Do you enjoy cigars and love good wine? Are you looking for cigar and wine pairings that work well together?
Some answers can be found below!
Cigars, like wine, are luxury consumables that require unique expertise and constant attention to deliver the quintessence of their flavors. While one is smoked and the other is drunk, a perfect pairing of the two can lead to rare and exclusive gustatory heights that leave an indelible memory on those who experience it.
For a successful marriage between a cigar and a wine, it is crucial to respect the strength of each. A strong wine will need a robust cigar to deliver the best flavors. On the other hand, a mild and light cigar will complement well with a fresh and airy wine.
In the following lines, we will see:
- the sine qua non condition for a successful pairing
- a shortcut to choosing a wine and a cigar that go well together
- examples of pairings with red and white wines
The rest of the article follows.
The golden rule for a successful wine and cigar pairing
For the association of wine and cigar to be pleasant, it is essential to select two companions whose strength is equivalent.
The common mistake is to deliberately choose one of the two (wine or cigar) that is mild and light, thinking that it will leave room for the other, which will be stronger, to express itself. This is not a good idea. In both cases, the cigar or wine will be too light to simply "exist," and you will not grasp its subtleties, thus wasting it.
If you want to experience a tasting moment with a light cigar, choose a wine that is also light. Conversely, if you are fond of full-bodied wine, pair it with a cigar that can hold its own, so that one does not overpower the other.
The little trick to help you choose your duo
In the world of cigars, there is a habit that circulates, which consists of pairing drinks and cigars from the same terroir. This seems to work for coffee and spirits, but also for wine.
That being said, it is not a miracle recipe and it is not based on any scientific verification. Consider this trick as a quick way to match a wine with a cigar, a shortcut when you are not sure what to choose.
Which wine to drink with a cigar (best pairings)?
Cigars are a connoisseur's "science," as is wine. Creating pairings between the two cannot be done at random, even though experimentation is obviously not prohibited!
To help you, we have compiled a selection of pairings that work.
Red wine and cigar pairings
Among the cigar-red wine pairings, you can try:
1/ Arturo Fuente Hemingway
Arturo Fuente Hemingway cigars have a delicious essence of earth, spices, and brown sugar, culminating in a medium-bodied profile that pairs well with an equally moderate pinot noir or a fruity grenache.
Vibrant flavors that develop with a uniform vitola that does not burn too quickly or persist for hours. They make an ideal pairing with iconic cigars such as the Hemingway Classic and the Hemingway Short Story, depending on the time you have to devote to them.
2/ La Aroma de Cuba Noblesse
La Aroma de Cuba Noblesse is a prized and ultra-rare version, entirely made up of exclusive tobaccos from the Garcia family's estates in Estelí, Nicaragua, under a sparkling cape of Cuban Rosado seeds grown in Ecuador.
The Cuba Noblesse skillfully blends notes of earth, cocoa, oak, and almonds with characteristic Nicaraguan spices that offer versatile appeal. It proposes an idyllic pairing with a round Merlot, a spicy Malbec, or a lively and slightly fruity Tempranillo.
3/ Rocky Patel Decade
The highly appreciated Rocky Patel Decade resonates with notes of earth, cedar, and spices, followed by a sweet aftertaste of almonds and black cherries. The delightful transitions presented by the Decade deserve a worthy complement, which they find in a malty Merlot or a dense and peppery Malbec.
4/ Perdomo Champagne Noir
The Perdomo Champagne Noir stick reveals a robust profile thanks to a patiently aged Nicaraguan wrapper leaf in a bourbon barrel. Deep spices underscore notes of dark chocolate, espresso beans, and cedar with delicious sweetness.
It pairs marvelously with any sweet to medium-bodied red wine, including Merlot or Malbec, as well as a smoother Port to accompany after-dinner.
5/ San Cristobal
A powerful cigar for a full-bodied red wine, everything needed to stimulate all olfactory senses. San Cristobal is a model of balance, combining finesse and aplomb with its pronounced Nicaraguan profile of black cherries, dark chocolate, earth, spices, and leather.
Pair it with a big Bordeaux or Cabernet Sauvignon, especially varieties characterized by black fruit flavors such as black currant or peppery black licorice.
6/ Ashton VSG
Equally iconic, the pairing of a powerful combo of Bordeaux, Cabernet, or Syrah with an Ashton VSG cigar guarantees a sensory awakening. A succulent aged Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper covers a typical vintage Dominican tobacco recipe.
Handmade by the legendary Fuente family, this cigar is capable of embracing wines ranging from sweet to spicy thanks to distinguished notes of espresso, leather, and raisins with a soft and deliciously peppery aroma.
7/ Oliva Série V
If spicy taste is a characteristic that you appreciate, the Oliva Serie V cigar is matched with a dominant combination of Ligero tobaccos under an oily Ecuadorian-grown Cuban seed wrapper.
Notes of crushed black pepper with a touch of honey accompany the spices that some aged Cabernet and Bordeaux wines highlight, especially when they offer a little caramel to temper.
8/ My Father
The exquisite and full-bodied taste of the My Father brand presents a woody profile of hazelnut, cedar, earth, and cayenne pepper. A Cuban wrapper leaf houses a premium Nicaraguan long filler in a collection of classic shapes that pair well with the fruit-rich tannins of Merlot.
A glass of Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of black cherry and spices pairs well with a My Father cigar. Also, you may prefer a sweet South American Malbec that presents an earthy and smoky finish. My Father is one of those versatile cigars that can be smoked with several varieties of red wine.
White wine & cigar pairings
Cigar pairings with white wines are also possible. Here are some examples:
1/ Arturo Fuente Hemingway
Light whites are a bit sweeter than their red counterparts, so opt for a wooded Sauvignon Blanc or a rich, buttery Chardonnay.
The light and sweet portraits that these wines offer underscore the balance that the Cameroon wrapper offers with the Dominican filler tobacco recipe proposed by the Arturo Fuente Hemingway cigar.
2/ Ashton Cabinet
The Ashton Cabinet is a satisfying cigar when you have a persistent craving for rich white wine. Lush notes of roasted nuts and buttered bread display a touch of sweetness thanks to a Connecticut Shade wrapper.
The blend easily pairs with a smoky Sauvignon Blanc or a deep, creamy Chardonnay.
3/ Montecristo Pilotico Pepe Mendez
Overseas Chardonnays are known for their overtly woody taste. But whether you love or hate oak-infused wines, it's undeniable that they pair perfectly with mild Dominican cigars.
It's not a typical pairing for a full-bodied wine, but the flavors interact in a unique way. We recommend enjoying a mild to medium-bodied Pilotico Pepe Mendez cigar with a bottle of Chardonnay that has spent a few months in oak barrels to reach its maximum woody flavor.
4/ Bolivar Belicosos Finos
Woody flavor is an essential characteristic of all cigars, but Cuban cigars take this particular taste to the next level. Powerful, intense, and possessing a pronounced earthy aroma, these traditional sticks are often made from a strong blend of Ligero leaves.
To complement it, we accentuate the character and prefer a glass of Alsatian white wine, such as a Riesling Schoelhammer Hugel 2007. Simply because Rieslings are heavier, earthier, and sufficiently woody to stand up to the most ligneous cigar.
In this selection, we have tried to propose cigars and wines that are "easily" available in the market, with a few exceptions. The idea was, of course, to allow you to experience the delicate pairing of a good cigar with a good wine, whether it's red or white.
Create your (almost) perfect pairing!
Not everything is possible when it comes to matching the aromas of a cigar with the flavors of a wine, whether it is high-end or not. This article may have made you realize this. But the important thing to remember is the "routine" of thought to arrive at this perfect (or almost perfect) pairing.
Once you understand that a powerful cigar, with heavy and thick smoke, will require an equally robust wine; to make it an alter ego that is capable of standing up to the comparison, it's up to you to experiment with your respective cellars! Conversely, the principle also applies, with a few exceptions.
>> To accompany a tasting break, there's nothing like cigar accessories designed by and for aficionados!
