Noob question: Can your beverage ruin the flavour of your cigar?

[rajuabju]

Originally Posted by jeff_connors

Milk will pretty much kill the flavor of anything you smoke.

wow, Milk is definitely something I've never even considered trying with a cigar.

Maybe Chocolate Milk? lol

[pitbulljimmy]

I like to have a nice XO Brandy or cognac with my cigars. I also don't mind a light beer with milder smokes. I may just try a full flavored smoke with a guiness. It's all about personal preferance, I don't think a drink can "ruin" a cigar, unless you spill the drink all over the smoke!

[Dgar]

Just drink what you enjoy, somethings will work better than others, its all personal taste and subjective.

My favorites with a good cigar, coke or coffee....

[Herf N Turf]

There's certainly some great advice and insight above. However, I think perhaps more focus on your experience level is in order. You said youre new to the sport. Given that, simplify things somewhat. Commit to drinking nothing but water for the first half of your cigars for a while. This will allow you to taste just the cigar, for it's own virtues. After the first half, treat yourself to something nice to drink. Here's the deal. Let's say you start out thinking you'd like some of that canadian whiskey. You get into the cigar with your water and you discover that the cigar is really begging for, say... brandy, etc.. This does happen, more often than not.

Do this for 6mos- a year and always when testing out a new brand, or blend.

[jeff_connors]

Originally Posted by rajuabju

wow, Milk is definitely something I've never even considered trying with a cigar.

Maybe Chocolate Milk? lol

or cream in coffee

[apevia]

Experiment and see what fits you best. I believe it's all personal preference.

[Arnie]

A lot of it is trial and error.

If I am smoking a cigar brand for the first time and I want to make notes on it for a review or a reference for the future, I will drink cool water. Not cold water because it numbs the palate. This allows me to taste the subtle nuances.

Generally, for me, I find that acidic drinks like wine, lemonade, OJ, and such ruin a cigar. Also, a meal with acidic foods, say, pasta with tomato-based sauce, or even a dark chocolate after dinner ruins the cigar.

But with a medium to full cigar, coffee or tea, sweetened and served with milk enhance the flavor. Also, a fine Anejo Tequila goes nicely. I don't drink whiskey or other spirits, so I can't comment on those.

Mild cigars do well only with bland beverages, in my experience. Maybe a water with a hint of lime. Mild iced tea.

Sometimes in the winter I will heat water, add a half of a lime and some honey and have a smoke. If I make that too strong, it kills the cigar flavor.

ANY beverage with more than a very subtle flavor will change the taste of a cigar, sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse. Each individual is unique.

But remember, when you want to evaluate a cigar and get all the subtle flavors, cool plain water is best, on a clean palate.

Hey, welcome to the pond, and ENJOY!

[andyJH]

Thanks for all the answers!

So far I have found that gin martinis with olive garnishes have gone delightfully well with my smokes. In fact, the puff directly after munching on the gin-soaked olive is the best puff!

[Yoda!]

My first choice is always cold cold water, and the my second choice would be root beer...

[SCS]

I primarily drink small batch bourbons or single malt scotches with my cigars. Knob Creek can be a little sweet for some cigars, but compliments others well. Single malt scotches vary greatly in flavor, just like cigars. A few personal favorites are Bowmore, which has a bit of a salty sea air tone; Aberlour, which, with a splash of water or partially melted ice cube or two, really opens up with some pleasant, almost wine like fruit & melon undertones; and Cigar Malt by The Dalmore, which has nice mild peaty, smoky tones that really compliment most cigars well.

[SmoknTaz]

Welcome Andy, if I'm smoking the cigar for the first time then I would just have water so I can get the true taste of the smoke. If not then it's usually Captain Morgan or Remy vsop depending on my mood!

[JackH]

This is my first post so please--be gentle. My ideal situation involves a game of pool or chess [both competitive] a Myer's and Coke, or a Cuervo chased by a couple Modelos [Especial or Negra]. If a cigar impresses me under those barbaric conditions, I stick with it. However, nursing the following day's hangover, the same cigar may not get it when coupled with coffee, tea, orange juice, Alka Seltzer etc...
So in my opinion, yes, the beverage influences. But don't forget attitude. A cigar when you're the windshield may not be the same when you're the bug.