A Study in Contrasts: The Regina Pius X, a Negroni, and Old Elk Cigar Cut

As noted in the previous post, the Feast Day of Pope Saint Pius X was celebrated on August 21. I’ve had several Pius X cigars from Regina Cigars in the humidor since spring, and recently smoked a couple on consecutive days.

The cigar is a 6 × 52 Toro and sports a dark, oily maduro wrapper. The specifics of the blend are not disclosed by Regina, other than to say the cigars are blended by Noel Rojas and produced at his factory in Nicaragua. Rojas also produces the popular Rojas Street Tacos line of cigars.

The cigar band features a picture of Pius X and includes a prayer from the saint on the inside.

I had debated my beverage choice for the pairing, initially thinking that something with an Italian lean would be appropriate. To that end, the first of the cigars I smoked was enjoyed with a classic Negroni. I shared one of the Pius X cigars with a friend while we enjoyed our aperitif before meeting a group of friends at a local restaurant for an Italian meal, appropriately enough.

Regina Cigars describes the profile of the cigar simply as having “rich flavors of cocoa & coffee with gentle spice tones.” With no leaf specifics, there are few presumptions to guide my expectations.

Upon lighting the cigar, I was treated to the promised mix of bitter cocoa and espresso, with just a touch of pepper. The cigar was medium-to-full in body, with ample smoke and a consistent burn throughout. I did initially wonder how the cigar’s dark, roasted character would play with the Negroni’s bitter-sweet profile.

As it turned out, the bitterness from the Campari combined with the vermouth’s sweetness provided enough contrast to bring out a pleasing sweetness in the Pius X. Rather than competing with the cigar, the Negroni acted almost as a foil for it. It seemed to reveal a sweeter side of the cigar that wasn’t immediately apparent on its own.

After the afternoon spent enjoying the Negroni and Pius X combination, I was looking forward to trying the cigar with a bolder pairing. On the next evening, I did just that. For an after-dinner smoke, I poured a bit of Old Elk Cigar Cut Bourbon to sip with the cigar.

Old Elk Cigar Cut is a wonderful blend of bourbons finished in Sherry, Armagnac, Port, and Cognac casks. On the nose, there is an inviting aroma of caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, and spiced fruit. Sipping brings out layers of dark chocolate, toffee, and baking spices, while subtle notes of tobacco and dark fruit linger on the finish.

In this combination, the cigar retained the dark cocoa, and espresso notes I had noticed previously. However, the sweetness highlighted by the Negroni was nearly absent. Rather than the contrast noted previously, the bourbon’s oak, richness, and darker flavors reinforced the cigar’s roasted and creamy characteristics, bringing those notes further forward.

The two different beverages enjoyed with the Pius X provided an interesting study in contrasts. The Negroni seemed to reveal something in the cigar, while the Old Elk amplified something already there. The Negroni brought the cigar’s sweetness forward, while the bourbon emphasized its darker cocoa and espresso character.

I wouldn’t necessarily call one pairing better than the other. They simply offered two very different perspectives on the same cigar. That’s one of the things I enjoy most about exploring cigar and beverage pairings. The experience isn’t simply about identifying particular flavors in a cigar, but about discovering how another beverage can change the way those flavors are perceived.

In this case, the Pius X proved to be an excellent example: the Negroni revealed, the bourbon reinforced, and both made for an enjoyable cigar.

Cheers!

The Unofficial Patron Saint of Cigar Smokers

Today, August 21, is the Feast Day of Pope Saint Pius X.

Born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto on June 2, 1835, in Riese, Venetia, then part of the Austrian Empire (now in Italy), he served as pope from 1903 until his death in 1914. Pius X is remembered for his pastoral care, firm leadership, and unwavering defense of Catholic doctrine.

As pope, he enacted reforms that left a lasting mark on the Church. He promoted the use of Gregorian chant in worship and became known as the “Pope of the Eucharist” for his fervent encouragement of frequent Communion, which he described as “the shortest and safest way to get to heaven.” Notably, he lowered the age for reception of Holy Communion from twelve to seven, a decision still in place today.

Pius also took a firm stand against theological Modernism, which he considered “the synthesis of all heresies.” He resisted the movement of Christian Democracy when it veered into overt political activism, seeking instead to keep Catholic social work grounded in religious rather than partisan aims.

While the Church venerates him for his sanctity and his spiritual reforms, I like to think of Pope Saint Pius X as something else as well — the unofficial Patron Saint of Cigar Smokers.

Several years ago, I wondered whether any saint officially served as the patron of cigar smokers. My search uncovered a handful of saints with connections to tobacco. For example, Saint Titus Brandsma is recognized as the patron saint of tobacconists. Yet there appears to be no widely recognized patron devoted specifically to cigar smokers.

Then I came across a humorous anecdote attributed to Pope Saint Pius X, preserved in a reader’s letter published by Cigar Aficionado. Whether historically accurate or not, it perfectly captures the pope’s reputed attitude toward cigars.

Reading of his [Pius X] defense of cigars as not being a vice, I was reminded of a story that a cigar smoking priest of the Diocese of Tulsa, who is now in training for the Vatican diplomatic corps, told me. When he was a seminarian in Rome, he learned that Pius X, who was the pope from 1903 to 1914, called a bishop onto the carpet to reprimand him for his scandalous misbehavior with wine, women and song, and to correct his wrongs patiently.

The pope offered the errant bishop a cigar from the papal humidor on his desk. The bishop declined the offer with the protestation, “I do not have that vice, Your Holiness,” to which His Holiness replied, “If cigars were a vice, I would not offer you one, for you have quite enough vices already.”

There’s no way to know if the exchange truly happened or if it’s simply an ecclesiastical folklore. Still, we do know that Pius X kept a humidor in his papal office. It is also said that he broke with the long-standing tradition of popes dining alone by inviting friends to join him at table. It’s easy to imagine that more than one of those dinners concluded with the pleasant aroma of cigar smoke lingering in the Vatican rooms.

I’ve long believed that a fine cigar, enjoyed thoughtfully and in moderation, is less about indulgence than about creating a space for conversation, gratitude, and quiet reflection. Whether shared among friends or savored alone after a busy day, a cigar invites us to slow down for an hour and appreciate the blessings we’ve been given. That seems entirely compatible with a life of faith.

His enjoyment of cigars certainly didn’t prevent his canonization in 1954 — perhaps a gentle reminder that the Church has never regarded the moderate enjoyment of life’s good gifts as incompatible with holiness. I’d like to think those quiet moments with a cigar occasionally offered Pope Saint Pius X a chance to gather his thoughts before returning to the immense responsibilities of the papacy. For that reason, at least in my own book, he remains the unofficial Patron Saint of Cigar Smokers.

Regina Cigars produces a cigar honoring Saint Pius X, and I have several waiting in my humidor. This evening seems like an appropriate occasion to light one, perhaps accompanied by a glass of Italian wine, while offering a prayer of thanks for the witness of this remarkable saint.

Cheers!

Winter's Pause and a Saintly Smoke

As we settle into the early days of Lent, I turned to a cigar created to honor a newly canonized saint for a Friday evening smoke. I wrote about Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati last September on the occasion of his canonization. At that time, I ordered a few cigars named in his honor from Regina Cigars — the PGF ST-090725. They’ve been resting in my humidor since, and this week I finally lit one.

According to Regina Cigars, the blend was crafted by Noel Rojas, known as well for the popular Street Tacos series. An oily Habano wrapper covers the cigar, extending slightly over the foot — though in varying degrees among the samples I have — lending the stick a somewhat unfinished, rustic appearance.

I lit the Frassati-themed cigar on an upliftingly warm evening. The outdoor temperature hovered around 60°, while the porch thermometer optimistically pointed to 70. The damp air felt cooler than either reading suggested, but a heater running on low took the edge off and made for a comfortable setting.

The cigar opened with mild notes of earth and leather. There was little sweetness or spice in the understated introduction. I held off on sipping my accompanying beverage, giving the cigar time to develop its character.

After the first inch or so, the flavor began to build. A gentle, sweet nuttiness joined the earth and leather. The profile itself remained consistent, but the added depth created more interest and a more engaging experience.

Expecting a mild-to-medium smoke, I poured a glass of Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon to accompany it. At 90 proof, the bourbon offers a soft fruit sweetness with a restrained spice. Once the cigar reached its steady state, the bourbon’s lingering spice subtly amplified the sweeter and nutty notes in the smoke rather than overpowering them.

The Pier Giorgio Frassati cigar ultimately provided a mild and contemplative experience. While enjoyable in the evening, I suspect it would be even better suited to a quiet morning or early afternoon. Still, paired with an easy-sipping bourbon, it proved a pleasant way to conclude a simple Lenten day.

The mild weather added to the enjoyment. Knowing it was only a brief reprieve — with another winter storm forecast in the coming days — heightened the appreciation of the moment.

Cheers!

Regina Cigars Misericordia

We had a long day of traveling to run errands out of town recently. As some consolation we treated ourselves to a large, late lunch before heading home. When I sat down to consider a cigar that evening I was still feeling full, and also tired. As such, I opted to forego the distilled spirit with my smoke. As a flavorful diversion to plain water I opted for a Sparkling Ice Orange Mango sparkling water.

I dug deep in the humidor for the 4+ year old Regina Cigars Miseriacodia. I don't often smoke Connecticut wrapper cigars, but I was in the mood for mildness. I hoped the flavored water would not be overpowering as an accompaniment.

Regina Cigars is a Catholic owned company that uses cigars as a way to support its mission of helping children and orphanages around the world. Most recently they have been providing support to orphanages in Honduras. The cigars are decorated with colorful bands depicting religious artwork. 

The 6 x 50 Misericordia features a light brown Honduran Connecticut wrapper. The rest of the blend is unspecified. What is noted on the website is that the blend was created by Christian Eiroa, owner of C.L.E. and Asylum cigar companies. The mild to medium bodied cigar has creamy sweet notes with a mild citrusy fruit hint. There was just enough citrus bite to keep it interesting. I smoked the cigar down to a short nub before setting it down. I never once touched up or corrected the burn and the smoke never heated up despite my relatively fast smoking. The ash was extremely solid and I only knocked it off after a couple inches out of fear it would drop in my lap or on my book. 

Pairing with the flavored water worked out quite well. The flavor of the beverage is mild and not overly sweet. The citrus aspects of the cigar and beverage complimented each other well.

The large band on this blend features an image from The Return of the Prodigal Son (1773) by Pompeo Batoni. 

Cheers!

A Cigar for a Feast Day

Saturday, December 12 was the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The day honors the appearance of Mary to St. Juan Diego in present day Mexico City on December 9, 1531. Also, referred to as The Virgin of Guadalupe, she is the Patron Saint of the Americas. Among the traditions of the Feast, is a focus on the image of the Lady left on Juan Diego's tilma during the appearance. In honor of that, I selected an appropriately decorated cigar to enjoy that day.

Guadalupe 25th Anniversary Limited Release Miami Edition Blend is a new release from Regina Cigars. The Miami cigar company donates a portion of its sales to support persecuted & displaced Christians, especially those in the Middle East. This blend celebrates the founder's 25th anniversary in the cigar industry and the significance of the December 12 date in his family. 

The 6 x 50 stick has a San Andres Maduro wrapper and an Esteli Criollo binder, hiding a Corojo/Criollo Jalapa filler. The large band features a beautiful image of the Virgin Mary. The smoke is medium to full bodied. It has dark chocolate espresso notes, along with a mild cooling citrus note. Unfortunately both samples I've smoked so far had some damage under the decorative ribbon foot band causing the wrapper to unravel. A touch up with PerfecRepair allowed me to smoke through the damaged section without too much disruption.

As an accompaniment, I selected a seasonally appropriate Hardywood Park Gingerbread Stout. This Imperial Milk Stout is part of a selection of "Christmas beers" released each year by the Richmond, VA brewery. The 9.2% ABV ale is brewed with locally sourced baby ginger and wildflower honey. The dark beer has a thin beige head and gives off but a faint sweet aroma. The flavor is predominately roasted malt and milk chocolate. The underlying spice kick of ginger and honey sweetness is mild. Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. The flavor combination with the dark espresso notes of the cigar was a flavorful match.

The beer and the cigar made for a satisfying afternoon of relaxation on the deck. The mid-sixties temperature and bright sun was a welcome break from the doldrums of the cool, gray weather of the previous week.

No Shooting Today. Alternative Plans Made.

The original plans for today included shooting the monthly IDPA match at Rivanna. I haven't been able to make it to that match since last October and was really looking forward to it. However, with the thermometer predicted to peak over 100° today, the organizers cancelled the match. I was disappointed, but it was probably a wise decision.

On the other hand, it gave me a rare Saturday morning to sit in my happy place on the screen porch enjoying my coffee. I will not be deterred! Grabbing the floor fan, I decided to enjoy an, also rare, morning smoke with my coffee.

At the time,  the Dark Skies app on my phone informed me it's 92° out, and feels like 103°.  I couldn't tell though, it was still surprisingly pleasant. (Relatively speaking.) I grabbed one of the Regina Cigars I pick up this spring. Regina Cigars 'Michael' is a medium bodied, earthy smoke. It paired will with the black, dark roast coffee.

I enjoyed the extra relaxation to start the weekend. A bonus with heat wave, is that none of my neighbors were running lawn mowers.

Regina Cigars - Supporting Good Works

Just because I'm on a short break from cigars, doesn't mean I can't make preparations for my future enjoyment. Recently, Colleen told me about a company called Regina Cigars that she had come across online. Run by faithful Christians, the company is using the sales of its cigars to support good works. From their website...

Our goal is to bring you finely crafted cigars that are lovingly hand rolled using exquisite blends from around the world. Part of our mission is also to help raise awareness and financial support for persecuted & displaced Christians, particularly those suffering hardship as a result of the recent conflicts in the Middle East. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Regina Cigars will go to "Aid to the Church in Need" which seeks to supply emotional, material & spiritual support to hurting Christians around the world.

Obviously, I was intrigued. And when your wife suggests you buy cigars, it's best to jump right on it. The company lists about 20 different cigars of Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Dominican origins. All of the cigars feature exquisite religious artwork on the bands. I made a trial purchase of a sampler consisting of five Honduran blends. These particular cigars were blended by Christian Eiroa, founder of CLE Cigars and former owner of the Camacho Cigars company.

The cigars are resting in my humidor now. I am looking forward to lighting them up soon. Already though, I'm tempted to acquire the rest of the line to support the charitable works, and to collect the bands!