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

[andyJH]

Hello. This is my first post. I am a newcomer to cigar smoking. I tried a monte cristo #4 a few years ago and detested it. I struggled through the cigar only to avoid offending the person who had given it to me.

Flash forward to a couple of months ago. I was given a Romeo Y Jullieta purita (sp?) and found that I truly enjoyed the little smoke. Then a co-worker's wife gave birth to twins. He came to work with a box of the same Monte Cristo #4s and handed them out to celebrate the births. I really enjoyed the cigar and said so the next day at work. A few co-workers came up to me and gave me their cigars saying that they probably would not be smoking them any way.

Over the following few weeks I enjoyed the Monte Cristos, a couple of Romeo Y Julleita Churchill shorts and a Don Tomas Maduro Robusta. All of them I smoked in the evening, on my porch with dry martinis. I am hooked.

Today I tried a Luis Martinez Silver Selection. It was a long cigar so instead of my usual martini I poured a generous portion of a very nice Canadian Whiskey: Forty Creek. It is a fairly sweet, vanilla dominated whiskey. The cigar tasted extremely bitter from beginning to end. I am wondering if it was the whiskey or the cigar.

BTW, this forum is an incredible source of info to someone just starting out. Thanks to all the participants!

[AcridSaint]

I think that different drinks can enhance, magnify or change flavor profiles. Alcohol can have a palette cleansing affect and amplify certain tastes. I don't know if the whiskey made the cigar taste bad for your, but it might have tasted better with a jack and coke, a coffee or other beverage. I usually drink coffee or whiskey with my smokes. Coke isn't bad either, but it will definitely change the way the cigar tastes, sometimes I like this on a fuller cigar.

I'm not an expert, just been trying a lot of smokes and listening to a lot of smokers.

[teedles915]

I would say yes. I think there are plenty of alcohos that will enhance the cigar experience. But a lot of them may over power the cigar. Personally I like lemon water with mine, and on ocassion a coke zero. It's all a matter of opinion and personal preference. Many people like a hard beverage with their cigar, so I would say experiment and fine something that you like.



BTW drop by the new puffer fish forum and introduce yourself, so we can all get to know you.

[Ndimarco]

First off andy welcome to the site! I started out not knowing a whole lot, and just a few cigars in the humidor, fast forward a year, and I have my two desktops filled, a display humidor filled, and a 75 quart coolidor bursting at the seems with 2 more boxes on the way! Beware of that damn slope!!

Back to your question, I think the drink of your choice can definitely increase your like of a cigar, or can overpower it. Such as a strong coffee, or a dark beer with a mild cigar, or a light drink with a strong cigar. However, I don't nessecarily think a drink could make a cigar bitter to the point of non-enjoyment. I could be wrong however, seeing how I am still relatively new to this compared to some of the people on here.

My suggestion would be maybe to get a good humidor set-up to the humidity of your liking and letting the cigars sit a while. It may be that you just don't like a paticular type of cigar, but I try to pick up a few. smoke one fairly new, then let another sit for a while and see if the taste changes.

Other than that, I think most people would agree try to pair your cigar strength with a drink of the similar strength.

I like ( and I know it sounds crazy) a mild cigar in the morning with OJ, its amazing, and a stronger cigar later in the day with an Ice tea, coke or whiskey.

The great thing about cigars, is its all what YOU enjoy, smoke what you like with the drinks you like and your gonna be happy.

Welcome again, and happy smoking!

[orca99usa]

Having one taste already on your palate can certainly color your perception of another one that is added, I would think. For the most part when smoking cigars I drink things that are pretty much flavor-neutral, like ice water or unflavored iced tea. Especially during the summer drinks are pretty much mandatory here, as it is usually over 100 degrees when I go outside.

[Schecter30]

Originally Posted by andyJH

Hello. This is my first post. I am a newcomer to cigar smoking. I tried a monte cristo #4 a few years ago and detested it. I struggled through the cigar only to avoid offending the person who had given it to me.

Flash forward to a couple of months ago. I was given a Romeo Y Jullieta purita (sp?) and found that I truly enjoyed the little smoke. Then a co-worker's wife gave birth to twins. He came to work with a box of the same Monte Cristo #4s and handed them out to celebrate the births. I really enjoyed the cigar and said so the next day at work. A few co-workers came up to me and gave me their cigars saying that they probably would not be smoking them any way.

Over the following few weeks I enjoyed the Monte Cristos, a couple of Romeo Y Julleita Churchill shorts and a Don Tomas Maduro Robusta. All of them I smoked in the evening, on my porch with dry martinis. I am hooked.

Today I tried a Luis Martinez Silver Selection. It was a long cigar so instead of my usual martini I poured a generous portion of a very nice Canadian Whiskey: Forty Creek. It is a fairly sweet, vanilla dominated whiskey. The cigar tasted extremely bitter from beginning to end. I am wondering if it was the whiskey or the cigar.

BTW, this forum is an incredible source of info to someone just starting out. Thanks to all the participants!

In my experience, sipping good whiskey with a cigar is never a dissapointment. So I think if the cigar tasted bitter, it had to do with the cigar (too dry/too humid/etc)

[piperdown]

Yes, just like pairing the wrong drink or wine with different meals can cause issues. There's a reason red wine goes well with beef and whites go well with chicken or fish. A nice IPA goes well with Indian food while stouts sit well with pot roast (IMHO). It helps enhance the flavor or can ruin an otherwise good meal.
The right drink can enhance a good cigar and the wrong one would certainly distract. However, notice that I said good cigar...good cigar means one that you like not someone else. You can try a cigar and like it and then try it with different drinks...sometimes you might enjoy it and other times you might not.
Now if you have a bad cigar.....you might just have a bad cigar!

[Rev2010]

As the other have said 100% definitely. I'm a beer connoisseur and I will tell you certain beers paired with certain cigars dramatically enhance the flavor. On the other hand, some beers will completely ruin a particular cigar. You really have to try and discover. After a while you will develop the ability to predict pretty decently what drink will match a certain cigar you've had before.


Rev.

[rajuabju]

Its a trial and error for most. Personally, I've found that any sort of carbonation (soft drinks, carbonated water, etc), just doesnt work with a cigar. But thats just me; I know many people who love a Jack & Coke or Black Label with a splash of coke.

I can enjoy cigars with most beers. Though I'm generally a "dark" beer drinker, I've found that I like lighter beers with paired with a smoke. Just goes together for some reason.

But everyone has their own preferences, I would recommend you try a variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. I'm sure you'll find a few that work well, and many that dont.

[JKVR6M69]

I find that ginger ale goes good with many of the cigars I favor. Beers and wines are other choices I sometimes go with, and a good port wine always seems to work. It all depends on what you like though.

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by rajuabju

Its a trial and error for most. Personally, I've found that any sort of carbonation (soft drinks, carbonated water, etc), just doesnt work with a cigar. But thats just me; I know many people who love a Jack & Coke or Black Label with a splash of coke.

I can enjoy cigars with most beers. Though I'm generally a "dark" beer drinker, I've found that I like lighter beers with paired with a smoke. Just goes together for some reason.

But everyone has their own preferences, I would recommend you try a variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. I'm sure you'll find a few that work well, and many that dont.

This is about as accurate an answer as you are going to get because everyone is different when it comes to your palate,,,it's your taste and nobody can tell you what works. I like to pair any cigar with Amarula which is like Baileys only better and I also drink Drambuie which I think holds the flavor of the cigar but does not overpower it. Try your favorites and see how they pair,,,it's all about the journey.

[SBSpartan]

Yes, it can totally change things. Even your go to drinks can ruin a cigar if you ask me. For example, I love straight tequilla with lime juice but the lime juice (I think) ruins your tastes buds and you can't taste the cigar.

I really like a nice warmish dark beer or ice cold ginger ale. For me the temp of the drink isn't an issue. I just like warmer beer because I think you can taste more of the flavor. And hell, why drink ginger ale if the glass isn't FULL of ice?

Both cigars and drinks are very personal. You have your taste and don't let anyone tell you anything if you either like them or don't like them. Why someone would get offended because you didn't like the cigar/drink combo is crazy.

[teoulennon]

You can't get a better answer than the ones above! I like to pair my cigars with different beers to help enhance the flavors.

I've found that almost all pale ale's "shock" my taste buds, killing the sensitivity of my palate and really interfere with the flavor of the cigars, so I generally stay away from them unless I'm outdoors on a hot day doing an activity.

[woodted]

I like to have a A&W root beer with a mild cigar and a good whiskey with the more full bodied sticks.

Ted

[jeff_connors]

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