Madeira - No. 1 Drink for Cigars

[mosesbotbol]

I feel it's my obligation or duty to intoduce any serious cigar smoker to Madeira wine. Madeira is the absolute best pairing with cigars. The acid and length of finish just make any cigar a joy. Every puff after a sip of Madeira like the first puff. Sipping Madeira can go all day and the flavor carries as good as any single malt. Most would be hard pressed to sip Scotch for hours upon hours, but is easy with Madeira.

Not only that, but Madeira is America's wine. The wine that was toasted at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The wine Jefferson and Franklin couldn't get enough of... The wine that represents our independence as a nation.

It was only fairly recently (within 50 years) in the USA that Madeira and Sherry fell off as the most popular kinds of wine.

Madeira is one of the few alcoholic drinks where the drinker can actually afford something 100+ years old. How many have something in a bottle/barrell over 100 years old?

[jquirit]

So, care to elaborate on what to look out for? Good online resources to get bottles of Madeira from? I am curious, as it's always interesting to have/try new things, especially in the valley of Pinots.

[mosesbotbol]

Well, what to look out for is tricky. Basically, Madeira goes from very dry to quite sweet. You should start out with the sweeter styles like Malmsey or Bual. Try a 10 year or better initally. Many Madeiras are vintage dated, going back to the 18th Century. Not all of them were bottled near the vintage like Vintage port. On the cheap end, Madeira will just say sweet, or semi-sweet with no age indication. Madeira can be stored upright, unlike wine.

Some fine suggestions to start off with are (all are under $50):

Broadbent 10 Year
Leacocks 15 Bual
Rare Wine Company (RWC) New Malmsey or Boston Bual
Blandy's 10 Year Malmsey

[jquirit]

Thanks for the info, mosesbotbol. I've been reading up on some websites and they seem to be some similar advice along those lines as they recommend the 10 year as it's a nice price-point between price and taste.

I'll have to check the local shops to see what they have. The area I'm in (Oregon) is a hotbed for pinots and merlots so I'm curious to see what kind of selection they have for ports and madeiras.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by jquirit

Thanks for the info, mosesbotbol. I've been reading up on some websites and they seem to be some similar advice along those lines as they recommend the 10 year as it's a nice price-point between price and taste.

I'll have to check the local shops to see what they have. The area I'm in (Oregon) is a hotbed for pinots and merlots so I'm curious to see what kind of selection they have for ports and madeiras.

Try the Broadbent 10 year, just a wow Madeira for the money and one of the easier to get into. Slightly chilled as well, perhaps 60 degrees.

[Scottw]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

I feel it's my obligation or duty to intoduce any serious cigar smoker to Madeira wine. Madeira is the absolute best pairing with cigars. The acid and length of finish just make any cigar a joy. Every puff after a sip of Madeira like the first puff. Sipping Madeira can go all day and the flavor carries as good as any single malt. Most would be hard pressed to sip Scotch for hours upon hours, but is easy with Madeira.

Not only that, but Madeira is America's wine. The wine that was toasted at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The wine Jefferson and Franklin couldn't get enough of... The wine that represents our independence as a nation.

It was only fairly recently (within 50 years) in the USA that Madeira and Sherry fell off as the most popular kinds of wine.

Madeira is one of the few alcoholic drinks where the drinker can actually afford something 100+ years old. How many have something in a bottle/barrell over 100 years old?

I got something over 100 years old in a box. My great-grandfather, he passed away at 106.

I'm glad to see other people are into this! George Washington was a big Madeira fan as well.

Sadly with out order or spending a ton the only kind to get here is Justino's Maderias it's an entry level, it's not bad at all, rather good for what it is, not a stellar wine though.

[landhoney]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

How many have something in a bottle/barrell over 100 years old?

I do (almost) and its Madeira, 1910. Berns Steakhouse got me on my Madeira kick. They have a wide selection. It's the perfect wine for 'by the glass'; because its already oxidized they can serve glasses from an open bottle for years without ill affects. Oldest I've had is a 1897 Sercial(my fave). And because they're heated in the aging/conditioning process you don't have to keep them cool in a cellar (but I do anyway).
BTW, there are no 'very dry' Madeiras that I know of (may be wrong). The driest I believe is the Sercial, and by regular standards it is not 'very dry'. I would say they range from fairly sweet to verrrry sweet.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by landhoney

BTW, there are no 'very dry' Madeiras that I know of (may be wrong). The driest I believe is the Sercial, and by regular standards it is not 'very dry'. I would say they range from fairly sweet to verrrry sweet.

Have you tried Terrentez, Bastardo, or Verdelho? Here's a picture of the oldest Madeira I have had last holiday season. Might be too hard to top it this year.

I know of a Madeira event planned that will be the biggest ever held with deepest selection of Madeira going back to late 17th century. Will be about 2K a head though

You might look at a couple of great articles on Madeira published a couple of years ago by cigar lover Doug Kuebler:

Part 1

Part 2

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by ElkTwin

You might look at a couple of great articles on Madeira published a couple of years ago by cigar lover Doug Kuebler:

Part 1

Part 2

Great read! Finally, I am not the only preaching Madeira to the cigar community!

I'd try to get people on Sherry bandwagon too, but that is a difficult sell, as the oxidized taste is aquired.

[aldukes]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Great read! Finally, I am not the only preaching Madeira to the cigar community!

I'd try to get people on Sherry bandwagon too, but that is a difficult sell, as the oxidized taste is aquired.

please dont tell people about sherry. Its still one of the best deals around in the world of wine. nothing beats some nice PX on a late saturday afternoon.

[landhoney]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Have you tried Terrentez, Bastardo, or Verdelho?

All but the Bastardo. But none were 'very dry' to me, but I guess its all relative. But the adding of brandy/spirits to halt fermentation, and the fact that they all have some residual sugar don't add up to very dry to me. I think this is just semantics. That 1795 sounds great, if they're still around in a few years I may............

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by landhoney

That 1795 sounds great, if they're still around in a few years I may............

I bet there's some around (or even older), but be prepared to pay like 7K for the bottle. There's an amazing selection of Madeira coming to auction next weekend.

[landhoney]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

I know of a Madeira event planned that will be the biggest ever held with deepest selection of Madeira going back to late 17th century. Will be about 2K a head though

Details?

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by landhoney

Details?

Not yet. My friend is planning and just told me about it yesterday. The plan was to charge per head rather than trying to line people up with their bottles. All the bottles are already sourced. Will update as I get further details. I think it will happen in NYC.

[romwarrior]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

I feel it's my obligation or duty to intoduce any serious cigar smoker to Madeira wine. Madeira is the absolute best pairing with cigars. The acid and length of finish just make any cigar a joy. Every puff after a sip of Madeira like the first puff. Sipping Madeira can go all day and the flavor carries as good as any single malt. Most would be hard pressed to sip Scotch for hours upon hours, but is easy with Madeira.

Not only that, but Madeira is America's wine. The wine that was toasted at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The wine Jefferson and Franklin couldn't get enough of... The wine that represents our independence as a nation.

It was only fairly recently (within 50 years) in the USA that Madeira and Sherry fell off as the most popular kinds of wine.

Madeira is one of the few alcoholic drinks where the drinker can actually afford something 100+ years old. How many have something in a bottle/barrell over 100 years old?

Alright I am intrigued. My local Bevmo has the Broadbent 10 yr and Blandy's 10 yr. I think I will have to check it out. Thanks for the info!

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by romwarrior

Alright I am intrigued. My local Bevmo has the Broadbent 10 yr and Blandy's 10 yr. I think I will have to check it out. Thanks for the info!

Give us an update when you try it out!

[jquirit]

So yesterday I finally found a place that had a decent selection of Madeiras for sale in my area. With that, I had my first "holy s**t" moment. Mike, the guy working the shop at the time (forgot to ask if he was the owner), had a an open bottle of the Rare Wine Company New York Malmsey for taste.

Holy s**t.

I was not expecting such a complex character from it. In some ways, it reminds me a lot of scotch/whisky, but without the real initial alcohol bite. Lots of flavors of nuts, caramel/butterscotch, and some other stuff I couldn't place.

Alas, it was his only bottle left! I did end up getting the last bottle of the Boston Bual to try instead. But, he does now have me on his list of when the Malmsey comes back in I'm getting one.

Thank you, mosesbotbol, for introducing me to this. It definitely impressed me!

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by jquirit

Holy s**t.

I was not expecting such a complex character from it. In some ways, it reminds me a lot of scotch/whisky, but without the real initial alcohol bite. Lots of flavors of nuts, caramel/butterscotch, and some other stuff I couldn't place.

Alas, it was his only bottle left! I did end up getting the last bottle of the Boston Bual to try instead. But, he does now have me on his list of when the Malmsey comes back in I'm getting one.

Thank you, mosesbotbol, for introducing me to this. It definitely impressed me!

I enjoy the Boston Bual a lot too. Glad you are enjoying the Madeira! I just converted my accountant to Madeira and he's buying it like a mad man.

An awesome one to try is the Broadbent 10 Year Malmsey. It goes for under $50 and is readily available. You may be able to find for under $40, but around $35 is wholesale. Quite impressive stuff.