|
CIGARS AND COGNAC
Cognac is the traditional drink to have with cigars, this is largely because of timing both were usually taken after meals, and so they naturally became linked. Arguably, there is no better drink to combine with a cigar after a meal.
Here at the Olympic Kitchen Bar we have a vast range of cognac and cigars for a perfect end to your meal, ask your waiter for details.
CIGAR AND COGNAC TIPS
Cognac is graded into various categories due to age.
VS (Very Special) is the lowest category of age, the middle age bracket is designated VSOP (Very Special Old Pale), and indicates ageing of at least four and a half years. Mild and medium-bodied cigars go particularly well with this age of cognac. The highest age bracket is XO, standing for Extra Old, and has a minimum ageing requirement of six and a half years, although much older brandies can sometimes be part of the blend.
The only way to tell if a good cigar is in good condition is to pick it up. Don't squeeze it too tightly; lift it delicately with your first two fingers and thumb and roll it gently near the middle. Listen for a crackling sound like crisp autumn leaves underfoot; it's a sign of dryness. Similarly, avoid a cigar if the outer wrapper is flaking. A cigar should resist the squeeze, maybe even be a little springy. But it should not feel soggy - a sign of too much humidity. Finally, take a whiff. A cigar should smell of tobacco and not be musty. The smaller the number on the cigar, the bigger, thicker and longer it is.
The waiter should take the cigar from you to clip the end with a special cutter. He may ask for your preference in cut: the entire end snipped off or a quarter-inch, V-shaped slit across the wrapped end. Either procedure eliminates biting off the end, which is an effective but a rather crude public display.
Remember:
- Do not smoke a cigar as you would a cigarette.
Take your time--savour the taste, the aroma; if you smoke too fast youll develop a burned taste in your cigar. One or two puffs per minute should be enough to keep it lit.
- Do not inhale any smoke and never swallow the residue of any tobacco product; it will make you ill.
- You dont have to grind out your cigar in an ashtray because it will go out on its own very quickly. If you do, you could wind up releasing even more odours into the air.
|
