Are you looking for which alcohol can accompany a cigar without altering its taste? Are you wondering which alcohols are most compatible with a cigar?
You will discover everything on this page!
If you have been smoking cigars for some time, you have probably noticed that it is a noble pleasure, where the tasting begins with the seeds that are planted in the soil. To get the most out of this craftsmanship, it is possible to make alliances with your cigar and a drink to reveal exclusive notes.
Like a sommelier who uses his talent to pair wine with a gastronomic dish, an association between a cigar and a spirit requires experience and experimentation so as not to sacrifice either.
Among the alcohols whose association with a cigar is recognized and appreciated, we find whiskey, cognac, and brandy. Rum is also very popular for its versatility. But other alcohols are also capable of forming astonishing couples with a cigar.
In the following, we will see:
- how to associate the temperament of a cigar and alcohol
- compatible alcohols according to the profile of a cigar
- the most appreciated alcohols for their agreements with cigars
- and much more!
Let's not wait and get to the heart of the matter!
Pairing a drink with a cigar
In case you want to experiment, you mainly have two methods to properly match alcohol with a cigar. You will choose yours based on your preferences.
1 - Complementary method
The simplest and most commonly used method is to associate two products with the same strength profiles and try to complement the notes of the agreement.
In other words, to smoke a full-bodied and earthy cigar, you will need to look for a similarly full-bodied drink (heavy red wines, complex and earthy whiskey) to accompany it.
Conversely, to accompany a fresh and airy drink, you will look for mild and light cigars to avoid one being (much) more pronounced than the other.
This is the recommended method when starting in cigar and alcohol pairing because it is simple and quick to apply while not requiring great subtlety in note agreements.
2 - Contrasts method
Reserved for a knowledgeable audience, this method requires great mastery and especially exceptional knowledge of alcohol and cigar flavors to be able to imagine perfect agreements.
To summarize, choose a cigar and a drink that contrast in body and flavor, and they will bring out the best in each other. If you smoke a sweet and mild cigar, drink a rich and heavy whiskey or wine to accompany it. The result is a tobacco and drink consumption experience that accentuates the nuances of each other.
The light and airy notes of your cigar will bring out the aromatic notes of your drink. Conversely, a rich and complex cigar will contrast with a glass of sweet white wine or lighter and more floral whiskey, bringing out the earthy flavors of your cigar.
Over time, you will develop your aromatic palette, and imagining a marriage between two flavors will become increasingly evident to you. At that point, you will become comfortable with the contrast method.
Alcohols according to the profile of the cigar
If you come across this article wondering what you can drink to accompany the cigars that are patiently waiting their turn in your cellar, here are five examples of compatibilities that will save you time.
1 - Light cigar:
- Example of brand: Hoyo de Monterrey, Fonseca, Quai D'Orsay, Guantanamera
- Ideal pairing: Brandy, beer
2 - Light to medium cigar:
3 - Medium-bodied cigar:
- Example Brands: Cohiba (1492 line), Romeo y Julieta, Trinidad, Punch, Sancho
- Ideal Pairing: Premium Rum (12 years), Añejo Tequila, Conventional Port, Conventional Blended Whiskey.
4 - Medium to Strong Cigar:
5 - Strong Cigar:
Now that you have a general idea of the preferred alcohols according to the type of cigar you prefer, let's try things the other way around and detail the alcohols whose harmony with cigars is recognized.
Alcohol 1: Whiskey
It is difficult to start with anything other than whiskey as it is often represented in the world of cigars as an alcohol conveying an image of masculinity and "well-deserved warrior's rest."
According to the complementary method seen at the beginning of the article, a strong whiskey complements strong cigars. It is no coincidence that in the case of a single malt whiskey or scotch, the perfect pairing is with a strong and powerful cigar.
They also pair well with the single malt of the Highlands. But all scotches are generally an ideal combination. While moderately strong cigars pair well with Irish whiskey.
Our favorite pairing: Romeo y Julieta No. 2 with Jack Daniel's Single Barrel
This medium-sized Havana cigar presents exquisite flavors of nuts, chocolate, and floral notes that make it very easy to smoke. It offers an ideal pairing with the Tennessee whiskey that is Jack Daniel's Single Barrel.
This whiskey has the particularity of being bottled directly from the barrel to the bottle. It is aged in the highest part of the cellars, so the temperature and exposure to the environment give each barrel a particular flavor. That's why each bottle of Single Barrel is different.
However, it retains its taste characteristics with many notes of caramel, corn, wood, and vanilla that complement perfectly the Romeo y Julieta No. 2, whose leaves are grown in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, considered the best tobacco-growing region in the world.
Other suggestions:
- Cohiba Panetelas with The Macallan 15 years
- Davidoff Primeros Maduro (Nicaragua) with Dalmore 12 years
- Partagas No. 4 with Glenfiddich 12 years
That's all for whiskey.
Alcohol 2: Rum
Rum is undoubtedly one of the perfect "complements" to enjoy a good cigar because it goes well with almost all these products. Simply because they have many different registers.
This is due to the duration of their aging in barrels. For this reason, rums can pair perfectly with both mild and strong cigars. In short, young alcohols are reserved for the mildest cigars, and older rums for stronger cigars.
For example, Cuban rum is the perfect companion for strong cigars. The essential thing is to pair strong cigars with a spicy rum.
The little bonus: Rum and Coffee!
By adding good coffee to create a flavor triangle that will leave you with an exceptional memory, we get what is called a three-course pairing. For the magic to work, the coffee must be short and intense. Decaffeinated coffee is not suitable, nor are cappuccinos or others.
Our preferred pairing: Montecristo No. 2 Pyramide (Havana) with Zacapa 23-year-old rum
Ron Zacapa 23 Años is made from sugarcane honey and its aging process is unique. The distillery uses a special dynamic aging method: the rums pass through four types of barrels during the process.
This gives it a dark amber color and elegant aromas of honey, almond, and chocolate that make it very balanced without losing its strength. That's precisely why it pairs so well with the Montecristo No. 2 Pyramide, whose torpedo shape makes it easy to smoke.
This exclusive product line is one of Montecristo's best-kept secrets due to its strong aromatic personality, full body, fresh grass smell, and slightly strong intensity.
Alcohol 3: Cognac and Brandy
In general, strong spirits pair well with complex, full-bodied, and especially powerful cigars. They harmonize better with the full range of flavors. However, if we talk about beverages such as brandy or cognac, they go well with most cigars.
As for full-bodied cigars, their pairing with a dark rum or vintage cognac is highly appreciated. The latter pairs well with powerful cigars thanks to its aroma that unfolds in several waves without being overpowering.
Our preferred pairing: Cohiba Behike 54 (Havana) with Hennessy XO
Cohiba Behike is the most exclusive line of Cohiba. Its extremely limited production incorporates for the first time in the blend of its 3 vitolas the tobacco leaf called "medio tiempo" which gives it exceptional character and flavor.
It is marked by strong and dark intensity and aromas of coffee and wood that make it ideal to be paired with one of Hennessy's most iconic cognacs. The XO, with its aromas of oak, old leather, and dried fruits, as well as its elegant and deep character, will make a very special pairing for the tasting with the Cohiba.
Other suggestions:
- Montecristo Edmundo with Hennessy XO
- Hoyo de Monterrey Petit with Hennessy VSOP
It's up to you!
Alcohol 4: Wine
Pairing with wine can greatly refine and perfect the cigar tasting experience. The crucial point is this: neither of these two luxury products should dominate.
The best choice for a full-bodied wine such as a Bordeaux or sweet port is a powerful cigar from Nicaragua. A white wine like Chardonnay or Riesling pairs well with milder and lighter cigars from the Dominican Republic. White wine and Prosecco pair better with mild cigars.
Darker and stronger cigars work particularly well with a powerful red wine like Cabernet. Dark and full-bodied wines like Merlot, on the other hand, pair perfectly with cigars with a mild smoke.
We have a whole article dedicated to cigar and wine pairings if you want to learn more.
Alcohol 5: Beer
Pairing cigars with a refreshing beer is particularly smart in the summer when the weather is hot. The combination of beer and tobacco is subject to the same rules as wine: mild cigars pair well with light beer.
The same goes for non-alcoholic beer compared to alcoholic beer: a light beer like pilsner or ale pairs well with mild to medium-bodied cigars with a sweet aroma profile. If you enjoy a dark, heavily malted beer, you can pair it with a slightly stronger cigar with a spicy aroma.
Our preferred pairing: Alec Bradley American Sun Grown Blend with an IPA beer
Nothing is more simple and complex at the same time than lighting a cigar in front of a cold beer. It is an easy task technically, but it can become dizzying due to the number of beer options available.
If there is a beer that you really like, it will not be difficult to find a cigar to accompany it, you just need to use the complementary method. For this reason, our suggestion goes to the Alec Bradley American Sun Grown Blend cigar.
Its balanced body in terms of flavors and spicier and richer garnish pair well with the freshness of a craft beer or even an IPA.
Alcohol 6: Tequila and Mezcal with Cigar
The combination of mild cigars with tequila is a bit more unusual, not to say downright unexpected, but it works!
However, you will need to forget the usual ingredients that accompany tequila, such as lemon, salt, or other. Here, it's just about a pure glass of unchilled tequila and a mild cigar. Mezcal can also be a rewarding pairing for an exquisite smoke.
Our favorite pairing: Atelier Te Amo (Mexican) with Mezcal from Mezcaloteca Maguey Marteño.
Although Mexican cigars are not yet as well-established as Cuban, Dominican or Nicaraguan cigars, their quality is extraordinary. For example, the Atelier Te Amo cigar evokes the small artisan factories that were located in the San Andrés Tuxtla valley in Veracruz.
The cigars were handcrafted in limited quantities by selecting only the best tobacco leaves and aging them for at least five years. It combines the best capes and guts of Criollo San Andrés tobacco. Without a doubt, a unique blend that stands out for its intense strength and unparalleled mildness.
It will be the perfect complement to this mezcal, artisanally produced by one of the houses that most respects this product: La Mezcaloteca. Its maguey Marteño mezcal (a very rare wild maguey) undergoes double distillation in a clay pot that gives a particular strength to its taste with notes of earth, herbs, and a very slight smokiness.
Other suggestions:
Which one do you prefer?
Experiment and enjoy!
As you already know, the most important thing in a tasting, both with cigars and drinks, is the pleasure that one experiences!
The key to this is to find the spirit that respects and accompanies your cigar. This discovery journey is also part of the experience, especially when we experience the satisfaction of finding the "perfect" pairing that suits us.
The secret is to try, try, and try again until you find the perfect match. A little like in gastronomy, don't just settle for what's expected and take inspiration from the suggestions in this article to go even further.
Try other drinks like Armagnac, reposado tequilas, bourbon, or even some calvados. Liqueurs like Drambuie and Grand Marnier can also be good allies to find a new harmony. You will be surprised by the infinite number of collaborators that your cigar can have.
>> When you have found your duo, why not share it with your friends by impressing them with our beautiful sets for the perfect aficionado?
