How To Pair Cigars With Drinks
Many gentlemen enjoy the pleasure of a fine cigar with alcoholic beverages like Whiskey, Bourbon, Rum, Beer, Brandy, Port, Tequila, or Wine. These gentlemen agree that the body of the cigar determines the type of alcoholic drink to pair with. Three categories in the name body are agreed namely full body, medium body, and light body while speaking about cigars or alcoholic drinks.
This term applies to the weight and fullness of the savior on the tongue while the indulgence is being enjoyed and the tolerance power one can handle. The boldest and most powerful to taste are considered full-body, and the ones delicate to the taste as light-body. This happens to be different between people.
The people who determine the tolerance power are called masters for they have sampled many varieties to help identify which is which of the alcoholic drinks or cigars and how they get paired. For instance, of the Davidoff Cigars, the Nicaragua or goes well with Marker’s Mark Bourbon for the cigar has a woody, cider-like flavor and a combination of citrus and spice matching with the delicious maple, orange, and vanilla flavors of the Bourbon for full-body pairing.
A second characteristic considered is the flavor of the cigar. Cigars have robust and complex flavors proving their personalities and class. Good pairing heightens these different flavors and notes. The best ‘pH meter’ would be the taste buds and these are different between people. The combination of cigars and drinks is a trial and error kind of determination for many would prefer an overpowering cigar with Port, of a light cigar with single malt whiskey which is unusual for most people. It really is determined by one’s taste.
Of the Davidoff Cigars, a light body cigar like Romeo y Julieta Romeo No. 1 TUBOS pairs well with highland single malt whiskeys like Glenlivet or Macallan or from the rum family, a delicious Flor De Cana 12 Year rum will do.The pairing of a cigar to the drink is really determined by the balance both produce when indulged. Most of the time, it is finding the attributes in the cigar that would reveal its spirit.
This method is also applied to the drinks to be matched or paired with the cigar. These two indulgences happen to be fermented and their characteristics or persona will be affected by their aging while in the barrels, flavors that have been added or spices used. The longer the aging process, the more prestigious.
Some recommended pairing that one would want to try would include the magnificent Hennessy XO pairs superbly with the Davidoff Aniversario No. 2. The cognac is not overpowered by the fresh and light profile of the Davidoff cigar.
Together, they are equally smooth whose flavor and a hint of spice in the cigar equalizes the cognacs sweetness. Another example is the Diplomatic Reserva Exclusiva Rum, which has a sophisticated blend of vanilla and molasses in its rich and fruity rum is paired exquisitely with the gratifyingly earthy and lightly peppered essences of the well-crafted Tatuaje cigar. As far as the highland single malts, the Glenmorangie Ealanta 1993 Private Edition pairs well with the Aging Room Quattro F55 Concerto.
The 18-year aged scotch has a touch of toffee and vanilla infused with orange zest that lingers with more orange and fresh oak before lasting into a refined finish of dried figs and cherry blends beautifully with the rich notes of roasted coffee bean and sweet cedar in the F55 Concerto.
