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			Cigar abundance Choosing a drink to go with a cigar is such a difficult and responsible business that the owners of certain Cognac Houses have thought up a way of making the smoker’s task easier – by creating cognacs that are optimally suited to cigars. But, even so, the choice rests with us, because making a choice means showing taste, giving play to our fantasy and, finally, demonstrating decisiveness. So, gentlemen, make your choice! We have already made ours. CIGAR COGNACS COHIBA EXTRA COGNAC This cognac was created by the Cognac House of Bisquit on the initiative of the Cuban cigar company, Habanos S.A. Blind tastings took place with the aid of specialists, directors of the prestige cigar clubs of France and other influential cigar smokers. The new Cohiba Cognac Extra made its debut in February, 1999 during the International Cigar Festival in Cuba. The blend is mainly composed of forty to fifty-year old cognac spirits from the Grand Champagne region. CLUB CIGARE XO COGNAC This cognac, which is produced by the Distillery Cabanne, one of the oldest cognac houses founded in 1686, consists exclusively of spirits from the Grande Champagne region, the average age of which is around thirty years. Thanks to special distilling technology, it retains its fruity flavour, while at the same time acquiring soft, spicy tones, a diverse bouquet and a long, pleasant aftertaste. Its soft and compliant flavour can be used in accompaniment to a wide range of cigars – from the light to the very strong. CIGAR CLUB COGNAC Cigar Club cognac is the creation of a member of the fourth generation of the Pascal Fillioux family. Created in 1995, it contains cognac spirit only from the Grande Champagne region and only from one harvest – that of 1968. Since all cognacs of the House of Jean Fillioux are only bottled to order, Cigar Club gets older every year. Attempting to find a suitable cigar to accompany it should prove a fairly entertaining occupation – as the cognac gets older, its requirements for a perfect partner will become increasingly demanding. CIGARS & COMBINATIONS EL REY DEL MUNDO Tainos (Cuba) A pleasant cigar with a subtle, oily wrapper leaf and a round cap. Unlit, its aromatic range is a fairly loud orchestration of woody scents, spicy and nutty flavours with undertones of mushrooms and dry leaves. But when lit, the cigar rapidly gathers strength and aroma. On reaching medium strength, it remains stationary so that although its draw and aromatic sensations may change, its strength stays unaltered. Over its last third, animal and earthy tangs increase, but this in no way prevents perception of the other shades. Until the last moment, the cigar’s nuances are clearly distinguishable and its aroma subtle and complex. Smoking is pleasant and full-bodied, and the aftertaste is rich and prolonged. Club Cigare XO Cognac In this combination, the sweetness of the cognac seems excessive, while the cigar’s aroma appears rather too simple, almost bland. The loss to both sides is evident. Cigar Club Cognac A very interesting combination. The cognac and the cigar suit each other and support the aromatic range, the shades of which are clearly evident and in harmony. Cohiba Extra Cognac In this combination, the cognac and the cigar do not work against each other, but do not supplement each other either. Each lives its own full-bodied and interesting life, making it a possible combination. But it doesn’t reveal any secrets. CIENFUEGOS Hot Shot (Honduras) The cigar has a subtle, oily wrapper leaf. The cap is conical and of good quality. Unlit, the aroma is fairly low-key with barely perceptible tobacco and woody notes. Lit, it is very spicy and sharp. Its earthy and woody flavour has a pronounced minty taste, and a definite saltiness. Its aromas are of average strength and contain woody, animal, spicy and chocolate tones. The cigar has a light draw and burns evenly with average speed. It has an aftertaste of average richness and is of average strength. Club Cigare XO Cognac The cigar’s aromatic shades are not lost in this combination. And the flavours of the cognac – particularly chocolate and wood – are retained. But the combination appears to be excessively harsh, which makes it acceptable only for lovers of strong sensations. Cigar Club Cognac In this combination, the taste of the cigar becomes fuller, although the aroma does not develop rich shades. The floweriness of the cognac harmonizes well with the spiciness of the cigar, partially softening its excessive harshness. Cohiba Extra Cognac In this combination, the cognac seems excessively sweet and rough. The sharp explosion of pepperiness in the cigar does not make it particularly pleasant. RAMON ALLONES Specially Selected (Cuba) The wrapper leaf has a soft, shiny, oily surface. The cigar is rolled to an optimum density and finished with a carefully rounded cap. Unlit, its aromas range from the nutty-spicy to the minty-animal, while its tastes are concentrated in two areas – the woody and the fruity. But when lit, the cigar rapidly gathers strength and develops a rich aroma dominated by spicy and animal tones. The first third of the cigar can boast a full-bodied and balanced flavour. But the aroma gets gradually more complex due to the appearance of burnt and nutty overtones. The full strength remains to the very end, but is perceived as the cigar’s due and is not accompanied by any unpleasant sensations. Club Cigare XO Cognac The cognac and the cigar are very strong and heady, and compliment each other well. The combination produces a powerful taste, but not a harsh one and a rich aroma with clearly defined shades. It will unquestionably give considerable pleasure to lovers of powerful sensations. Cigar Club Cognac In strength, the cigar and the cognac suit each other perfectly, but this does not produce a good combination, since the aromas of the cigar are deadened to the point of being imperceptible, and the first thing to be noticed is a sharp, soapy tone that strangely appears in addition to the flowery shades of the cognac. Cohiba Extra Cognac In this combination, the cigar and the cognac demonstrate their power, producing a fairly strong and harsh sensation that despite its intensity is not unpleasing. The main thing this combination has going for it is the wealth of its aromatic tones which go together well. ROCKY PATEL VINTAGE 1992 Robusto (Honduras) A dark maduro cigar with a subtle, smooth wrapper leaf and a good round cap. Its unlit ‘arsenal’ contains exotic spices, dry grass and nutty and woody tones. The unlit taste has a characteristic sweetness, which is intensive and insistent. Smoking does not immediately reveal all the charms of this cigar, and the leather and spicy tones are only gradually made apparent. Then earthy and animal tangs predominate. Its strength can be considered as medium, and its burning is even and calm, if not actually slow. Its variety is not astounding and it contains no alarming surprises. The aftertaste is prolonged. Club Cigare XO Cognac In this combination, the aroma of the cigar is chopped off: the nuances are cut short and the burnt and earthy tones come clearly into prominence. The taste gets heavy and becomes sharper and hotter. The taste of the cognac is basically unaffected, but it takes on the not particularly pleasant flavour of over-ripe fruit. But, apart from that, the combination is rather interesting. Cigar Club Cognac In combination with this cognac, the animal shades of the cigar’s aroma become clearly pronounced. Apart from that, the cigar acquires an additional sharpness, and the burnt flavour is strengthened in the aftertaste. It is impossible to say which of the partners wins from this combination – most likely, it is a worthy union of equals. Cohiba Extra Cognac This cognac destroys the aroma of the cigar by almost completely deadening it. All that is left of the cigar from this combination is a peppery flavour that develops into harshness.