I know, I know, I know. I’ve been absent from the site for a while.
My excuse, if I really have one, is actually two excuses: 1, I’ve been moving, and that’s taken up a lot of time in the April time frame, and 2, I’ve been doing a lot of CSOWG work, which takes up my online/cocktail energy, leaving me to barely be able to crawl to the bar for a Fernet-filled pineapple.
But that’s two for excuses (times two!) so I’ll shut up on that now. And try to do better in the future.
Of perhaps more relevant information to y’all in the DC area…
It’s DC Savor Beer Week out there right now. Last night I wandered over to Jack Rose Dining Saloon to check out their collaborative tasting/pairing of cigars from W. Curtis Draper and beers from Victory. And what an event it was.
The menu for the night
You had a choice – three full size drafts of Victory beer plus one cigar for $25, or 10 taster pours plus three cigars for $35. I went ahead with the latter option, knowing I could always order extra tasters at $2 if I needed them.
The first pairing was a La Aurora Preferido #2 Maduro cigar, in the traditional “flattened football” shape of La Aurora, matched with Victory’s Hop Devil, Headwaters, and Hop Wallop beers. The latter beer was also paired with a small pour of Pampero Anniversario rum. I ended up getting another taster of Hop Wallop to go along with it, as the combination was delicious. (Later that night, I ordered the Headwaters after finishing my cigars, and think I preferred it on my own.) I’m a big fan of doing both a liquor and a beer as I smoke a cigar, so the rum was good – though I’d be curious to pair it with some of the rums I have, such as El Dorado 12 or 15 or Chairman’s Reserve.
The second pairing was a La Flor Dominicana 2000 #3 with the Helios, Mad King hefeweizen, and Golden Monkey tripel. I definitely liked the last two beers, and this cigar was so mild and light compared to the La Aurora. It might have helped to do it first, but at the same time, seemed like a good travel cigar to me.
Rum, beer, cigar, yum.
The third pairing had the cigar I was most eager to try – El Triunfador #5 (made by Pepin Garcia for Tatauje). It was paired with Prima Pils, Altbier, and St. Boisterous. The cigar itself was delicious (even my non-smoking companion loved the smell of it when it was fired up) and definitely worked well with the beers.
I’d forgotten how good Victory beers could be. I’ve got to start including them more often in my repertoire. I’ve also now got some new cigars I need to head up to Draper’s to pick up!
There are events going on all week, so make sure you check ‘em out if you’re into beer.
AND I PROMISE TO POST MORE!
(Probably!)