Punch Punch LAU NOV 16: cigar and drink pairing review

[prodigy]

These were one of my first few purchases getting into CC's a little over a year ago now. They were ones I often handed out or traded. I suddenly regret that decision, as well as not buying more boxes when they were so consistently good last year.

 

The cigar opens up with a wonderfully balanced flavor. Some baking spices up front on the palate with some light leather and toasted tobacco on the finish. The construction is perfect, not too tight and not too loose.

 

I transition over to my drink pairing for the evening after getting the cigar started. The Stagg Jr is no tame animal, and I drink it neat. It has your standard quality bourbon attribute of caramel, vanilla, and oak but it then proceeds to punch you in the face with heat. Then more heat. I keep telling myself, take smaller sips!

 

The key factor with drinking high proof bourbon is to take really small sips. You'll slowly get used to the heat and the underlying flavors start to come out and explode your palate.

 

The cigar is rounding the corner of the first third, and it is amazing. The balance and smoothness doesn't compare to my memory of them in the past. Either they got a lot better, or this is a lucky one. I'm getting a light graham cracker and sweet almond flavor now. The retohale is so smooth. A full mouth of smoke can go out through the nose and not so much as a tingle, usually my nose is quite sensitive to retro. I almost get a sourdough profile, but not like a partagas, almost like how sourdough bread smells in dough form.

 

Back to the Stagg jr. And it's no longer a straight fireball. It has a very oily mouth feel. The finish is long, complex, and very flavorful. It is working great as a pairing, almost building off of each other to make a new, even better, flavor bomb.

 

Coming into the final third, the same flavors are coming in and out, but in greater concentration. More than once since starting I had to double check the band. I can swear there is RASS DNA hiding in here somewhere, gone as fast as it arrives.

 

The combination was a blissful experience. I like most every cigar I've tried, and I like a lot of bourbons. I could review a cigar with a new bourbon every time and it would take me 3 months or longer to try them all!

 

I would like to try a spicier cigar next time, maybe a partagas p2?

 

 

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[leafdream54]

Fantastic review - thank you!  The sheen on that cigar looks amazing.  I'm looking forward to trying one of these from the Xmas sampler soon. ?

[prodigy]

Fantastic review - thank you!  The sheen on that cigar looks amazing.  I'm looking forward to trying one of these from the Xmas sampler soon. 

Flash brings it out a little exaggerated.

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[Chucko8]

Great review thanks. I agree with you on the overproof spirits of small sips. For the overproof rum I find small sip and hold at the front of the mouth for a bit, which allows the taste buds to acclimate to the intensity then allow the flavours to prevail.

[unclepauly25]

Great review, the stagg jr is definitely not for beginners ? I personally love it, that cigar looks amazing also!

[Raskol]

Nice review! Thanks.

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