Pairing Method
I keep mixing it up with my pairing methods. Sometimes I’ll take an academic approach, other days I’ll take a random approach. Today, I’m taking a slight hybrid approach. I knew I was going to be smoking the Liga Privada T52, so I knew I wanted to pair it with something that could stand up to the flavor but not overpower it. My first thought was I should stay away from bourbon. However after looking at my liquor cabinet, I realized I didn’t have anything, but bourbon available. So I reached in for this Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. I remembered that this bourbon had a big nose and a very approachable palate. So I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be too overbearing with its flavors for this pairing. Therefore I figured it was perfect for this cigar. Alright, enough jibber jabber, let’s get into it!
First Third
Experience
If you’ve never experienced a Liga Privada T52 then by God you’re missing out on a great cigar. The smoking experience of this stick is absolutely phenomenal! It lights right up when putting the torch to the foot and begins burning perfectly down the barrel. The smoke just rolls off this cigar and permeates the entire garage. My wife actually comes and tells me that now the house smells like smoke… So that’s kind of a bummer and I’m sure I’ll be in trouble for that for awhile, but I think it’s a great testament to this smoke and most other Ligas for that matter.
I decided to cut this Old Forester Birthday Bourbon with some ice. It was coming out a little hot from the bottle and I didn’t want to fry my taste receptors for this pairing. I don’t usually put my spirits on ice for the tasting review, however I do find that it helps open them up while doing a pairing. Right from the start these two are working hand in hand on this pairing. Neither one is overbearing with its flavors and they are flowing in and out of each other which is exactly how I prefer my pairings to react.
Flavors
Right off the bat, the flavors that I picked up were dominate notes of chocolate. It’s like a flowing chocolate river that has overtaken my mouth. There is sweet creaminess that I pick up from the T52 and when combined with the spice from the bourbon it forms something magical. It’s like a smooth smokey chipotle pepper sitting on my tongue. Very interesting flavor combinations thus far.
Second Third
Experience
During the second third I can really feel the cigar building in strength. The nicotine content is fairly strong with this cigar, or at least it feels like it. When combined with the bourbon it’s definitely giving me a nice head buzz. The cigar is still burning perfectly. Couldn’t ask for a better smoking experience! I eventually threw out my ice ball about halfway through the first third. I don’t like it to sit in there for too long, Just enough to cut down the bourbon a bit and chill it. Then I let mother nature take her course with chilling the bourbon. It doesn’t take long since the temperature has been hovering in the 30’s this week. This pairing is still working incredibly well right now. The products aren’t being combative with their flavors at all which makes it really enjoyable for me.
Flavors
During the second third the Liga Privada T52 began changing its flavor profile a bit. This change caused an obvious change to the pairing’s flavor profile. Now that the spice has built up on the Liga Privada T52 it’s beginning to combine with the spice from Old Forester Birthday Bourbon and create this note of wood. The note that I picked up on the retrohale is reminiscent of a pine tree odor. That’s just the initial note. However, after it lingers for a bit I picked up on a very dark roasted coffee note. Similar to a dark Colombian roast that I sometimes get at Starbucks. It’s always exciting to experience these flavor changes during a pairing. You know the bourbon is staying consistent with the flavors throughout, but it’s quite a ride to see how the cigar changes things up along the way.
Final Third
Experience
I always enjoy smoking a Liga Privada T52 it’s really hard to beat the quality of this cigar. It makes for an incredible smoking experience all the way around. True to end this cigar burned perfectly straight, never had a draw issue and the smoke continued to pour out. Just makes life easier when you don’t have to worry about a crappy smoking experience. Especially when you’re pairing it with such a fantastic bourbon. This Old Forester Birthday Bourbon was the backbone of the pairing staying strong and consistent and giving the cigar the ability to experiment with different flavors along the way. It was fantastic until the end and made this pairing one of my favorites to date.
Flavors
With the spice dying down from the Liga Privada T52 it allowed the sweet note to come back into play. A dominant cocoa note appeared during this third. The spice is still there, just in the backend of the smoke. I’m picking up a nice molasses note as well, mainly from the bourbon. However, staying true to form this cigar continues to evolve and has now developed a nice earthy and wood note to it that continues to be different from its previous flavors. It combines with the slight oak notes from the bourbon to form a more pungent woody flavor that becomes the dominant flavor at the very end.
Conclusion
Right up to the end this cigar has stayed exciting and kept me on my toes and I have thoroughly enjoyed the ride! From the beginning notes of chocolate, to the fiery spice int the middle to the mellow wood notes at the end this pairing definitely took me on a journey that I enjoyed. Both the bourbon and the cigar were fantastic on their own, but they really shined when combined. Sometimes these flavors just don’t work well with others, however this combination proved to be incredible. So if you can find any of the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon left around this year it’s worth picking it up because who knows what flavors you can discover. We all know the Liga Privada T52 is difficult to find. So if you can find either, or both, pick ’em up and enjoy them together!
Contest
So this week of December 16, 2013 is our eBook launch week! To celebrate we’re giving away a 5 pack of Liga Privadas to one random winner. Will be posting multiple pairings this week and each pairing will have rafflecopter entry form at the end of the post so make sure to come back and check them out and get entered to win the 5 pack! Good luck and pass it on!
