Ken Gargett Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 although it seems like the least likely of cigar/drink combo's, i have had a couple of conversations with richard geoffroy about this and it is all quite fascinating. he actually was a complete non smoker but is intensely interested in food and wine matches, especially those involving dom (sorry - richard makes dom perignon) and has done extremely extensive tastings matching various vintages of dom with everything from caviar to olive oil and then a series of different cuisines - japanese, thai, moroccan etc. he has done the same with cigars and actually taken up smoking cigars solely for this purpose. a few years ago, he thought that the D4 was the best match for the 1962 but has changed now to the opus x - he doesn't stick solely to cubans. has a cigar for most vintages. with the new 98, thinks the trini fundadores work best. i happened to have a colonniales with me at the launch of the 98 and was amazed at how well it did work. richard has gone into the science behind it all - quite fascinating. any thoughts on matching champagne and cigars? does it work for you or not?
JMH Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 Wow, that guy sounds rightously nerdy I've never tried it before because I'm not much of a champagne drinker, but I'll jump on the oppurtunity next time, it sounds like it would be a really interesting mix of flavours.
Ken Gargett Posted October 27, 2005 Author Posted October 27, 2005 he has just finished the ad campaign with karl lagerfield and helena christianson and other supermodels - if you make dom p, i suspect that you can move in circles we mortals can only dream about. if that is nerdy, sign me up. he is actually a really nice and extremely interesting guy - just happens to be a brilliant winemaker and spend his time flying aorund the world to the best restaurants and so on.
jay8354 Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 Mmmm, Interesting... Never would have thought of Champagne and Cigars. Mainly I think of the "Bigger" Presence of the Cigar will overwhelm the Champagne. Ken, Do you happen to have a brief list of which vintage of Dom goes with which Cigar? Got a Bottle at home, Need to check on the vintage and find which one matches it.
culebra Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 It sounds as if Geoffrey would struggle to pass the FOH Tosser rule Sorry....geoffroy Only kidding Ken ;-)
Ken Gargett Posted October 27, 2005 Author Posted October 27, 2005 guys apols all round if in any way i have indicated anything negative about richard. he is a fascinating bloke and one of the most knowledgable about food/wine matches in the world. he is also a truly brilliant winemaker. i thought that this would be something that would interest the forum. next, i have a list of some of them - not with me when doing this. will chase up. let me know your vintage and i'll see what i can find if i don't have that one specifically.
El Presidente Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 Ken this is a great thread I love a bottle of Billy Cart Salmon with a Cohiba Lancero. The creaminess of the Salmon sets off the Cohiba perfectly. What are your thoughts Ken?
Ken Gargett Posted October 27, 2005 Author Posted October 27, 2005 it was something that i touched on a few years ago when richard first mentioned it but i haven't taken it further. certainly planning on doing so. actually planning on a bit of research to put together an article. so we may need some december lunches. and without wishing to cross threads, at least you are able to catch a billecart salmon, even if no real fish. » Ken this is a great thread » » I love a bottle of Billy Cart Salmon with a Cohiba Lancero. The creaminess » of the Salmon sets off the Cohiba perfectly. » » What are your thoughts Ken?
JMH Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 Sorry if it sounded like I was giving the guy any crap, but I was using 'righteously' in the 80's/90's sense to mean awesome etc. using it to refer to those few guys who know so much about their particular field of interest that it's turly amazing. Would you rather I use 'bodacious' next time :-P I just found it a bit funny because it sounds exactly like something my dad would do. I'd love to sit down with a guy like that and let them talk for a few hours. What you could learn...
jay8354 Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 Thanks Ken, I have a bottle of 96 of Dom and also a 96 bottle Moet. This will be interesting, since most of the time, Cigar lovers usually go for a "harder" liquor.
Ken Gargett Posted October 27, 2005 Author Posted October 27, 2005 both 98 and 96 doms were recommended to go with a trini fundadore. i reckon 96 really is one of the all time great champagnes. enjoy it. » Thanks Ken, I have a bottle of 96 of Dom and also a 96 bottle Moet. » This will be interesting, since most of the time, Cigar lovers usually go » for a "harder" liquor.
Colt45 Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 I've never had much luck with cigars and wine. Without fail, the cigar smoke flattens out the flavor, and brings out the tannin in the wine, regardless of wine style. Ken (may I call you Ken?), as an aside, was there anything new or interesting to be found during your cork trip to Portugal?
Curmudgeon Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 » I love a bottle of Billy Cart Salmon I don't have specific pairings, but I agree that Champagne and cigars match very well. Rob happens to have mentioned my favorite non-vintage Champagne.
waldo Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 Sorry, Where I come from it's cigars and Bourbon. If you ask for Champagne you will be called "swish" :-P
El Presidente Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Seriously, I am a champagne *****. Drop of choice is 1996 Pol Roger which I match Saturday and Sunday mornings to either a HDM Le Hoyo Gourmet or De Dieux. The creaminess of the HDM Le Hoyo line complements the apple and pear nature of the Pol. Ken....am I a fruitloop alcoholic or does the above make sense?
Ken Gargett Posted October 28, 2005 Author Posted October 28, 2005 rob, they are not mutually exclusive. colt - you have nailed one of the points that does make champagne and cigars a surprising match - because champagne in general, and dom in particular, has such minimal tannin, it avoids this problem. i think i need to do a whole lot of research to take this further. if anyone is in qld over dec/jan and wants to help, let's organise a lunch or two (or perhaps rob can get lisa to do it).
Colt45 Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 » ............... one of the points that does make champagne and » cigars a surprising match - because champagne in general, and dom in » particular, has such minimal tannin, it avoids this problem Okay, I'll break out the white owls and cold duck, and give it a try this weekend.
Bill Hayes Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 In my job as ad creative, we've just launched the Yellowglen Vintage Perle campaign featuring the gorgeous Grace Kelly. It's not quite dom but it's bloody good for aussie sparkling. I'll have to match it with a cigar as I've got a fare few bottles, for research purposes of course. We've also just aquired the majority of the foster's wine brands. I'd also be interested in your expertise Ken of matching what wines with what cigar so I can make the most of the freebies. ;-)
skid11 Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Ken bring a few bottles of Dom P to the opening night and I'll help you with your research mate ....................;-) You could be onto something here though with the tannin content of the wine as generally I have never found a red wine variety that combines well with cigars at all. Juan Lopez (or any milder style I imagine) goes well with a crisp young riesling My favourite cigar drink that adds to the flavour is Muscat or Tokay, I used to think that it was the sweetness of the wine but the same cigar tastes yuk with a dessert wine. Very subjective thoughts I know as beauty is in the mouth of the beholder. I will definately try the champers........ I have a nice Croser to knock off any excuse eh...............................................
Freefallguy Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 » guys » apols all round if in any way i have indicated anything negative about » richard. he is a fascinating bloke and one of the most knowledgable about » food/wine matches in the world. he is also a truly brilliant winemaker. i » thought that this would be something that would interest the forum. » next, i have a list of some of them - not with me when doing this. will » chase up. Ken, trusting your wisdom and discrimnating taste, I'd definitely would be interested in your list!
strayvector Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 I've never been much of a fan of champagne. Occasions that I have drank it, have been for a toast or just a celebratory glass. I usually move on to wine followed by bourbon. I'm usually at the bourbon stage when I light up a stick. Sounds like I should light up earlier and try the cigar with champagne. Thanks for the tip, Ken.
Loki Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Ken, You have opened my eyes to something new and I will have to try some bubbly and a cigar. How about Moet and an HDM DC?
Wiley Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 Fascinating read. Thank you again Ken! Now I just need to find myself a box of aged Fundadores, and I'll be set.
habanablue Posted November 1, 2005 Posted November 1, 2005 best thing about bubbly is that wife doesn't complain about me holding a cigar when she is holding glass of the good stuff!
JMH Posted November 6, 2005 Posted November 6, 2005 I might try this with a bottle of Bolinger 1985 vintage that is being opened shortly. Does anyone have any views on whether I should go for a mild, medium, or strong cigar?
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