Sorry I didn't take a photo with the cigar but I was definitely smoking the Cohiba Pyramides Extra with the Bruichladdich Octomore 8.3.
BRUICHLADDICH OCTOMORE 8.3 ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Bruichladdich make a lot of different whiskys. Not in the same way that Macallan makes and lot of whiskys (in what seems to be ever increasingly expensive whiskys) or Balvenie makes a lot of whiskys (by changing up the type or number of casks) or Glenfiddich makes a lot of whiskys (I'm not a fan, I just know by seeing their range they make a lot of whiskys). Bruichladdich makes a lot of whiskys by mixing up a lot of different factors such as based on terroir of the barley (some being from a single field), different casks (see previous review of the Bruichladdich 1990/25: https://partiko.app/yippeekaiyay/bruichladdich-199025-with-opusx-lost-city-double-robusto-jevirnsf?referrer=yippeekaiyay) etc etc
The Octomore 8.3 is by far the peatiest whisky I have ever tasted. The smokey aroma grabs you and shakes you, slaps you and dares you to take another whiff. Sucker for punishment, I took the dare and went through the wash cycle again. You could be forgiven for thinking there's not much else besides the peat and spiciness of the alcohol (61.2% or 121.4 proof). You have to really be in the mood for a peaty whisky to drink this bad boy. It's so strong. Really really strong peat smokiness. I was not talented enough to taste much else beyond the smoke but the length is amazing and it sweetens out once the peat softens. As strong as it is, it doesn't linger overly much.
COHIBA PYRAMIDES EXTRA CUBAN CIGAR
This is just a wonderful cigar. It's not always available but when I can get it, I'm so happy and they don't last long. They are always well constructed and it doesn't take a big cut to get good ample smoke. The flavours are light almost sweet and nutty.
PAIRING
So..... Big big peat with light sweet nutty cigar.... Hmmmm to my surprise the combination was not awful. I think in large part because the peat does not overly linger giving the cigar a chance to contribute some flavour a few puffs after the peat subsides. There is a weird smokey smoke sensation as if you can taste smoke and sense smoke at the same time but they're slightly layered - the whisky being more mossy and the cigar being nutty and leathery.
