Glendronach 15 Year Old "Revival" Dram Paired with the Coronado by La Flor Cigar and Chuao's Morocho Bonbon

Comeback Kid and Flower of the Dominican could be titles of new films destined for the Academy Awards this month.  Instead they seem ideal subtitles for February's featured pairing.  This month we put the aptly named Revival expression together with a luscious Coronado by La Flor cigar, adding Chuao's Morocho bonbon for a triple dose of decadence.

Founded in 1826 by James Allardice, Glendronach was one of the earliest distilleries to be formally licensed in Scotland.  It set itself apart from other Speyside malts with is signature sherry finishes and through the years secured a solid reputation in the hands of notable owners such as Walter Scott and Charles Grant.  The distillery continued to flourish and expand after being acquired by William Teachers and Sons in the 1960's.  But the stills went silent in 1996 for a period of six years after the merger of Teachers with Allied Distillers.  When production resumed in 2002, the brand seemed to languish without a clear identity as another round of consolidations led to Glendronach management under Chivas Brothers/ Pernod Richard.  In 2008 the distillery was sold to the same independent consortium that had acquired BenRiach from Pernod in 2004.  Two South African enthusiasts, Geoff Bell and Wayne Keiswetter, joined forces with Master Distiller Bill Walker to breathe new life into this neglected gem.

Glendronach, we personally want to say "Welcome Back to the Stage".  The 15 year old is deserving in our eyes of a nomination in the category of finest sherried malts, and Revival is a fitting expression to commemorate your return to the marketplace.  It promises and delivers those big aromas and full dark fruit flavors that are in keeping with your legacy.  Sherry bursts on the palate but then tames to a softer wine-like note.  Carmelized orange peel and dark fruit flavors emerge (prunes, raisins, currants) with a definite woody taste in the background.  Extremely full bodied for its age, the finish brings on notes of dark chocolate then cloves in a very spicy fade. (click on picture to purchase "Revival") 

No less a star in its supporting role, Chuao's Morocho bonbon makes a nice foil for the Glendronach and yet holds its own against Revival's powerful flavors.  Its fudgy interior adds to a devilish mouthfeel when the two are combined.  Morocho's subtle layer of almond, hazelnut praline seems to mimic the faint woody tones of this spirit.  Its top layer of buttercream with a hint of Calvados are a good match with the fruit & sherry characteristics of this whisky. (click on picture to purchase Morocho)

Named after the flower of the tobacco plant, La Flor Dominicana cigars are produced in the Dominican Republic by husband and wife team Litto Gomez and Ines Lorenzo-Gomez.  Created during the cigar boom of the 1990's, La Flor Dominicana, or LFD as some cigars have been branded, began with the philosophy that "Slow and steady wins the race".  Growing slowly since inception, LFD has consistently achieved moderately increasing production levels, while maintaining high quality products with tight price controls.  But the real story of this boutique-style cigar brand is the creativity of the owner, Litto Gomez.

Although not having a family history in the cigar business, Gomez learned the trade by carefully learning the basics and then expanding upon them.  Called "the most innovative mind in the cigar business" by Cigar Aficionado, Gomez has developed quite a portfolio of cigars intended to appeal to many different types of cigar consumers.  Unfettered by tradition, he has also introduced into the trade new cigar shapes like the chisel and the El Jocko, through experimentation and an understanding of what the overall experience of cigar smoking should be like.

While many LFD cigars are renowned for their ability to kick your *** with pure strength and power, we turned to the new line called Coronado by La Flor as it represents a different direction and has received rave reviews.  Cigar Aficionado placed this at #2 in their top rated cigars for 2006.  But be forewarned, while not as potent as say a Double Ligero or Air Bender, it still has some strength.

Wrapped in a gorgeous Nicaraguan Sun Grown Habano leaf, this oily beauty is well constructed, has a perfect draw and is smooth and complex.  The Coronado debuts with coffee flavors and a caramel/toffee sweetness.  Variations of this flavor set the tone for the entire smoke, but notes of wood, nuts, spice and pepper also appear, making this cigar a tasty treat.

This cigar pairs up with Glendronach not so much by matching malt flavors, but by moderating existing flavors, and then layering complimentary notes on top.  The coffee notes tend to highlight chocolate in the finish more, while the caramel adds sweetness to the dark fruit flavors.  Also, the strong but smooth flavors are not drowned out by the strength of the malt. (click on picture to purchase) 

So pour a dram, light up, grab a bonbon and turn on the Academy Awards.  You'll feel like one of the winners with this most decadent combination. 

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