AVB
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- Joined
- Nov 14, 2003
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I received some sample bottles from Ian Macleod yesterday with a little of each of the three cigar malts and thought I'd give a quick review of each. The specifications listed below are for the actual releases and not these sample bottles
The colors are really very close between the three and any discrepancys you see is in the photograph and not that much in reality.
The following applies to all three versions:
700ml, short squat bottle, wood case package bottled 9/07.
Cigar recommendations are from the distiller
Mild: 109.8 proof, distilled 2/19/96, finished in Maderia casks. 372 bottles.
The Cigar Malt (Classic): 108.8 proof, distilled 4/7/94, finished in Chateau la Nerthe casks. 618 bottles
Robusto: 110.2 proof, Distilled 7/4/97, finished in a bourbon Hogshead. 270 bottles
I'll start with the mild version first. The nose is soft & fruity with a bit of spiciness. The taste is very smooth if a few drops of water are added. Green apples and oak with a good malt sweetness. The finish is fairly long with soft fruit and toffee.
This was made to go with milder cigars such as the Ramon Allones Robusto or Hoyo de Monterry Epicure No2.
The Classic version steps it up a notch nosing a good oak with fruit and spices. The taste is raspberry immediately followed by a malt and pepperiness with a sherry feel although none was stored in sherry casks. The finish is really long and sweet on the sides of the tongue. Even without the designation of being a "Cigar Malt" this would be a good dram.
Matches well to a Maria Mancini Especial, a full-bodied Mexican puro, Romeo Y Julieta Short Churchill or CAO Cameroon Robusto.
The Robusto version noses big, oily and smoky and reminds me of Caol Ila in many ways. No doubt this is an Islay whisky. The taste is phenolic, smokey and peaty with a good level of malt and sweetness. The finish is smokey, sweet and hugely long.
Matches to a Cohiba Robusto, Vegas Robaina Familiar or other full bodied cigars.
I wish I could buy all three but I do have a favorite that will be gracing my shelf sometime next year.
The colors are really very close between the three and any discrepancys you see is in the photograph and not that much in reality.
The following applies to all three versions:
700ml, short squat bottle, wood case package bottled 9/07.
Cigar recommendations are from the distiller
Mild: 109.8 proof, distilled 2/19/96, finished in Maderia casks. 372 bottles.
The Cigar Malt (Classic): 108.8 proof, distilled 4/7/94, finished in Chateau la Nerthe casks. 618 bottles
Robusto: 110.2 proof, Distilled 7/4/97, finished in a bourbon Hogshead. 270 bottles
I'll start with the mild version first. The nose is soft & fruity with a bit of spiciness. The taste is very smooth if a few drops of water are added. Green apples and oak with a good malt sweetness. The finish is fairly long with soft fruit and toffee.
This was made to go with milder cigars such as the Ramon Allones Robusto or Hoyo de Monterry Epicure No2.
The Classic version steps it up a notch nosing a good oak with fruit and spices. The taste is raspberry immediately followed by a malt and pepperiness with a sherry feel although none was stored in sherry casks. The finish is really long and sweet on the sides of the tongue. Even without the designation of being a "Cigar Malt" this would be a good dram.
Matches well to a Maria Mancini Especial, a full-bodied Mexican puro, Romeo Y Julieta Short Churchill or CAO Cameroon Robusto.
The Robusto version noses big, oily and smoky and reminds me of Caol Ila in many ways. No doubt this is an Islay whisky. The taste is phenolic, smokey and peaty with a good level of malt and sweetness. The finish is smokey, sweet and hugely long.
Matches to a Cohiba Robusto, Vegas Robaina Familiar or other full bodied cigars.
I wish I could buy all three but I do have a favorite that will be gracing my shelf sometime next year.
