So this was my birthday present to me! Pairing two new to me's that I have been saving for a special occasion. I have read a little bit on the Byron from United Cigars, and gleaned enough to know this was something special. When looking at options, my initial instinct was to pair this with a scotch, but to be honest I just finished mowing the lawn and was thirsting for a beer. I wanted something fruity that would add give a good sweet and sour flavor with the cigar. Upon careful inspection of the beverages chilling in our beer fridge I landed on the Rhuby Social. This beer boasts a slightly tart, fruity summer witbier with strawberry and rhubarb notes. I was a little suprised to see it pour as more of an orange color then reddish. The Byron had a great hay, ceder vibe out of the humidor, so I was excited to see how these two would match up:

Pairing Hots: 

• Fantastic blending of flavors with the cigar notes of nuts, spice and cedar really played off the sweet and tart notes of the beer
• Cigar had a clear burn line, medium draw and excellent construction ( one small tear near my cut, my fault not the cigar)
• The beer was an excellent companion for a hot day with or without a cigar. Really enjoyed that tart strawberry/rhubarb combo on the back end of the profile.

Pairing Nots:

• Hard to find these cigars in Canada, and wouldnt have even had the opportunity to try one without winning a contest ( so worth it)
• One relight for the cigar, but that is not that big of a deal in my opinion.

Was very impressed with both the cigar and the beer. I would reach for both again for sure, and would find it hard to walk by either in my continual search for new cigars and beverages. 
If you would like to know more about either, please check out their websites with the link below!
Send along any pairings you think I should try, until next time!
http://www.upstreetcraftbrewing.com/
http://unitedcigargroup.com/byron-cigars/

Until next time!
Sean "BigBoyRunning" Ryan

I have been battling a little sinus infection the last week or so, so I have not been able to really indulge in a fine ass cigar for almost a week, but with the temperature getting to an unseasonable 28C ( 82F) for my US friends, it was not a time to whimper and whine in the house but to get out into the sun and warmth and pair a cigar ( or two) and a beverage! 
On a quick survey of options I selected a Crowned Heads La Careme and a Modelo Especial. I thought what better way to kick off summer then a cerveza y Mexico and a cigar that I have really enjoyed in the past. I dont think I have ever had a bad experience smoking a Crowned Heads. Now I have not tried all of the cigar lines and vitols from this company, but the ones I have had, have all had character, unique flavor, and are well constructed.
In terms of the Modelo, I dont remember seeing it in my part of Canada earlier then last summer, so while I have had it before, I wouldnt say I have ever paired it with a cigar. On the initial notes it gives that typical clean refreshing taste similar to a corona. For me though, the Modelo is about 5 or 6 notches above a corona. I find I have to have lime with corona to cover up a residual skunk vibe, but Modelo can stand on its own.
In terms of how they paired together......
​

Pairing Hots:

• The cigar delivered on its promises of cream, chocolate and spice
• The beer was a clean and refreshing taste, easily drinkable on a hot day
• Construction was near perfect for the cigar, no relights, clean burn line

Pairing Nots:

• The combination of the cigar and the beer produced a sour flavor at times
• Slightly easy draw on the first third and burned fast
• After a while the flavor of the beer became non-existent 

While both the beer and the cigar can stand on their own, i would highly recommend a different combination in the future - for the Modelo - anything with a connecticut wrapper with some grassy, leather notes.
For the La Careme I would recommend a Vanilla or Coffee porter, something that is going to compliment the sweet flavors in the cigar but not overpower it, or become too sweet in the combination.

If you would like to know more about either product, check out their websites:
https://www.modelousa.com/en-US/product/especial
http://www.crownedheads.com/cigars/

Hope you have some sunshine in your part of the world, going to be a killer birthday weekend for me!
Slainte
Sean "BigBoyRunning" Ryan

Been a week or so since I have had the time to sit down and make a post but I went back through my photos and found this pairing from a recent visit to the beautiful yet rainy Ilse of Cape Breton Nova Scotia. I was traveling with work, as we do an executive retreat here every year. It allows us to discuss the major issues and challenges that may come up during the next year, debrief the year that was, and allow for some bonding and some goodbyes.
Once we had a solid day one under our belts, I snuck away to take on this pairing of FdLA from My Fathers Cigars and Glendronch 12 year old. The FdLA was Cigar Aficionado's cigar of the year in 2012. The first time i smoked it I could see why. It hits that nice medium level in terms of strength and even in Canada has a great price point of under $15 for the Toro. This cigar is always one of my go to's and when I saw that my small little tobacco shop in my small little town had a box, I bought them. All of them. Sorry, not sorry. haha
The Glendronach 12yr holds a special place in my heart as it was the first bottle of scotch I purchased when I wanted to start to experiment with this pairing thing. I was recently given a bottle as a token of thanks for my work at my job, so I thought it fitting to bring it along as some of the folks attending our retreat, had never had it, or had never really tried scotch before. This is a great starter scotch. 
I was hoping these two would become fast friends......
​

Pairing Hots:

• Price point for both cigar (less then $15) scotch ($65)
• Sweet spice of the scotch with the nutty spice of the cigar
• The company while smoking
• Great burn, draw, flavour changes

Pairing Nots:

• Cape Breton was rainy and cold
• I didnt bring more FdLA's

Not a shocker that I really enjoyed this pairing, literally two of my favorites. But what would have been the point of setting myself up for failure when the retreat was about leveraging strengths and sharing solutions. This was my contribution in pairing form to the spirit of the week.
Seriously though, both the cigar and scotch are great for someone just starting out with cigars or scotch or both. Why smoke a shit stick for your first one, spend a couple more bucks and get an award winner. As for the Glendronach, it is not super well known in these parts of the world, anyone starting is going to probably go with something super smokey and hate it or something that is so flavourless. Glendronach 12 has a great hit off the nose, lingers well on your tongue and pairs like a dream because of the sweetness it adds to your cigar. 
As usual, just my opinion, give it a go for yourself and let me know if I was on point or way off the mark.

If you want to read more on the construction of the cigar or the history of the scotch, check out these links:
http://myfathercigars.com/
https://www.glendronachdistillery.co.uk/

Hope you have something pairingtastic!!
​Sean "BigBoyRunning" Ryan

I have been walking by this can in the beer section of our liquor store now for a couple visits. Watermelon.....beer.....is that really a thing I want to try. I am not a super fan of blueberry flavored beer, but I have been know to enjoy a cider, or a strawberry wheat beer in the past. But I have to admit when I think beer, my mind does not automatically jump to a watermelon nuanced beer. But what is life without experiencing new things. So into the cart it went....what?.....you dont use a cart at the liquor store.....stop judging me!!! Haha.
When thinking about what cigar would go well with a watermellon blonde beer, i was at a bit of a loss. I went back and forth over a few different sticks but settled on the crowned heads la imperiosa because I thought regardless of how the beer tastes, I know I like this stick. So away I went to the cigar nook, for my obligatory instagram photos and to have a sip and a puff after a busy week.
 
On the Hot or Not scale, I gave this pairing......
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Pairing Hots:

• La Imperiosa lit well, nice draw
• Cigar had notes of cedar, chocolate, and a sweet spice
• Beer had an excellent nose, lots of action in the glass and in the back of the mouth.

Pairing Nots:

• Beer was quite sweet
• Not enough spice and earthiness in the cigar to match the sweetness in the beer
• Slight burn line issues, required correction and relighting

So yeah...not awful, but not a super great pairing. I would still recommend both the cigar and the beer, but not together. On a hot summer day after mowing the lawn, I would reach for this beer and feel reinvigorated to continue on and do the weed whacking haha. 
As for the cigar, I always try and keep one of these La Imperiosa's around, some find its flavor strong, but I love it. Has a great smoke and the burn time never disappoints. 
For this beer to be honest, I am at a loss for a suggested paring partner, maybe a couple of cigarello's on the golf course? Not sure. For the cigar I would recommend anything with some spice and not too much smoke, blend or single malt like a Chivas 12 or Glenlivet 12 would be my best recommendations. 

To check out more about Nine Locks Brewing:
http://ninelocksbrewing.ca

To check out more about The Crowned Heads Cigars:
http://www.crownedheads.com

Thanks for reading! 
Sean "BigBoyrunning" Ryan

Nothing like a Warped Wednesday to take the edge off a busy week. It didnt hurt that we have been getting sporadic periods of sunshine and warmth on and off the last week or so. This will quickly change as we are forecasted to get a shit kicking of rain in the next six days or so.  Awesome, right?!
Enough of the future lets discuss the past, last nights pairing of Wayne Gretzky' Red Cask Whiskey. I first happened along this bottle in Ontario last fall and it has been a clear favorite in our casa since. I am about one drink away from ending the bottle so luckily I will be heading back to Ontario at the end of the month and surely a bottle or two will be making the trip back with me.
I selected the WG99 to go with my GotF JJ because when I had this cigar before, I did not match it particularly well. The scotch was very peaty and it kind of muddled the flavors of each. 
So I wanted to select a whisky that had a bit of spice, and some sweet, but not the deepness in flavor that an aged whisky can sometimes bring. To me the WG99 has elements of a Dalmore 12 but lighter on the palate. 
The GotF lands right in the sweet spot of a medium cigar for me. With hits of leather, nuttiness, sweetness and spice I figured it would be a great match up for No.99.
On the Hot or Not Pairing Scale it was......

Pairing Hots: 

• Complimentary Flavors: Spice, sweetness, fruity, nutty
• Construction on the cigar: No relights, excellent burn line, smooth draw
• Burn time about 70 minutes

Pairing Nots:

• Dont over ice, I did, made the last third of the whisky too diluted 
• Last third didnt have much in the way of flavor changes, stayed on one note of spice for me

For more information on either of these Hot or Not pairings, check out there webpages, or better yet try them for yourself!
Wayne Gretzky Estates:
http://www.gretzkyestateswines.com/
Warped Cigars:
https://www.warpedcigars.com/

Thanks for reading! If there are pairings you think I should try, please fire me a message or hit me up on @run2smoke on Instagram!
​

Starting off the week last week with a new to me cigar from United Cigar Group and friend of the show The Dalmore 12yr old.
I read a quick blurb about the United cigar and felt that given the construction of its filler tobaccos were Brazilian Mata Fina, Dominican Habano Corojo and Dominican Habano Criollo 98 that a good scotch with a light smoke and sweeter notes would be a good match #noragretts 
On the hot or not scale I am giving it:

Pairing Hots: Dalmore sweetness lifted the flavors of the cigar, the smoke from the United enveloped the tongue and imparted notes of chocolate and spice throughout, draw was perfect. No relights!
Pairing Nots: Tough to correct the burn line, and needed to do so a couple of times throughout. 

Next up Redemption Rye Whiskey from Redemption and a Pilon cigar from CAO. I have seen the Pilon on various folks IG pages for a while and dont have the hate other seem to have for CAO brands so I thought I would pick one up and give it a try. 
It is very rare when our liquor store brings in any thing new so when I saw the Redemption Rye on the shelf, I snatched one up.
One a quick glance at both the CAO and Redemption pages I thought these two might be a great fit together. 
On the Hot or Not scale, I am giving it:

Pairing Hots: TBH the only reasons this scored mid range is the Pilon cigar. I actually enjoyed it, amazing burn time, no relights, fantastic draw and some deep flavors of leather, coffee and pepper. I think i am going to have to find another partner for this one to dance with again.
Pairing Nots: Redemption Rye. Talk about a disappointment. Sorry for any fans of this brand, but its just not for me. I expected a lot from the marketing write up, but found the flavor profile lacking and at time non-existent. It didnt compliment the cigar at all, and I stopped drinking it after a point because it was hurting the flavor of the cigar after the first third. I would have really put the score in the basement if not for the Pilon tasting so great.

Third paring this week was a Gran Reserva from My Fathers Cigars and a Pecadillo Oat Pillsner from 2 Crows brewing. I have been looking to try more and more of the local brews from our province in Nova Scotia, so when I saw this offering from 2 Crows I wanted to give it a try. The label read clean, grainy, spicy, crisp. Sounds good to me! I paired it with one of my all time favorite cigars - cause well, it was Friday and you have to have a Fuente on Fuente Friday. Plus the weather was excellent so a nice Churchill vitola was what the doctor ordered after a long week.
On the hot or not scale, I am giving this pairing:

Pairing Hots: the GR was awesome. Exactly what you expect from the brand and cigar. I have yet to ever have a bad experience from these sticks. Some pepper, some coca, some earthiness. Loved it! No construction issues, nice draw. Had to relight once, but that was more me talking too much and not paying attention haha. 
Pairing Nots: I didnt hate the beer, but it didnt really live up to the label description in my opinion so it looses marks for that. I found the beer quite heavy to be honest. You did get the oat and spice notes as promised but even though it had a bright honey color I found it very heavy so a big lack of crisp and clean. I dont know if I would rush out to pair this beer again but if I did it would have to be with a connecticut wrapped cigar.

Ending the week with a bang!!
There has been a ton of hype about the All Out Kings cigar from Caldwell and Drew Estate since it was launched a few weeks/month ago so I have been holding on to a couple for a while. I enjoyed smoking that big Gran Reserva the previous day so I thought it was time to break this big boy out. Having read the notes on it, I and having a few lack lustre pairing partners I broke out the King for its dancing partner Lagavulin 16 year old scotch. Oh its on.

Pairing Hots: Lagavulin, there that is all i need to say about the scotch. In regards to the cigar, it was awesome. Had all the great smoke and flavor i like. Notes of cocoa, dark chocolate, little spice and coffee action. Luscious smoke, amazing burn time, excellent draw. Together with the scotch it really brought it to the next level. The bite and smokiness from the scotch, not only gave some palate relief but allowed for flavors from both to linger so the next hit off of either always added to the overall enjoyment of both.
Pairing Nots: There is very little on the Nots side. My only drawback was that I needed to relight a couple of times. I thought I was going to need to correct the burn line at one point, but it sorted itself out nicely.

So there it is. My first week of Hot or Not! Hope you enjoyed this new style, and more importantly I hope you get out and try your own pairings and let me know what worked, what didnt and what i should try!
Sean "BigBoyRunning" Ryan