Eight Shires Accomak Shire Spiced Rum with Blackened S84 Shade to Black

I decided on a lighter palette for my palate during a weeknight sip and smoke. A coworker had given me a bottle of Eight Shires Accomac Shire Spiced Tavern Rum on the occasion of my retirement. I do enjoy spiced rum on occasion, but had yet try this one. Admittedly, I was not familiar with the Williamsburg, VA distillery, despite its geographic proximity.

Accomac Shire Spiced Rum is described as a "Caribbean style spiced rum using 18th century style spices and molasses." I've read that the molasses is imported from a south American company that uses 18th century methods. The distillery also employs some older equipment similar to that used in colonial times. 

The 83 proof rum is a light amber color. I smell baking spices from the glass. The flavor is mild with notes of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. It's an enjoyable beverage. I could almost imagine serving it warm, with some apple slices and cinnamon sticks on a cold winter night. 

For the cigar portion of the evening I grabbed a Blackened Cigars S84 Shade to Black Toro from the humidor. This cigar came in the June Luxury Cigar Club shipment and had been in the humidor for eight weeks. The 6 x 52 cigar from Drew Estate is a followup to the popular Blackened Cigars M81. 

The smooth stick boasts an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper. A Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro binder, with Nicaraguan Maduro and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro filler leaves completes the picture. The blend appears to be the same as the M81, excepting the wrapper leaf change. The proportions of the binder and fillers are never revealed so this may or may not differ between the two blends.

The cigar is widely listed as a medium to full bodied smoke. I found it to be somewhat on the milder side. The wrapper really seems to influence the flavors. After an initial few puffs of pepper and cedar, the profile notes settled into the bread, butter, and peanut realm. There was an underlying layer of sweet milk chocolate and some mild baking spices. The burn was excellent and the smoke production steady.

I'd rate the Blackened Cigars S84 Shade to Black in the mild to medium body range. It did pair nicely with the spiced rum. I would not pair it with a more robustly flavored spirit. That said, I suspect the cigar would satisfy the fan of milder smokes who are looking for something a little different.

Cheers!