Ash Wednesday: A Cigar and a Pint

Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. Though I am well past the age when the Church requires such penance, it feels odd not to offer the sacrifice — as long as health allows. So food was minimal on Wednesday as we marked the beginning of Lent. Recalling the Latin phrase “Liquidum non frangit ieiunium quadragesimale” — “Liquid does not break the Lenten fast” — the day was made easier by the anticipation of a good cigar and a pour of Guinness that evening.

The cigar I selected was one I’ve enjoyed often: the My Father El Centurion H-2K-CT. It’s a versatile smoke, one I’ve paired with nearly everything — beer, whiskey, wine, coffee, even water — and it rarely disappoints. I had picked up a few more some months ago and had been reminding myself to let them rest. While scrolling through my inventory app recently, I realized they’d been sitting for nearly four months. Clearly, the waiting period had been satisfied.

A can of Guinness Draught Stout was poured — into the proper glass, of course — to accompany the smoke.

The My Father El Centurion H-2K-CT is a box-pressed 6 x 52 Toro featuring an oily, caramel-hued H-2K-CT Connecticut wrapper — a Cuban-seed strain grown in open sunlight in the Connecticut River Valley — which gives the cigar its name. Nicaraguan binder and fillers round out the blend. Medium-bodied and notably creamy, it delivers a measured pepper warmth alongside layered notes of vanilla, nuts, caramel, roasted coffee, honeyed sweetness, and a subtle touch of dark fruit.

At a modest 4.1% ABV, the smooth, creamy Irish stout proved a fitting companion, its texture mirroring the cigar’s own creaminess. It’s always a welcome treat — though even with its nitro enhancement, it doesn’t quite aspire to the greatness of a pint enjoyed in the “Mother Land.”

Together, the cigar and stout offered a mild, balanced experience — nothing heavy or overly bold — well suited to a quiet, contemplative beginning to Lent.

Cheers!