Cognac and Cigars

[stormin]

Cognac was traditionally the drink of choice while indulging in the cigar. Many people believed ( and many still do) that the flavors and aromas of Cognac and cigars perfectly compliment one another. Much to my dismay, I don't get the allure of Cognac. No matter how often I try it I can't stand it, neither the smell nor the taste.

Does anyone like Cognac, either by itself or with a good smoke?

[ToddziLLa]

Originally Posted by stormin

Cognac was traditionally the drink of choice while indulging in the cigar. Many people believed ( and many still do) that the flavors and aromas of Cognac and cigars perfectly compliment one another. Much to my dismay, I don't get the allure of Cognac. No matter how often I try it I can't stand it, neither the smell nor the taste.

Does anyone like Cognac, either by itself or with a good smoke?

I like Cognac, both alone and with cigars. There is lots of good info in the Food, Wine, & Drink Forum too.

[Cigar Hound]

I like Cognac, but prefer Spanish Brandy. (Same thing, different region) I think depending on what you're drinking, they can compliment each other very well. Just my

[The Bruce]

Beer, Scotch and Whiskey are the only way to go. I can't stand Cogniac.

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ERT

[caskwith]

I love Cognac, Brandy, Wine and of course Scotch. I can drink them alone or with a cigar the important thing is to find a perfect match between drink and cigar, but if you dont like cognac dont feel you have to drink it, any drink that you enjoy and goes well with a cigar is a good choice in my opinion.

[zamco17]

I love scotch, cognac and rum. In that order. But i will admit i think coganc goes best with stogies, hennessey on ice and a padron. MMMM nothing better

[Neuromancer]

Originally Posted by stormin

Cognac was traditionally the drink of choice while indulging in the cigar. Many people believed ( and many still do) that the flavors and aromas of Cognac and cigars perfectly compliment one another. Much to my dismay, I don't get the allure of Cognac. No matter how often I try it I can't stand it, neither the smell nor the taste.

Does anyone like Cognac, either by itself or with a good smoke?

Did you try a good cognac? Remy, Hennessy, and Courvosier all make decent VSOP's but their XO's are much better...and did you try it room temperature or heated? You can heat it with a warming candle or in a microwave...when it's warm it release the flavors and I find it to be great with a cigar...Gran Marnier is too great with a cigar and as a brandy it also tastes better warm...

[StsFirstmate]

I like Cognac but for some it is an aquired taste.
Try a good port to ease into cigar and snifter arena.
Some very good mid-price ports are Cockburns, Sandemans, croft.
A really good mellow port ( not a sweet cheap one) is like a glass of liquid sunshine.
Around here some of the better local cigar shops such as the Cigar Wrapper offers Port, Brandy and Cognac tasting nights. I have learned quite a bit from these events. The distributors sponsor these and you can usually buy what you like that evening.
Also, this is just me, I think some fine cigars just don't lend themselves to a liquid sidebar.
Does anyone have any feelings about what cigars work better with Congac, Brandy etc?

[Neuromancer]

There's actually so many libations that go well with a cigar it's hard to list them all, but I've found that for every cigar there's a drink it goes well with...here are some things to try...a good tequila (Patron Silver)...a good rum (Diplomatico Exclusiva Reserva)...a good bourbon (Maker's Mark)...scotch (Johnny Walker Blue)...vodka (Grey Goose)...a good XO brandy or one of the Gran Marnier Centenaire blends...a blackberry brandy (Chambord)...take your pick...hmmm...I seem to like all the expensive stuff...wonder what that means?

[Ron1YY]

Originally Posted by Neuromancer

There's actually so many libations that go well with a cigar it's hard to list them all, but I've found that for every cigar there's a drink it goes well with...here are some things to try...a good tequila (Patron Silver)...a good rum (Diplomatico Exclusiva Reserva)...a good bourbon (Maker's Mark)...scotch (Johnny Walker Blue)...vodka (Grey Goose)...a good XO brandy or one of the Gran Marnier Centenaire blends...a blackberry brandy (Chambord)...take your pick...hmmm...I seem to like all the expensive stuff...wonder what that means?

It means Your LTGL Bro!!!!! Hmm, a good Tequila......I'll have to try that!!!!

Ron

[RPB67]

I love cognac.

My dad gifted me a bottle of Louis XIII about five years ago and we have a snifter every Christmas.

I also like Hennessy Paradise. This is another good excellent coganc. But for about $35.00 you can get the Remy Martin VSOP which is an excelllent cognac as well.

As for pairing with cigars it is great. But scotch is still one of my favorites for that.

[Poriggity]

Im boring.. I like Coffee with my smokes
Scott

[calistogey]

Have to agree that it is an acquired taste. I'm also heavily into Spanish Brandies but rotate a couple of VSOP's depending on my supply. Have tried quite a number of scotches, rums and bourbon only because most of the guys I usually herf with are into those. It seems that as I get older I tend to lean mostly towards grape based drinks that show a bit of heat on the palate, hence I rarely pour them over ice.

[D. Generate]

I guess I just don't experiment with alcohol much. Beer and whisky do me just fine. I do enjoy the occasional Bombay Sapphire gin martini, but honestly can't remember the last time I had one of them.

I'm not a vodka fan. I just don't get it, it tastes like nothing to me. Never had port, cognac or brandy because they just seem expensive and probably a little too high class for me. I stick with what I know.

With cigars I will generally pair them with either coffee, soda water, beer or whisky. Don't really have any particular ones that I try to pair up in a specific way. Never really thought about it.

And obviously we all enjoy a nice forty of a malt liquor, that goes without saying.

[par]

I like cognac. A really nice aged one is fantastic and i highly recommend it with a cigar. There is much garbage out there, but the higher end ones are completely different than the firewater that is sometimes sold under the cognac label.

In general XO or XR are good cognacs, i prefer smoothness so my favorites are Camus especially the Extra version.