Love Pairing

by ,

                                               Love Pairing

To think of February is to think of the month of love, a month where couples love to celebrate their love with romantic dinners or other special activities.  Obviously, if it is a dinner, there is no better way to end it than with a pairing which, even if it is simple, will be special because of the date.

The brand of cigar for this occasion is quite obvious too: it is hard to think of one more romantic or romanticized than Romeo y Julieta, an established brand with many devoted consumers who are “in love” with the products.

The format I selected is a Robusto, the most romantic Robusto (50 Ring x 124 mm), a relatively new format, but one that has been well-received since its release in 2006.  This format cigar is ideal for those brief moments we want to enjoy, perfect for a romantic after dinner.

The cocktail is an invention of mine, something fresh and with low alcohol, but that retains the character of the rum.  I was inspired by the idea of a cocktail that could be served as a digestif, mixed with black tea and peach juice.  These flavors should combine very well with a fruity rum, so without hesitation, I grabbed a bottle of Agricole Rhum, specifically I selected Clément VSOP from Martinique, which already features dried apricot and peach notes in its bouquet, alongside tanned leather which matches perfectly with black tea.

Here are the ingredients for the cocktail:

  • 3 oz. Rhum Clément VSOP
  • 2 oz. Peach Flavored Black Tea

The technique is very easy, simply chill the products and then pour them into a well-chilled glass.  So simple but the cocktail retains the full aromas and flavors of the ingredients.  It might look aggressive at first, but the overall strength of the cocktail is designed to be mellow, for a romantic evening, the ideal consumption time matches the 30 or so minutes it takes to smoke the cigar (or you can drink it faster and have a second one!).

I hope you can recreate this paring at your house.  If you don’t have a peach-flavored iced tea, you could make your own by macerating peaches in tea for at least 24 hours.  The result will be worth the effort, as it adds complexity and delightful aromas to the rum.

Enjoy this special day of the year, with a romantic dinner and a simple, yet spectacularly-smooth and elegant pairing.

Cheers!

Philip Ili Barake

#GRCigarPairing