For December, we’re not sending a pairing due to the holidays. Instead, we are crowd sourcing recommendations from the tasting panel. Hopefully, this will let you begin to see who your palate aligns with and give you better recommendations for the future.
We will almost definitely do this again so feel free to submit your own recommendations.
Ethan’s Recommendation
Foundation Tabernacle Havana Seed Ct No 142 – $10
I really enjoy Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers. Most of the notable CT Broadleaf cigars are Maduros. This cigar has a Connecticut Habano Broadleaf wrapper. It is full bodied, medium strength and super unique. It has the normal sweet, clean abundant smoke of a Connecticut wrapper plus an extra layer of baking spice. It also has a San Adres binder. This makes it dark and doubles down on the sweetness and spice. This stick feels like it was made specifically for me.
Nerdy Cigar Details
Similar sticks: Liga Privada No 9, CAO Flathead, Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Maduro
Penelope Single Barrel Toasted Rye, Char 2, Heavy – $75
This bottle oozes sweetness from the secondary barrel finishing. This sweetness, along with the inherent spiciness of good MGP rye, goes fantastic with cigars in general and this stick specifically.
JAC’s Recommendation
Don Pepín Series JJ
Maker: My Father
Type: Medium to full body (I would classify light to Med)
Wrapper: Corojo Rosado
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 60 minutes
Cut: Straight
Pre-Light Post cut: Medium draw, earthy taste, genuine tobacco aroma.
First Third: Perfect Draw with some leather on the palate, cream, light tobacco flavor with breakfast coffee
Second Third: Leather gets creamier, and Breakfast Coffee notes get deeper. The smoke experience is a little lighter than suggested until the retrohale. It is super spicy on the retro. Making this good for both beginners who are not retrohaling yet but complex for those seasoned smokers who can get a constant retro.
Final Third: Coffee and leather are consistent through the last third and gets a little earthy.
The Series JJ is a great pick up for both the beginner and seasoned smoker that can be found readily available at most tobacco stores. The complexity in transitions is there but the power to me is not overwhelming for the entry level folk.