What to drink with a cigar?
Denis from CigarInspector.com got in touch with me last week and offered to write a piece about what to drink with a cigar. Cigar Inspector features detailed and illustrated reviews of both Cuban and non-Cuban cigars and Denis certainly knows his stuff when it comes to cigars. I was really looking forward to his article, and it doesn’t disappoint:
The new cigar aficionado might wonder why one would even bother considering a particular drink to go along with a fine cigar. Does it really matter?
Consider the concept of colors. Let us say that you are painting your dining room. Your walls will be a tan color. Does it matter if your trim is lime green or not? Of course it does. The two just do not match.
Another effective metaphor is that of a moment in time. For example, you are sitting out on the deck overlooking a lake, yearning for nothing more than a calm and relaxing evening of peace. You sit there, enjoying the view and drinking shots of cheap whiskey. Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it?
The cigar is the same general concept. You do not accentuate a perfect moment or a color with something that just does not go well with it. On the contrary, you partake of something that makes it better, that intensifies the experience. It is the same with the cigar.
Different cigars each have their own particular flavors. Some are all spice while others are creamy and smooth. The mixture and levels of flavor and intensity are endless. Each cigar is like the human condition. Each one has a different personality, and each one requires its own particular flavors to accentuate it.
So, what are the drinks that go well with a cigar? First of all, let’s quickly talk about non-alcoholic drinks (the least interesting part). A glass of cold water usually suits all kinds of cigars. Coffees and similar drinks also seem to hold a fondness with cigar connoisseurs. With a nice Cuban Robusto, some prefer a good cappuccino. Others like a vanilla Latte with their Romeo y Julieta.
Now, personally, I have two favorite drinks – French red wine and whisky. An elegant Margaux can underline the flavor of a cigar and make it even more interesting. Just as well, the stick adds some value to the taste of the wine. It’s pretty hard to describe – try it out. Choose wines with medium-complex flavors – a bottle of Petrus won’t do.
As for the whisky, I find it more difficult to choose the right combination, but the reward is extraordinary. If you are planning to smoke a full-bodied cigar such as a Partagas Serie D No. 4, it is wiser to go with a whisky that has quite a strong personality – Laphroaig can be a good choice in this case. On the other hand, a mild and rather creamy cigar like Ramon Allones Specially Selected (one of my personal favorites) happily combines with a lighter whisky (perhaps a Glenfiddich?).
In the end, what it comes down to is you, the smoker. What does your palette demand with a particular flavor? You must take into account both the cigar and the drink. What goes well for you with your Latte, and what goes well with your H. Upmann? Everyone has his or her own sense of taste and it depends on how long you have been smoking. The best way to find out is to just try different drinks with different smokes. Inevitably, you will find just the right conglomeration of the two.
Thanks again to Denis from CigarInspector.com.
