El Presidente Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 What is your favourite accompaniment with a cigar from the following categories? I will move this thread to the booze section come Monday but I would love to hear your thoughts over the weekend if for nothing more than to garner some new ideas The categories: Red Wine pairing: White Wine pairing: Fortified Wine pairing: Spirits pairing: Beer pairing: Non Alcoholic pairing: For me: Red Wine pairing: Not many Red wines pair well with cigars....and yet I do it regularly . I think that any good Italian Amarone is perfect. The sweetness of the fruit and generally low tannins work a treat. I also can't resist a good Bordeaux with a cigar. Both are brilliant. White Wine pairing: I don't drink a lot of white wine but I can't go past Gewürztraminer with a cigar. Canadian Ice wine is also a treat. Fortified Wine pairing: Simple. Pedro Ximenez Sherry. My drink of choice is Romate Cardenal Cisneros Pedro Ximenez. If you have never tried the pairing....do yourself a favour and rush out this weekend and pick up a bottle. Spirits pairing: Rum. Zacapa 23 or XO are my preference. I have tried most rums but I keep going back to these two. Non Alcoholic pairing: Good black coffee with a touch of sugar. Stovetop or espresso. Let us know your favourite tipples 1
Colt45 Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 The categories: Red Wine pairing: None (and I'm shaking my head at the thought of Amarone, heathen. Is Italian Amarone akin to French Champagne? ) White Wine pairing: Crisp, but not overly astringent. Fortified Wine pairing: Don't do a ton, but will try. Spirits pairing: Again, nothing astringent - no gin, no tequila, etc. Non Alcoholic pairing: While I assume this is a trick question, I also go with coffee - hot or iced, cream no sugar. Off The Board: Non hoppy beer - Guinness stout is a fave. Sparkling white or rosé wines.
JC67 Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 I love red wine with cigars.. Pinot or lighter reds seem to be my preference,
potpest Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 Great topic; pairings have been something I've been thinking about recently. Red wine: Usually try to keep red wine for food as the cigar taints the flavour for me but when I do it's an aussie shiraz or argentinian malbec White wine: German Reisling or NZ Pinot Grigio - Saint Clair Pioneer Block pairs excellently Fortified: Never paired any fortified wine with cigars but would be interested to try a Dows Quinta Do Bomfin Port Spirits: Any Islay scotch; lagavulin or Caol Ila are favourites. Or quite often a Negroni, Americano or campari and soda. I love campari and find it's bitter taste pairs very well. Non-alcoholic: Full fat Milk is a favourite, espresso/americano (dark roasted beans) and Lemon Iced tea a close second
Jeremy Festa Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 Awwwww shiiiiit! Super topic. Red Wine pairing: Barolo & Barbera are generally a winner for me. More specifically, lately, the Katnook Estate Odyssey Cab Sav 2009 was next level, highly recommend, will drink again. White Wine pairing: Champagne! Easy! Current fave would be Devaux. Always love H. Blin, and that weird 2Xoz experimental thing by R. Pouillon & Fils has stuck with me. Fortified Wine pairing: Never ventured to deeply into this. Will take you at your word and try your suggestion this weekend. Spirits pairing: Whisky, Rum or Gin. Depends on the time of day and which side of what meal we are flanking. Negroni is a constant feature in our house though. Non Alcoholic pairing: Espresso or Chinotto. If you like Negroni and Campari in particular. Look up Chinotto as a an alternative to Coke. It's an Italian adult cola drink. Beer: How dare you leave this category out! I love Stone & Wood. Would lean towards the Jasper Ale. And I love most dark beers. But my favourite beer of all time is the Estrella Damm Inedit. 1
sactochris Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 My all time favorite beverage to have with a cigar is a glass of Coke with ice. 2
stogieluver Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 99% of the time I'm a rum and diet coke drinker. I blend certain rums to get just the right amount of sweetness. Usually something like Ron Flor de Cana with a really sweet rum like Myers with a mixture ratio of about 70/30. Works for me.
kwsaw63 Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 Red Wine pairing: Pass, don't enjoy red wine with my cigars White Wine pairing: Brown Brothers Moscato Fortified Wine pairing: McWilliams Hanwood Estate 10 year old Grand Tawny Spirits pairing: ron Zacapa 23 or XO. Best rum ever. Cider pairing: Brothers Toffee Apple cider Non Alcoholic pairing: Ginger Ale or Hot Chocolate
perkinke Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Red/White/Fortified Wine pairing: I don't really drink wine, reds give me migraines and I just haven't found many whites I enjoy. Spirits pairing: Most often scotch or bourbon. Love balvenie Carib. Cask and highland 15 or angels envy or basil Hayden right now. Non Alcoholic pairing: I love Coke or Pepsi Beer pairing: Living in a beer heaven the exact kinds rotate frequently, but I love a good IRA or other red ale, a good golden or a black IPA are my faves in summer. In the winter I go with porters or imperial stouts.
ChrisMG Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Red Wine pairing Need to try White Wine pairing: Need to try Fortified Wine pairing Ramos Pinto red Port Wine LBV 2009 was excellent. Not overly sweet. Spirits pairing: Cask Strength scotch -Aberlour Abunadh Beer pairing: Need to try. Non Alcoholic pairing: Coffee/Espresso. Will try Chinotto
DoubleDD Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Usually espresso, coffee with cream and sugar, or water. Sometimes I'll have a scotch or rum.
Habsfan67 Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 I like a solid pale ale, a good single malt, bourbon or a black spiced rum.
spicycorona Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Red Wine: I feel that nice dry bold red cleanses the palette after each puff and gets you ready for the next one. But I rarely do this; I have red wine with red meats, hearty pasta dishes and stews/braises. White: I only drink white if drinking light socially or eating light seafood/pasta dishes or soups. Fortified Wines: I cook with the stuff, that's about it. Spirits: It's pretty situational and seasonal. Beach environment is usually a gin and tonic, vodka soda garnished twist or wedge w/ or w/o a splash of lemonade, or dark and stormy with the cigar. Fall is mostly bourbon, sometime scotch Winter to early spring is usually scotch There's a rare rum on the rocks here and there. Diplomatico reserva, Pyrat xo, Zacapa 23, to name a few. Beer: This usually happens at the beach. Michelob Ultra, Heineken light, Budweiser or Miller High Life, champagne of beers...on ice. Non alcoholic: Mostly iced coffee with milk and sugar. Sometimes loose leaf black tea or a bottled Honest Tea.
Lasabar Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 My father had Champagne tastes and a Beer budget and he passed that on to me. I'm not much of a wine drinker so I cannot list any of them with any sort of conviction. As for Spirits I usually use a single malt scotch, neat, or some type of dark rum (Bacardi 8yr or Appleton XO) As for beer I like my beer like I like my water..... Miller Lite. Gets me buzzed and doesn't overpower the cigar. Anything else would be a Diet coke, Root beer or Ice Water
skalls Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Beer: Guiness has paired up well with any cigar that has either roasted nut/tobacco and earth flavors for me. Spirits: Bourbon works well with sweeter flavored cigars. I love peated scotches (Lagavulin, Kilchoman, and Ardbeg, yum) but they wreck my pallet and I don't get much out of a cigar after that.
El Presidente Posted July 17, 2015 Author Posted July 17, 2015 Cider pairing: Brothers Toffee Apple cider That is one I have to try 1
JohnS Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Red Wine pairing: I must credit our beloved founder of Cuban Cigar Website and FoH Moderator, Trevor2118 for introducing me to the fine pleasure of drinking Red Wine with cigars. A Cabernet Shiraz with a fine cigar always go nicely! White Wine pairing: I do enjoy White Wine, especially if fruity, but have not tried it with a cigar. Fortified Wine pairing: I also enjoy Port, but have not tried it with a cigar. Spirits pairing: Where do I start? Single Malt such as Ardbeg, or blended Japanese Whiskeys such as ***** from the Barrel. I also love Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey straight or with Coke. I mainly choose Cognac if I want a spirit with a cigar, my favourite is either Hennessy XO or VSOP. I also love cocktails with cigars. Give me any of the following: Caipirinha, Sidecar Cocktail, Negroni, Manhattan (with Rye), Martini, Old Fashioned Cocktail (with Bourbon or Rum), Sazerac (with Rye), Black or White Russian or an Espresso Martini. These cocktails I always come back to. Beer pairing: I'm not much of a beer drinker. If I do, I prefer a dark ale like Guinness, but not with a cigar. Non Alcoholic pairing: Most of the time, I enjoy a Black Espresso (or Stovetop) Coffee, without sugar, with my cigar. This is the drink I enjoy the most!
soutso Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Glad to see others mention my favourites. These are either a cold Coca Cola or a cold flavoured milk.
Sophistic Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 No wine & beer for me. Spirit: Dry Gin like Tanqueray or No.3 + Light Tonic (Schweppes Dry or Fentimans Light) / Non-Alcoholic: Light Tonic or Coke. Love Espresso but not a fan of pairing it with cigars, overpowers the palate instead of refreshing it.
phreedh Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 I'm a simpleton and mostly drink carbonated non-alcoholic beverages with my cigars, or coffee. If I'm having coffee, it's black Swedish percolator dark roasts from Zoegás or Arvid Nordquist. Sodas, I prefer Coke or Vanilla Coke, but cane cola, cream soda and similar sillyness have worked rather well with cigars too. Dr Pepper as well, surprisingly enough! I do like whisky or rum with my cigar, but have no pairing ambitions. At the moment I only have one bottle of rum, but it's a nice enough 23 yrs QRM Ron Quorhum.
TomF Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Red Wine pairing: No thanks. White Wine pairing: No thanks Fortified Wine pairing: What in heaven's name is this...??? Spirits pairing: Now we are talking....a Bourbon Manhattan, a good Cognac, A good single malt, preferably Clynelish, 10 Cane rum Beer pairing: Yes! A crisp, cold pilsner! Non Alcoholic pairing: Ice water, iced seltzer, coffee (hot or iced) with cream no sugar, sweet black tea, iced cola But my favorite is to drunkenly pour a splash of red wine into my glass of rum...
phlee Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Favourite pairing for me is a good cup of green tea or water. Tend to prefer something that cleanses the palate If I had to drink something alcoholic, then a cigar with a good single malt or cognac would work
treberty Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Great topic! He it goes: Red Wine pairing: Never. Unless I were stuck on a deserted island with a few cases of good Chateauneuf White Wine pairing: Never. Unless I were stuck on a deserted island with a few cases of good Chablis Fortified Wine pairing: Rarely now... used to like Barros Colheita with my cigars, but out of that phase now. Spirits pairing: Calvados or Armagnac, any good single malt (anything with character and complexity, can't be too peaty though), rum (Mulata 7 does the job for me) or bourbon/old fashioned (Evan Williams single barrel or Buffalo Trace neat, Evan Williams Black for my OF...). I'm very flexible when it comes to spirits! Beer pairing: A good micro-brewery IPA - it's Lawson's these days - or a nice stout - always St-Ambroise! Non Alcoholic pairing: water or espresso
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