Sticks-n-Stonez is a weekly podcast that pairs fine cigars with premium spirits. Each week a premium hand rolled cigar is paired with just the right spirit to enhance the palate and profile of each offering. During the episode Brent, the host, will share details about each offering and then present his opinion on the visual aspects, nose, and palate of the cigar and spirit and detail his opinion and rating of the pairing. He will also sprinkle in some of his own offbrand humor. Between each episode you can catch Brent on Instagram at @sticksnstonez1. The show's Insta account is approaching 20,000 followers so you should really jump in now.
Brent is a retired combat veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He picked up cigars while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004 and has been developing his nose and palate ever since. With two decades of experience in cigars and 3 decades in fine spirits his senses are acutely tuned to provide the best possible advice.
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Sticks-n-Stonez is a weekly podcast that pairs fine cigars with premium spirits. Each week a premium hand rolled cigar is paired with just the right spirit to enhance the palate and profile of each offering. During the episode Brent, the host, will share details about each offering and then present his opinion on the visual aspects, nose, and palate of the cigar and spirit and detail his opinion and rating of the pairing. He will also sprinkle in some of his own offbrand humor. Between each episode you can catch Brent on Instagram at @sticksnstonez1. The show's Insta account is approaching 20,000 followers so you should really jump in now.
Brent is a retired combat veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He picked up cigars while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004 and has been developing his nose and palate ever since. With two decades of experience in cigars and 3 decades in fine spirits his senses are acutely tuned to provide the best possible advice.
S4 E36 Flor de Caña 18 Year Old Rum with San Cristobal Quintessence - Live via OneStream
Sticks-n-Stonez
45 minutes
3 months ago
S4 E36 Flor de Caña 18 Year Old Rum with San Cristobal Quintessence - Live via OneStream
The art of pairing a fine rum with a premium cigar elevates both experiences, creating a symphony of flavors that dance across the palate. In this review, we explore the exquisite combination of Flor de Caña 18 Year Old Rum, a celebrated Nicaraguan spirit, and the San Cristobal Quintessence, a robust Nicaraguan cigar. This pairing, rooted in the rich volcanic soils of Nicaragua, promises a harmonious blend of complexity and balance for enthusiasts seeking a refined sensory journey.
Flor de Caña 18 Year Old Rum: A Nicaraguan Gem
Flor de Caña, meaning “flower of the cane,” is a fifth-generation, family-owned rum produced at the base of Nicaragua’s San Cristóbal volcano since 1890. The 18 Year Old expression, part of its ultra-premium collection, is aged in ex-bourbon barrels sealed with plantain leaves, using 100% renewable energy and no added sugars or additives. Bottled at 40% ABV, it retails for around $50 for a 750ml bottle, offering exceptional value for a sipping rum of this caliber.
Tasting Notes: Visual: Rich amber with an orange hue, displaying thick, quick legs in the glass. Nose: Sweet and fruity, with prominent orange peel, honey, and subtle floral hints of rose. Palate: Opens with a pronounced maple syrup sweetness, evoking thoughts of warm pancakes. This evolves into waves of orange hard candy, honey, and a touch of spice. Finish: Long and layered, with an unexpected macadamia nut note that complements the palate’s sweetness and spice.
The rum’s light-to-medium body and balanced profile make it an ideal companion for cigars, as it complements without overwhelming. Its natural sweetness, derived solely from barrel aging, pairs beautifully with tobaccos that share similar flavor profiles.
San Cristobal Quintessence: A Nicaraguan Masterpiece
Crafted by the renowned Garcia family under the My Father Cigars umbrella, the San Cristobal Quintessence is a Nicaraguan puro, meaning all its tobacco components—wrapper, binder, and filler—are sourced from Nicaragua. Introduced in 2016, this cigar has earned high praise, consistently scoring 90+ points in Cigar Aficionado reviews.
Vitola: Robusto 5.5 x 50 ring gauge Body: medium-to-full-bodied Visual: A beautiful oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with a smooth, slightly veiny texture and a firm construction. Nose: Earthy and woody, with hints of cocoa, leather, and a touch of spice Cold Draw: red pepper, hickory, chocolate, coffee, fruit, cedar, honey, and marzipan. Palate: Delivers a complex profile with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, black pepper, and sweet molasses. As it progresses, cedar and nutty undertones emerge, balanced by a creamy texture. Finish: Long and satisfying, with lingering spice, earth, and a subtle sweetness.
The Quintessence’s bold yet refined character makes it an excellent match for aged spirits, as its robust flavors can stand up to a spirit’s intensity while harmonizing with complementary notes.
The Pairing: A Symphony of Flavors When paired, Flor de Caña 18 and the San Cristobal Quintessence create a dynamic interplay of flavors, rooted in their shared Nicaraguan heritage. The pairing was tested over a relaxed evening, with the rum sipped neat at room temperature and the cigar smoked slowly to appreciate its evolution.
First Third: The cigar opens with a peppery kick, which the rum’s maple syrup and honeyed sweetness tempers beautifully. The rum’s orange peel and spice notes amplify the cigar’s early coffee and chocolate, creating a warm, cohesive start. Sipping the rum after a puff softens the pepper, revealing a creamy texture in both.
Second Third: As the cigar transitions to cedar, leather, and molasses, the rum’s nutty and toffee flavors shine. The Quintessence’s sweetness aligns with the rum’s caramel, while the cigar’s earthiness grounds the rum’s fruitier...
Sticks-n-Stonez
Sticks-n-Stonez is a weekly podcast that pairs fine cigars with premium spirits. Each week a premium hand rolled cigar is paired with just the right spirit to enhance the palate and profile of each offering. During the episode Brent, the host, will share details about each offering and then present his opinion on the visual aspects, nose, and palate of the cigar and spirit and detail his opinion and rating of the pairing. He will also sprinkle in some of his own offbrand humor. Between each episode you can catch Brent on Instagram at @sticksnstonez1. The show's Insta account is approaching 20,000 followers so you should really jump in now.
Brent is a retired combat veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He picked up cigars while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004 and has been developing his nose and palate ever since. With two decades of experience in cigars and 3 decades in fine spirits his senses are acutely tuned to provide the best possible advice.
