Fundacion 20yr & Illusione Cigar

[srnadel]

So, I just got home from a 12 hour day at work. When it comes to work, my father says, "A half a day is 12 hours." Odd thinking, but I guess he's right. Regardless, I lit a Illusione 88 Cigar, which is very Cuban in style. It was a little strong, so I thought a glass of Fundacion 20yr would be a great compliment, which it was. I highly recommend that combo if you are a cigar smoker. But it got me wondering. What percentage of rum has to be 20yr before it can be called 20yr?

[Lew Barrett]

The answer is: None. Entirely unregulated.

But the classier producers will do better, of course.

[Hank Koestner]

The rule of thumb is that the bottle should include an amount of 20 year old rum as part of the blend, but as Lew said, there is no way of knowing for sure, especially what the percentage is in the rum. By the way, I will try this pairing. Sounds like a greeat one.

[tym2relax]

Ahh Illusione!!

Was wondering what to smoke tonight and now I know. Think I have some CG4's. I have been loving my new Diplomatico RE, wonder how that will go? One way to find out...

[srnadel]

Ahh Illusione!!

Was wondering what to smoke tonight and now I know. Think I have some CG4's. I have been loving my new Diplomatico RE, wonder how that will go? One way to find out...
I just came back from hosting a Brugal Extra Viejo/Rocky Patel tasting. I didn't smoke the RP's, but I did have a few Tatuaje's. If you can get you hands on some (a little on the pricey side) I highly recommend them.

[Count Silvio]

The rule of thumb is that the bottle should include an amount of 20 year old rum as part of the blend, but as Lew said, there is no way of knowing for sure, especially what the percentage is in the rum. By the way, I will try this pairing. Sounds like a greeat one.

The ideal rule of the thumb would be to have the age of the youngest in the blend in the label. Sum rum producers have already adopted this, I hope the rest of the producers do this as well.

[tym2relax]

I just came back from hosting a Brugal Extra Viejo/Rocky Patel tasting. I didn't smoke the RP's, but I did have a few Tatuaje's. If you can get you hands on some (a little on the pricey side) I highly recommend them.

Hi Seth, which did you try?

I haven't made it through the whole lineup, but I really like the Havana!

[Edward Hamilton]

What percentage of rum has to be 20yr before it can be called 20yr?

Actually, in the US, if there is an age statement it is supposed be in the form of Aged X Years, where X is the minimum aged of any aged spirit in the bottle. The truth is that a number of rum producers and marketers have adopted numbers on their labels which are misconstrued by unwitting consumers to be the age of their spirit.

To further confuse the age, things like Solera X are sometimes used. In the end, producers have justified these numbers by claiming that they are part of the label name and not actual age statements.

[srnadel]

Hi Seth, which did you try?

I haven't made it through the whole lineup, but I really like the Havana!
I had the Havana Torpedo and Corona Especial. I preferred the torpedo. The shop owner also gave me the Rocky Patel Winter Edition Corona. I smoked that today and wasn't impressed.

Now that I think about it, I don't think the Brugal went well with the Tatuaje. For my taste, I think The Fundacion 20yr or the Zacapa 23 would have been better. The Tatuaje's are a little strong and I think the sweetness of those rums would have been a good compliment. I got a little too much of the bourbon taste from the Brugal.

[Lew Barrett]

Although I have had very few, I have yet to smoke a Rocky Patel that I have really enjoyed. Perhaps I haven't smoked too many because I've been non-plussed both times I smoked one. A vicious circle that goes to prove that first impressions matter.

[srnadel]

I have had some Rocky Patel's that I really enjoyed. However, I have yet to have one that burns well. There is nothing worse than drinking a fine rum and smoking a cigar that doesn't stay lit and burns uneven.

[Hank Koestner]

The only Rocky I like is the Decade. Much, much better than all his other offerings.
I am a huge Tatuaje fan, both the Brown label and the Havana lines. May I suggest ED15 or an aged agricole with the brown, and ED 12 or Mount Gay XO with the Havana. I like a few different vitolas from both lines.
I tried the Illusione CG4 and 88 with the Fundacion XX. IMHO, it was not a good match for the CG4, it seemed the rum was the winner, until the last third of the cigar. The 88 is a little bolder, and it faired much better.
cigar.gifparty2.gif

[curoswiss]

There is nothing worse than drinking a fine rum and smoking a cigar that doesn't stay lit and burns uneven.

I agree completely, my understanding is that this happens form poorly rolled cigars with low quality tobacco.

I usually smoke MonteCristo #2s or 4 as I find the flavor and draw to be wonderful compliment to most Rums. Plus I never suffer from an uneven burn.

[srnadel]

I agree completely, my understanding is that this happens form poorly rolled cigars with low quality tobacco.

I usually smoke MonteCristo #2s or 4 as I find the flavor and draw to be wonderful compliment to most Rums. Plus I never suffer from an uneven burn.
MonteCristo's are known for their superior construction. RP's have been rolled by Carlos Torano and he is a great cigar maker. I just don't understand why they never burn properly.

[curoswiss]

I think it is about the quality of filler. It doesn't matter how good the wrapper is if the filler is poor. Granted a badly rolled filler can be tighter and looser in some spots. I think that would effect the burn. Do they use machine roles in any of there cigars?

[srnadel]

No. Hand made. Odd.

[tym2relax]

Although I have had very few, I have yet to smoke a Rocky Patel that I have really enjoyed. Perhaps I haven't smoked too many because I've been non-plussed both times I smoked one. A vicious circle that goes to prove that first impressions matter.

Hi Lew, give the RP Vintage 92' a try. This has been a consistent winner for me.

[srnadel]

I agree. The '92 Churchill is one of my favorite cigars and the only one that burns well outside of the Decade.

[SCURVY]

Poor uneven humidity also effects cigars. Its good to rotate your cigars in the humidor.

[Hank Koestner]

Scurvy brings up a good point. I like my humi to be at 67-68, it makes for a little better burn, and also, because I have some cigars that will be sitting quite a while before I smoke them. I think a slightly lower humidity is better if the cigars are going to age a little. Rotating the cigars is important. Make sure you have an accurate hygrometer. I am usung Xikar digital right now, and they are right on. I have found others to be off 2 to 3 percent, and if you think it reads 70 but is really 73, it can affect the burn. Analog dial hygrometers are , in my experience, not very accurate. cigar.gif

[srnadel]

I just had a La Riqueza #2 from Tatuaje. That is my new favorite cigar. It burned perfectly.