Smoke and Spirits

LEARN HOW TO PAIR CIGARS & SPIRITS LIKE A PRO

Pairing cigars and spirits created and adventure for the senses.

Enjoying a premium cigar is, for some, the ultimate indulgence when celebrating, while for others it is a regular pleasure suited to simply pondering life. Finding the beverage that perfectly complements a fine cigar for whatever the occasion is an enjoyable pursuit. And when a good pairing is made, the fusion truly provides and adventure for the senses.

What to look for:

Although a mojito and a cigar sounds like a fit match (and it may well be if you’re on a beach in Cuba), we’ve found that mojitos to be too acidic and dilute the palate after every sip. Refreshing? You bet. But great with a cigar? Not even close.

 For this reason white spirit based cocktails sometimes don’t cut it with cigars, and so premium aged spirits neat or on the rocks make better partners.

Cognac, rum and single malts are usually a safe bet, especially when escaping a cold winter.

When pairing cigars with spirits everyone’s palate differs so this is no definite guide. As a cigar lovers, we enjoy matching the spirits to our cigars and not the other way around. It is preferred to taste the nuances, which are often only very slight, of the cigar than our drink. For this reason a cognac is more appreciated or rum or whiskey that compliments a cigar’s flavour.

Some spirits will overpower your palate, making your cigar redundant in the flavour stakes, so finding a libation that plays a supporting role to your cigar is paramount.

The (enjoyable) pursuit of matching cigars & spirits:

The Cohiba Robusto is a classic Cuban cigar and shows notes of light cedar, grass and hints of pepper, and stands up well with Martell XO, which doesn’t overpower the Cohiba, The fruit and wood profile of the Martell suits the Cohiba. The fruit and wood profile of the Martell suits the Cohiba to a tee, as does the light space the Martell provides on the back of the palate. Another classic Cuban robusto, the Partagas Serie D No. 4 is regarded as a medium to full bodied cigar.

The Partagas cedar, spice and pepper flavours produce a heady, complex smoke and because of this we are hesitant to recommend cognac.

Rum lovers would best try pairing the D4 with Havana Club’s earthiness and slight tobacco nots make it a great match – akin to closing your eyes and imagining yourself amongst the tobacco fields of Cubas famed tobacco growing region, Pinar del Rio. That said, if cognac is your go to tipple, Meukow XO is a good fit. The Meukow is stronger than other XOs and has hints of toffee while underlying cedar flavours make it intriguing.

Habanos SA has created regional editions of Cuban cigars for specific markets for the past decade. In 2007 they released the Bolivar Edicion Regional Canada. It is a lighter style of Bolivar, which is traditionally known as a medium bodied cigar, exhibiting a combination of hay, leather and grassy flavours. A slight citrus zing is also evident  matching very well to the candied apple, peach and woody notes evident in Martell Xo. For rum lovers, it would be the best to try the Flor de Cana 18. This Nicaraguan  rum is lighter than Havan Clubss Seleccion de Maestros and plays an Oscar winning Best Supporting Actor role to the Bolivar.

Continued flavours of roasted nuts and peppercorn throughout quickly demonstrate that it would run riot over the elegance of any premium cognac. Consisting of a Habano wrapper from Equador, Sumatran binder and Nicaragual filler, the White Blinding Light paired beautifully with the Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve whisky.Drawn from casks of three types: American white oak  ex bourbon casks, Matusalem oloroso sherry butts and premier cru Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques, the Dalmore has loads of spice and a strong easily drown out light or medium  bodied cigar, but compliments the strength of it.

Cognac aficionados who are newcomers to the world of cigars should seek the light to medium bodied  cigars to start with.

Those well acquainted with Hennessy and Remy Martin will find God on Fire’s serie B 2011 and Davidoff’s Special R pair well. A smooth cigar that presents spice, leather, an aged dustiness and some floral hints, the God of Fire created using an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper and Dominican  filler and binder, suits both Henessy and Remy Martin ‘s XO expressions.

The Remy Martin  just edges out the Hennessy when paired with the God of Fire. The Hennessy’s soft fruit is appealing, but the Remy Martin’s burnt fruit and soft spiciness make it a great match. Conversely, the Henessy’s soft fruit and lightness on the palate, when compared to the Remy Martin, goes very well with Davidoff’s Special R. Produced in the Dominican Republic the Special R. robusto provides elegant honey, espresso and caramel flavours that wont burden a newcomers  senses.

Everyone’s palates and preferences are personal and unique.

However, discovering the best cigar and spirit pairing is a very enjoyable pastime, so enjoy the pursuit!!!