Before the cigar Session several weeks ago, I could count on one hand the number of cigars I've had in my life. I enjoyed that show much more than I thought I would, and I've subsequently purchased a small humidor and filled it with a sampling from both CAO and Tatuaje.
I finally broke into this small stash last night, and I thoroughly enjoyed a CAO Gold Robusto. Other than being "mild"--in a good way--I don't really have a vocabulary or palette to describe what I tasted. There were moments when I picked up some of the vanilla and toasted nut that I'd seen describing this cigar online, but it was mostly just a pleasant mix of earth and spice and, well, tobacco.
So here are my questions for any experienced cigar aficionados in the BN Army.
1. Given that I really liked this mild CAO Gold, any recommendations of other brands I might like?
2. Beer pairing. Since I was already drinking my homebrewed Mild last night, I started with that. Not surprisingly, even this mild cigar overwhelmed my Mild beer, although the beer has enough body to still have been a good palate cleanser. I then poured a small sample of my aged English IPA (with Brett C. and Hungarian oak). On its own, this beer has some earthy tobacco-like character, so I always thought it might pair well with a cigar. Rather than enhancing that character, though, the cigar seemed to cancel it out, but it a good way that really enhanced the beer's tropical fruitiness.
Any other pairing suggestions, for this aged IPA or for my bottles of doppelbock and oak-aged Brown Shugga clone? Do you have any go-to beers that you like to drink with a cigar, whether a mild cigar or something stronger?
