Arturo Fuente Lunch

Arturo Fuente Lunch

For my rum and cigar pairings I often try to invite friends and colleagues, since the pairings are a very unique and pleasant experience that is best shared with others. This time, however, I was the one being invited by José Nuñez-Caballero to share my experiences and opinions with members of the “Club Amantes del Buen Puro” (a club comprised of people who are passionate about great cigars) from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Even though I live in a different country, thousands of miles away from Puerto Rico, I was pleased to accept the invitation, to have a great time surrounded by like-minded people, excellent cigars and a good rum.

For starters, the chosen venue was very unique, they had reserved the top floor of the Popular Center (formerly the Banker Club, where the cigar club was originally founded), at the Ruth Chris Restaurant, which was an excellent starting point. Members of the club gather here regularly to have lunch, enjoying a fixed menu while also enjoying their cigars. Yes, you are allowed to smoke while you eat, something that is often frowned upon but, in this case, the menu was specially designed to allow for a great smoking experience, with a protein-rich offering of meats, all prepared with a moderate level of condiments.

As far as cigars, Mr. Alan Goldfarb brought us 3 different types of cigars, all from the Arturo Fuente family: a Don Carlos Belicoso (52 x 5 3/8) from the Gran Reserva line, a N. 46 Añejo (46 x 5 5/8) from the Reserva Xtra Viejo line and a Fuente Fuente Reserve d’Chateau (48 x 7).

The first one I smoked, which most of those present also selected as their first choice, was the Don Carlos Belicoso. We smoked it before lunch, you could say it was our aperitif. Mine had an excellent draw and served as a platform for us to break the ice and get to know each other a bit more. This cigar format is an ideal “figurado” for short smoking sessions, of approximately 40 minutes.

As we began our meal, Alan explained to us the characteristics of the Añejo line and its history. He explained how originally the wrapper was destined for the Opus X line, but Hurricane Georges destroyed inventories and made it impossible to achieve that goal. Several years later, Carlos Fuentes Jr. ordered the use of a Connecticut wrapper and thus gave birth to a very unique line of very well aged cigars.

Even though we were enjoying our meal while drinking Spanish wines, I was craving a rum to pair with this great cigar. Fortunately for me, I was able to find Ron Zacapa 23 and XO . It was my turn then to talk to the group about rums in general and about the specific blending process behind Zacapa rums. I was able to talk about the differences between the two rums so that each person could select the best one to pair with their cigar.

There was a consensus regarding rum being the ideal spirit to pair up with a cigar. There is a consistent topic of discussion among cigar aficionados regarding which rum to enjoy and where to buy it. So I was right at home, giving advice about rums and, of course, enjoying one of the best in its class.

The cigar had a draw that was beyond fantastic, this Añejo from Arturo Fuente has spicy notes mingled with dry fruit, also features freshly-ground coffee and high strength cocoa. The coffee notes, in particular, reminded me of one of the stops I made on my way to Puerto Rico, in Colombia, where they have a very rich coffee culture. At one of the cafes, I tasted several of the offerings and, upon selecting my favorite, they ground a bag for me and I was able to pack it in my suitcase, so I had the coffee notes very present in my mind.

Given how much I was enjoying the draw on my Añejo, I opted to stick with Ron Zacapa 23, which is sweeter and lingers longer on the palate, reminding me of the Spanish rum style that was a perfect match for the tobacco.

I must admit that I decided to leave the Opus X for another occasion. It is a very special cigar, that can only be rolled by very few people, with production numbers below the 20 cigars per roller per day. It is a work of art for those who know and appreciate Arturo Fuente.

More than being a club of cigar aficionados, this is a club of people who enjoy the best things life has to offer. I could see a common thread uniting all present, the bond of those who know the true pleasure derived from pairing a good rum with a good cigar. As their guest I could not have been more pleased to be part of the group, even though only for one day, but what a day! After leaving the restaurant we went to the Cigar House in the Old San Juan, to finish what we had started. I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting the area, it is one of the few inviting places where one can comfortably enjoy a cigar.

Regardless of where you live, look for or start your own cigar smoking club. Trust me when I  tell you that it’ll provide for a setting where you can have a very special time. It doesn’t have to have weekly gatherings, even a monthly gathering can provide you with an excellent rum and a cigar that will remind you how special life can be.

Cheers,

Philip Ili Barake

Philip@gotrum.com

My name is Philip Ili Barake, Sommelier by trade. As a result of working with selected restaurants and wine producers in Chile, I started developing a passion for distilled spirits and cigars. As part of my most recent job, I had the opportunity to visit many Central American countries, as well as, rum distilleries and tobacco growers.

But my passion for spirits and cigars did not end there; in 2010 I had the honor of representing Chile at the International Cigar Sommelier Competition, where I won first place, becoming the first South American to ever achieve that feat.

Now I face the challenge of impressing the readers of “Got Rum?” with what is perhaps the toughest task for a Sommelier: discussing pairings while being well aware that there are as many individual preferences as there are rums and cigars in the world.

I believe a pairing is an experience that should not be limited to only two products; it is something that can be incorporated into our lives. I hope to help our readers discover and appreciate the pleasure of trying new things (or experiencing known things in new ways).