10 Great Value Bourbon And Cigar Pairings

[JohnS]

If you are into having a cigar with your bourbon, then check out the Forbes article below...

10 Great Value Bourbon And Cigar Pairings

Below, you’ll find tasting notes for ten highly rated Gold Medal winning bourbons, each retailing for under $35, paired with top-ranked, under $10 cigars that offers equally compelling value.

By Joseph V Micallef - Published Jan 21, 2025

A glass of whiskey with smoking cigar. Cigar and Bourbon make an excellent pairing. getty

Exceptional bourbons and fine cigars that won't break the bank are still within reach. Below, you'll find tasting notes for ten highly acclaimed bourbons, each retailing for under $30, that have consistently won Gold Medals in international spirit competitions. They are paired with an under $10 cigar that offers equally compelling value. Each pairing is by noted cigar critic Michael Przydzial, host of the Master Your Glass and Master Your Ash podcasts.

Four Roses Yellow Label is a testament to the artistry of bourbon-making. Produced at the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, it is known for using ten unique bourbon recipes utilizing different mash bills and yeasts. This careful craftsmanship results in a balanced and complex flavor profile. The Yellow Label, the entry-level expression in their lineup, is a steal at $22.

The bourbon's nose is a delightful bouquet of floral and fruity notes with hints of pear, honey, and spice. It’s smooth and light on the palate, with a symphony of caramel, vanilla, and a touch of spice. The finish is crisp and clean, with a subtle sweetness that lingers, inviting you to savor the experience.

Suggested Cigar Pairing: Arturo Fuente 858 Rosado Sun-Grown. The Fuente 858 Rosado SG has an MSRP of around $10 and pairs with the caramel/vanilla notes of the bourbon with cedar, spice, and a grassy undertone. The strength is medium with the famous Fuente construction, creating a timeless classic to pair with your budget bourbon. This cigar offers a rich and spicy flavor profile that complements the bourbon's sweetness and spice.

Old Forester 100 Proof has been in continuous production since 1870, making it one of the oldest bourbon brands in America. The 100 Proof expression is known for its robust flavor. $25

On the nose, the bourbon has a pronounced vanilla note with a hint of burnt orange and spice. The palate is rich, full-bodied, and complex, with notes of caramel and chocolate. The finish is long, warm, and slightly dry.

Suggested Cigar Pairing: Nicaraguan Series by AJ Fernandez Toro. With the Nicaraguan Series, AJ Fernandez has established a premium blend under $7 MSRP. It has notes of coffee, pepper, and sweet baking spice and is medium-to-medium plus strength. This cigar pairs best with high-proof bourbons.

Cuban cigars make a great pairing with overproof bourbon getty

Henry McKenna 10 YO Bottled in Bond is named after Henry McKenna, an Irish immigrant who adapted his family’s whiskey recipe to work with local grains. This is one of the few 10 YO bottled in bond bourbons. It’s increasingly priced in the $60+ range. You can still find it for around $30, but it’s becoming increasingly scarce at that price.

The nose has vanilla, caramel, and oak aromas with hints of cinnamon. The palate is rich and full-bodied with flavors of honey, butterscotch, and a touch of spice. The finish is long and satisfying, with a balance of sweetness and spice.

Suggested Cigar Pairing: Sanj Patel SP1014 Black 550 Robusto. Sanj Patel created the original blend in 1992 with Eladio Diaz, the former master blender of Davidoff cigars. Under a $10 MSPR with a 5-year whiskey barrel-aged Mexico binder, this is a medium-plus-strength flavor bomb that will pair well with any well-aged bourbon.

Early Times Bottled in Bond is a historic brand dating back to 1860. The Bottled in Bond expression was reintroduced to celebrate the rich heritage of this classic American bourbon. $19

The nose features sweet corn, vanilla, and caramel aromas with a hint of oak. The palate is smooth, with toffee, butterscotch, and spice flavors. The finish is medium-long, ending with a warm and sweet note.

Suggested Cigar Pairing: RoMa Craft Intemperance Volstead Senator. A newer blend from Skip Martin of RoMa Craft at $8.50 MSRP per cigar. This blend features an Ecuadorian-grown hybrid wrapper closer to Cameroon than Sumartran in style and flavor.

The cereal grain flavor notes, reminiscent of toasted grains and nuts, are perfectly designed to pair with bourbons. The medium strength balances well throughout the blend, creating a cigar worthy of the Intemperance namesake and highlighting the rise and fall of prohibition in the U.S.

Bourbon with ice and cigar. getty

Wild Turkey 81 Proof is the younger sibling of the 101 proof and offers a more approachable but still flavorful bourbon experience. $23

The nose features aromas of vanilla, honey, and light oak. The palate is soft and smooth, with flavors of caramel, vanilla, and a hint of spice. The finish is crisp and clean with a touch of sweetness.

Suggested Cigar Pairing: Artista Buffalo 10 Connecticut. A 6 x 50 box-pressed slim Toro size. At under $6 MSRP, it delivers sweet Valencia orange undertones with cedar, coffee, and cream. Mild in strength with the creamy Connecticut shade wrapper, pairing exceptionally well with the younger sibling of the Wild Turkey line, approachable and flavorful pairing.

Bulleit Bourbon is known for its high rye content, which gives it a distinctive spicy character. It has quickly become a favorite among bourbon enthusiasts. $32

The nose features rich oak and vanilla aromas with a hint of dried fruit. The palate is smooth, with spice, caramel, and citrus flavors. The finish is long and spicy with a warm aftertaste.

Suggested Cigar Pairing: Dunbarton Umbagog Bronzeback. A 5 x 48 Rothschild size vitola with a flavorful Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper delivering spices, chocolate, leather, and coffee flavors. The newest tweak in the affordable Umbago line from master blender Steve Saka and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. Pairing with more Rye forward mash bills, this experience delivers impressive results at a $9.75 MSRP.

Ezra Brooks 99 is a classic bourbon brand dating back to the 1950s. The 99-proof expression offers a bold flavor profile at an accessible price. $25

The nose features caramel, vanilla, and a hint of spice, typical of a high-rye bourbon. The palate is rich and smooth, with flavors of honey, oak, and a touch of cinnamon. The finish is long and warm, with a lingering sweetness.

Suggested Cigar Pairing: Joya De Nicaragua Antano CT Robusto. The 5 x 52 Robusto, with an Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut shade wrapper and an MSRP of $8.45, brings bitter-sweet chocolate, creamy almonds, and light spices. Thanks to Nicaraguan fillers and binders, the cigar is a mild plus to medium strength, with enough body to pair with lower to medium-proof bourbons.

Jim Beam Double Oak is aged in two different barrels, resulting in a more intense flavor profile. $25

The nose features rich vanilla and caramel aromas with a hint of charred oak. The palate is full-bodied, with toffee, dark fruit, and spice flavors. The finish is long, smooth, warming, and lingering sweetness.

Suggested Cigar Pairing: Perdomo Champagne 10th Anniversary Epicure. This is the first blend by the famed Perdomo cigar brand, introducing a bourbon barrel-aged Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. With an $8.50 MSRP and a 6 x 54 Toro format, the 10th Anniversary celebratory blend in Epicure size features the same creamy, coffee, and bold spice flavors of the original line. It carries a medium strength that pairs with many different bourbon styles.

A glass of bourbon with a burning cigar getty

Ancient Age 10 Star is a value-priced bourbon from Buffalo Trace, offering an excellent entry point into the bourbon world. $13

It’s light on the nose with caramel, vanilla, and spice notes. The palate is smooth with flavors of honey, toffee, and oak. The finish is medium-long with a lingering sweet note.

Suggested Cigar Pairing: Foundation Tabernacle Havana Seed 142. Ranging from $9-$12 MSRP across five different vitola sizes, it’s one of the finest blends by Nick Melillo of Foundation cigars: coffee, red pepper, and sweet orange flavors from a hybrid Havana-seed Connecticut-grown wrapper. The 142 Tabernacle line pairs well with the iconic Buffalo Trace distillery budget bourbon.

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond is a high-proof version of the classic Evan Williams, offering a richer and more complex flavor. As a Bottled in Bond bourbon, it is aged for at least four years, bottled at 100 proof, and produced in one distilling season at one distillery. $19

It’s rich on the nose with caramel, vanilla, and oak notes. The palate is bold and full-bodied with toffee, spice, and honey flavors. The finish is long, warm, and slightly sweet, with lingering notes of spice and oak.

Suggested Cigar Pairing: La Flor Dominicana DL-660. This cigar contains twice the usual spicy ligero leaves in the blend. With a starting MSRP of around $9, this full-bodied cigar delivers woody, spicy, leather flavor notes over a lengthy smoke time. Both the Habano and Maduro blends will pair with higher-proof bourbon styles.

These ten bourbon expressions, all consistent Gold Medalists in international spirit competitions, and their recommended cigar pairings represent outstanding values. Each bourbon and cigar offers an excellent combination of quality and value, offering rich and diverse flavor profiles that appeal to both bourbon and cigar enthusiasts.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2025/01/21/the-best-value-priced-bourbon--cigar-pairings/

[gormag38]

The 4🌹 and OF 100 proof is good stuff for the price. I've loved almost everything coming from Wild Turkey as well but have yet to try the 81 proof. I typically look for something around 100 proof (+/- 10) so idk if it'd suit me well. The AF sungrown is a solid cheap and cheerful as well. No exerience with the others.