As the season shifts, and the temperatures begin to drop - your taste in beverages may also change. In the summer you may decide to drink a refreshing glass of Aperol Spritz, or perhaps a Piña Colada. But in true winter fashion, most people would rather cosy up by the fireplace sipping on a hot beverage, don't you agree? So, in this pairing guide, we will be looking at some delectable ‘cold-weather’ drinks and Cuban Cigars that go well together. So, without further ado, here are our suggestions:
A bottle of Macallan Amber and Cohiba Piramides Extra.
SINGLE-MALT WHISKEY
A fact known to all aficionados - whiskey is the ultimate beverage to have while having a smoke. With each of their intense, mature tasting notes - once combined - it creates a harmonious amalgamation of flavour. If you’re interested, we have written an article on some of the Best Whiskey and Cigar Pairings that lists some expertly-picked combinations. But essentially, when it comes to combining these two products, the number one rule is to match them by their strengths and notes. For instance, in the festive season, you might want to smoke a cigar with ‘vanilla’ notes like the Cohiba Piramides Extra, so respectively, you should choose something like the Macallan Amber, which exhibits hints of vanilla itself. For something with leathery notes like the San Cristobal de la Habana la Fuerza, a smoky and heavy whiskey like the Glenlivet Nadurra will do the trick. But perhaps you have a spicy cigar; we would counteract the choice of whiskey and choose something much mellower to balance it out.
Black coffee and Partagas Lusitanias.
CUP OF COFFEE
Like whiskey and cigars, the rule of matching still applies to coffee and tobacco. If you choose a cigar that possesses similar intensities or flavours of the coffee - you simply cannot go wrong! Coffee is a favourite beverage all around the world - hot and perfectly caffeinated. When it comes to choosing cigar and coffee pairings, you should keep in mind that one should not overpower the other. If you have a full-bodied smoke, you would be better off pairing it with a more intense, coffee. While with a mild and sweet cigar, you should pair it with something light and aromatic. One of our favourite pairings is the Montecristo No. 3 with a creamy, latte as it has mocha coffee and wood tasting notes. For something stronger, we recommend the Partagas Lusitanias with a cup of strong black coffee - believe us, this cigar packs a punch!
A glass of hot toddy and a box of Cuaba Divinos.
HOT TODDY
The hot toddy is a popular ‘winter’ cocktail drink that can warm you up in the cold. It’s an aromatic drink that combines spice, honey and a liqueur of your choice - usually, it’s whiskey. Sometimes, people even combine it with black tea or earl grey, giving you an aromatic yet boozy kick. A hot toddy would go beautifully with a Cuban cigar with floral or spice-like notes. Some great choices would be the Cohiba Lanceros or the Cuaba Divinos, which each cigar having hints of aromatic flavours.
HOT BUTTERED RUM
Now for a creamy, buttery drink - hot buttered rum. This is another excellent beverage to try for the cold season. Likely, some of you have never tried this drink, but we highly recommend it! It is beautifully sweet and warm, which is the kind of comfort you need on a chilly winter’s day. The recipe usually consists of spices (like cinnamon or nutmeg), butter and some rum. Of course, depending on your preference, you can make it as boozy as you want! Since this drink is a much sweeter variety, we recommend cigars that are also quite saccharine. Perhaps, the Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos or the Cohiba Siglo II, as each of these cigars possesses hints of sweetness, cream or chocolate.
We hope that this guide has helped you decide what winter beverages you can pair with your cigars. Browse our collection of premium cigars for sale on our Cuban Cigar Shop, or if you want to stay up-to-date with everything associated with Cuban cigars, check out our Cuban Cigar Blog.