S6 E5 Forester 1920 + E.P. Carrillo Endure A Pairing You Don't Want to Miss

Beschreibung

🎤 Opening Monologue Tonight’s pairing is all about strength meeting structure. We’re taking a bold, layered cigar in the Endure and putting it head-to-head with one of the most unapologetically rich bourbons on your shelf. This is a ride—dense, evolving, and built for those moments when you want intensity without losing control. ⸻ 🥃 The Spirit — Old Forester 1920 Proof: 115 Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon 🌾 Mash Bill * 72% Corn * 18% Rye * 10% Malted Barley Mash Bill Impact: The higher rye content brings spice and structure, while the corn delivers a deep caramel backbone—perfect for standing up to a full-bodied cigar like the Endure. ⸻ 👃 Nose Dark caramel, molasses, charred oak, baking spice, and a touch of cherry syrup. 👅 Palate Rich chocolate, burnt sugar, toasted oak, black pepper, and dark fruit. 🏁 Finish Long, warm, and slightly smoky with lingering spice and sweet oak. ⸻ 🚬 The Cigar — E.P. Carrillo Endure 🌿 Tobacco Breakdown * Wrapper: (Dark Maduro-style presentation) * Binder: Nicaraguan * Filler: Nicaraguan blend Wrapper Impact Note: The darker wrapper drives cocoa, earth, and subtle sweetness, forming the backbone of the cigar’s richness. ⸻ 🔥 Construction & Burn Excellent construction with a firm pack, slow burn, and dense smoke output. Ash holds well with minimal touch-ups. 👃 Cigar Nose Cocoa powder, earth, leather, and a faint molasses sweetness. ❄️ Cold Draw Dark chocolate, raisin, and a touch of spice. ⸻ 🌓 First Third Opens with cocoa, earth, and a soft sweetness—medium-full but controlled. 🤝 Pairing — Initial Impressions Old Forester 1920 immediately asserts dominance—heat and spice cut through the cigar’s richness, creating a bold contrast. The sweetness from the bourbon begins to pull forward hidden sugars in the tobacco. ⸻ 🌗 Second Third Body increases—espresso, darker chocolate, and building pepper. 🤝 Pairing — Mid-Session Evolution This is where the pairing locks in. The bourbon’s dark sugar and charred oak align with the cigar’s espresso and earth, creating a deep, layered fusion. The rye spice now mirrors the cigar’s pepper. ⸻ 🌘 Final Third Full-bodied intensity—char, bitter chocolate, heavy oak, and lingering spice. 🤝 Pairing — Final Impression A powerhouse finish. The bourbon’s proof holds strong, smoothing the cigar’s sharper edges while amplifying depth. No fade—just a long, commanding close. ⸻ 🧠 Wrapper Impact Note The Maduro-style wrapper anchors the experience in dark chocolate and earth, allowing the bourbon’s sweetness and spice to build contrast and complexity. ⸻ ⭐ Overall Pairing Experience A bold, high-proof pairing that thrives on intensity and evolution. Not for the faint of heart—but incredibly rewarding for those who enjoy a full-bodied experience. ⸻ 🔥 Final Verdict * Old Forester 1920: 9.2 / 10 * E.P. Carrillo Endure: 9.0 / 10 * Pairing Score: 9.1 / 10 Welcome to an impromptu edition of "Sticks and Stones" today, as a rainy ambience takes over. With the rain on window, it's the perfect cozy ambience for a pairing session. Enjoy the relaxing rain sounds in the background. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sticks-n-stonez--5910792/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sticks-n-stonez--5910792/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sticks-n-stonez--5910792/support

S6 E4 Henry McKenna + CAO Italia Dry Meets Sweet

🎤 Opening Monologue Welcome back to Sticks-n-Stonez—today we’re diving into a pairing that’s all about contrast and structure. We’ve got a bold, oak-forward Bottled-in-Bond bourbon matched with a uniquely earthy, spice-driven cigar. This is the kind of pairing that sharpens your palate and evolves with every third—let’s get into it. Before we do, smash that Like or Subscribe button, it really helps spread the show. ⸻ 🥃 The Spirit — Henry McKenna 10 Year Bottled-in-Bond Proof: 100 (Bottled-in-Bond) Style: Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon 🌾 Mash Bill Heaven Hill traditional bourbon mash bill (estimated) * ~75% Corn * ~13% Rye * ~12% Malted Barley Mash Bill Impact: The moderate rye content delivers balanced spice, while the high corn percentage provides rich caramel sweetness—a perfect foundation for contrast pairing. ⸻ 👃 Nose Caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, and light baking spice with hints of apple and honey. 👅 Palate Rich caramel, toffee, vanilla, oak, and a growing wave of spice and tannin. 🏁 Finish Long and warming—oak-forward with lingering spice, light dryness, and classic Bottled-in-Bond structure. ⸻ 🚬 The Cigar — CAO Italia Wrapper: Honduran Habano Seed Binder/Filler: Italian-grown tobacco (unique regional leaf) ⸻ 🔥 Construction & Burn Firm pack with a slightly resistant draw, even burn, and medium smoke output. Ash holds well with a clean burn line. 👃 Cigar Nose Earth, dry cocoa, hay, and subtle spice. ❄️ Cold Draw Dry wood, light pepper, and a faint natural sweetness. ⸻ 🌓 First Third Dry earth, hay, and light pepper dominate with a restrained sweetness. 🤝 Pairing — Initial Impressions The bourbon immediately fills the gaps—adding caramel and body where the cigar is dry. The contrast creates a more complete and rounded opening experience. ⸻ 🌗 Second Third Spice builds—black pepper and dry cocoa emerge with a slightly nutty backbone. 🤝 Pairing — Mid-Session Evolution Now the pairing locks in—McKenna’s oak and spice mirror the cigar’s structure, while its sweetness keeps the experience from becoming too dry. 👉 This is where the pairing hits its stride—balanced tension between sweet and dry. ⸻ 🌘 Final Third The cigar leans more into earth, charred wood, and intensified spice with a slightly tannic edge. 🤝 Pairing — Final Impression The bourbon’s proof and sweetness soften the cigar’s sharper edges, preventing bitterness while maintaining complexity. 👉 The finish becomes oak-driven, structured, and refined rather than harsh. ⸻ 🧠 Wrapper / Leaf Impact Note The Italian-grown tobacco gives CAO Italia its distinct dry, earthy, and slightly herbal character, which contrasts beautifully with the bourbon’s sweetness—creating a pairing built on tension and balance rather than similarity. ⸻ ⭐ Overall Pairing Experience This is a contrast-driven pairing that evolves into harmony. The bourbon brings richness and sweetness, while the cigar provides dryness and structure—resulting in a dynamic, palate-engaging experience. ⸻ 🔥 Final Verdict 🥃 Spirit Score — Henry McKenna 10 Year Bottled-in-Bond 8.9 / 10 Rich, oak-forward, and well-structured with classic caramel sweetness and balanced spice. A strong standalone bourbon that brings both depth and versatility. ⸻ 🚬 Cigar Score — CAO Italia 8.6 / 10 Unique and character-driven with dry earth, spice, and subtle herbal complexity. Not a crowd-pleaser, but highly engaging for a seasoned palate. ⸻ 🤝 Pairing Score (Total Experience) 9.0 / 10 Why It Works: This pairing thrives on contrast—the bourbon’s sweetness and body fill in the cigar’s dryness, while the cigar sharpens the bourbon’s oak and spice. The result is a structured, evolving experience that stays balanced from first light to final draw. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sticks-n-stonez--5910792/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sticks-n-stonez--5910792/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sticks-n-stonez--5910792/support

16. Juni 202618 min

S6 E5 Forester 1920 + E.P. Carrillo Endure A Pairing You Don't Want to Miss

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