Whisky

Whisky is one of those drinks that for me, can be overwhelming. With this in mind, I recommend that if you pair Whiskey with a cigar, choose a smoke that is slightly stronger than the Whisky, as the alcohol can tend to be more pungent. As with Brandy, the older the Whisky, the stronger it is. So stick to the Brandy rule: the older it is, the more full-bodied your cigar should be. Likewise, the younger, the more mild.

Beer

Ah beer. It may not seem as elegant, but when it comes to taste, for me, pretty much all beer goes with all cigars. Having a bad beer/cigar pairing is like having a bad date at the Playboy Mansion; it just can’t be done.

Some beers, of course, lend themselves better to cigars. Ales and Lagers go great with cigars, the darker the better. Lighter beers are also pretty good, but the acidity of some can sometimes take away from the experience.

Tequila

There is something about Mexico and spicy. Whether it be the food, the women, the drink, or the cigar, Mexicans are known for having that extra spiciness. Mixing a Tequila with a good Mexican cigar can never be a bad thing. Mixing three or four Tequilas…well that is a different story.

Rum

If you have the money to spare, super-premium Rum goes great with a cigar. When aged well, Rum can have a sweet taste to it, that I tend to like with a nice smoke.

Mixed Drinks

I’ve heard drinks like Martinis and Gin and Tonics taste pretty decent with cigars, but it is not my cup of tea. Then again, I am not a big fan of the drinks to begin with, so it wouldn’t be!

A Few Things to Consider

As I’ve said, there is no really wrong choice. At the end of the day, it is all about personal taste. If you don’t like beer, you won’t like beer and cigars together, no matter how well balanced the match is.

Also, a thing to note: try not to use ice or drink drinks that are too cold. The coldness deadens your taste buds and can ruin the experience. Think of going to a nice restaurant and having a six course meal; in-between the server brings out a small dish of cold sorbet to cleanse your palette. You’ll get this same effect after every sip, which is something you definitely want to avoid!

Conclusion

I only touched on the surface of possible pairings here, opting to skip saying which specific cigar would go with which brand of wine. It would be an exercise in futility to do so, due to individual tastes. Mostly I think of this article as a good opportunity for people to discuss their favorite pairings. With this in mind, I invite you to share yours with us!