S5 E17 Knob Creek Smoked Maple with La Aroma De Cuba Pasion

Pairing Review: La Aroma de Cuba Pasión & Knob Creek Smoked Maple
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SPIRIT PROFILE

Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon
• Distillery: Jim Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, Kentucky
• Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
• Mash Bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
• Age: NAS (typically 7–9 years before maple finishing)
• Finish: Natural smoked maple flavor infusion

Appearance:
Deep amber with honey-gold hues and a syrupy viscosity. The legs trail slowly down the glass, hinting at its maple sweetness and robust body.

Aroma:
On the nose, Smoked Maple opens with caramelized sugar, toasted oak, and rich maple syrup. Beneath the sweetness lie soft hints of vanilla bean, roasted pecan, and faint campfire smoke. The nose balances dessert-level sweetness with an earthy undertone that keeps it grounded.

Palate:
Sweet maple coats the tongue immediately, followed by vanilla cream, nutmeg, and oak char. The mid-palate carries a rich blend of brown sugar, molasses, and smoked toffee. The rye’s subtle spice appears late, adding lift to an otherwise buttery mouthfeel.

Finish:
Medium-long, fading from caramelized maple and oak to gentle smoke and spice. A warming, dessert-like close that invites another sip.

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CIGAR PROFILE

La Aroma de Cuba Pasión
• Origin: Nicaragua (My Father Cigars Factory)
• Wrapper: Shade-grown Nicaraguan from Namanji Valley
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan (Estelí, Jalapa, and Namanji regions)
• Body: Medium to Medium-Full

Appearance:
The Pasión’s wrapper glows with a silky chestnut sheen, almost rosado in tone. Smooth seams, minimal veins, and a double cap showcase the hand-rolled precision typical of Pepin Garcia’s production. The band—emerald green and gold—complements its artisanal presentation.

Pre-Light Aroma:
Notes of sweet hay, cocoa, and cedar mingle with a faint floral spice. A cold draw reveals almonds, light pepper, and the earthy sweetness of sun-dried tobacco.

Construction & Burn:
Draw is effortless with creamy smoke output. The burn line stays straight with a firm white ash. The blend’s slow, even combustion mirrors the discipline of its Nicaraguan craftsmanship.

Flavor Progression:
• First Third: Opens with creamy cedar, toasted nuts, and faint pepper. The wrapper’s natural sweetness adds balance and depth.
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PAIRING EXPERIENCE

Nose to Nose:
The bourbon’s maple aroma complements the Pasión’s natural sweetness. When nosed side by side, the pairing evokes caramel-dipped nuts roasting over wood smoke—decadent yet refined.

First Sip & Draw:
Take a small sip of Knob Creek first; the maple sweetness preps the palate with silky warmth. Then light the Pasión—its cedar and nutty tones immediately temper the syrupy sweetness. The smoke acts as a counterbalance, grounding the maple in spice and earth.

Midway Harmony:

• Second Third: Introduces richer cocoa and baking spice alongside caramelized wood tones. The retrohale brings warm spice and toasted almond.

As both settle in, the pairing finds its rhythm:
• The bourbon’s maple and oak enrich the cigar’s cocoa and roasted nut character.
• The cigar’s Nicaraguan spice pulls forward the bourbon’s hidden rye zest, revealing cinnamon and clove.
Together they create a sweet-smoke interplay reminiscent of pecan pie beside a campfire.

Finale:

• Final Third: Intensifies with espresso, oak, and a gentle mineral finish that cleanses the palate without bitterness.

Toward the end, the cigar’s espresso and woodsy finish draw out the bourbon’s lingering charred oak and vanilla. The sweetness softens, replaced by toasted caramel and spice that linger harmoniously.

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PAIRING NOTES
• Balance: The Pasión’s medium body keeps pace with the bourbon’s sweetness, offering contrast rather than competition.
• Best Served: After dinner or around a fire pit on a cool evening.
• Ideal Glassware: Glencairn or small rocks glass—served neat to appreciate the maple aromatics.
• Suggested Pairing Tempo: 60–70 minutes; savor slowly to allow the cigar’s transitions to align with the bourbon’s evolving warmth.

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FINAL IMPRESSION

This pairing feels indulgent yet composed—a meeting of sweet and spice. Knob Creek Smoked Maple brings dessert richness and wood smoke, while La Aroma de Cuba Pasión provides structure, depth, and grounded flavor. Together they strike an elegant contrast between bourbon’s sweet fire and cigar’s earthy calm.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Mood Match: Fireside reflection, dessert pairing, or relaxed weekend pour.