In the world of cuisine, spirits, and cigars, almost nothing is more challenging to master than the cigar and spirits pairing. It’s an interesting topic in part because developing a sense for perfect pairings involves not just experimentation, but also learning some rough guidelines. In this article, I’ll breeze through a few ground rules for pairing cigars and spirits, and then list out a few of my favorite perfect pairings.
Quick Pairing Guidelines
I call these guidelines as opposed to rules because there are pairings that will bend or even break some of these guidelines. The point is, especially at the beginning of your journey with pairings, these can help you avoid disastrous combinations that ruin both the cigar and the spirit that you were supposed to be enjoying!
- High abv spirits will overpower most cigars: it’s ok if your favorite whiskey is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. But if you use it to pair with cigars, you’ll likely find it difficult to actually taste the cigar you’re smoking. Pairings bring out nuances, and a 120+ proof spirit will blast any nuance out of the experience. So, when starting your journey of cigar and spirits pairings, begin by choosing spirits in the 40%-50% abv range.
- Order of operations matters: the spirit complements the cigar, not the other way around. So when pairing cigars and spirits, start by taking a sip of alcohol, letting it coat your palate, and gently swallowing without clearing your palate. I.e. don’t use your tongue to clear your mouth of the spirit after swallowing. By allowing that thin film of whiskey or rum to stay on your tongue, you’re creating a bed of flavor and aroma that the smoke of your next puff will mix with.
- Experiment outside of your comfort zone: when I first started pairing cigars and spirits, I was in a heavy bourbon faze. I found bourbon was overpowering everything, so I stopped pairing. It was only later when I got adventurous and started exploring rums, cognacs, and scotches, that I realized that as much as I loved bourbon, it wasn’t my favorite spirit to pair.
And now on to some examples of pairings I enjoy.
My Father Fonseca + Basil Hayden Bourbon
At about $9, the new My Father Fonseca is a phenomenal cigar for the money. It’s a solid medium in terms of strength and body, with delicious spice, confectionary, and floral notes. So it stands up nicely alongside a gentler bourbon like Basil Hayden. The products both have similar qualities, accentuate sweeter notes, and play nicely together.
Plasencia Alma Fuerte + Clyde May’s Bourbon
Plasencia Alma Fuerte made its debut just a few years ago and has become a bit of an obsession for many fans of fuller, richer cigars. This all-Nicaraguan blend somehow manages strength, spice, and finesse, and really deserves to shine in any pairing. That’s why I suggest another lighter bourbon like Clyde May’s. At 92 proof, it has enough oomph to stand up to and complement a fuller cigar without taking the spotlight.
Numero Uno + Diplomatico Single Vintage 2002
This is a bit of a splurge pairing, and I’ll be honest when I say that I think Diplomatico Single Vintage pairs well with just about anything. It’s a Venezuelan rum that, though very sweet, is also matured in ex-Pedro Ximinez casks, similar to many single malt scotches. The result is a rum that, though very much rum, carries some characteristics of my favorite scotches.
It’s not the most forceful rum in terms of strength, so it pairs nicely with Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno, which is stronger than it might look.
Foundation Charter Oak Habano + Makers 46
Weighing in at just about $5 per cigar, the Charter Oak Habano by Foundation Cigar Co is a recent release that absolutely blew my blind review team away in 2020. This cigar is packed full of flavor, and as such warrants a slightly higher proof whiskey. At 47% ABV, Makers 46 will match the cigar for flavor, and its delicately sweet notes will bring sweetness out of the cigar which on its own tends to emphasize bitter and peppery notes.
So there you have it, five world class cigar and spirits combos that won’t break the bank. Which pairings would you remove or add to this list? Let us know in the comments below.
If you want to read my team’s blind cigar reviews or answer common questions like where to buy cigars online, check out my website. You can also connect directly with me on instagram at @matthiasclock.
But most importantly: keep smoking and sipping and expanding your palate!
