Fresh Fusion

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Fresh Fusion

I know that at this time of the year, of our readers in North America and Europe are enjoying a different type of climate than we are here in the southern hemisphere. Despite knowing this, the heat in Chile is such that this is the pairing I was inspired to create, hopefully those in cold climates can save it for a nicer, warmer day.

Some time ago I decided to create a Dark and Stormy using the locally available ingredients I had access to. I also made a pairing with a Mojito Mulata, but the results were not as pleasing as I had expected. For this month’s pairing, I decided to combine both recipes and make a simple Stormy Mojito, starting with a couple of dark rums, a ginger beer and a sprig of mint to make the fusion between both cocktails. It is almost 85 F in the shade here in Santiago, Chile, and since the pairing also requires that I smoke a cigar, I had to select something refreshing.

For the rums I selected: Elixir 33 from Cuba Ron SA (Cuba) and Myers’s Jamaica Rum. I used 1 and 2 ounces respectively, I then added a small bottle of Fever Tree’s Ginger Beer and added a freshly harvested mint twig, straight from my herb pot.

For the cigar I selected a Coloniales de Trinidad (44 Ring x 132 mm length) which has a medium body and I believe it would make the perfect accompaniment due to how fresh it is. When I lit the cigar, the smoke was very smooth due to the couple of years spent in my humidor. The cocktail is very well-rounded and refreshing, I think the use of slightly aged rums that are also slightly sweet combine very well with the ginger, allowing for its spiciness to combine with that of the tobacco, which was the idea from the beginning. This turned out marvelous.

The mint, with its green notes also helps the cocktail come across as refreshing, and this refreshing sensation endures during the smoking of the cigar, making this a refreshing but not classic pairing.

The cigar (Habano) worked perfectly too, but if you don’t have access to this format, you can substitute it with another medium-bodied cigar in a Corona or Mareva, which should not offer more than 30 minutes of smoking time, which is the perfect amount of time needed to enjoy this simple and refreshing summer cocktail.

Philip Ili Barake

#GR CigarPairing

-Article written by Philip Ili Barake- 

My name is Philip Ili Barake, Sommelier by trade. As a result of working with selected restaurants and wine producers in Chile, I started developing a passion for distilled spirits and cigars. As part of my most recent job, I had the opportunity to visit many Central American countries, as well as, rum distilleries and tobacco growers.

But my passion for spirits and cigars did not end there; in 2010 I had the honor of representing Chile at the International Cigar Sommelier Competition, where I won first place, becoming the first South American to ever achieve that feat.

Now I face the challenge of impressing the readers of “Got Rum?” with what is perhaps the toughest task for a Sommelier: discussing pairings while being well aware that there are as many individual preferences as there are rums and cigars in the world.

I believe a pairing is an experience that should not be limited to only two products; it is something that can be incorporated into our lives.

I hope to help our readers discover and appreciate the pleasure of trying new things (or experiencing known things in new ways).