Cigar & Rum Pairing
Historically, as I write my pairings, most of my readers are located, quite literally, on the opposite side of the world. This contrast is even more marked now that I am in Punta Arenas. And despite the fact that I should be experiencing higher temperatures and better climate now, which are perfect for smoking, the weather in Punta Arenas is very different from the one in the rest of Chile. Here, the sky can be clear and sunny one moment and, in less than 30 minutes, the day turns cloudy and windy and it is impossible to go outside for a smoke.
These past days the weather had been like that, and I couldn’t find an opportunity to do the pairing, especially since my son is here with me and I also have to plan around him. Well, today the sun finally came out, and it is not windy, so it was the perfect time to do the pairing, especially since Joaquín was very sleepy.
We went out to a nearby coffee shop called History Coffee, located a couple of blocks away from the house. It is the only place with outdoor sitting where it is possible to smoke.
Once there, before ordering food from the menu for the pairing, I lit a cigar that I took with me, a Robusto from Casa Magna Colorado (52 x 5 ½), Nicaraguan, which I’ve smoked before and have enjoyed its flavor and draw.
We left the house so quickly that I forgot to take a cigar cutter, even though I have approximately 8 of them spread throughout the house. So I had to improvise the cut, like in the movies, biting off the tip with my teeth, giving it a bullet-like cut, which came out quite well.
When the waitress arrived at our table, I asked for an Irish Coffee, but I asked for it to be made with rum. I didn’t have many options, so I chose Havana Añejo. For a drink like this one, I would not recommend spending money on a rum that is much older or more expensive. Most rums won’t make a worthwhile impact on coffee, unless you can get an Agricole or an Overproof, which would definitely be bolder and more noticeable.
As I mentioned earlier, I was doing the pairing during a short window of opportunity, despite the sporadic gust of cold wind. By my calculations, we only had 20-30 minutes before the sun would reach the table where we were sitting, and that is why I started smoking as soon as I sat down.
Pairings are always subjective and their enjoyment is tied to different factors. In this case, it came accompanied by a sense of relief, since I was finally able to smoke outside, without bothersome winds and with a rum! Even when compared to the ideal conditions, this pairing was not bad at all. I do feel, however, that when they prepared my beverage, they added a bit too much rum, which increased the aromatic intensity. The cigar and the coffee combined well, without overpowering each other. The cigar’s medium-to-high body stood its ground and the pairing would not have been possible if it had been any milder. At the beginning, the cigar had its own coffee-like notes, unrelated to the drink, but at the end it was loaded with dry fruits and spices.
As I finished the drink and the cigar, the sun started to reach my hands, slowly warming up my body. I wanted to continue smoking, but the window of opportunity started to close as Joaquín started to awake, so it was time to return home.
I hope that those of you experiencing cold weather can also find time to enjoy a cigar with a warm rum drink. All it takes to be happy is around 30 minutes!
Philip Ili Barake
#GRCigarPairing
