Initial Thoughts
Welcome to the 3rd installment in my October Pairing Series. Today we’re pairing Tatuaje’s Baby Face and Prichard’s Peach Mango Rum.
I’m always trying to figure out better ways to describe and write these pairings. So I’m switching it up from the previous couple of times with the combative / harmonious flavors. To be honest, I wasn’t super stoked about this pairing before it started. First off, I wasn’t a big fan of the Baby Face cigar. Secondly, this rum is pretty sweet, so I didn’t know how it would pair with a cigar. I actually had this pairing the same night I did the review for the peach mango rum. I just wanted to sit outside, and have a nice drink after a long day. After I got halfway through the glass, I was like damn, I need a cigar. So, I decided to treat myself and go ahead and put this pairing together. Lets jump into it and see what we’ve got!
1st Third
On the first third of this cigar, I had trouble with the draw. If you remember from the first review, I had issues all way the into the second third. Exact same issues here. Not quite as difficult, but still it required more effort than I like to put out. At this point, there wasn’t really any blending going on with the flavors from the cigar and rum. They both stood off on their own, like wallflowers at a dance. They were very easy to separate, and at this point the rum is the dominate flavor on my palate.
The rum is quite rich and creamy, it has a distinct that flavor that you can pick out through the smoke of the cigar. That butteriness just coats the tongue, and won’t allow the smoke and pepper to penetrate. Towards the end of this third, the Baby Face finally begins to open up a little, and I can get a great draw on it. I’m starting to pick up on more of the pepper and spice and it’s starting to chip away at that wall of butteriness built by the rum.
2nd Third
In this 2nd third, the Baby Face continues to open up and begins to balance out the dominating rum. This is where the magic begins to happen. No longer can I solely taste peaches and butteriness. I begin to experience some great combinations, I get the smooth butter and cream with a finish of pepper and spice. In the aroma I pick up on the not only the peach, but also the earth and leather notes from the cigar.
The heat of the rum kicks up the intensity of the spice from the cigar, and tones down the overall sweetness. This pairing is really starting to hit it’s stride. This is exactly what I was hoping for, but was afraid wouldn’t happen. This combination made both of the individual products better.
Final Third
In the last third, the Baby Face took over the game. It hit it’s stride and never looked back. Pepper and spice were abundant, rum was splashing around like the current of the Colorado river. Finally, this pairing was combining and creating a great flavor experience. The spice that the Baby Face gives off is met with the sweetness of the Peach Mango rum and it’s amazing how well they balance each other out. I’m not one for the yin and yang metaphor, so I’ll say oreos and milk. MMMM, now I’m hungry.
I’m blown away by how this cigar opened up, and it completely changed the experience between both of the products. I thought for sure I was going to be tasting peaches all night, but the Baby Face stood it’s ground and showed me it can be a great cigar.
Conclusion
Overall, this is one of the best pairings I’ve ever had. Individually I wasn’t a big fan of either of these products, but with their powers combined it turned out to be pretty incredible. The way they worked together was really quite impressive. Here’s a sweet yet spicy metaphor for you. The rum was like a shy girl that took the initiative and came over to ask a shy boy (the cigar) to dance. She led the way through the first song, and finally the shy boy started building confidence and opened up during the second dance. Next thing you know by the third dance they were swing dancing and the shy boy was twirling the girl around his head. Yeah, how about that for ya? That’s really the only way I can describe it.
I would highly recommend this pairing if you ever get a chance to pick up the Baby Face, make sure to pair it with a nice sweet liquor. Or if you can only find the Peach Mango rum, make sure to pair it with a medium bodied spicy cigar.
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this new format, I know I like it more let me know what you think about it down below in the comments!
