The Stogie Guys

The history of DonQ rum dates back to 1861. That’s the year Don Juan Serrallés, a first-generation immigrant from Spain, founded a sugar plantation in Puerto Rico.

Four years later, Serrallés produced his first casks of rum using a copper pot still imported from France. The Serrallés Family would later gain exclusive rights to the Río Inabón, a river that winds through Puerto Rico’s volcanic mountains, and, in 1934, introduce DonQ to the market. “The brand is named for Don Quixote, the famous literary character from the family’s favorite novel,” reads the DonQ website. “Just as Don Quixote represents the search for a perfect world, DonQ signifies the family’s quest for perfection in rum.”

To create their rum, the family—now headed by Felix J. Serrallés, Jr.— distills DonQ five times before aging it for two to seven years in charred American white oak barrels. The product is then blended and bottled on-site. “We delight in the art and science behind making our rums,” says the family.

DonQ has won numerous accolades since it was reintroduced to the U.S. market in 2006. It was named “platinum” at the International Spirits Competition and “double gold” at the San Francisco World Competition.

Poured neat, the bright golden spirit boasts a nose of rich caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and raisin. The aroma also has a mellow alcohol tinge, and swirling the glass illustrates the rum’s low viscosity and lack of sediments. The taste is light and smoky. Notes of butterscotch, oak, and molasses are prevalent, and more subtle flavors of pineapple and tobacco are detectable to attentive sippers. The finish, while not nearly as pronounced as bolder rums, is longer and warmer than you’d expect from such a clean-tasting spirit.

At the end of the day, DonQ isn’t as complex or inspiring as the finer rums on the market. But it can hold its own neat, or better yet, in your favorite rum cocktail (the so-called “blood and tears” is especially interesting). And it will only run you about $20 per bottle.

As for cigar pairings, couple spicy medium-bodied smokes with this spirit, as they’ll balance nicely with DonQ’s sweet and fruity flavors. I’ve found the Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 to be one of many excellent complements.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I’ve written before that bold, rich beers can be a great pairing for a fine cigar. I’m not talking about your generic, mass-produced Bud, Coors, or Miller product; I’m talking about craft brews made with an abundance of flavorful hops and malt.

The Delaware-based Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is an example of a company that takes flavorful beers seriously. I’ve long been a fan of their 60 Minute and 90 Minute IPAs, which are (as you might have guessed) continuously hopped for 60 and 90 minutes, respectively.

My enjoyment of Dogfish Head’s 90 Minute IPA is one reason why I was excited to try the Dogfish Head Squall IPA. At one of Dogfish Head’s “Alehouses,” Squall was described to me as the traditional 90 Minute Imperial Pale Ale bottled unfiltered and bottle-aged.

The result is an aromatic brew with a deep, slightly cloudy copper color. The nose is hoppy with an inviting grapefruit tinge.

Squall reveals many classic flavors from Dogfish Head’s 90 Minute IPA: rich, sweet maltiness, dried fruit, and pine. Added to the mix is a creaminess that the standard 90 Minute lacks.

This is a rich beer with both power and finesse. It goes great with cigars that are similarly powerful yet refined. The Nicaraguan spice in the Tatuaje Black, Illusione, and Padilla 1932 fit the bill.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Booker Noe, Jim Beam’s late grandson, introduced Booker’s in 1992 as the “highest grade bourbon” made by the James B. Beam Distilling Co. Today it still holds that title and serves as the pinnacle of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection, a lineup that includes Baker’s, Basil Hayden’s, Booker’s, and Knob Creek.

Aged six to eight years in charred American white oak barrels, this spirit “is the first ever bourbon bottled straight from the barrel—uncut and unfiltered.” Before it was made commercially available, Noe is said to have crafted the bourbon in this fashion as a holiday gift for his closest friends.

These days Booker’s is widely available for $50-60 per 750 ml. bottle. Each comes handsomely packaged in a wooden box that bears the name “Claremont, Kentucky,” which is the home of Jim Beam. Inside is a dark, wax-dipped bottle adorned with ribbon and a unique label with cursive script, presumably a representation of Booker Noe’s handwriting.

Once poured, the bourbon maintains its dark copper color in the glass as it exudes a powerful fragrance of butterscotch, vanilla, oak, and zesty barbecue. This aroma is simultaneously intense and intriguing, setting the stage for the bold flavor that follows.

The taste is forceful yet refined, extremely warm on the lips, in the mouth, and down the throat. This warmth lingers for an incredible amount of time, as does the syrupy flavor of honey, dried fruits, and caramel.

A bourbon like this can be paired with just about any full-bodied cigar without fear of one overpowering the other. I tried a number of combinations in my “research” for this article, and smokes like the Avo Heritage, La Sirena, and San Lotano Habano made the best pairings. I look forward to discovering others.

As always, I recommend you undertake some experiments of your own. I also recommend you pick up a bottle of this outstanding bourbon. Despite its price, Booker’s is an unforgettable spirit that’s unique, bold, smooth, delicious, and worth every penny.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Christmas may be over but, if you hurry, it’s still not too late to pick up some of the fantastic offerings that breweries create for the holidays. I recently selected three Christmas-inspired Belgian ales from my local beer store.

While the following brews can be hard to find, I wasn’t necessarily looking for these particular beers; rather, I was more interested in the broader Belgian ale style, which has the strength, flavor, and complexity to go well with cigars.

Delerium Noels

Over 20 years ago, before micro-breweries took off and Belgian ales could be found with regularity in the U.S., Huyghe Brewery released the well-known Delerium Tremens ale. In 2006, the brewery produced a Christmas Ale, which features a cola-like sweetness and fruitcake flavors. That light sweetness goes perfect with a Cameroon-wrapped cigar, like the Fuente Hemingway.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

This abbey ale from Watou in West Flanders has a remarkably strong, intense nose. The 10% alcohol-by-volume beer features fruit notes of cherry and dates, a syrupy intensity, and roasted nut flavors. It’s a full-flavored beer that can stand up to a maduro. I recommend pairing it with the EO 601 Blue.

Corsendonk Christmas Ale

Available November through February each year, the Corsendonk Christmas Ale  is an inviting mahogany color. It is well-balanced with chocolate notes and a touch of citrus, Christmas spices, and molasses. While each ale was enjoyable, of the three this was my favorite. My pairing of choice is the Davidoff Millenium Blend.

These three holiday ales demonstrate that while whiskeys and rum may be more classic pairings, a flavorful Belgian ale can be an excellent accompaniment to a fine cigar. And don’t worry if you can’t find these specific beers, as there are many great and unique others (and finding your favorite can be part of the fun).

If you have a favorite Belgian ale that you think pairs with a fine cigar, let us know in the comments.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When it comes to spirits, the “angel’s share” is the portion that evaporates over time, escapes the barrel, and ascends to the heavens. The new Angel’s Envy bourbon sets out to create a finished bourbon that makes those angels envious.

The Angel’s Envy project may be new, but Lincoln Henderson, the man behind it, certainly isn’t a bourbon novice. Before founding the Louisville Distilling Company, Henderson was in charge of operations at the Woodford Reserve and Old Forrester.

His first solo offering is Angel’s Envy 10/10, an aged, small-batch bourbon that’s finished in port casks. Named for the October 2010 release date, Henderson is planning future versions that will use different barrels for finishing.

Currently, Angel’s Envy is available in just a few states. But I was able to secure a sample of the unique bottle ($45 at retail). The sample I tasted has a light bronze color and was bottled at 86.8 proof.

The nose boasts a port barrel finish along with sweet toffee. As for taste, I find cream, nut, apricot, pine, and oak. The bourbon coats the palate and leaves your lips with a tingle of red pepper spice. The long finish starts out with honey and ends with a reminder of the port barrels.

All in all, based on the sample I tasted, this is an interesting and welcome addition to the already numerous fine bourbons being produced. It deserves to be tasted neat and pairs well with a good cigar.

As for that cigar, I found the spice of a Honduran or Nicaraguan smoke to be an excellent accompaniment, as the Angel’s Envy certainly has the structure to stand up to a full-bodied smoke. Recommended smokes include the Room 101 Conjura, Tatuaje Unicos, and San Lotano Habano. For those more Cuban-inclined, I’d go with the Ramón Allones Specially Selected or Bolivar Royal Corona.

I don’t claim to know what angels drink, and I’m certainly no angel myself. But I do know that I certainly wouldn’t turn down a glass of Angel’s Envy with a fine cigar, and I’m very much looking forward to the next Angel’s Envy “expression.”

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

If you’ve ever had a glass of Macallan, chances are you know it’s good scotch. I’ve been fortunate enough to try their 12 Year and 18 Year varieties over the years, and when put on the spot for my favorite single malt, the Macallan 18 is one of only two possible answers I’ll give (the other being the peaty Laphroaig 15).

Both the 12 and 18 Year are aged in sherry casks from Jerez, Spain—as was all Macallan scotch up until 2004. It was then that Macallan added “Fine Oak” as a new regular production range, aged in a combination of Jerez sherry casks, American sherry casks, and American bourbon casks.

The Fine Oak 17, as the name suggests, is aged a minimum of 17 years. It’s the fourth-oldest scotch in the Fine Oak range, which also has 10, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, and 30-year-old varieties.

The nose on the Fine Oak 17 is very clean and vibrant with marshmallow, mango, and apricot. It’s a golden amber in color. On the palate the whisky reveals a smooth flavor, with muted oak, toffee, a touch of spice, and subtle wine notes that remind me of aged burgundy. The clean finish has a hint of dried fruit and substantial sherry notes.

There’s no denying that this is a fine single malt scotch; it’s clean, bright, and complex. And although I still prefer the sherry cask Macallan 18, it’s no surprise that the Fine Oak 17 sells for $130.

Like so many fine scotches, the Fine Oak 17 is the perfect accompaniment to a good cigar. I smoked a Padrón Serie 1926 Maduro No. 6 (pictured) and found that the noble medium- to full-bodied smoke brought out the complexity of the single malt. I wouldn’t want anything stronger though, as too much spice or body in the cigar would overpower the subtleties of the scotch.

Keep that in mind and you’d be hard pressed to find a better after-dinner scotch to enjoy with good company and a fine cigar.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Last year, I elevated Cruzan Single Barrel to “regular” status in my rum rotation. It earned that spot due to its affordability, availability, and balanced, rounded taste.

I’ve never been disappointed by this high quality, complex spirit. So, when Cruzan announced they were expanding their light, dark, and flavored rum portfolio in July with a new spiced rum, my interest piqued. Called Cruzan 9, the blend is named for the nine spices which comprise its recipe: vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, mace, allspice, pepper, and juniper berry.

“Nine” also references St. Croix’s nine districts. The Cruzan name (pronounced kru-shun), after all, is derived from the island’s inhabitants—called “Crucians.” Cruzan began producing rum on St. Croix eight generations ago and, even though cane is no longer grown there, the island remains a naturally fitting locale for rum production.

“With its unique blend of nine all natural spices, Cruzan 9 is true to its heritage of premium craftsmanship, while confronting rum fans with a bolder, more dramatic spirit,” reads a press release from Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., Cruzan’s distributor. “Spiced rum is one of the fastest growing distilled spirits, yet consumers didn’t really have an option if they were looking for higher quality. The industry is full of gimmicks and pirates when it comes to spiced rum, but Cruzan 9 offers a ‘real’ rum experience.”

It does so inexpensively. At only $13-16 per 750 ml. bottle, Cruzan 9 is priced to compete with the likes of Captain Morgan. Slightly lighter in appearance than its competitor, it has a bright amber hue and a nose of muted vanilla and herbs.

The back of the bottle says this spirit is “perfect neat, on the rocks, or quintessentially Cruzan—over ice with cola and a squeeze of lime.” While I enjoy this rum, it, like many spiced rums, doesn’t quite have the subtlety or depth to be sipped neat or on the rocks. But its smooth taste of vanilla, dried fruits, and cinnamon does work well in a mixed cocktail, with ginger beer, or with Diet Coke.

And that’s probably what the good folks at Cruzan intended when they dreamed up this new offering—an approachable mixing spirit that will capture some of the spiced rum market. In that regard, they succeeded. Cruzan 9 is better than Captain Morgan and worth a try the next time you want to relax with a libation and a cigar.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys