Monthly Archives: February 2004
Pairing Tobaccos & Island Coffees
With this installment, our adventure in pairing coffee with our tobacco draws to a close. Before we go, we have two more stops to make. Let me preface this installment by saying that I am not a fan of either of these coffees, simply because it is almost impossible to smoke anything with them without completely destroying the character of them. Like a fine Chinese white tea, the flavors in these two coffees are so subtle, so nuanced, that to smoke a pipe while drinking them is about as sensible as baking a soufflé in a blast furnace. That said, I feel it necessary for the sake of completeness to include these two rare, near-mythical coffees. You will not find any pairing notes, for the reasons previously stated.First, we travel to the island of Hawaii, where coffee has been planted in the Kona area since 1813, when it was brought to the island by Kamehameha the Great’s Spanish interpreter and physician Don Francisco de Paula y Marin. With its rich volcanic soil, hard-working… Read more
Pairing Tobaccos & Far Eastern Coffees
The coffees of the Far East are more buttery, with less acidity than most other coffees. They are generally heavy-bodied, almost syrupy, and have a much more “earthy” feel and taste to them than most other coffee varietals.First up is Indian Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold, an intriguing (and intriguingly named) coffee from the historic micro-region of Baba Budan in Karnataka, the state formerly known as Mysore. This is India’s highest grade of coffee. This shade grown coffee is intercropped with spice trees to give it its distinctive aroma of warm spices. This coffee yields a wonderful distinctive brew low in acid with a spicy, earthy flavor and an extremely rich finish. This is a pure joy to pair with any kind of deep bodied, dark Virginia blend. Try it with some of Mac Baren’s No. 1 or McClelland’s 2020 – Matured Cake. In my opinion, there is no finer coffee anywhere in the world than Indian Monsooned Malabar This coffee is exceptionally smooth, mellow and… Read more
Pairing Tobaccos & Central American Coffees
Central American coffee varietals are known for their classically full aromas, medium to full body, and a clean, sometimes sweet taste. They are, by far, the most familiar and approachable coffees in the world, comprising some 70% of all coffee drunk in the world. This familiarity can provide an easy entrée into the process of pairing coffees and tobaccos.South American coffees are quite similar to their Central American counterparts, though they do tend to have less acidity and “brightness”, being more often described as “velvety” or “rounded”. They are somewhat more aromatic than Central American coffees as well, if that is possible! Starting with the most familiar, we head straight to Colombia for a steaming cup of Colombian Supremo, not only one of the favorite coffees of the world, but also one of the best. Supremo gives the perfect balance of aroma, body and flavor. There is no need for blending with other coffees. This is the largest “single… Read more
Pairing Tobaccos & Single Malt Scotch Whisky
A new study recently released by the Foundation for Important Pipe Science shows that pipe tobacco and single malt scotch can be excellent “dual-indulgences”, to use the study’s language. The study, funded entirely by a Mr. Jon Tillman, who also happens to be the only member of the foundation, is, in Mr Tillman’s words; “…a groundbreaking moment in the history of Pipe Science, a feat of research that will resound down through the ages, a watershed moment for all puffers and imbibers…”The study points out that the various whisky producing regions of Scotland impart distinctive taste characteristics to their products, as do various styles, methods, and blends of tobaccos. Working from the assumption that things as fun as drinking or smoking must be better when done together, Mr. Tillman embarked on a multi-year research project to discern what combinations of Pipe Tobaccos and Single Malts yielded, in his words, “the most sublime gustatorial… Read more