The cigar has long been viewed as a luxury of the rich and powerful. Images of well-to-do men and women puffing on a stogie and swirling a glass of good brandy have been well documented and memorialized in films and TV. If you are just becoming interested in cigars and would like to relax with a stogie and drink after a long day, it helps to keep in mind that cigars from different regions have distinctly different characteristics. For example:
- The famous Cuban cigars are renowned for their smoothness and ‘creamy’ flavors, and applauded for their rich flavors and overall premium quality.
- Cigars from Central American countries like Honduras and Nicaragua are known to be strong and rich in flavor.
- Cigars from Caribbean countries like Jamaica and the Dominican Republic are known for their milder flavors.
Once you’ve considered the origin of your cigar, here are eight pairing suggestions to enhance your cigar experience:
Rum, Brandy, or Whiskey: Traditional cigar smokers will argue that a good cigar should always be paired with a strong drink, and one that has a hint of sweetness. Although a strong whiskey may overpower a mild cigar.
Various Beers: This is a growing trend as cigars grow in popularity across all demographics. But pairing a good cigar with the right beer can be tricky and might take some practice to get the right combination for an enjoyable experience.
The combination of a spicy cigar with a slightly fruity beer can create an overall creaminess that enhances the flavors of each significantly.
A mild cigar would go well with a mellow wheat beer or a lager.
If you’re smoking a real powerhouse, I recommend a very hoppy India pale ale—the bitterness of this type of beer goes really well with stronger cigars.
Finally, cigars with dark wrappers and sweeter profiles, would go well with a heavy porter or stout.
Barely Wine or Single Malt Scotch: If your cigar can be described as woody and spicy, with hints of cedar, the fruity hint of barely wine should complement nicely with the spicy flavor of your cigar.
Gin: This is a popular choice in the cigar world and Stogie Guys recommend a Tanqueray, soda, and lime with a lighter cigar.
Vodka: Flavored vodkas are often a good choice for cigars, since vodka itself doesn’t tend to have a lot to it.
Tequila: Decide on the tequila based on how strong your cigar is. Barrel-aged tequila tends to be a little smoother and will pair nicely with easier cigars. Silver tequila, on the other hand, is generally more peppery and will pair well with something a bit stronger.
Champagne. Champagne is a good beverage to pair with a lighter cigar, because a stronger cigar will overpower the subtle undertones of a good champagne. Also, the bubbles in the champagne will act as a palate cleanser in between puffs.
Red Wine: Not all red wines go well with cigars. Some are simply too mild to cut through the taste of the cigar smoke. Spanish red wines and robust red wines like Cabernet, Merlot, and Pinot Noir are usually powerful enough to stand up to the flavors of a good cigar.
Of course, the cigar experience is extremely subjective, so take time to experiment with various cigar and alcohol pairings, and then stick with the combinations that you enjoy most.
And, to help you remember your experiences with the different pairing combinations, use our cigar journal for keeping notes and referencing again later.
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Live well. Eat well. Be Happy.
Lawrence –
