Pairing Cigars With ‘The Brown Spirits’ by Brendan Waller

The amazing thing about the brown spirits like bourbon, rum, and cognac to mention a few, is that they are often paired well with the right cigars. There are few things as relaxing as having a glass of your favourite brown spirit in one hand and a well-chosen cigar in the other. It’s more than just looking and feeling fancy; it’s about mixing complex flavours, scents, and sensations to create a unique experience.

But with the seemingly limitless variety when it comes to cigars, from flavour to boldness, coupled with the great variety of whiskies for any occasion, you have yourself an incredible challenge of finding out which goes with what and what your preferences are.

If you’d prefer a guide to the best ways to pair spirits and cigars, read on. We will go over some of the tips and tricks discovered by both cigar and whisky enthusiasts.

1. Match the Body of the Smoke with the Body of the Drink

Experienced cigar smokers and drinkers will tell you to begin with this piece of advice: milder cigars go well with lighter whiskies, and so on. That being said, this is more of a way to avoid out-of-sync pairings rather than discover perfect matches. You might find that your palate actually prefers a complementary set of cigars and drinks.

Maybe the notes in the cigar can be better emphasized by a milder spirit, or that fuller-bodied spirit can be enhanced by a mild-to-medium smoke. Before you go into these more complex experiments, begin by playing safe so you can make the most out of your drink and cigar.

2. Bourbon is a Good Default

Bourbon is often identified by experts as a testing drink, in that it is a good pairing a new cigars you may be unfamiliar with. It is sometimes even considered the universal pairing, as the notes of maple syrup, honey, caramel, nuts, charred wood, and fruit lend well to most cigars.

If you are trying a new cigar, select a bourbon to go with it if you are unsure how a new cigar tastes.

Bourbon is a safe bet when pairing a cigar with whiskey

3. Brown Goes With Brown

While some do have eclectic preferences and like clear spirits with their cigars, this is a highly uncommon phenomenon. In most cases, brown spirits pair swimmingly with cigars.

That being said, do not let that stop you from experimenting with clear drinks like gin and vodka. You might just find that eclectic pairing of your dreams – perfectly complementing each other in strange and curious ways.

4. Canadian Whisky is Great For Experimentation

Canadian Whisky from Ontario distilleries are known for their smoothness, making Canadian Whisky a great drink to pair with milder, more subtle cigars. However, cigars with deep leather notes or full-bodied cigars can also be made more satisfying by the vanillin content of the spirit. The nutty notes in certain cigars can also enhance the rye content in spicier Canadian Whiskies.

Given their versatility, Canadian whiskies are great to experiment with when pairing with a cigar

If you’re unsure, try reaching out to a distiller in Ontario for what can go with what.

In Conclusion

At the end of the day, finding the perfect pairing of spirit and cigar is deeply personal and really boils down to preference. These are just some tips and tricks you can follow when searching for your favourites, but it is nevertheless important to experiment to find what’s perfect for your palate.

If you’re looking for information on distilleries within Ontario, Canada or from around the world, send us a message at Whisky Quarterly Ontario. Are you interested in finding your new favourite bottle to pair with your favourite cigar? Check out our Craft Spirits Membership.

Cheers.

-Brendan Waller