Colt45 Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Over the past week or so, I've tried a couple of drinks I'd never had while smoking a cigar. First was a margarita, and more recently, a vodka tonic. I found the combination of "dry" alcohol and perhaps the lime acidity really flattened out the flavor of the cigars. This is what I find with red wine and cigars, except that for me, the cigar kills the wine. It really hurt the flavor of the cigars. On the other hand, I do enjoy "sweet" drinks while smoking. I think beer works well, and I like a rum and coke - no problem with the lime here. Please take my use of dry and sweet as simple descriptors. I'm wondering if others experience something similar, or if this is a matter of my particular palate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habanos2000 Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 I've tried, Lord knows I've tried, to drink beer with a cigar but it just seems to wash away the cigar flavor. While for the majority of the time I enjoy cigars by themselves, I do find añejo tequila's particularly complimentary. Cuervo Reserva de la Familia in particular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokinLightning Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Rum (rocks or with coke), shiraz, and ports are my goto drinks with cigars. They just seem to compliment each other so well... plus I'm an alcoholic. Sometimes when reviewing a cigar I'll stick with plain ice water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0rderman Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Anything wet... but if I had to pick, a medium bodied beer preferable on the malty side...for me, hops tends to overpower and distort the cigar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsolomon Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 A good sippin bourbon or rum usually works for me, or a nice tawny port, but it really depends on the cigar. I have several bourbons, but to get the one that matches well to the cigar you really need to experiment. When you talk about dry or sweet, I'm thinking that Knob Creek is a little sweet and Evan Williams SB batch has flavors of carmel and vanilla. These can sometimes over power a mild cigar or complement it. The same thing for Zaya rum which also has a robust flavor that is sweet and smokey. I find some bourbons like Woodford Reserve go well with just about any cigar as it is very smooth, but the flavor is more complex. If nothing else, a nice bourbon can really open up your palate and enhance the taste of the cigar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qman22 Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I find that if I drink something really dry while smoking, it just destroys my palate. My go-to mixed drink is gin & tonic, but I have given up on trying to drink that while smoking a cigar, even a strong cigar. So I usually go with beer, water, soda, or sometimes red wine if it's a strong smoke....I've actually been enjoying a cold Dr. Pepper with cigars a great deal lately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Gargett Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Over the past week or so, I've tried a couple of drinks I'd never had while smoking a cigar. First was a margarita, and more recently, a vodkatonic. I found the combination of "dry" alcohol and perhaps the lime acidity really flattened out the flavor of the cigars. This is what I find with red wine and cigars, except that for me, the cigar kills the wine. It really hurt the flavor of the cigars. On the other hand, I do enjoy "sweet" drinks while smoking. I think beer works well, and I like a rum and coke - no problem with the lime here. Please take my use of dry and sweet as simple descriptors. I'm wondering if others experience something similar, or if this is a matter of my particular palate. i think there's a lot in that but then most of the champers i've enjoyed with cigars has been dry. have finally got hold of a bottle of the zacapa XO and will try that with a yet-to-be-determined cigar for tonight's state of origin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokinLightning Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I find that if I drink something really dry while smoking, it just destroys my palate. My go-to mixed drink is gin & tonic, but I have given up on trying to drink that while smoking a cigar, even a strong cigar. So I usually go with beer, water, soda, or sometimes red wine if it's a strong smoke....I've actually been enjoying a cold Dr. Pepper with cigars a great deal lately I gotta say... I noticed that Dr. Pepper thing too, seems to really fit nicely for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt45 Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 I find that if I drink something really dry while smoking, it just destroys my palate. My experience exactly with the tequila and vodka. Once I had that dry alcohol sensation on my palate, the cigars never stood a chance of showing their flavors. With the recent thread(s) re gin, I'd been looking forward to trying gin and tonic, and gin rickeys this summer. I still will - just not while smoking a cigar. KG, I was really referring to "dry" alcohols such as vodka, gin, and perhaps to a lesser extent, tequila. A dry, crisp white wine is the only type of wine I enjoy with a cigar. Enjoy your rum and cigar with the stateofwhowhatsits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumpetchris Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 I've tried, so hard, to match G&T with a cigar. Can't happen. If I'm boozing (which, honestly, is fairly common) I'll go with rum (straight or coke zero) or a whiskey (bourbon, whiskey, or Scotch). Sometimes a beer. Big winners outside of booze are coffee, soda, or just plain old water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfury76 Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Lately I have been having a glass of mint iced tea with my evening stogie on the patio. If it is good enough for the factory testers in Havana, it is good enough for me. Only fresh mint will do for this though. Brew your tea in the usual fashion, let it cool, and then add a few large spigs of fresh mint to the pitcher. This drink goes well with cigars and cleanses the palate to boot. If we're talking booze, I generally go with either single barrel bourbon or single malt scotch. Occasionally port or brandy in winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professor Twain Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I agree, dry wines, and tart wines, ruin the cigar taste. I like the suggestions of bourbon and rum, Guinness is my favorite beer with cigars. A sweet porter or stout can add a nice touch to a cigar. With non alcoholic beverages espresso is my favorite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogers72 Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Overall, I agree with the premise. I find that most dry red wines kinda dull the cigar and the subtleties of the wine are somewhat overcome by the cigar...however, i still love the combination although you are not really getting the best of either individually. That said, I also love the combination of Gin and Tonic and a cigar. Something to try if Gin and Tonic isn't working for you is Gin and Club Soda...try it with and without lime or lemon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeks Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 It could be a weird observation on my part, but I've found that when I smoke cigars I enjoy drinks that are similar colors to cigars (rum, whisky, bourbon, coffee). That's not to say I don't like other drinks with smokes, but I usually lean towards those four. Drinking alone, it's almost always vodka. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginseng Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I generally prefer sweet accompaniments whether it's port, sherry, sweet rums like Zaya, Pyrat, or Zacapa, and sweet coffee. Black coffee, black tea, gin, vodka, dry reds do not do it for me. Like Colt and others have remarked, they rob the cigar of its flavor and richness. Wilkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginseng Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Although not alcoholic, I'm drinking sweetened lime water with a Bolivar Coronas Gigantes and the combination is just right for the hot, humid weather across the mid-Atlantic today. Wilkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jquest63 Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I've experienced the same phenom. You gotta have the right cigar for the drink. Try different combos to find the right drink/cigar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisguinther Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Just curious if anyone has tried pairing HC Anejo Especial with a cigar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiley Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Have to drink with a cigar! How could you not? Sweet for me, definitely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceChant Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Just curious if anyone has tried pairing HC Anejo Especial with a cigar? I had it with BBF and BCE. It was enjoyable, nice touch for the cigars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Japan Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 I definitively like drinking something on the sweet side as Porto, Zaca and a good Mojito. Tried many time swith wine and the only red that worked out (a bit ) is the Amarone of Valpollicella , a Veneto wine. White wines is another story . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerem Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I also drink something sweet with my cigars. Mojito, Porto and ''Cuba libre'' (rhum+coke+lime) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcse Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Depends on the cigar. Port wine or a sherrymonster whisky with a powerhouse cigar, trappist beer with medium strong cigar and rose wine goes well with a mild/light cigar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfoster Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Lately I have been having a glass of mint iced tea with my evening stogie on the patio. If it is good enough for the factory testers in Havana, it is good enough for me. Only fresh mint will do for this though. Brew your tea in the usual fashion, let it cool, and then add a few large spigs of fresh mint to the pitcher. This drink goes well with cigars and cleanses the palate to boot.If we're talking booze, I generally go with either single barrel bourbon or single malt scotch. Occasionally port or brandy in winter. Mint tea? Really? I drink a lot of mint tea, but I have always avoided it when smoking because I thought it wouldn't pair well. I'll definitely have to try this now! -- Gary F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samb Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Any drink too dry puts a major damper on the cigars flavors in my opinion. I usually lean to something a little sweeter, but if its too sweet, then that doesnt help either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now