Cigar & Rum Pairing
Great Finish
Another year comes to an end and, once again, I face the dilemma of what to smoke to celebrate this special time. On top of it all, I’ve had little-to-no personal time, and I kept reminding myself that it wasn’t important to just have a drink or a smoke. But I also knew that if I set aside just a bit of time, if I paused things for a moment to slow down, that any pairing would be unique.
For this pairing I arrived at the bar earlier than normal, to make sure neither employees nor suppliers would interrupt me. I grabbed a bottle of rum, some glasses, ice and headed to the balcony on the 2nd floor.
Port Morant Demerara Rum from 1999
The bottle I selected for this pairing was a Port Morant Demerara Rum from 1999, bottled by Bristol Spirits after aging 15 years in the UK. I love this rum because it is very iconic in its style, with sweet caramelized notes, borderline burnt, with hints of previously-used oak barrels. This rum has a very characteristic DNA and, after being aged for 15 years, it can be easily consumed neat or on the rocks.
As far as the cigar, I selected a Double Chateau Sun Grown from Arturo Fuente (50 x 6 ¾”), a Toro with its wide black Gran Reserva ring, covered in cedar foil. A cigar with these dimensions should easily last us for one hour of smoking. This brand has a reputation for having a medium to high intensity, something we will confirm during the pairing.
Double Chateau Sun Grown from Arturo Fuente
Given my knowledge about the rum and the cigar, the plan I’ve put together is as follows: during the first third of the cigar (the smoothest third), I will drink the rum on the rocks. This will allow the rum to open up more while letting the cigar dominate during the first few sips.
Just as anticipated, the tobacco started with a medium intensity, but it quickly became more intense/aggressive. The rum is balancing well with the cigar, perhaps due to the sweetness and smoothness, but I will need for it to become more intense as the cigar’s body intensifies as well.
As I smoke well into the second third of the cigar, I confirm wholeheartedly that sipping the rum neat was the best way to accompany the Double Chateau: the intensity of the rum, along with its toasted caramel and dark oak notes are a perfect match alongside the consistently intense notes from the tobacco, laden with enticing dried fruit notes.
We are now at the peak of the pairing, as we move past the second third of the cigar. The tobacco notes maintain their signature strength, burning evenly and offering an excellent draw. I’ve never had a problem with any of the Arturo Fuente cigars: I can say that they are a sure bet when it comes to this type of personal treat.
The best thing about the pairing was that I was never interrupted: I was able to enjoy the balcony all by myself. I spent the best hour of the day, enjoying a very well-balanced pairing, a true success.One more year of life, full of experiences to share comes to a close. I wish that everyone is granted many more opportunities to get together with friends and loved ones. I hope that 2022 is an excellent year for all our readers, let’s continue to learn about this fantastic world of cigars and rum!
Cheers!
Philip Ili Barake
#GRCigarPairing
