Name: Horacio Sled Edicion Especial 2017

Country: Nicaragua

Shape: Parejo

Size: (5 1/5 inches x 66)

Strength: Medium

Picked up my friend and drove to Fidel Cigars, arguably one of the best cigar shops in Lebanon. Fidel Cigars is located in Antelias, so it’s a 15-minute drive from my place. Pretty close. Though I purchase most of my cigars from different places — this depends on my mood, where I am, and what I feel like smoking — I can see myself going there more often. They also have a great lounge. So, if your plan is to smoke a premium cigar with someone and hang out for a couple of hours, go to Fidel Cigars. That’s what I did last night.

The cigar I chose was the Horacio Sled Edicion Especial 2017. It’s made in Nicaragua. The wrapper is Ecuadorian, the binder is Nicaraguan, and the filler consists of Costa Rican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. The result, I would say, is a blend that speaks to everyone. Though it has a ring gauge of 66 and may look terrifyingly large for some, it’s a friendly cigar that is fairly easy to smoke and enjoy.

The first half of the cigar was paired with Glenfiddich 12. I got some woody notes there and nuances of bread, earth, and green pepper.

When the cigar was only halfway through, my friend suggested we move out and head to Fat Monk in Dbayeh. It’s a bar that has a large Belgian beer collection. And one of the reasons my friend and I go there is the Troubadour Imperial Stout. We don’t plan on ordering it, but we always end up ordering it…maybe because it’s a damn good beer.

The second half of the Horacio Sled Edicion Especial 2017, when paired with stout, became much more enjoyable. Harmonized with the dark notes that came from the beer, my palate experienced a Heavy Metal concert wrapped in a tortilla bread made with aged grains of tranquility and corn.