Appearance and Construction:
The Short Torp is a brand new release from the Brick House line that I was able to get my hands on at a local event here in Nashville, TN. I’m a big fan of the other Brick House releases and can’t wait to try this particular size. You don’t often see a torpedo this size and it’s definitely something new to me. The construction is virtually flawless with no veins or soft spots present. This cigar has an oily wrapper that is medium dark in color veiled by the signature Brick House band near the head.
Pre-Light:
The body of this cigar offers earthy notes while the foot is giving off a strong nutty aroma. A wide open pre-light draw brings in flavors of roasted nuts and pepper with a hint of hickory on the back end. I’ve got about three fingers of Russell’s Reserve on ice and I’m ready to light this stogie up.
First Third:
Using my torch I toast the end of this cigar and right away pick up that rich Brick House aroma. The first draw offers up thick smoke with lots of spice on the front as well as hints of leather and nuts on the back. A splash of Russell’s Reserve on the palate really amps up the spiciness of this cigar. There is a little bit of caramel coming through with this pairing, but mainly pepper and spice. Towards the end of the first third the roasted nut flavors begin to emerge as the spice tapers off a bit.
Second Third:
This cigar really changes at the beginning of the second third. Now the spice has almost completely disappeared while that richness that I always look for in a Brick House cigar begins to make its first impression on the palate. A subtle hint of sweetness also appears in the second third. I usually find this welcoming in a bourbon pairing, but Russell’s Reserve is not a sweet bourbon, and at this point of the pairing the two are fighting each other a bit.
Final Third:
Heading into the final third, the Short Torp begins to smoothen out just a bit and subtle notes of leather emerge on the front of the palate. In other pairings, I’ve noticed the finale of the cigar pulling out some new flavors in the bourbon, but this is not the case with this pairing. The Russell’s Reserve remains somewhat tiresome. There is an abundance of heat at the tail end of this cigar, and with my last sip down, I think it’s time to call it a night.
Conclusion:
I was a little disappointed overall in this pairing and more specifically the Russell’s Reserve 10 year. It’s very rare that I try a small batch that I don’t like, but this bourbon just never developed on the palate like I expected. The Short Torp, while not my favorite in the Brick House family, is still a solid cigar and great if you’re in the mood for a faster smoke. I was a little surprised by how spicy this cigar was as it definitely packs a punch for a smaller stogie. I would not recommend this pairing, but I may try this cigar again with a different spirit on the rocks. Notable pairing flavors: Pepper, Roasted Nuts, leather
