Schmoke and a Pancake

Gurkha Blue Steel - 05/03/2011

2011-06-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

Gurkha Blue Steel, torpedo, 6.5 x 53. This is a great meaty cigar. Light spice, medium pepper. Wonderfully balanced oily maduro. This is a really great great cigar. Compares with some of the best.

Paired with 2009 Sterling Vineyards Mendocino County Sauvignon Blanc.

Warm in Kauai.

Tatiana Mocha - 05/03/2011

2011-06-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

Tatiana Mocha, Caramely, 6x50. My favorite breakfast cigar. Goes very well with coffee.

Paired with Kona Coffee.

Warm in Kauai.

Gurkha Legend - 05/01/2011

2011-06-12T18:16:00.000-07:00

Gurkha Legend, robusto 5x50. Nice balanced strong pepper and spice throughout this smoke. A great little cigar.

Paired with 2007 Norton Malbec.

Warm in Kauai at 9:00pm.

Isla del Sol - 05/01/2011

2011-06-12T18:06:00.000-07:00

Isla del Sol, Gran Corona 5.0" x 44. Usually a breakfast cigar, but enjoyed in the evening while preparing dinner.

Paired with Koloa Kaua'i Gold Hawaiian Rum.

Warm in Kauai.

Padron 1964 Anniversary - 05/01/2011

2011-06-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Natural Imperial, 6x54. Very smooth full of creamy woody flavors. An excellent cigar.

Paired with 2002 Dom Perignon Champagne. Probably my favorite champagne.

Warm in Kauai.

Camacho Triple Maduro - 05/01/2011

2011-06-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

Camacho Triple Maduro, robusto 4.5x50. Strong, meaty and chewy with spice and pepper throughout. Very oily. This is a great little cigar.

Paired with Koloa Kaua'i Gold Hawaiian Rum. This Koloa Rum is fantastic.

Warm in Kauai.

Tatiana Mocha - 05/01/2011

2011-06-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

Tatiana Mocha, Caramely, Caramely, 6x50. Good breakfast cigar.

Paired with Kona Coffee.

Warm in Kauai.

Isla del Sol - 04/30/2011

2011-06-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

Isla del Sol, Gran Corona 5.0" x 44. Mild, some coffee flavor. Usually I smoke this with breakfast, but this night I had a nice cabernet left over from a steak dinner.

Paired with 2006 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Warm in Kauai.

Cruzado - 04/30/2011

2011-06-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

Cruzado Marios Churchill, 7 x 47. Balanced spice with a nutty tobacco flavor. Pretty good.

Paired with The Macallan 12 year.

Warm in Kauai.

CAO Sopranos - 04/30/2011

2011-05-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

CAO The Sopranos Boss, 7x56. Cocoa and coffee flavor to start. Very spicy with hints of black cherry and cedar. Long perfectly balanced smoke. Excellent cigar, compares well to most more expensive maduros.

Paired with 2002 Louis Roederer Cristal. Pretty dang good champagne but horribly overpriced.

Warm in Kauai.

Man O' War - 04/29/2011

2011-05-13T16:57:00.000-07:00

Man O' War, toro 6.5x52. Nice spice and oaky flavor. Smooth but strong.

Paired with Risata Moscato d'Asti. Sweet.

Warm in Kauai.

La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte - 04/28/2011

2011-05-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte, Robusto 5.5" x 54. Delicious dark chewy flavor, Pennsylvania broadleaf wrapper. Excellent cigar.

Paired with Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rose Champagne.

Warm in Kauai.

Tatiana Mocha - 04/28/2011

2011-05-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

Tatiana Mocha, Caramely, 6x50. Mild chocolate fudge aroma for breakfast.

Paired with Kauai Coffee.

79 degrees in Kauai.

Alec Bradley Tempus - 04/27/2011

2011-05-01T15:16:00.000-07:00

Alec Bradley Tempus, Terra Novo, robusto, 5.0" x 50. One of the best values in the cigar world. Excellent cigar, beautiful flavor and aroma.

Paired with Koloa Kaua'i Dark Hawaiian Rum.

84 degrees in Kauai..

Isla Del Sol - 04/16/2011

2011-04-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

Isla Del Sol, Gran Corona 5.0" x 44. Nice little sweetened after dinner cigar.

Paired with 2009 Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.

66 degrees in Sacramento.

Perdomo Habano Corojo - 04/16/2010

2011-04-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

Perdomo Habano Corojo Robusto, 5x52. Nice lighter spice and smooth flavor. Nice cigar.

Paired with 2007 Chasseeur Blank, 2008 Kanzler Sonoma Coast, and 2009 Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir(s). Three fantastic Pinots.

71 degrees in Sacramento.

Diesel - 04/15/2011

2011-04-15T18:03:00.000-07:00

Diesel, torpedo, 5x56. Spicy, peppery off the light. Maintains a wonderful spicy flavor throughout a smooth burn. This is a fantastic cigar.

Paired with 2006 Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos. This is a sweet wine that has nice acidity. Very flavorful.

69 degrees on a warm evening.

Fumas - 04/10/2011

2011-04-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

Fumas, Torpedo 6.1" x 52. Very soft lightly packed cigar, medium flavor. Slightly sweet, average tobacco flavor. Nothing special.

Paired with Effen Vodka and Moutain Dew. After a dinner of large scallops sauteed with leeks and Capay Valley Sparkling Viognier (a fantastic inexpensive champagne grown and bottled just up I-505 from me).

61 degrees on a cool evening.

Tatiana Mocha - 04/10/2011

2011-04-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Tatiana Mocha, Caramely, 6x50. Fudge aroma, mild, nearly non-existent but chocolate and espresso taste. Great breakfast cigar however.

Paired with Meyer Lemon pancakes and Eight O'Clock Bokar blend coffee. This is an excellent soft tasty inexpensive coffee!

59 degrees and warming.

5 Vegas Classic - 04/09/2011

2011-04-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

5 Vegas Classic, double corona 6x48. Mild but flavorful leather and herbal hints. Creamy throughout, nice grassiness. Good cigar.

Paired with 2004 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino. A great vintage.

66 degrees on a mild afternoon.

5 Vegas Triple A - 03/29/2011

2011-03-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

5 Vegas AAA, 5x56, aged over 1 year. After a winter of sketchy weather, it is time to head back outside and start smoking again. This maduro has aged magnificantly. It was a great cigar before, and with a little time in the humidor it has become fantastic. Strong barnyard odor, smooth as silk, meaty and chocolate. Mild spiciness, quite a bit of pepper still with strong gut kick. Great.

Paired with Greg Norman Sparkling Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. A really nice inexpensive champagne.

69 degrees on a beautiful dry day.

La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte - 12/19/2010

2010-12-22T15:44:00.000-08:00

La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte, Robusto 5.5" x 54. Consistently nice cigar, I have smoked many of them. Pepper and spice, in a nice strong blend. Never overwhelming.

Paired with 2000 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Saugivnon. A very very good Cab!

58 degrees on the first decent evening in awhile.

Tierra de Sol - 12/12/2010

2010-12-13T15:17:00.001-08:00

Tierra del Sol, box pressed Torpedo, 6.1x54. Average tobacco flavor with some cocoa and coffee flavor. Not very spicy. Not as harsh as some of these I've smoked before, perhaps due to aging.

Paired with Boyds Gourmet Medallion coffee.

61 degrees on a cold damp morning.

Diesel Unlimited - 12/11/2010

2010-12-13T15:17:00.000-08:00

Diesel Unlimited, d,7, Churchill 7x58. Big new Diesel, but very disappointing. Harsh and tarry off the light, stayed pretty harsh throughout, finally mellowing a bit a the end. This was smoked 5 days off the truck, and is very young, may need a bit of time aging. All in all a poor smoke considering the excellent Diesel Unholy Cocktail's excellence.

Paired with 2007 Londer Dry Gewürztraminer. An excellent dry white wine!

59 degrees on a cold damp afternoon.

Isla del Sol - 12/05/2010

2010-12-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

Isla del Sol, Gran Corona 5.0" x 44. Small coffee infused and sweetened cigar, smokes very mild with a lot of smoke. Nice for breakfast.

Paired with Western Family Distinct Selection French Roast Coffee after malted pancakes.

53 degrees on a soggy morning.