Cigar Event: Ashton Cigars and Odell Brewery Pairing Dinner Pt. 3:

So, here at The Cigar Bar, we’ve been discussing the Ashton Cigar and Odell Brewery cigar pairing dinner hosted by Edwards Pipe and Cigar at the d’Vine Bistro, and we’ve had some great things to talk about. Today, we continue with part three, which is easily the most exotic in the Czar’s opinion, which provided an exciting combination of flavors!

Starting again, the chef of d’Vine introduces us to a most interesting little finger food: Medjool dates stuffed with Goat cheese and English Stilton, a type of Bleu cheese, wrapped in speck, a smoked and dry cured Spanish ham that resembles a thick cut slice of bacon.

Presenting Odell Brewery’s contribution to this pairing is Nico who educates us on Odell Brewery’s flagship beer 90 Schilling. 90 Schilling is another amber ale, but unlike Levity, it is a bit darker, more medium-bodied, and provides a bit more of a malted flavor.

The last element to be presented is Ashton’s VSG (Virgin Sun Grown) Pegasus 5X54 cigar. The Pegasus is blended specifically for Ashton cigars by renowned Carlos Fuente Jr. Fuente produces this fabulous cigar by crafting Dominican Tobacco leaf aged between four to five years and uses an exclusive wrapper grown only on a private estate in Ecuador owned by the Oliva family. The characteristics of this dark marbled beauty are immediately evident. It is finely crafted with the absolute best roll, firmness, and draw pre-light.

The first thing I do is light up the Ashton VSG and enjoy its immediate coffee and earth-like flavors, that, when combined with the 90 Schilling, creates an almost creamy, bitter-sweet, mocha flavor. Then, I indulge in one of the stuffed dates and I am immediately impacted by the salty, smokiness of the flavors swirling through my mind. I follow up the date with another swig of the 90 Schilling and I’m greeted by a swirling dervish of sweet and salty flavors carried on the back of the now subtle smoky characteristics of the stuffed date. Then the beer seems to dissolve the saltiness all together. This was my queue to take another pull from my cigar. The date still has some of the smokiness remaining in my mouth as the cigars now woody-like mocha flavor smoothes out the smoky flavor while giving me a pleasant savory undertone.

Of course, after three such spectacular pairings, we’re left with the best part of any meal: dessert. I can assure you folks that this is a dessert you certainly do not want to miss. It rivals the Piri Piri wraps of yesterdays post as my favorite of the evening, and judging by how fast the beautiful Tiffany finished hers, it was easily her favorite too. Check back tomorrow as I give the final pairing of the evening and discuss the conclusion to this relaxing evening of cigars, beer, great food, and even better company!