Exploring an Aged Beer and Cigar Pairing: Bigfoot and Padrón Maduro

The rains had stopped, but the air remained cool, and my thoughts turned to a hearty beer to accompany the evening’s smoke. I grabbed an old bottle of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale from the stash in the basement. This bottle dated from the 2010 release, making it just over 15 years old.

When selecting a cigar to pair with the beer, I wanted something that could stand up to Bigfoot’s expected caramel and port-like dark fruit character while contributing a complementary sweetness of its own. I chose the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro in the Torpedo vitola. It was shaping up to be a dessert-like pairing.

The bottle released a small “poof” when opened, proof that some carbonation remained. I poured a bit too quickly at first, building a moderate beige head that dissipated almost immediately. A sweet molasses aroma rose from the glass. The liquid itself glowed a bright red-mahogany hue.

At 9.6% ABV, the well-aged Bigfoot carried surprisingly little noticeable alcohol on the palate. Though known for its aggressive hop bitterness, I was somewhat surprised that citrus and bitter notes remained fairly robust after 15 years. The ale offered a rich blend of dark caramel and dark fruit sweetness reminiscent of port wine. Hints of fig, raisin, and toffee emerged as I sipped the rich beverage.

Not nearly as aged as the beer, the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro had rested in my humidor for only four months. The cigar's construction was flawless, with the dense feel and clean lines expected from the line. The Torpedo size measures 6 x 52 and uses aged Nicaraguan tobaccos throughout.  

The smoke opened with bittersweet cocoa and espresso notes. As the cigar warmed, the profile deepened with molasses-like sweetness and hints of dark fruit. A soft peppery spice lingered into the finish.

The pairing of the vintage Bigfoot Ale and the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro proved delightful and fully met my dessert-like expectations. The cigar’s cocoa and espresso notes complemented Bigfoot’s dark-fruit richness particularly well, while the shared molasses undertones tied the pairing together.

We’ve been enjoying opening some of the beers we tucked away for aging 10–15 years ago. I’ve found them immensely rewarding. Some come from breweries that now exist only in memory, yet all feel irreplaceable. Like cigars, they are ultimately meant to be enjoyed — even if that enjoyment comes years down the road. There is something bittersweet in finally opening a carefully aged bottle, knowing it can never truly be replaced.

Cheers!

Christmas Evening with a Padrón 1964 and Woodford Reserve

We don’t often have a white Christmas in this part of Virginia, and that “tradition” held firm this year. In fact, the temperature soared to over 60 degrees by midday. After a late-afternoon dinner — highlighted by a standing rib roast cooked to perfection — I headed out to the screened porch to digest the feast, with a sip and a smoke, of course.

I had picked up a few Padrón 1964 Anniversary Torpedo Maduro cigars a few weeks earlier on a whim and decided one would be my Christmas Day celebratory smoke. Turning my attention to the bourbon shelf, I settled on Woodford Reserve Double Oaked as a fitting pairing for such a bold cigar.

The sharply box-pressed torpedo is composed entirely of Nicaraguan tobaccos. Dark and slightly oily, the cigar tapers to a very sharp point, much of which is clipped off before lighting. Bitter-sweet cocoa and espresso lead off the experience. As the smoke progresses, the profile shifts to include molasses-like sweetness and hints of dark fruit, while a peppery spice steadily builds through the finish. The 1964 Anniversary Maduro is a full-bodied smoke, delivering a flavor experience entirely in keeping with its dark appearance.

The Woodford Reserve Double Oak met the challenge of the bold cigar with aplomb. Sweet caramel, dark chocolate, dark fruit notes all assist in standing up to the cigar's depth. A long wood and spice finish coats the palate in a fitting match to the cigar's lingering pepper and roasted finish. 

Despite the unseasonable — though not entirely unusual — warmth, the setting sun eventually brought a chill, so I fired up one of the porch heaters on low, just enough to take the edge off without reaching for a jacket. Christmas-themed blues drifted from the speaker, adding a relaxed, festive tone to the evening. In time, with the cigar burned down to a nub and the whiskey glass emptied, it was time to head back inside and rejoin the family — just in time for a sweet tiramisù dessert and the quiet close of a thoroughly satisfying Christmas Day.

Cheers!

Visiting the OBX Cigar Lounge: The Outer Banks’ Only Cigar Lounge

As much as I enjoy smoking cigars on the beach or a seaside porch when visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina, it can sometimes be a challenge. Wind, blowing sand, and the occasional rain shower — especially common in the early fall when we usually visit — often put a damper on the smoking time.

That’s why I was especially glad to discover the OBX Cigar Lounge this year. Tucked inside Tap That OBX, which is also home to Shut the Barn Door Coffee (open mornings only), the lounge opened after our last visit in 2022. I’d been eager to check it out, and during this trip I managed to stop by twice.

On my first visit, I found the staff relaxing with cigars on the porch out front. After several days of outdoor smoking, I was ready for a more “civilized” setting. Mark, a knowledgeable and welcoming guide, walked me through the well-stocked humidor, where I picked a cigar to enjoy on the spot along with a few extras to take home.

The Tap That OBX bar in the front of the building wasn’t open yet — the three businesses keep different but slightly overlapping hours — but the cigar lounge staff are able to serve simple pours of beer or bourbon before the bar officially opens. I went with a local craft beer, Jimmy Buffett Ruined My Life from Swells’a Brewing to accompany a tasty Micallef Black cigar.

The lounge itself is intimate, with seven plush leather chairs. Despite the small footprint, the space feels bright and comfortable. White walls help open it up, and the air-handling system is impressive: a Rabbit Air purifier on the wall, a large air cleaning unit overhead, and a small but powerful air conditioner. Even later that day, when six of us were smoking at once, the air remained surprisingly clear.

The company was just as enjoyable as the atmosphere. That first afternoon I found myself chatting with visitors from Pennsylvania and Virginia, one of the lounge’s owners, and Mark, who stayed busy helping walk-in customers. The conversations were lively, friendly, and welcoming.

On a rainy afternoon later in the week, I returned for another visit and was greeted in the humidor by Rocco. I settled in with a small pour of 1792 Small Batch Bourbon with a Padrón 1964. The afternoon was spent swapping stories with fellow patrons, including another of the owners, Phil, who shared some fascinating insights about cigars and people in the industry.

Billed — accurately — as “the only cigar lounge on the Outer Banks,” OBX Cigar Lounge turned out to be exactly the kind of oasis every cigar smoker hopes to discover: inviting seating, friendly company, a well-curated humidor, and the option to pair it all with a good pour. I never need much convincing to plan a trip back to the Outer Banks, and the lounge has secured its place as a must-visit stop on every future visit.

Cheers!

Retirement, Padrón, and Little Book Chapter 6

After a life of chasing a paycheck, twenty-five years of it spent at one company, I am done. Now we can truly get on with enjoying life and the rewards of a successful career. I had been thinking about a starting pairing for the occasion, and even picked up some "special" cigars as options with which to celebrate. I opted to start the next phase with a Padrón 1926 Serie No. 1 Maduro. Perusing my whiskey selections, the Little Book Chapter 6 "To The Finish" struck me as a fitting first toast drink.

The Padrón 1926 Serie No. 1 was a two and a half hour pleasurable and flavorful smoke. I began that time deleting all  the work-related apps from my phone. After that, the evening was spent relaxing, knowing there were to be no more emails from work, no more Slack messages, and no more phone calls to interrupt the peace. 

Cheers!

Padrón 1964 Anniversary and Weller 107

This was a pairing I enjoyed very much. Neither the Padrón 1964 Anniversary nor the Weller Antique 107 are new experiences, though I am not sure if I've had them together. They are however, both top of the line in my book.

Sometimes I will pull a whiskey off the shelf, then select a cigar. Other times the order is reversed. The prep time for a smoking session is often extended as I go back and forth with the decision. In this instance I made my cigar choice for the evening first then grabbed the bourbon. Why? No specific reason, just an inspiration.

The Padrón 1964 Anniversary comes in two "flavors," with either sun-grown natural or maduro wrappers. This was the sun grown version. The 6" x 52 box pressed stick features an extremely elongated and pointed cap. The box press has well defined edges. Upon cutting, the draw is right on and remained so throughout the smoking time. This is product created by skilled hands. The medium bodied all Nicaraguan stick has delightful hazelnut and cedar notes. There's an added sweet chocolate and honey aspect that completes the finish.

Weller Antique 107 is an allocated bourbon in Virginia and as such is difficult to obtain outside the overpriced secondary market. This bottle I have been nursing since January 2022 and harks back to a time that VA ABC would randomly add allocated stock to store shelves without announcements. If you heard about something in time, you could get it. This was before they started the announced "drops" that merely created a stampede to selected stores.

The aroma of the wheated bourbon is noticeable as I'm pouring. I sense dark fruit, topped with caramel and vanilla, and then sprinkled with cinnamon. I get hungry for dessert as I inhale. The flavor profile is spicy, but not hot. The cinnamon continues when sipping, as does the sweetness of vanilla and oak. The moderate 107 proof not all that noticeable on the palate or the finish. I find myself taking sips closely followed by a puff on the cigar. Or am I following the cigar with the bourbon?

I think I said this recently, even though I don't smoke Padrón cigars frequently, it's always a pleasure when I do. At least they are readily available. In contrast, I think I'll need to continue to nurse this bottle of Weller for as long as I can.

Cheers!

Father's Day Padrón and Knob Creek

We had "other than Father's Day" plans for Sunday, scheduled by a group we will travel with this fall. So my main Father's Day treat was had on Saturday. The first order of business for the day though was a visit to the hardware store for some screen door parts and plants to brighten the deck, and the subsequent chores that trip facilitated. It was late afternoon when we settled in to enjoy drinks and conversation.

Side thought: Why do so many organizations think nothing of scheduling non-related events or meetings on Father's Day? To do so on Mother's Day is generally unthinkable.

Colleen asked for an Old Fashioned which I prepared using Four Roses Single Barrel this time. The celebratory cigar had been decided upon in advance -- Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro. My bourbon selection required careful perusing of the shelves, before I finally picked the Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon. 

The Padrón cigar was an indulgence well worth the price of admission. The 6" x 52 Nicaraguan puro features a chocolate brown, toothy wrapper. The cigar has an extreme box-pressed shape with very sharp corners. Even the three bands when removed kept their rectangular shape. This particular stick seemed be a looser pack than usual but the cigar kept a razor sharp burn line and stayed well lit through its entirety. Indeed I enjoyed it right down to the finger-threatening nub, after about 70 minutes of smoking time.

Padrón Family Reserve Maduro is a full-strength, full-bodied cigar. It kicks off with hefty spice, but that's quickly moderated by the rich notes of creamy chocolate, espresso, and caramel sweetness.  My sinuses rarely ever detect the flavors in the retrohale which so many cigar reviewers seem to prize. This was one of the few cigars that I have ever detected any spice in the retrohale. The flavors remain rich and consistent, with that underlying pepper spice remaining, but no bitterness, right to the end. 

The bottle of Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon was one I happened to see at a VA ABC allocated drop last year. I've enjoyed it often. At 100 proof it's easy to sip and full of bourbon goodness. It certainly made a fitting pairing for the cigar. Rich notes of oak, vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon great the palate. The flavor profile is creamy with little heat and a long mouth coating finish. I found myself taking repeated sips at a quick pace as it was such an enjoyable libation. Of course the cigar was long enough to support a refill of my glass.

Besides the aforementioned Old Fashioned Colleen was enjoying, our celebration included homemade Orange Rosemary Shortbreads. These were one of the treats Colleen prepared for a gathering of friends a couple nights prior. Sadly there were only a couple left to enjoy. The savory citrus delights, traditionally served with afternoon tea, made an exceptional partnership with the bourbon, both served neat and as a cocktail. 

The afternoon weather could not have been anymore pleasant. The temperature in the mid-80's, low humidity, and a slight breeze had us sitting on the deck well past finishing both the cigar and the drinks. Enjoying the late afternoon and evening with a fine cigar, good drink, and the company of the woman who made me a father, was the perfect way to celebrate the occasion.

Cheers!

Kicking Off The Long Weekend

It seems the longest weeks are the ones leading up to a long weekend. But finally Friday arrived and preparations for the evening got underway. I finished the lawn maintenance chores early, and prepped the fire pit before dinner. 

I was looking forward trying out the Calumet Farm 10 Year Bourbon I had picked up a few weeks ago. That, along with a Padrón 1926 Serie 9 Natural were set in place, so once the fire got going the sipping and smoking commenced. 

This is my first exploration of Calumet Farm bourbon. When I was shopping out of state a few weeks ago, the store had the 8, 10, and 16 year expressions. I've read mixed reviews of the Calumet line but have been interested, so opted to go with the 10. The ten year was of average price for the age, and ten year bourbon is often a sweet spot. I was pleasantly surprised. I found moderately bold notes of charred wood, caramel, and some honey sweetness. The finish was a little spicy bit not overwhelming. My impression was of an enjoyable "classic" bourbon. Now the 16 year expression is tempting me.

Colleen inquired if I'd make a Mint Julep for her to sip while we enjoyed the fire. Of course! She had picked up a few fresh herbs for cocktails this weekend. It's a simple drink, so even when it was time for a refill, setting the cigar down to go inside and mix another didn't even require touch up to the smoke. (Even if I did accidentally use some whole ice cubes instead of chipped.)

The Padrón was a fine smoke as always. I don't smoke them frequently enough, still there are often a few in my humidor. The 1926 Serie 9 Natural is a Nicaraguan puro in a 5 1/4" x 56 box press format. It's a well-constructed cigar with a moderately firm pack. The 1926 is medium to bold smoke with creamy notes of coffee, nuts, and chocolate. The burn is razor sharp throughout with a persistent ash.

It's was a beautiful evening, and since we had an early dinner and were outside in the very early evening, we got to enjoy a lot of bird activity at the edge of the wood. It also meant there was time for another smoke and a bit more sipping. The second smoke for the evening was the Liga Undercrown 10 by Drew Estate. 

The Undercrown 10 features a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper, Habano Connecticut binder, with Brazil Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Habano leaves as fillers. The creamy smoke features rich espresso, some cocoa sweetness, and a hint of dark fruit. As a medium-bodied smoke, the cigar paired well with the bourbon also.

I don't think I could have asked for a more enjoyable evening. The weather was great, as were the cigars and drinks. Of course the company could not have been better. And there are still a few more days to do more of the same.

Cheers!

Another Trip Around the Sun

A year ago I celebrated my first "Chinese Virus" birthday. In what would quickly evolve into a political agenda, we were just beginning the "two weeks to flatten the curve." This past weekend, a full year later, another birthday has come and gone, with little change in how we marked the occasion.

The day started with Holy Mass, after which Colleen prepared our usual Sunday bacon and eggs breakfast. Our dinner plans were for an assortment of smoked meats from a local BBQ place. Picking up our to-go order mid-afternoon, we stopped by the Starbucks to claim my free birthday froufrou coffee. Those errands complete, as we did last year, we spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the fire pit.

I had loaded up fire pit earlier in the day, so it was a simple matter of lighting the kindling. We enjoyed the coffee while the fire progressed. About the time the coffee was consumed, the fire was going strong and I broke out the beer and a cigar.

I selected a Padrón Black No. 200 Natural to enjoy for this afternoon celebration. This particular stick was a limited release included in the 2020 Cigar Rights of America variety pack. The tobaccos used in the 5½ x 56 Robusto Gordo are undisclosed. The wrapper is dull brown and on the dry side. The draw was extremely loose, with copious smoke production. The predominant flavors are dark chocolate, espresso, and a robust level of spice and black pepper. When I made the comment that I wasn't expecting the level of pepper, Colleen remarked that she could smell it in the smoke. The cigar burned well, even when I left it to run inside the house. The wrapper began blowing up heading into the last third, though I suspect that may have been caused by setting the cigar down several times on the edge of the fire pit while tending to the fire. It continued to smoke well until the final splitting near the end at the under two inch point.

Our beer selection for the day was Legend Brown Ale. This English Brown Ale is, in my opinion, an easily overlooked ale. It's the Legend Brewing beer most often seen on draft around here, but I pass it by due to its ubiquitous nature. However, I recently picked up a six-pack and, again, questioned why I don't enjoy it more often. The brown ale features a malt and nut aroma. Mildly sweet caramel, molasses, nuts and some roasted malt come out in the sipping. The finish is short and clean. It's an easy sipper and at a moderate 6% ABV, just right for an afternoon of relaxation. The slight sweetness of the beer offset the robust spiciness in the cigar.

The cigar finished, we headed inside for an early dinner. The smoked pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and chicken, along with sides of green beans, coleslaw, and potato salad made for a fitting feast. And we still have leftovers for a meal later in the week!

My was hunger satiated, but I was still in the mood for more relaxation by the fire. The sun would be up for a couple more hours, though by this time I did need a jacket. I returned outside, stirred the coals and added more wood. Soon I had a suitable fire going again and lit another cigar.

The second smoke was the Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend. This 2020 limited release was one of my favorites from 2020. As noted in previous posts, this cigar is features an Ecuador Maduro wrapper, an Ecuador Habano binder, and a mix of Nicaraguan, Connecticut broadleaf, and Pennsylvania broadleaf filler tobaccos. The smoke is full bodied with flavors of coffee, cocoa, and some interesting dark fruit notes. Sadly, I have but a single stick left. I typically don't hoard cigars, even limited releases, but I may hold the last one for another special occasion.

We're low key people, so the low key celebration was most pleasant. I do look forward to the day when our personal freedoms are not arbitrarily limited by politicians seeking to exert control and push a political agenda under the guise of "health and safety."