Coastal brightness meets sun-warmed earth.
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The Whisky: First Impressions
Visuals
Bruichladdich’s Classic Laddie pours like sunlight reflecting off shallow seawater — a luminous, almost electric gold.
Tilt the glass and you see slow, elegant legs forming, hinting at a silky, unhurried texture.
Aromas
The nose is unmistakably Bruichladdich:
• Wildflower honey
• Lemon zest and candied orange peel
• Vanilla cream
• Sweet malt and warm barley
• A faint sea breeze drifting in — not peat, but coastal air
It’s bright, floral, confident without being loud.
First Sip
On the palate, Classic Laddie offers:
• Sweet citrus oils
• Malted vanilla
• Honeycomb
• A creamy, almost shortbread-like roundness
• Soft oak and a clean, mineral finish
Elegant. Inviting. And the perfect companion for a naturally sweet Nicaraguan cigar.
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The Cigar: Perdomo Lot 23 Sun Grown Toro
Visuals
The cigar feels like a piece of Nicaragua in your hand —
a warm terra-cotta brown wrapper with a subtle coppery glow.
Light oils give sheen without slipperiness.
It’s toothy, rustic, and honest, with tight seams and an attractive Lot 23 band.
Cold Draw & Pre-Light Aroma
• Peanut shell
• Sweet hay
• Cedar shavings
• A sprinkle of cinnamon
• Dry earth warmed by the sun
The cold draw is open, balanced, and lightly sweet.
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The Pairing Experience
First Third — “Bright Malt Meets Cedar Heat”
Whisky:
Take a sip of the Classic Laddie before lighting the cigar — its citrus, honey, and vanilla set a clean foundation.
Cigar:
Upon lighting, the Lot 23 delivers:
• Sweet cedar
• Roasted nuts
• A touch of pepper sparkle
• Toasted grain
Interaction:
The whisky’s floral brightness cuts through the cedar warmth, while the cigar’s nuttiness teases out deeper layers of malt in the whisky.
A beautiful contrast-driven start.
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Second Third — “Harmony & Cream”
Whisky:
As it opens up, the Classic Laddie brings richer honeyed barley, soft oak, and a mellow citrus sweetness.
Cigar:
The Lot 23 shifts into:
• Toasted almond
• Dry cocoa
• Creamy wood
• Earth notes becoming rounder and sweeter
Interaction:
This is the sweet spot.
Vanilla + citrus from the whisky pairs perfectly with almond + cocoa from the cigar, creating something like orange-zest biscotti dipped in malted cream.
Balance is perfect — neither dominates.
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Final Third — “Embers & Coastal Gold”
Whisky:
Warmed by the hand and softened by air, the Classic Laddie reveals:
• Salted caramel
• Warm barley sugar
• A deeper malt sweetness
Cigar:
The Lot 23 deepens with:
• Darker cocoa
• Light espresso
• Mineral-rich earth
• Returning pepper on the retrohale
Interaction:
This last stage feels like the sun setting:
The whisky smooths out the cigar’s earth and cocoa, while the cigar adds structure and spice to the whisky’s sweetness.
The finish between puffs becomes long, warm, and quietly complex.
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Overall Impression
This pairing is a dialogue between coastal elegance and sun-grown earthiness.
• The Classic Laddie brings brightness, citrus, honey, and floral lift.
• The Lot 23 Sun Grown offers warmth, nuts, cedar, cocoa, and natural grounded sweetness.
Together, they create a session that’s harmonious, balanced, and deeply relaxing — best enjoyed outdoors as the afternoon fades toward golden hour.
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