Cigar & Rum Pairing
A few months have passed since I started managing a new restaurant, an iconic concept in Punta Arenas. Many generations have enjoyed this alcazar, filled with history and good memories. At closing time, after everyone left, I stayed at the bar and pulled out a cigar I had brought from home. I planned to prepare a Rum Old Fashioned, most of you know that it is one of my favorite rum cocktails.
The dilemma was, which of my rums from the house to use? The one that was up to the challenge was El Dorado 15, from Guyana. This rum and I go back a long time, and recalling all those memories made it the ideal choice.
Regarding the cigar, not too long ago I met with an industry colleague, and he gifted me several cigars. This is one of them, one I’ve smoked before, a Rigoleto from Fuller Cigar (6 x 54). It is primarily a Dominican Republic, box-pressed cigar, with some Nicaraguan leaves in the blend. My appreciation for this format grew the more I smoked it, I really enjoyed its draw. This one was no different. I would categorize the cigar’s intensity at a Medium, with some stronger hits during the second third, but can be very well-rounded with the right pairing.
El Dorado 15 is the perfect rum for an Old Fashioned, it has plenty of character that endures in the cocktail, the rum profile has notes of dark woods and tanned leather. The rum is not designed to satisfy the masses, but rather it is blended for those looking for heavier, more intense, yet well-rounded rums. It allows for the perfect balance in this cocktail recipe, when mixed with the brown sugar and the Angostura Bitters. The pairing brings a smile to my face, just thinking about it!
During the first third of the cigar, the cocktail dominates the pairing, something I fully expected, especially since I didn’t stir the drink in order to appreciate the rum even more. After a few puffs, as we enter the second third of the cigar, the brown sugar notes from the cocktail come into play, providing a sweet aftertaste that is very well-received, as it smooths out the experience.This is a special pairing, which celebrates 150 articles written for “Got Rum?” magazine over the past 15 years, filled with pleasant memories shared with all our readers. This is definitely a cocktail to enjoy after a long’s day work and I really hope that you can recreate it at home. Pair it with a medium intensity cigar in a format that will not exceed 40 minutes of smoking time. A simple, yet perfect pairing for special occasions, such as this one.
Cheers!
Philip Ili Barake
#GRCigarPairing
