Even the most experienced cigar smokers and liquor connoisseurs can sometimes find themselves in a quandary when it comes to pairing. When choosing a good cigar drink, as a rule, you should try to match the relative taste and weight. A full-bodied cigar calls for a full-bodied drink, while more delicate drinks like champagne require a much lighter cigar.
Maintaining a balance
The main rule is that you must start by matching the body of the smoke with the body of the drink. Full-bodied cigars pair best with full-bodied whiskeys. Softer cigars pair with lighter whiskeys. An imbalance in one element can drown out another.
One component in a pair should complement the taste and aroma of the other. For example, bitter and sour notes need sweet and salty flavors to soften. When all the components of such a union begin to complement each other, you get the perfect combination. Remember that cigars, like alcohol, must be of high quality. The cigars are supplied by Pro Store Cigar. It supplies only original products from the country of origin.
The best alcoholic drinks for cigars
- rum
Traditionally, rum and cigars come from the same geographical area. Whether we’re talking about Cuba or the Caribbean, the people who make cuba cigars also make rum. For this reason, these two things complement each other well. But remember that rum in its cheapest and simplest form can ruin even the best cigar, accentuating any harshness of the smoke.
- Cognac
Cognac is a traditional, almost cliché drink that can be drunk with cigars. This is largely due to the fact that people smoked and drank cognac after eating, so they naturally connected. When buying cognac, pay attention to the age designation of the bottle. VS is the lowest age category and should generally be ignored when paired with cigars. The middle age group is designated VSOP and indicates an age of at least 4.5 years. Light and medium cigars pair especially well with cognacs of this age.
- Bourbon / Scotch
In the spirits world, small-batch bourbons and single malts are premium products that have complexity and depth of flavor that can stand up to a cigar. The smokeiness of a single malt whiskey pairs perfectly with a good cigar. Smaller batches of Bourbon are bottled at higher strengths to give them a base of strong flavors, and they pair well with medium to full bodied cigars.
- Port
Port wine is a traditional partner for a cigar. The sweetness and alcoholic power of vintage port blends perfectly with rich smoke; even younger vintage port is appropriate because its strong tannins are resistant to spicy smoke. Non-vintage styles such as tawny port also complement a cigar well due to the woody characteristics they acquire during long barrel aging.
- Martini
Martinis come in a wide variety of flavors these days, but they all pair well with flavorful cigars. Test different combinations until you find the one that suits you.