From mac and cheese to Bonnie and Clyde, some things are made for one another. Drinks and cigars are another dream duo. Capable of lifting your flavor experience to new heights, finding a drink that complements your stogie can be a captivating experience.
Whether you’re craving a classic cocktail, creamy coffee, or smoky scotch, there’s a barrel load of beverages that combine well with cigars.
But is pairing a drink with your cigar a sensible way to ease into your new hobby?
Should beginners have a drink with their cigar?
Cigar smoke can seem bitter for first-time smokers, so sugary drinks like soda are good places to start. The sugar helps balance the heavy feeling you might have from smoking a cigar for the first time. However, there’s no reason you can’t have more than one drink on the go — why not sip a small glass of rum or a taster-sized pour of craft beer as well?
Water is also a good idea. It keeps you hydrated and neutralizes your tastebuds between draws (or different cigars if you’re lighting up more than one).
How to pair cigars with drinks
Don’t rely on luck when picking your cigar’s perfect drinking partner. There are some basic rules and tips you’ll need to follow, or neither your drink or your smoke will taste great.
Think of the expression “birds of a feather flock together” and apply this to your cigars and drinks pairings. It simply means that if the aromas, flavor profiles, and weights of your chosen pairing have things in common, they will find harmony. For example, a light beer is best alongside a mellow cigar, while an espresso martini will enhance a cigar burning rich coffee notes and whispers of caramel and chocolate.
It’s also essential the flavors of your chosen drinks and cigar pairing support one another without overwhelming the palate. While your palate is still developing, avoiding flavor clashes will help you discover what resonates with your taste buds and pick out the finer nuances of your cigars.
If you wish, you can also go for the “opposites attract” approach, embracing the theory that contrasting qualities will ultimately complement each other. For example, pairing the rich, complex flavors and malty palate of stout with a mellow-bodied stick can work wonderfully well.
What alcohol goes with cigars?
Whiskey has long been considered the go-to alcoholic drink for pairing cigars, especially when served on the rocks. This could be through the natural sweetness of a good bourbon or the layers of flavor in a deep whiskey. However, other alcoholic beverages like Cognac and rum are also popular for balancing the smoky essence of a bold cigar.
It should be said that cigars and drinks pairings are incredibly personal, but we’re happy to give you a little pour in the right direction. Let’s look at some of our favorite alcohol and cigar combinations.
Cigars and beer
The bubbles in beer serve as a refreshing palate cleanser, particularly in summer when the sunshine comes out to play. A rule of thumb is to match your cigar wrapper color with the color of your beer. Be cautious — a dark wrapper doesn’t automatically mean stronger smoke.
We recommend beginning your cigar smoking journey with mellow cigars. These go great with light beers such as blondes, lagers, and pilsners.
We recommend the creamy Sobremesa Brûlée with its Nicaraguan filler blend sourced from three growing regions. Lightly peppery with an easy-going profile of cream, malt, and sweet spice, it washes down with a crisp golden ale very nicely indeed.
Cigars and bourbon
The all-American pairing of bourbon and cigars is another safe bet for maximum taste satisfaction. Bourbon has a smooth texture, with its copper hue often etching sweet tones of caramel, vanilla, and honey that bond brilliantly with sweeter smokes.
Light up the toasty and woody Oliva Connecticut Reserve to sip alongside your bourbon. Dressed in a stunningly deep golden-brown wrapper, it delivers hearty hits of cocoa, light hay, and sweet marzipan, while flashes of cereal and cinnamon linger on the finish.
Cigars and brandy
In general, brandy has a fruity and subtly sweet taste. The same can be said for another silky-smooth drink once called the “liquor of the Gods” — Cognac. Both are popular pungent pairings with cigars.
Beginners should try a well-balanced, lighter brandy or Cognac alongside a stogie such as the Ferio Tego Summa. Full-bodied with a graceful intensity, it promises a mouthwatering medley of buttered toast, charred oak, vanilla, and warm dark chocolate. If this stick doesn’t quite hit, there are plenty more delicious brandy and cigar pairings to try.
Cigars and cocktails
It’s time to call on the alchemists. Cocktails come in many colors and recipes, but you can’t go wrong with the classics. A Negroni or Old Fashioned might be a little on the stronger side for cigar newbies, but cocktails with a coffee, creamy, or fruity twist should scream delight.
Think Cosmopolitans, Pina Coladas, or the quintessential boozy milkshake — The Mudslide. If you’re a Black Russian fan, we recommend stocking your humidor with the Magic Toast by Alec Bradley. Its foundation of black cherry, delicious chocolatey, and earthy notes work wonders with this decadent after-dinner cocktail.
Cigars and rum
Cuba isn’t just famous for cigars — its rum (aka, its national drink) is also very much at the heart of the country’s rich heritage. Cigars and rum combine pleasure and taste in a way few spirits can match.
Strong cigars should be matched with dark or spicy rums, while beginners should look for light rums with subtle bursts of citrus, spice, and vanilla. Rummage through our collection and choose the elegant medium-bodied Montecristo White Series for its full-flavored zing and creamy cedar, leather, oak, and wee nuttiness flourishes.
Cigars and whiskey
Arguably the most iconic combination of cigars and drinks, the diverse flavor profiles of cigars and whiskey can harmonize to provide a rich and sensory experience. Whether your whiskey has an oaky, smoky, spicy, or sweet character, it will work well with your cigar’s robustness (provided you pick the right cigar). Pair your mellow cigar with a milder whiskey.
The gentle taste and creamy medium-bodied taste of the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Exhibicion No. 3 is a winner with whiskey. Handmade in the Dominican Republic, it provides a pleasant bouquet of cocoa, hazelnuts, and a dash of spice, all backed by a leathery finish.
Cigars and wine
Cigars and wine share many qualities that perfectly overlap — the aging, body, and flavor notes to name a few. The combinations of smoke and tannins create taste complexities that can be truly memorable.
Delicate and fresh-tasting white wines like Chardonnay or Riesling are ideal for mellow or medium-bodied cigars, while dark, robust smokes work well with heavy-bodied red wine like Bordeaux.
Beginners should consider decanting a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and toast the foot of a Zino Nicaragua. The wine’s zesty profile will complement the cigar’s smooth and creamy profile that's inspired by its Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper. Expect some white pepper on the tongue, with classic Nicaraguan notes of earth, toasted cedar, and a little spice.
What are the best non-alcoholic drinks to pair with cigars?
You don’t necessarily need alcohol to enjoy your cigar or elevate your smoking experience. Hot chocolate, orange juice, ginger ale, and root beer have all been lauded as super sidekicks for a stogie. Let’s look at a trio of our favorite non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy alongside a cigar.
Cigars and cola
An ice-cold Coca-Cola offers complete refreshment in the heat. This, alongside its mild flavor, can be an excellent accompaniment to your cigar. Given the sweetness of Cola, it can easily overpower the sweeter elements of a smoke, so opt for something earthy and leathery like the Punch Golden Era.
Cigars and coffee
Probably the most popular non-alcoholic drink with cigars, a light-bodied smoke is a wonderful wake-up call with a light roast coffee. Creamy cigars also allow you to add a little cream to your cup.
The Henry Clay War Hawk contains earthy tones, chocolate, cocoa, and a hint of spice that sits well with a medium-roast nutty coffee, or something cocoa-based like a mocha.
Cigars and tea
A cup of tea creates an aromatic experience when enjoyed alongside a cigar and is an effective way to relax after a long or busy day. Black tea often elevates chocolate and earthy aromas, but beginners are better off with green tea or mild oolong tea with their mellow-bodied smoke.
Something like the Brickhouse Double Connecticut with its sweet floral taste, subtle grassy-hay notes, and creamy core will do the trick. This also means there’s no harm in adding a little sweetness (sugar) or creaminess to your tea, as it will only serve to optimize the flavor profile.
Cheers to drinks and cigars
Finding the right drink to sip on alongside your cigars can exponentially increase the enjoyment. Beginners should view this process as fun and insightful, while not being afraid to try out different cigar and drinks pairings. Use your taste preferences (both cigars and drinks) as a starting point and you’ll soon be basking in a sensory experience associated with relaxation and luxury.
Cheers to cigars and drinks pairings!