Sweet Cigar Pairing: Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Sun Grown Robusto With Bacardi's Reserva Limited Rum

Ever had Bacardi Reserva Limitada Founder’s Blend? The answer is likely “no.”

There was a time when you needed a connection to the Bacardi family to sample their rum of this caliber. And even when they made it available to the general public, you still had to go to their distillery in Puerto Rico to buy any. But in the last two years the company has made Bacardi Reserva Limitada available within the United States, albeit in a very—hence the name—limited quantity.

If you get the chance to try it, do it. The extra-aged rum, originally produced as a personal blend for the Bacardi family, is an exceptional dram—complex and chomping at the bit to be enjoyed with a cigar.

The Founder’s Blend was originally produced by the current Maestro de Ron (master of rum) Luis Planas to honor Facundo Bacardi Masso, who started Bacardi in 1862. In 2003, the blend of rums aged in lightly charred American white oak barrels was first released to celebrate the inauguration of the Bacardi Visitors Centre at the Bacardi distillery in Catano, Puerto Rico, which was the only location at which it was available. In 2010 the company decided to share with the rest of us, but in very limited numbers (1,000 six-bottle cases).

Now, the precious liquid that comes in cork-sealed numbered bottles has become more widely available, although the bottles are no longer hand-numbered and the oldest age rum in the bottle has been shortened from 16 years to 12. Not to worry, the experience remains a rollercoaster of sweet sensations.

While it is something of a splurge in the rum world at $119 (compare to the excellent Bacardi at about $25), if you’re a real rum hound, you’re in for a treat.

PALATE: All kinds of sweetness rush out to meet the tip of the tongue: honey, molasses, maple syrup and cane sugar. As it spreads out over the palate it dries slightly, revealing a panorama of caramel, vanilla, cashews, toast and saffron. A complex mouthful that is nevertheless ardently sweet.

FINISH: All the flavors of the palate linger on in the finish and become somehow richer until at the very end Christmas spices arrive for a slow dance with the roof of the mouth.

CIGAR PAIRING: Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Sun Grown Robusto
Starts out as a tangy smoke and warms to with coffee-bean character, cardamom and black cherry. The Reserva Limitada draws out rich wood and nuts from the cigar, as well as giving it a savory quality and smoothing its edges. The cigar returns the favor by giving the sugary rum a kick that results in a spicy pop.

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How To Calibrate Your Humidor's Hygrometer

MATERIALS NEEDED:

- Small sandwich ziplock baggy
- Bottle cap from 2 liter soda bottle (works best)
- Table salt
- Hygrometer (whichever one you want to test, digital or analog)

Now that you have all of your materials handy, follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to effectively checking the accuracy of your hygrometer.

STEP 1: Fill bottle cap with standard table salt; fill about 3/4 of the way up.

STEP 2: Add tap water to the bottle cap to saturate the salt. If you see water floating on top of the salt, you’ve added too much water. Easy fix for this is to grab a paper towel, and soak up all of the excess water. You want more of a slurry consistency of water and salt. Again, if you see water actually floating on top of the salt, soak up the excess with a paper towel.

STEP 3:  Place both hygrometer and bottle cap (with salt/water mixture) inside of a small ziplock baggy. Wait 4 hours and come back for a reading check.

STEP 4: If your hygrometer is perfectly accurate, it will read 75%. Most hygrometers will be +/- 3 %. If your hygrometer is digital and has a calibration button, follow the directions that it came with to calibrate to 75%. Digital hygrometers have a calibration button you push, while analog hygrometers have a screw which allows you to adjust the needle accordingly.

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What Causes Cigar Tunneling?

Tunneling, a circumstance in which a cigar's wrapper leaf doesn't burn, causing a cave-like formation in the foot of the cigar, can be caused by several factors:   The purpose of the binder leaf is to help all of the tobaccos burn at approximately the same rate. Therefore, if the wrapper is too moist, too thick, or too oily, it may not burn at the same rate as the filler and binder. (Maduro and Oscuro wrappers tend to be much oilier than most shade grown and other "natural" wrapper leaves.) 

Another cause of tunneling is when the wrapper is not neatly rolled around the bunch causing a gap between the wrapper and binder. It may not be noticeable to the naked eye, but all the wrapper needs is a minuscule bit of gap between it and the binder to cause tunneling.  There is also a condition called "double bunching." If a cigar is properly rolled all the leaves will "fall into line" when its lit and you'll get a nice clean ash. It's a rare occurrence, but what happens is, during the bunching process the binder gets doubled back causing it to be too thick. Because there is now "more" combustible tobacco in the mix, the cigar will tunnel.  

Finally, make sure you get a good even burn at the foot when lighting your cigars. The leaf at the center, normally the Ligero, burns slowest, so if the surrounding tobaccos burn properly you should get a well-formed cone or "cherry" when you tap off the ash.

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Does Size Affect A Cigar's Aging Process?

In the same way that it affects a cigar's flavor when it has just been rolled.

The key here is the number of leaves used in the blend, which affects a cigar's complexity. If you season a pasta sauce with salt and pepper only, you're not going to get a very complex sauce. But if you throw in some oregano, some basil and a couple bay leaves, now you've got several flavors working together.

It's the same with cigars. A thin cigar blended with only two filler leaves just isn't going to offer the depth of flavor of a cigar made with four or five leaves.

Aging a cigar brings out its essence. It allows the flavors of the blend to mature, mellow and marry with one another. So it follows that the thicker the cigar—the more leaves used—the greater the benefits of aging. While it's true that tobacco strength is also an important factor in a cigar's ability to age—a lonsdale made with hearty Cuban-seed filler, for example, will probably age better than a mild Churchill with a Connecticut shade wrapper—that doesn't alter that general rule that, within a given blend, a thicker cigar will usually age better than a thin one. That's why panatelas and petit coronas, even strong ones, are rarely set aside for extended aging.

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Valentine's Day Gifts For That Special Cigar Smoker

Do you have a cigar smoker for whom you need to buy a Valentine's Day gift? Here are some great Valentine's Day gift ideas for that aficionado in your life:

1. Get your cigar smoker some educational books for Valentine's Day. Enjoying a good cigar is much like enjoying a good glass of wine - it takes a bit of education to really taste the nuances in the cigar's flavor. Cigar books can be good reads and your cigar smoker will be pleased to open one on Valentine's Day.







2. Cigars are a great Valentine's Day gift! Pay attention to the type of cigar your lover normally smokes.Cigar smokers probably have already figured out what type of cigar they like. Try and snap a picture of your lover's normal cigar to bring with you to our store. We can help guide you to similar cigars. We have educated personnel to guide you in making the best choice for a Valentine's Gift for your cigar smoking loved one.

3. A good humidor is a great Valentine's Day gift for the cigar smoker. A good humidor will protect a good cigar by storing it in the correct humidity. Leaving cigars out in the air will dry them out and change the quality of the cigar. A good humidor should be lined with Spanish Cedar. Spanish Cedar is a wood that responds well to humidity which is the goal of a humidor - keeping the cigars within the right humidity for storage.




4. If your Valentine travels a lot, a smaller travel humidor is a great gift. A travel humidor will maintain the cigars at the right humidity when your someone special is on the road.







5. A good cigar cutter is a must to get a good smoke draw. Your Valentine will thank you for this gift. Sure, your cigar smoking Valentine may bite off the end of the cigar and spit it out but how gauche. Instead, invest in a good cigar cutter for a clean cut and the best smoke draw.



6. If you want to help your Valentine quit cigarette smoking, we have electronic cigarettes. There's even a fake little puff of smoke that comes out of the end when one puffs.

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Recommended Holiday Champagne And Cigar Pairings

1. Perrier Jouet Blanc de Blanc Flower Bottle ’99 paired with Arturo Fuente Opus X Perfecxion

Wine Spectator gave this fine champagne a 90 rating. Aromas of yogurt and yeast introduce the rich, powerful ’99 Perrier Jouet Blanc de Blanc Flower Bottle, a champagne with fine density and lovely texture. 

One of the rarest and highest rated brand in the world, OpusX has a world- renowned reputation for quality and class. It is full-bodied with a rich, robust flavor.  

2. Moet & Chandon Champagne Brut Rose Imperial paired with Padron Anniversary 1964 Series “A”

The most extrovert and seductive expression of the Moet & Chandon style. This champagne reflects the richness of the region’s best vineyards. Instantly seductive. Wine Spectator Rating: 91. 

A box-pressed cigar with a very even burn and a lush draw that saturates the entire palate with complex layers of spice, nut and wood flavors before a toasty finish.  

3. Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvee paired with Davidoff Zino Platinum Crown Series Rocket

The Bollinger style is always rich, with an intensity of flavor. Wine Enthusiast Rating: 94, Wine Spectator Rating: 93.

A thick torpedo that smokes well, forming a large, solid ash as it burns. It starts out papery but warms to show some nutty and savory notes. A light, mild- to medium-bodied cigar.  

4. Piper Heidsieck Champagne Brut ’98 paired with Montecristo White Churchill

Elegant vintage, classy and refined, with notes of tobacco and leather. The finish is light, with a hint of herbal tea. Wine Spectator Rating: 92. $59.99.

Creamy, mild and smooth, the Montecristo White is a favorite for aficionados who appreciate a complex smoke without an overwhelming amount of strength.

5. Domaine Carneros Brut Rose paired with Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Illusion

A top choice by Connoisseurs Guide, the NV Dom Carneros Brut Rose Cuvée de la Pompadour celebrates the life and times of Madame de Pompadour (the great courtesan and mistress of Louis XV) who is credited with introducing champagne to the court. 

A thin, pressed cigar that is dark and oily with a lush draw. The flavors are woody and toasty with some peppery notes, citrus zest and a coffee finish. 

6. Deutz Champagne Brut Classic paired with Macanudo 1968 Toro

The distinctive house style that has made Champagne Deutz one of the most respected of all Champagne houses, is reflected in this fine non-vintage champagne. Wine Enthusiast Rating: 93. 

A dark cigar with lots of cedar flavors. The Toro’s taste is complemented by significant notes of toast as well as black cherry. 

7. Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label paired with Rocky Patel Decade The Forty Six

Clicquot’s signature non-vintage Brut, loved for its crisp, full flavors, consistent quality and bright yellow label. It has a persistent sparkle and elegance. 

Short and box-pressed with even combustion and a full draw, this cigar is spicy and meaty with sweet, woody notes and a coffee bean finish. Medium bodied and well balanced.  

8. Chandon Spark Pinot Noir Brut Reserve paired with CAO LX2 Toro
Wine Enthusiast called this vintage “one of the best Chandon bubblies.” Rating: 93 

The Cao is a dark, solidly rolled cigar. The draw gives some resistance but, after savory first puffs, layers the palate with leather and coffee bean notes that usher in sweetness. 

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Tips For Proper Humidor Etiquette

The temperature, humidity, air quality, and sanitary standards of our walk-in humidor must be perfectly kept to preserve cigars and protect you, our customers who smoke them. It takes effort from both you and our staff to maintain this integrity and quality in our humidor. To that end, humidor etiquette is important for all of us to know and observe. Humidor Etiquette is about doing unto others as you would have done unto you. The following are tips for great humidor etiquette:

NO SMOKE
The natural aromas of a walk-in-humidor are a subtle co-mingling of different tobaccos from all over the world. Part of the reason Tobacconists make their walk-ins accessible to customers is so that they can enjoy the smell of aging tobaccos. Lit tobaccos will overwhelm the natural aroma of a walk-in and excessive smoke can taint the flavor of the cigars. Not smoking in a walk-in is part courtesy to the next customer and a way to protect the cigars themselves.

TOUCHING CIGARS
Ultimately, the head of a cigar will enter your mouth, so cigars must be treated with the same care and respect as food. Maintaining clean hands when touching cigars is imperative. It is important for Tobacconists to have sanitary soap and hand sanitizer on hand for personal and customer use. In addition, when inspecting cigars you should only touch the foot and shaft area. Never touch the cigar above the band (head and shoulders) since someone will eventually put that cigar in their mouth.

SMELLING CIGARS
As consumers, we all have the right to smell the wrapper and foot of a cigar. In fact, that is part of the enjoyment of picking a great cigar. While smelling cigars can be part of the pre-selection process in a walk-in, it must be done in a sanitary and respectful way; as the nose contains germs and mucous that must be kept off cigars. If the cigar is wrapped in cellophane, push the cigar half-way out of the cellophane. Cellophane smells like cellophane so there is no point in sniffing it: when finished, you can push the cigar back in. Whether smelling just the wrapper or the foot of the cigar, always keep the cigar at least one inch from your nose and/or facial hair. One inch is close enough to sample the aroma of the tobacco yet far enough to minimize contamination.

SELECTING CIGARS
Now that we have covered the proper techniques to touch and smell cigars, we can address the more general process of picking one out. Some customers take the first cigar out from on top of a box, while others like to scrutinize every single cigar. To each his own method; there is no right or wrong. But, when pulling cigars out of a box, one must be very careful not to tear the wrapper or damage the head: in particular, the cigar foot is highly susceptible to damage. If you take cigars out of a box, lay them in a safe place and return them carefully when you have found your perfect cigar.

DAMAGED CIGARS 
One of the biggest economic challenges for retail Tobacconists with walk-in humidors is minimizing the amount damaged cigars: it is a massive expense unique to our business. While some cigars come damaged from the manufacturers/distributors, most damage occurs because of consumer mishandling. Retail Tobacconists absorb the cost of damaged cigars since they cannot be sold at standard retail margins. If you see damaged cigars in your retail Tobacconist’s walk-in, let them know: they will thank you for it.

RETURNING CIGARS
Sometimes you take a cigar all the way to the cash register and then decide that you don’t want it - that’s ok. As long as you're handling the cigar properly, you can return it to the walk-in. When returning a cigar to the humidor, it is always best to place it in the proper box with the head up and cigar band facing forward. This is called “facing” and retail Tobacconists do it every day to honor the brand, cigar maker, and our customers.

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