So, Alan sent me a cigar, with the only condition being a review. As some of you know, I have not had the easiest time as of late, as my division was eliminated at work, so I have a limited timeframe to find a new job in a rather specialized niche.
SO, I decided that I would treat myself nice and head up to meet a friend at a private club for a beer and a smoke.
I stopped at the Hofsbrau Hous in West Springfield first...and had a pint of Dinkel Acker to pass some time before I met up with my buddy Tom. MMMM, hit the spot...another? Sure, I've got some time. Well, still have 45 mintues to kill after the second pint, I should probably get a bite to eat so I don't get too buzzed or lightheaded to enjoy myself...it is only 4 in the afternoon, after all. So, what would be a good choice that wouldn't screw up the palate? Oh, there it is, ostrich filet in a reduction with some kind of sauteed cabbage, with onions and something else. Wow...it is a little heavy, actually, perhaps another pint will liven this meal up...YUP! Lovely.
Oh, damn, time does fly, gotta go meet Tom.
Inside the club, I pull out the cigar, and hand Tom the box I've been holding for him. Oh, before we smoke, we should grab a drink, good call...the "cigar table" is a whole 40 feet from the bar, so a double JW Black should hold me off. Let's just finish that up and grab a pint (of beer, not Black Label) to bring to the table, shall we?
Atuck...I fear that this review might not get as detailed as you would like. THe cigar had a wonderful core of healthy spice, without being what I would call a "spicey" cigar. It held a nuetral tobacco tone with a little zing. Quite lovely. Predominant flavors were Ostrich, onions, and scotch...quite unusual! I kid, I kid, there were clear "woodsy" flavors, leather, what I call "soil" (which is not a bad thing, just that great earthy flavor, like the way your mouth tastes taking a walk through recently tilled, but not fertilized, farmland). It drew wonderfully. Just enough resistance to keep my attention. I have become a real stickler in the last year or two for the draw of a cigar. A little too much either way and I get upset. It burned razor straight until the last 1.5 inches, when a quick touch-up made it right. Flavors mellowed and matured well throughout, and by the end were quite forceful and pronounced.
Towards the very end, it started getting a tad hot, but another pint took care of that.
I must admit to not paying quite as much attention as I could have to this cigar, Alan, and I do apologize for that. I will say, however, that I know that my greatest joy is sharing a cigar with someone and having them enjoy it, and if you are of a similar mind (which I am pretty sure you are), you can rest assured that I THOUROUGHLY enjoyed this one.
I handed Tom a Padron 26 Principe Maduro to smoke while we finished our beer. It was his first of the line, and he enjoyed it thoroughly, as I did, as always. I drank a few much needed glasses of water, had a quick coffee, finished the Padron, and headed home around 9 ish. Not a bad five hours for a wednesday night.
Thanks Alan!
SO, I decided that I would treat myself nice and head up to meet a friend at a private club for a beer and a smoke.
I stopped at the Hofsbrau Hous in West Springfield first...and had a pint of Dinkel Acker to pass some time before I met up with my buddy Tom. MMMM, hit the spot...another? Sure, I've got some time. Well, still have 45 mintues to kill after the second pint, I should probably get a bite to eat so I don't get too buzzed or lightheaded to enjoy myself...it is only 4 in the afternoon, after all. So, what would be a good choice that wouldn't screw up the palate? Oh, there it is, ostrich filet in a reduction with some kind of sauteed cabbage, with onions and something else. Wow...it is a little heavy, actually, perhaps another pint will liven this meal up...YUP! Lovely.
Oh, damn, time does fly, gotta go meet Tom.
Inside the club, I pull out the cigar, and hand Tom the box I've been holding for him. Oh, before we smoke, we should grab a drink, good call...the "cigar table" is a whole 40 feet from the bar, so a double JW Black should hold me off. Let's just finish that up and grab a pint (of beer, not Black Label) to bring to the table, shall we?
Atuck...I fear that this review might not get as detailed as you would like. THe cigar had a wonderful core of healthy spice, without being what I would call a "spicey" cigar. It held a nuetral tobacco tone with a little zing. Quite lovely. Predominant flavors were Ostrich, onions, and scotch...quite unusual! I kid, I kid, there were clear "woodsy" flavors, leather, what I call "soil" (which is not a bad thing, just that great earthy flavor, like the way your mouth tastes taking a walk through recently tilled, but not fertilized, farmland). It drew wonderfully. Just enough resistance to keep my attention. I have become a real stickler in the last year or two for the draw of a cigar. A little too much either way and I get upset. It burned razor straight until the last 1.5 inches, when a quick touch-up made it right. Flavors mellowed and matured well throughout, and by the end were quite forceful and pronounced.
Towards the very end, it started getting a tad hot, but another pint took care of that.
I must admit to not paying quite as much attention as I could have to this cigar, Alan, and I do apologize for that. I will say, however, that I know that my greatest joy is sharing a cigar with someone and having them enjoy it, and if you are of a similar mind (which I am pretty sure you are), you can rest assured that I THOUROUGHLY enjoyed this one.
I handed Tom a Padron 26 Principe Maduro to smoke while we finished our beer. It was his first of the line, and he enjoyed it thoroughly, as I did, as always. I drank a few much needed glasses of water, had a quick coffee, finished the Padron, and headed home around 9 ish. Not a bad five hours for a wednesday night.
Thanks Alan!
