Tag Archives: alec bradley

Don’s Cigar Pick: Alec Bradley Occidental Reserve Corona

Sometimes, there’s nothin’ better than the perfect drink and a cigar to match. Don’s selection this week is Alec Bradley Occidental Reserve Corona  ( 6 x 43 ). The ultimate compliment to this cigar? Henry McKenna 10 Year, a Bottled-in-Bond, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Alec Bradley Occidental Reserve Corona Cigar

Don first smoked this brand when it was first introduced in the 1990’s. A consistently high quality cigar from one of the Dominican Republic’s outstanding cigar factories, and the same factory that makes Avo cigars among many.  Occidental Reserve is a blend of three Dominican tobaccos along with Indonesian longfiller, finished off with a Connecticut shade wrapper.  The smoke is well balanced; expect an even draw and burn. A fine quality cigar and great value!

Cigar and Bourbon Pairing - Occidental Reserve and Henry McKenna

Occidental Reserve needs to be paired with Henry McKenna 10 Year. Smooth and creamy, seductively full-bodied, and one of the best bourbon values at Bottles. It’ll be tough finding a better value, 10-year-old bourbon than Henry McKenna. Cheers, and enjoy!

 

 

Don’s Pick of the Week: Alec Bradley Connecticut Tubo & Geary’s Summer Ale

AlecBradleyConnecticutOur selection this week is Alec Bradley Connecticut Tubo, a mild to medium bodied toro (6 x 50). It has a smooth Connecticut Ecuador wrapper and a mixed filler of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos. This is mild enough to be a nice afternoon smoke, but rich in flavor with notes of cedar and earth. The packaging includes the ever popular metal tube. Golfers and boaters love the convenience of the tube – no crushing in the golf bag or in an overnight bag. Also, the tube protects the cigar in place of humidification, perfect for someone on the go.

AlecBradley-tube
Because this cigar so perfectly embodies summer, Don is pairing it with the cheerful and crisp Geary’s Summer Ale. Brewing right out of Portland, Maine, Geary’s does summer right with rich, spicy hop tang, similar to a German Kölsch. This is an easy-drinking golden ale with aromas and flavors of caramel, buttered rum, herbs and a dry finish. It comes in a can, so it can be thrown together with your Tubo for a relaxing day out on the course…or wherever!

AlecBradley+GearySummer

Each season, the crew at Geary’s, in partnership with the Maine College of Art awards a scholarship to the student who submits the best new design for the Summer Ale packaging. This year’s winning design includes crashing waves and sunshine, practically begging to be enjoyed on the beach! Cheers!

Don’s Cigar Pick: Alec Bradley Tempus Terra Novo Cigar

Cigar and Rum Pairing

Tempus cigars are manufactured and distributed by Alec Bradley Cigars, a relatively new brand among premier cigar companies. Founded in the mid nineties, Alec Bradley produce a full line of outstanding quality cigars. The Tempus line has been rated a “94” and recently was placed among the top 25 cigars of the year. This robusto Tempus Terra Novo (5 x 50) is medium to full-bodied with a rich semi-sweet finish. As you smoke, it reveals complex flavors of dried fruit, cedar and touches of leather and coffee. Very impressive!

cigar-tempusterranovo1
Just to make sure, Don smoked one last evening. He would highly recommend pairing this cigar with El Dorado Dark Rum from Guyana. On the bank of the Demerara River, local sugar cane is crushed, pressed, and boiled to create molasses. This unique flavor creates the base for all of the El Dorado rums. El Dorado uses a wooden Coffrey Still from 1880, it is the last of it’s kind in the world and the years of delicious rum distilled in this unusually tall still imparts a unique flavor to the rum. They refresh the still with new wood, small sections at a time to preserve the essence of the rums. El Dorado also utilizes a Double Wooden Pot Still and Single Wooden Pot Still from 1732, these stills create deliciously dark and rich rums.

Enjoy this pairing outdoors and on the water! Cheers!

Alec Bradley Tempus Terra Novo $7.99
El Dorado Dark Rum $14.99