Cigars And Rum: The Ultimate Pairing Guide

[El Presidente]

It's a very light article but the reason it peaked my interest is because i don't think that I have tried Conde de Cuba 15-year-old Extra Anejo Dark

 

https://www.luxurylifestylemag.co.uk/food-and-drink/cigars-and-rum-the-ultimate-pairing-guide/

 

Cigars And Rum: The Ultimate Pairing Guide

BY LLM REPORTERS ON 12TH NOVEMBER 2020

 

If you have ever visited Havana, Cuba, then the chances are that you’ll be familiar with the classic cigar and rum pairing that is traditionally enjoyed across the city, and further afield, across this Caribbean nation as a whole.

Rum is sometimes overlooked as a cigar partner elsewhere in the world, but give this sweet-tasting natural pairing a chance and we’re sure you’ll agree that it’s a match made in heaven. Their key ingredients – tobacco and sugar cane – hail from very similar regions, and feature similar aromas as a result. Cuban rum – the most popular of which being the word-famous Havana Club – is aged for a minimum of three years, although some can go all the way up to 25 years. The darker and headier the rum, the more complementary the combination, and the greater the resulting enhancement in flavour.

Cigars and the Scotch may be the norm at your gentlemen’s gatherings, but this little lot might be about to change your mind. Give these pairings a go – we promise they won’t disappoint. You can buy cigars online from Havana House alongside a wide selection of rums from across the globe – the perfect opportunity to apply these tips.

Pairing rules

 

Rum is sometimes overlooked as a cigar partner, but give this sweet-tasting natural pairing a chance and we’re sure you’ll agree that it’s a match made in heaven

As they say, ‘what grows together goes together’, and in the case of cigars and rum, this certainly proves to be true. But even so, there are a few rules of thumb to ensure that you get the most out of your pairing. Essentially, it all comes down to pairing like with like, and from strength to geographical location, every element counts.

Strength

 

To ensure that neither flavour overpowers the other, opt for similar strengths for a well-balanced pairing. The stronger or more alcoholic your rum of choice, the fuller-bodied your cigar selection should be – while the same can be said for the opposite.

Complementary flavours

 

Just like wine and food pairings, to get the most out of your rum and cigar combo, you’ll need to take complementary flavours into account. The darker and smokier the rum, the richer and headier the cigar can be, while a sweeter cigar with caramel notes would work well with something a little lighter.

Geographical origin

 

Without repeating that age-old saying for a second time, products from similar regions tend to feature many similarities in strength and flavour due to soil, climate and other growing conditions – so Cuban cigars and rum are a no brainer. But whilst Cuba might be the most famous nation for producing both, you might also find yourself exploring varieties from other parts of the world, so take note that the same will apply here.

Pairings to try

 

Rum and cigars are a very natural pairing due to their historical geographical roots

Rum: Flor de Caña 18-Year-Old Centenario Rum
Cigar: Ashton Aged Maduro Torpedo Cigar

An award-winning and well-aged Nicaraguan rum featuring notes of nut, vanilla, cocoa and all-spice, Flor de Caña’s Centenario Rum works perfectly with this offering by Ashton, which blends seamlessly with the sweet and spicy flavours of the rum thanks to notes of cocoa, maple and spice.

Rum: Conde de Cuba 15-year-old Extra Anejo Dark
Cigar: H. Upmann Half Corona Cigar
 
A heady combination hailing from Cuba (of course), this 15-year-old aged rum features a rich selection of notes, opening with hints of caramel before developing into notes of praline, dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Meanwhile, the H. Upmann Half Corona cigar, with its creamy coffee notes, is the perfect partner.

Rum: Máximo Rum Extra Añejo
Cigar: Rocky Patel Grand Reserve Toro Cigar

We couldn’t conclude a rum and cigar pairing guide without including Havana Club – and this variety is perhaps the finest and most famous rum on earth. A luxury blend priced at an impressive £1,350 per bottle, this one is for those who are serious about their rum – and with its smoky, oak flavours with hints of vanilla, dark chocolate and dried fruit, it pairs well with a medium-strength smoke. The Rocky Patel Grand Reserve Toro is just that, and balances without overwhelming.

[NeedlessKane]

I loveeeee pairing cigars with rum. 

My go-to rum isn't actually Cuban, it's Guatemalan - Ron Zacapa 23 

So far I've paired it with everything and it's worked well!  Seems the lighter wrapper Monte No 2s are the sweet spot, however. 

[mprach024]

2 hours ago, NeedlessKane said:

I loveeeee pairing cigars with rum. 

My go-to rum isn't actually Cuban, it's Guatemalan - Ron Zacapa 23 

So far I've paired it with everything and it's worked well!  Seems the lighter wrapper Monte No 2s are the sweet spot, however. 

Love Zacapa 23, one of my favorites, tastes like a cuba libre all by itself.  Rarely use that with cigars though, maybe I should it might be interesting.  For Rum/cigars I usually reach for Foursquare Premise, nice, smooth and complex without a lot of shouting flavors, it’s just very well balanced.  A classy Rum.

[CaptainQuintero]

Finally, the reason why bottles of Pusser's seem to empty very quickly in this house!

[Silverstix]

Love pairing Diplomatico rum (Venezuelan) with a cigar.  Anybody pair Port wine with cigars?  I never have, but I've heard people who do and they love it 

[HDGSN]

Anything with El Dorado. Love the stuff. Sickly sweet.

[Ryan]

Conde de Cuba 15 year old was launched not that long ago. Maybe 3 years.

Bottled by Spanish distributor Rives S.A. Confusingly they have produced a Dominican rum with the same "Conde de Cuba" name for quite a few years.

They released a range of Cuban sourced rum, 5, 7 year old (maybe more) along with the 15 year old around the same time.

I have an unopened bottle in the house, I haven't tried it since launch. For me it was nothing special as far as I remember, it wouldn't be high on my list of Cuban aged rums, though not too sweet which is good. And it's priced very well for a 15 year old rum. I paid about 40 euro, though that was duty-free. It's not available in Ireland, no distribution yet, but I've seen it advertised in the UK for £70. Havana Club 15 is 200 euro in this part of the world. 

They couldn't ship it for quite a while, the bottle for the 15 year old is half-moon shaped and had a weak point at the shoulder, so it was distributed locally around Cadiz, and at least as far as Gibraltar, where I happened to be for the that launch. It now comes in a special packing tin.

One of the directors of Rives, the one who sources this rum, often goes to Havana at Habanos festival time. He likes cigars but never goes to any of the official events. I usually end up having lunch with him at some stage, he's very friendly with a cigar distributor in his part of the world. He was at the Bond Roberts party back in February.

 

[djrey]

Diplomatico Reserva is where the party is. 

[Boxer31]

Zacapa 23 can’t go wrong. 

[ha_banos]

38 minutes ago, VeguerosMAN said:

Just bought a bottle of Flor De Cana 12 (Nicaraguan Rum)  thinking that it will go well with Nicaraguan puros. One sip I almost threw up. Tasted thin, bitter, and flat. Should have stuck to Zacapa 23.

I did not get on with FdC12 either. Quickly became a coke mixer. I'm avoiding all of these after that experience.

Zacapa 23 I found quite light. My expectation was for richer.