Making the Perfect Match

It is a rare occasion that I smoke a cigar without having a drink in hand to compliment the experience. I tend to pick the cigar I want to smoke to match the occasion or place where I intend to sit back and enjoy my time. Generally after I’ve chosen what I want to smoke I just stick to my favorite whiskies and let the match be what it ends up being. Sometimes the pairing of the cigar and whiskey works out quite well other times not so much. The ‘not-so-much’ times have prompted me to do some research into the world of cigar and drink pairing to avoid future mishaps.

I started out by seeking the traditional pairings handed down through the ages by cigar aficionados. Some classic pairings are cognac, single malt whiskey, bourbon, rum, rye, and port. Tequila being the exception, most white spirits – such as vodka and gin - do not work as well because the cigar will overpower the drink. These liquors can generally be paired with any medium to full body cigar without much worry of one over-powering or canceling out the other. Which means if you are at a loss of what to pair that Avo Syncro Nicaragua you got as a gift with, don’t worry, any of the classic pairings should work out well.

This is all great information for those of us who enjoy liquor, but for those that do not enjoy a hard drink, the pairing problem hasn’t really been addressed. If you prefer to drink a delicious beer instead, the rule of thumb is to match the body of the cigar to the lightness or darkness of the beer. Stella Artois can pair well with Ashton’s Cabinet Selection #7. Guinness (in theory) should pair well with Camacho’s Powerband. Although some have argued that wine and cigars aren’t a good pairing, the same thought process can also apply, whites pair well with light bodied cigars, reds with medium to full-bodied blends. If you are not sure of the body of a cigar that information is usually posted by the cigar shop or you can always do a quick online search.

Another classic pairing for any cigar is coffee. This pairing can be enjoyed any time of the day and offers a wide range of choices. I love coffee and I can’t think of any instance where I’ve had a bad pairing of the two, but for information’s sake, a light roast or low acidity brew tends to pair well with a light bodied cigar such as Hoya De Monterey or Montecristo. The darker brews or espressos will pair well with medium to full bodied smokes like Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, or Partagas. I would like to note one of my all time favorite coffee pairings is a traditional Cuban coffee (made with Café Bustelo) And an Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story The two are simply amazing together and can be enjoyed in a 30 minute break from the office.

Although the classic pairings have been touted for ages, the contemporary smoker may choose to strike out on their own path with pairings that may seem odd and completely undesirable. The thought of Pabst Blue Ribbon mated with Acid’s Kuba Kuba doesn’t appeal to me in any way, but I have a friend that swears by this combination. In the end, though, it really boils down to what flavors you enjoy and how you want to mix them.

As always I’d love to hear from you. What are your favorite cigar and beverage combinations?