As we have looked in previous blog posts, Cuban Cigars can be a perfect pair to many drinks, alcoholic or not. However, finding the best company to your smokes is certainly a matter of preference, partiality, and personal taste. Whether you prefer strong coffee or a glass of aged wine, well thought out pairings guarantee to enhance your puffing and sipping ritual, making it a truly memorable experience. A drink favoured by cigar aficionados for its intense profile, whiskey can work well with habanos but only if paired thoughtfully. Having said that, today we take a look at what determines a good cigar and whiskey pairing, offering you our top three whiskey and cigar combinations – as to help you draw inspiration.
“POWER MUST ALWAYS MEET POWER”
ALL ABOUT BALANCE - Although it is far more complicated than this, focusing on maintaining the balance is always a good starting point. Overall, cigars make excellent pairs to most spirits, such as bourbon, Scotch whiskey, rum, and cognac, while cocktails featuring these are also great choices. For those who prefer a non-alcoholic drink or one with a lower alcohol content, coffee, tea, or beer can work also well if paired properly. The rule to accomplish a successful cigar combination is clear though. The intensity of the flavours of both the habano and your drink needs to always be taken into consideration.
Power must meet power and vice versa. Light flavoured El Rey Del Mundo Cuban Cigars, for instance, would not go well with a high-peated scotch whiskey. That been said, a light flavoured habano would work best with a light, subtle blend; a medium bodied cigar would pair like a dream with many speyside single malt whiskeys, mild bourbons, and rye whiskeys; while complex and strong puros would work best with sherry-aged vintage spirits and intense Islay malt whiskeys. There is no doubt that finding the perfect cigar and whiskey combination requires personal experimentation, however, below we have listed our top three Cuban Cigars Online and whiskey combinations as to help you with your pairings.
Top Left: The Cohiba Majestuosos 1966 - 50 Aniversario Humidor paired with the Macallan Pure Highlands Malt Scotch whiskey and the oldest cognac in the world, dating from 1770 in Lanesborough, London, Top Left: The collection of spirits at the Lanesborough, London, Bottom: The Lanesborough collection of Graham's Tawny Ports
“A PAIRING THAT HIGHLIGHTS BALANCE”
PARTAGAS SERIE D NO. 4 WITH DALMORE CIGAR MALT RESERVE – This exceptional pairing was brought to us by Dalmore itself and James J. Fox during last year's the Whiskey Show. The pairing between these two certainly highlights balance. The intense yet smooth flavours of the whiskey blend seamlessly with the cigar’s full flavoured profile, creating a very strong combination. It’s no surprise that the Partagas Serie D No. 4 Cigar fits perfectly with the Dalmore whiskey. Hand-rolled in the very much-adored amongst cigar aficionados Robustos vitola, this habano is short in length yet capable of producing a truly complex and powerful smoke, a great cigar to pair with an intense whiskey.
ROMEO Y JULIETA EXHIBICION NO. 4 WITH GLENFIDDICH 21 YEARS RUM – Certainly one of our favourite cigar and whiskey combinations, this amazing pairing was introduced by the Glenfiddich team. Coming to think of it, seems like the Glenfiddich 21 Years Reserva Rum Cask Finish was exclusively created to accompany this smoke. The deep and flavoursome profile of the dram combines perfectly with the classic yet exciting aromas of the Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No. 4 Cigar. Measuring at 127 mm in length by a ring gauge of 48, the exhibicion no. 4 puro delivers a medium flavoured profile, providing a very concentrated smoke – perfect to accompany any mild bourbon.
MONTECRISTO NO. 4 WITH FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH BOURBON – This is an easy go-to combination, especially for those who are on a budget. How could anyone go wrong when pairing a glass of Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon with the Montecristo No. 4 Cigar? The deep and complex flavours of the rum intertwine with the bold and powerful aromas of the puro, making this an exquisite combination. One of the most frequently manufactured Regular Production Cigars in the world, the Montecristo No. 4 Cigar is wrapped immaculately within a smooth wrapper leaf, capable of delivering very distinct aromas, ideal to smoke with almost any vintage spirit.
Left: Partagas Serie D No 4 Cigar, Right: Montecristo No 4 Cigar
Habanos can certainly serve as an excellent pair to many drinks. Whether you are doing your first steps in the cigars universe or you are a mature cigar smoker, always remember to maintain the balance between the flavours of your puro with those of your drink. Why not explore more articles from our Cuban Cigar Blog and find out everything there is to know about Cuban Cigars for Sale Online?