Cigar smoking is a slow and relaxing experience that offers the perfect opportunity to savor a drink with friends or acquaintances. The right combination of scent and taste can enhance your drink and cigar's flavor. Finding those perfect combinations can be a delightful adventure, whether you are a seasoned aficionado or a newbie.

Understanding how different flavor profiles interact will help you make the best choice for your palate. Wine, whiskey or even coffee — whichever you prefer — learning how to pair cigars with drinks is a refined art that can turn a regular smoke into a sophisticated pleasure.

Understanding Cigars

Understanding the basics of cigars before diving into a pairing experience is essential. Cigars are tightly rolled bundles of dried and fermented tobacco leaves that come in different sizes and flavor profiles. They can be machine-made, but the best are hand-rolled. You can also choose machine-made cigarillos, which are smaller cigars with a shorter smoking experience. They offer an enjoyable way to socialize and relax, making them preferable for use in networking events.

Different Types of Cigars

There are a multitude of cigars to choose from in your pairing journey. Each type offers a unique smoking experience, and understanding how they get put together will help you choose the cigar that best suits your tastes. The main types include:

• Corona: Corona is a medium-sized cigar between 5 ½ and 6 inches long.
• Robusto: The Robusto is short and thick, reaching 4 ¾ to 5 ½ inches.
• Churchill: Named after Winston Churchill, the Churchill cigars are about 7 inches long.
• Panatela and Lanceros: Panatela and Lanceros cigars are long and thin, ranging between 5 and 7 ½ inches.

Flavor-Influencing Factors

Several factors influence a cigar's flavor profile, including the type of tobacco, soil and fermentation process. Other elements that play a role in shaping a cigar's taste are:

• Aging: Cigars, like wine, can become even better when aged correctly.
• Humidity: Proper storage in a humidor at a consistent humidity level of 70% preserves the cigar flavor and prevents it from drying out.
• Tobacco origin: Cigars from different countries, like Nicaragua or the Dominican Republic, impart unique flavors. Dominican Republic cigars have more spicy undertones, while Nicaraguan cigars often have espresso notes.
• Wrapper: The outermost leaf significantly affects the flavor. A dark wrapper, for example, often indicates a lighter flavor.

Cigar Etiquette

Understanding the basics of cigar etiquette can ensure you have an enjoyable experience. Follow these general rules when you light up:

• Cutting: Make a clean cut just above the cigar shoulder to ensure you get a good draw. Cutting too far in may loosen the wrapper leaf and drop some of the tobacco.
• Lighting: Use wooden matches or a butane lighter, as sulfur or petrol will negatively impact the taste of your cigars.
• Puffing: Take slow, gentle puffs and enjoy the flavor. The smoke is harsh, and the high alkalinity can harm your lungs, so avoid inhaling as you would with cigarettes.
• Ashing: Cigars will stop burning on their own after a few minutes, so let the ash fall naturally into an ashtray. Tapping too often disrupts the natural burn and can create hotter, harsher smoke.
• Environment: Remember to smoke in a designated area to be mindful of nonsmokers.

Tips for a Successful Pairing Experience

Whether you have done this before or are embarking on your first drink and cigar pairing, following these simple tips will help you navigate the combinations for a truly enjoyable experience:

• Match strength: Generally, you want to pair cigars with drinks of a similar strength.
• Cleanse your palate: Water and unsalted crackers can cleanse your palate between puffs and sips. Cleansing your palate ensures you enjoy the distinct flavors of both drink and cigar.
• Consider age: Aged spirits and cigars have complex flavors that will make your tastebuds sing.
• Snack pairing: Chocolate is another ideal flavor companion for cigars. It can hit some bittersweet notes, combining wonderfully with spicier cigars.
• Temperature: You want to make sure your drink is at the right temperature. For example, if your wine is too cold, the cigar may have a sour taste.
• Stay hydrated: While you smoke, periodically sip on water to stay hydrated. This minimizes the smoke's impact on your mouth and keeps your tastebuds engaged.

Top Tip: You might be pairing drinks and smokes, but cigar smoking is always about more than taste. Lean into the aesthetics and sensory pleasures of cigar smoking. Pay special attention to the smoke smell, the atmosphere and the cigar's look and feel. These factors work together to create an experience that tickles all of your sensory pleasures.

How to Pair Cigars With Drinks

When you select drinks and cigars with similar aromas, weights and flavor profiles, you will find a harmonious pairing. For example, if you have a cigar with rich coffee notes, an espresso martini will hit the spot. 

Complementing Flavors

A complementary pairing means that your drink and stogie have some aromatic notes or flavors in common. Essentially, you would pair a light, sharp cigar with a light cocktail and a full-bodied stogie with a heavier drink, like whiskey or wine. A cigar with cocoa notes will complement a stout beer or dark rum very well.

Ensure the flavors in your cigar and drink complement each other, especially while you develop your palate. Avoiding flavor clashes will help you find what resonates with your palate as you learn the finer nuances of cigar flavor profiles.

Contrasting Profiles

You can choose to embrace the idea that opposites attract and pair contrasting profiles. In this selection, both your drink and cigar are equal stars, but one will stand out over the other. The idea is that opposite flavor profiles will bring out each other's nuanced notes. 

A mellow cigar can uplift the deep flavor of a malty stout, barrel-aged bourbon or earthy wine. A white wine or light beer, on the other hand, can boost the rich tobacco flavors in a full-bodied cigar. 

Experimentation

Some drink pairings with cigars are made for each other, but there is a lot to be said for personal preference. Experimentation is an art form that is easy to navigate when you understand the notes and flavor profile of your cigar. If you are new, start your journey with some of our recommendations and pave your own way from that foundation.

The Best Drinks to Pair With Cigars

There are no outright correct drinks to pair with cigars — it comes down to personal preference. That being said, we have a list of popular choices and good starting points for you to enjoy.

Whiskey

Whiskey's layers of flavor make it a fan-favorite for cigar smoking, especially served on the rocks. This iconic combination harmonizes exceptionally well, creating a rich and sensory experience. If you are just starting to experiment, have your mild whiskey with a mellow cigar.

Some folks also enjoy their cigars with the simple, natural sweetness of bourbon. Bourbon's smooth texture and copper hue can complement caramel, honey or vanilla tones. 

Perfect Pair: Enjoy the woody, toasty Oliva Connecticut Reserve with a glass of bourbon. It delivers hints of sweet marzipan, cinnamon and cocoa. Any whiskey pairs well with the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Exhibicion No. 3, thanks to its gentle, creamy medium-bodied taste.

Brandy

When paired with the right brandy, a cigar's smokiness creates a blissful taste and physical sensation. The rich and complex flavors of brandy complement those deep, smoky notes of your cigar. It creates a luxurious, relaxing combination for you to savor.

Perfect Pair: The subtly sweet taste of brandy or a silky cognac, especially a lighter, well-balanced blend, pairs beautifully with the Ferio Tego Timeless TAA cigar's vanilla, brownie and grilled meat notes.

Wine

Cigars and wine share aging, flavor notes and body, which overlap perfectly. Their tannins and smoke combinations can create memorable taste complexities. Delicate white wines like Chardonnay go well with medium-bodied cigars, but if you prefer a glass of red wine, grab a dark, robust smoke.

Perfect Pair: Beginners can pair a smooth, creamy Zino Nicaragua cigar with a zesty glass of Sauvignon Blanc. This combination offers white pepper, toasted cedar and spice notes.

Rum

Cognac and rum are popular choices to balance a bold cigar's smoky essence. Pair your strong cigars with a spicy or dark rum. If you are a beginner, opt for a light rum with some vanilla, citrus or spice notes.

Perfect Pair: Light rum, with its oak, leather and creamy cedar flavors, pairs well with medium-bodied Montecristo White Series cigars.

Cocktails

If you prefer cocktails, order an old-fashioned, Negroni or anything with a fruity, creamy twist. Bitter, sweet and smoky spirits can interact with the cigar to create a tasty sensation. The alcohol in the cocktail can also subtly cleanse your palate between puffs, so you can fully appreciate the cigar's flavor profile complexities.

Perfect Pair: Pair a cosmo or mudslide with an Alec Bradley Magic Toast cigar. It is deliciously chocolatey, with a black cherry foundation and earthy notes.

Beer

Match the cigar wrapper color with the beer color, unless it is a dark wrapper. Then, you want to ensure that it is a strong cigar to match the flavoring of your stout. Bonus — The bubbles in a glass of beer can serve as a great palate cleanser. 

Perfect Pair: Are you having a golden ale? Try a creamy, easy-going profile of sweet spice, cream and malt in the Sobremesa Brûlée with a Nicaraguan filler blend. 

Nonalcoholic Pairings

Cigars pair wonderfully with nonalcoholic drinks, including hot chocolate, juice and ginger ale. Our top picks include:

• Cigars and tea: Black tea can boost earthy, chocolatey aromas, while green or oolong tea can complement a mellow-bodied stogie. The sweet, floral taste of Brick House Connecticut cigars can optimize tea with a little sugar.
• Cigars and cola: A sweet, refreshing glass of cola can complement stogies with an earthy, leathery flavor profile.
• Cigars and coffee: Pair a light-bodied smoke with a light roast coffee, or add a little cream to your cuppa and grab a creamy cigar. The earthy, chocolate tones of a Henry Clay War Hawk work well with a medium-roast, nutty coffee or mocha.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about pairing cigars with drinks:

• What can you pair with cigars with a bitter aftertaste? First-time cigar smokers often find cigar smoke very bitter. Opt for a sweet drink like soda to balance any heavy feeling you might get from the cigar smoke. 
• Can you do different pairings in one sitting? If you plan to light up more than one cigar, sip on water between draws. It will neutralize your tastebuds. You can also enjoy more than one drink paired with a single cigar — just use small, taster-size glasses.
• What are some classic cigar and drink pairings? Classic pairings include whiskey and bourbon with medium- or full-bodied cigars. Wines like Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec are also popular choices.
• Are there any drinks to avoid when pairing with cigars? Overly sweet or heavily flavored drinks can overwhelm your palate and mask the cigar flavors.
• What are some traditional or cultural pairings to try? In Cuba, cigars are often enjoyed with an espresso or a glass of aged rum. In Europe, Cognac and brandy are preferred, and in Central America, coffee and rum are popular choices.
• Is it important to consider the time of day for your cigar and drink pairing? Ultimately, personal preference will dictate what you should pair and when, but there are options if you want to follow conventional methods. Lighter drinks like coffee or tea are good for a morning or afternoon pairing. Heavier options like whiskey or brandy are better for evening pairings. 
• Can you pair cigars with Champagne? Champagne has high acidity levels but can pair well with a mild cigar.
• Can you pair a cigar with white spirits? White spirits like vodka and gin are not ideal, as the cigar flavor profile can overpower the spirit.

Shop Cigars Online With Corona Cigar Co.

Pairing a great cigar with the right drink will enhance your cigar-smoking experience. Consider the flavor and strength to strike the right balance or taste that brings your palate joy. Experiment with various combinations — remember, the goal is to create a harmonious experience to find what you enjoy. 

Now that you know what to drink with cigars, it's time to get the best cigars on the market. Corona Cigar Co. is your one-stop shop for everything related to cigars, from your favorite brands to accessories, humidors and samplers to experiment with new flavors. We are the most user-friendly and largest virtual cigar store. Explore our large inventory and find the finest hand-rolled cigars for any occasion.

Shop cigars online today and get fast, free shipping on orders $125 or more.