This week on Lounge Lizards: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée Robusto with twelve year aged Glenmoranie Single Malt Scotch Whisky,non-Cuban 5 pack for new cigar smokers

[El Presidente]

The Lizards pair the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée in Robusto with twelve year aged Glenmoranie Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The guys build their non-Cuban 5 pack for new cigar smokers, they debate if cigars and tobacco have made a return into pop culture and Pagoda melts into the studio’s loveseat. PLUS: The Great Sobremesa Brûlée Sweetening Debate, RIP Ozzy Osbourne, Tariffs Hit Cigars, Do Men and Women Have Different Palate Preferences?, Acquired Tastes in Cigars, Coffee and Music, How Have Lizards Palates Changed?, The Honduran Cigar Boom, & The New 12 Year Expression from Glenmorangie

 

[El Niño]

On the topic of smoking returning, something you guys didn't mention is vaping. I feel like vaping has calloused (American) public perception to smoking... really to nicotine consumption at large. 

As y'all were reviewing the Sobremesa Brûlée, the consensus seems to be "if we could prove this isn't artificially sweetened, we'd love it."  My question is WHY? If you enjoy something, isn't it fine to simply enjoy it on its own merit? Perception is a funny aspect of experience: you can enjoy something because you think you like it, and vice versa. To your credit, Lizards, I think you do a great job of being faithful to experience when reviewing, but this one really threw a wrench in the spokes. 

I try to keep very open minded towards liking and disliking things. I love Padron, but I don't like Padron Black. I don't like Perdomo, but I love the 30th Connecticut series. I don't love diva pop music, but Sabrina Carpenter's Short n Sweet album is fantastic. (Can't say the same for Taylor Swift)

Ignoring production methods, was Sobremesa Brûlée enjoyable?

[El Presidente]

On 8/9/2025 at 10:58 AM, El Niño said:

As y'all were reviewing the Sobremesa Brûlée, the consensus seems to be "if we could prove this isn't artificially sweetened, we'd love it."  My question is WHY? If you enjoy something, isn't it fine to simply enjoy it on its own merit? Perception is a funny aspect of experience: you can enjoy something because you think you like it, and vice versa. To your credit, Lizards, I think you do a great job of being faithful to experience when reviewing, but this one really threw a wrench in the spokes. 

Delivering the right level of NATURAL sweetness in a blend is an art that in my experience few blenders can achieve with NC tobacco. 

There are plenty that infuse/bethune to achieve a similar outcome. Some openly state they do and that is no problem. 

To achieve it naturally however requires a masters touch.  Like great chefs, they deserve acknowledgement as they are artists. 

[El Niño]

7 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Delivering the right level of NATURAL sweetness in a blend is an art that in my experience few blenders can achieve with NC tobacco. 

There are plenty that infuse/bethune to achieve a similar outcome. Some openly state they do and that is no problem. 

To achieve it naturally however requires a masters touch.  Like great chefs, they deserve acknowledgement as they are artists. 

Couldn't agree more! For my personal taste, I think the Brûlée goes far over the line in terms of sweetness even if it were natural. 

It's annoying that it isn't openly stated whether or not it's sweetened, and I see how one might take issue with that. 

I find it beautiful that a blender can create such diverse flavors with humble tobacco leaves (that's why I love this forum!), and Steve Saka has done so many times. I think he really loves to annoy people for fun (e.g. the #GFY Lancero collection), and that's part of why he won't go on record saying the Brûlée is sweetened. It's funny at best and dubious at worst. 

BUT if you enjoy the Sobremesa Brûlée for how it tastes, and it aligns with perfectly with your palate, should it be a demerit that it isn't 100% natural? Perhaps it's just disingenuous to not disclose what it is

[El Presidente]

43 minutes ago, El Niño said:

Couldn't agree more! For my personal taste, I think the Brûlée goes far over the line in terms of sweetness even if it were natural. 

It's annoying that it isn't openly stated whether or not it's sweetened, and I see how one might take issue with that. 

I find it beautiful that a blender can create such diverse flavors with humble tobacco leaves (that's why I love this forum!), and Steve Saka has done so many times. I think he really loves to annoy people for fun (e.g. the #GFY Lancero collection), and that's part of why he won't go on record saying the Brûlée is sweetened. It's funny at best and dubious at worst. 

BUT if you enjoy the Sobremesa Brûlée for how it tastes, and it aligns with perfectly with your palate, should it be a demerit that it isn't 100% natural? Perhaps it's just disingenuous to not disclose what it is

For the record, I have no idea what Steve does in terms of blending theory/execution. I am however a huge admirer  He is on my list for a long long lunch one day. 

Love his no BS take.