a bourbon that should be savored slowly, never rushed; a perfect sippin whiskey. Highly recommended.
These Robanias are almost the same color and texture as a Padron 26 natural just a tad lighter, and not as smooth as a Padron26. The wrappers are a little bit rougher, with more predominant veins than the Padron 26. They are well constructed, with no soft spots along the body of the cigar, and have a great feel in the hand. The pre-draw was nondescript, with maybe a faint hint of walnut, but not much else. It lit easily with my torch, and never needed a touch-up. The only burn issue was that it wanted to follow one of the veins of the wrapper, but it never tunneled, and burned slowly for about an hour. It never burned completely straight, but it held an ash for almost 2.
The Famoso started out very mild with just a touch of grassy walnut, and I poured about an ounce of the Jeffersons over ice with just a little too much water. The mild body ever so gradually began to increase in strength, and by the time the cigar had entered the second third, the walnut was completely gone. A burnt honey, was prevalent, which paired perfectly with the caramel of the whiskey, so I poured another 2 ounces of Jeffersons straight, with a single ice cube.
Entering the final third, the bourbon and the cigar were just fantastic together. The bourbon was no longer "in front" of the Famoso, they were paired equally. The Famoso was a solid medium body now, and the honey was almost all gone, replaced with an earthy caramel, and the whisky and the cigar melded together like nothing I've ever tasted. It was just perfect. I really did burn my fingertips. I didnt want this cigar to end, it never got bitter, it only kept getting better and better and better. Now I understand why Rip recommended the Don Alejandro.
It lasted just about an hour and I only had two pours (about 3 oz.) of Jeffersons. I cant thank Mr. Thantos or my wife enough for this guilty pleasure. Am I lucky or what!
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Comments
Congratulations on receiving such wonderful gifts! You are indeed a very lucky man.