The Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis is good, but the booze forward nature of the tasting holds it back from being elevated to a higher score. I found it challenging to move past that boozy character and find nuances or other flavors that made it stand out from the pack.
While the Killer Bee Lonsdale is exclusively an event only offering, the flavor profile and strength levels fall neatly into the medium to medium plus category. If you're attending a Black Label Trading Company / Black Works Studio event, you would do well to pick up a few of these to try out for yourself.
The Modern Times Black House was an enjoyable coffee stout. The use of 75% Ethiopian and 25% Sumatran gives it a coffee profile that stands out from the average coffee stout on the market, at an ABV that isn't overpowering.
Despite draw and construction issues, the Ramón Allones Specially Selected delivered the typical flavor profile that I have come to expect and enjoy. There is a touch more espresso in this box than I remember from previous years. Overall, I'm glad I picked up the box and I'm sure I will work through it far faster than I should.
The Collective Arts Brewing Collective Project Hazy was an enjoyable IPA that was quite sessionable. I would seek these out in the future and would not hesitate to enjoy two back to back.
The Partagas 1845 Extra Oscuro Rothschild really surprised me with subdued and nuanced flavors throughout. I was able to get 1 hour and 27 minutes of smoking time which was a great value. I'll be interested to see how this cigar compares in the other available vitolas.
Overall, I found the Põhjala Jõuluöö a very good beer. A satisfying example of an oak aged stout. I would love to see a release example at 10% ABV or above to see how far they could push the flavor profile.
The Gurkha The Master Select already made my personal top cigar list for 2017, much to the howling and gnashing of teeth from online feedback. This is a very well performing cigar, and the price point makes it something that everyone should try for themselves.
The Jeremy Jack JJ14 shows just how far you can push the complexity of a cigar with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, without losing the essence of Connecticut flavor. The Aganorsa tobaccos blend together in a delightful combination of flavors that never seem to overpower the palate.
The Alec Bradley Black Market Esteli Robusto started off with a pine note and a little metallic component but quickly moved to the core flavors that were presented for the majority of the experience. The price point is attractive, so fans of this flavor profile or of the Black Market in general will probably like this. For me, I was looking for a bit more complexity as the flavor profile was quite linear.
