When it comes to pairing cigars and cocktails, every aficionado has their own preferences. A well-matched cigar and cocktail can elevate your experience, enhancing the earthy tobacco flavors or revealing hidden nuances. However, an ill-suited pairing can leave both your cigar and drink falling flat. How do you ensure the perfect match for your choice of fine cigar and cocktail? This nightlife guide provides the ultimate pairing tips to enhance your enjoyment.

Three Tips To Remember When Pairing Your Drink with Cigars

No matter which cocktail you choose to pair with your cigar, below are three tips you should keep in mind:

1. Ensure that your cocktail has the right temperature.
2. For a cigar, accessories are essential, such as the proper lighter or cutter. The same applies to cocktails, especially the right rocks glass.
3. You must adapt the accompanying drink to the aromatic phases of a Cuban cigar in thirds because of the aroma spectrum and intensity of an aged cigar change.

Rules For Pairing Cigars And Drinks

As the adage goes, “birds of a feather flock together,” the same could be said when it comes to pairing affordable cigars in discount with cocktails. Numerous cigar experts advise pairing full-bodied cigars with hard alcoholic drinks and light-bodied cigars with lighter drinks.

The basic rule of thumb here is that the aromatic notes of your favorite cigar and the drink must match. Additionally, there must be sufficient aromatic intensity in each product so that it does not disappear or overpower your palate.

It is also essential to keep in mind that the aroma perception becomes balanced when pairing dry and earthly cigars with dry spirits, light spirits with light-bodied cigars and strong drinks with full-bodied cigars.

Achieving the right balance between flavors is another key rule. The cigar and the cocktail should support one another, but in the end, the tongue determines everything. However, the pairing also needs to balance and suit the respective consumer’s taste buds.

Mild Cigars

Mild cigars pair best with light cocktails or those that have coffee or Irish cream.

• Irish Hot Cocoa

Mild cigars and this hot cocktail pair well and it is the type of drink to keep you warm during winter. To make this cocktail, pour some hot cocoa and Baileys Irish Cream into a mug and stir.

You can also use a slightly stronger Russian Hot Cocoa. Mix of Kalua or coffee liqueur, Russian Vodka and Hot Cocoa and stir. This cocktail is the best drink for those looking for a hot drink but are not fans of tea or coffee.

• Black Russian

Making this cocktail is very easy and the only ingredients that you need are vodka and coffee liquor. Pour some vodka and a touch of coffee liquor into a glass filled with ice and stir.

• Mudslide

Mudslide is similar to Black Russian. It is made by filling a glass and cocktail shaker with ice, then pouring three equal parts of Irish cream liqueur, coffee liqueur and vodka into a shaker. Give a shake for a few minutes and strain it into your glass when it is ready.

If you are not a fan of vodka in your Black Russian or Mudslide, you can opt to use Amaretto or Malibu which will give you an even softer taste.

Medium-bodied Cigars

You need a stronger cocktail to accompany your medium-bodied cigar. If the cocktail is light, chances are you will not taste the flavor.

• Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre is a simple but popular drink of choice containing rum, coke and a splash of lime juice. You can easily adjust the cocktail’s ratio by adding more dark rum to strengthen it. In such a case, you can pair it with a full-bodied cigar.

• Mojito

The classic Mojito version is made up of five (5) ingredients, namely white rum, lime juice, mint sugar and soda.

This type of cocktail has several other variants with a different alcohol base consisting of tequila, gin or another liquor. It is the perfect drink for summer due to its mixture of citrus, mint and sweetness complements.

• Stringer

For this cocktail, the only ingredients needed are brandy white crème de menthe liqueur. This cocktail is usually paired with chocolate desserts and it also pairs very well with a medium-bodied cigar.

To make this cocktail, fill your glass with crushed ice, pour in some brandy and a shot of white crème menthe liqueur.

• Americano

The Americano cocktail features equal parts of sweet vermouth and Campari topped with sparkling water. It is a light but flavourful cocktail with a bittersweet and bubbly taste, making it an easy-drinking cocktail that perfectly pairs with a medium-bodied cigar.

• Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre is a simple but popular drink of choice containing rum, coke and a splash of lime juice. You can easily adjust the cocktail’s ratio by adding more dark rum to strengthen it. In such a case, you can pair it with a full-bodied cigar.

• Mojito

The classic Mojito version is made up of five (5) ingredients, namely white rum, lime juice, mint sugar and soda.

This type of cocktail has several other variants with a different alcohol base consisting of tequila, gin or another liquor. It is the perfect drink for summer due to its mixture of citrus, mint and sweetness complements.

• Stringer

For this cocktail, the only ingredients needed are brandy white crème de menthe liqueur. This cocktail is usually paired with chocolate desserts and it also pairs very well with a medium-bodied cigar.

To make this cocktail, fill your glass with crushed ice, pour in some brandy and a shot of white crème menthe liqueur.

• Americano

The Americano cocktail features equal parts of sweet vermouth and Campari topped with sparkling water. It is a light but flavourful cocktail with a bittersweet and bubbly taste, making it an easy-drinking cocktail that perfectly pairs with a medium-bodied cigar.

Full-bodied Cigars

Full-bodied cigars and strong cocktails are the perfect combination as they bring out the best in each other.

• Old Fashioned

This is a very strong cocktail, usually drunk by men. To make it, use good bourbon or single malt Irish whiskey, combine it with sugar, a single dash of Angostura bitter and water in a glass and stir it until the sugar is almost dissolved.

After that, fill up the glass with ice, add alcohol and gently stir. The final touch is adding one cherry and garnish with an orange peel.

• Negroni

Negroni is a popular Italian cocktail and the precursor to the Americano cocktail. This is a cocktail you can easily make at home and it has a bitter and robust flavor that is refreshing.

So, if you want to make this cocktail, fill your glass with ice, pour some equal parts of gin, vermouth rosso, and Campari, and stir. An orange peel is usually used to garnish the Negroni cocktail.

• Manhattan

The Manhattan cocktail is a combination of Italian vermouth, American whiskey and a few dashes of aromatic bitters. Its classic version is made from sweet vermouth, rye whiskey with bitters (2 dashes of Angostura and 1 dash orange) and it is stirred, never shaken.

As you embark on your journey of pairing cigars with cocktails, remember that experimentation is key. Whether you’re savoring a robust Cuban cigar with a classic Old Fashioned or discovering new pairings that tantalize your palate, the possibilities are endless.

What did I miss?

So, what type of strong cigar and cocktail are your favorite pairings? Let me know in the comments below.