Whether you like to enjoy your cigars with scotch, beer, wine, or tequila, you may not know how to pair your preferred cigar with the right beverages. Following your intuition and finding out which tastes you prefer can help solve the mystery of pairing the perfect cigar with the ideal cocktail. If you’re planning a get-together with friends or simply want to find a combination that’s right for you, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Which Drinks Go with Cigars?
While people may have several answers to this question, the real answer is that whatever you like to drink can coordinate with your cigar. Some stogie cigar enthusiasts say that you have to enjoy your cigar with whiskey, but whatever cocktail or drink you choose can work perfectly for you. You can enjoy a nice glass of wine or even coffee with your cigar to help you relax and experience a variety of flavor notes.
Are Cigars and Whiskey the Ideal Pairing?
Since cigars and whiskey are both carefully crafted and aged, they seem like the ideal pairing. Your palate becomes more sophisticated the more you put your sense of taste to the test, and this could make your cigar and whiskey experience much more enjoyable and refined. The more experience you have with cigars, the easier it will be to smell the cigar and know which type of tobacco is inside and how long the cigar has been fermented. Similarly, if you were to be more of a fan of cigarettes, frequent use of Native Smokes or other kinds of cigarette would improve your familiarity with the flavour profile and you’ll be able to tell what kind of treatment the tobacco has been through to produce its flavour profile. You can use this knowledge to better pair your choice of drink to have the best flavour combinations possible. With time, you’ll also be able to smell or sample whiskey and detect the drink’s notes and flavors.
Do Wine and Cigars Go Together?
Even though wine is not often associated with cigars, this beverage features bold flavors and fruity notes that complement a cigar nicely. All you have to do is choose a red or white wine that you enjoy drinking and select a cigar that has similar or contrasting notes. The same methods you would use the find the right whiskey for your cigar can be used to select the perfect wine.
Can I Enjoy a Cigar with Coffee?
Coffee and cigars actually go very well together. If you enjoy a light roast, you may want to indulge in a cigar with sweeter notes. A full-bodied cigar goes great with darker roasts. Coffee and cigars provide a palatable experience that is both rejuvenating and relaxing and could be an ideal way to wind down after a long day or engage in quality time with friends.
Cigars and Alcoholic Beverages
Most cigar aficionados say that single malt whiskey, cognac, rum, rye, bourbon, and port are the ideal beverages to enjoy with cigars. These dark, rich liquors go great with the heartiness of a cigar. However, you can also enjoy your cigar with premium tequila since this liquor has the sweetness and depth to make smoking a cigar more enjoyable. Gin and vodka, on the other hand, can be overpowering and take away from the smoking experience.
It’s a good idea to achieve a balance between the beverage and the cigar since cigars can often overpower beverages. You can pair a full-bodied cigar with a full-bodied drink for rich and intense flavors, or use the contradictory method of pairing cigars and drinks that have a flavor contrast so you can bring out the best in both. If you prefer a smaller drink, this will go well with the airy notes of the cigar. If you prefer a lighter cocktail, choose a more robust cigar for your smoking and dining experience. Keeping these tips in mind will make your cocktail and cigar experience much more enjoyable.