El Presidente Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 What is your favourite accompaniment with a cigar from the following categories? I will move this thread to the booze section come Monday but I would love to hear your thoughts over the weekend if for nothing more than to garner some new ideas The categories: Red Wine pairing: White Wine pairing: Fortified Wine pairing: Spirits pairing: Beer pairing: Non Alcoholic pairing: For me: Red Wine pairing: Not many Red wines pair well with cigars....and yet I do it regularly . I think that any good Italian Amarone is perfect. The sweetness of the fruit and generally low tannins work a treat. I also can't resist a good Bordeaux with a cigar. Both are brilliant. White Wine pairing: I don't drink a lot of white wine but I can't go past Gewürztraminer with a cigar. Canadian Ice wine is also a treat. Fortified Wine pairing: Simple. Pedro Ximenez Sherry. My drink of choice is Romate Cardenal Cisneros Pedro Ximenez. If you have never tried the pairing....do yourself a favour and rush out this weekend and pick up a bottle. Spirits pairing: Rum. Zacapa 23 or XO are my preference. I have tried most rums but I keep going back to these two. Non Alcoholic pairing: Good black coffee with a touch of sugar. Stovetop or espresso. Let us know your favourite tipples 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt45 Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 The categories: Red Wine pairing: None (and I'm shaking my head at the thought of Amarone, heathen. Is Italian Amarone akin to French Champagne? ) White Wine pairing: Crisp, but not overly astringent. Fortified Wine pairing: Don't do a ton, but will try. Spirits pairing: Again, nothing astringent - no gin, no tequila, etc. Non Alcoholic pairing: While I assume this is a trick question, I also go with coffee - hot or iced, cream no sugar. Off The Board: Non hoppy beer - Guinness stout is a fave. Sparkling white or rosé wines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC67 Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 I love red wine with cigars.. Pinot or lighter reds seem to be my preference, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potpest Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Great topic; pairings have been something I've been thinking about recently. Red wine: Usually try to keep red wine for food as the cigar taints the flavour for me but when I do it's an aussie shiraz or argentinian malbec White wine: German Reisling or NZ Pinot Grigio - Saint Clair Pioneer Block pairs excellently Fortified: Never paired any fortified wine with cigars but would be interested to try a Dows Quinta Do Bomfin Port Spirits: Any Islay scotch; lagavulin or Caol Ila are favourites. Or quite often a Negroni, Americano or campari and soda. I love campari and find it's bitter taste pairs very well. Non-alcoholic: Full fat Milk is a favourite, espresso/americano (dark roasted beans) and Lemon Iced tea a close second Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Festa Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Awwwww shiiiiit! Super topic. Red Wine pairing: Barolo & Barbera are generally a winner for me. More specifically, lately, the Katnook Estate Odyssey Cab Sav 2009 was next level, highly recommend, will drink again. White Wine pairing: Champagne! Easy! Current fave would be Devaux. Always love H. Blin, and that weird 2Xoz experimental thing by R. Pouillon & Fils has stuck with me. Fortified Wine pairing: Never ventured to deeply into this. Will take you at your word and try your suggestion this weekend. Spirits pairing: Whisky, Rum or Gin. Depends on the time of day and which side of what meal we are flanking. Negroni is a constant feature in our house though. Non Alcoholic pairing: Espresso or Chinotto. If you like Negroni and Campari in particular. Look up Chinotto as a an alternative to Coke. It's an Italian adult cola drink. Beer: How dare you leave this category out! I love Stone & Wood. Would lean towards the Jasper Ale. And I love most dark beers. But my favourite beer of all time is the Estrella Damm Inedit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactochris Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 My all time favorite beverage to have with a cigar is a glass of Coke with ice. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuffDaddie Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Red wine for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 OK have added the Beer category 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stogieluver Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 99% of the time I'm a rum and diet coke drinker. I blend certain rums to get just the right amount of sweetness. Usually something like Ron Flor de Cana with a really sweet rum like Myers with a mixture ratio of about 70/30. Works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwsaw63 Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Red Wine pairing: Pass, don't enjoy red wine with my cigars White Wine pairing: Brown Brothers Moscato Fortified Wine pairing: McWilliams Hanwood Estate 10 year old Grand Tawny Spirits pairing: ron Zacapa 23 or XO. Best rum ever. Cider pairing: Brothers Toffee Apple cider Non Alcoholic pairing: Ginger Ale or Hot Chocolate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perkinke Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Red/White/Fortified Wine pairing: I don't really drink wine, reds give me migraines and I just haven't found many whites I enjoy. Spirits pairing: Most often scotch or bourbon. Love balvenie Carib. Cask and highland 15 or angels envy or basil Hayden right now. Non Alcoholic pairing: I love Coke or Pepsi Beer pairing: Living in a beer heaven the exact kinds rotate frequently, but I love a good IRA or other red ale, a good golden or a black IPA are my faves in summer. In the winter I go with porters or imperial stouts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisMG Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Red Wine pairing Need to try White Wine pairing: Need to try Fortified Wine pairing Ramos Pinto red Port Wine LBV 2009 was excellent. Not overly sweet. Spirits pairing: Cask Strength scotch -Aberlour Abunadh Beer pairing: Need to try. Non Alcoholic pairing: Coffee/Espresso. Will try Chinotto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleDD Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Usually espresso, coffee with cream and sugar, or water. Sometimes I'll have a scotch or rum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habsfan67 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I like a solid pale ale, a good single malt, bourbon or a black spiced rum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spicycorona Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Red Wine: I feel that nice dry bold red cleanses the palette after each puff and gets you ready for the next one. But I rarely do this; I have red wine with red meats, hearty pasta dishes and stews/braises. White: I only drink white if drinking light socially or eating light seafood/pasta dishes or soups. Fortified Wines: I cook with the stuff, that's about it. Spirits: It's pretty situational and seasonal. Beach environment is usually a gin and tonic, vodka soda garnished twist or wedge w/ or w/o a splash of lemonade, or dark and stormy with the cigar. Fall is mostly bourbon, sometime scotch Winter to early spring is usually scotch There's a rare rum on the rocks here and there. Diplomatico reserva, Pyrat xo, Zacapa 23, to name a few. Beer: This usually happens at the beach. Michelob Ultra, Heineken light, Budweiser or Miller High Life, champagne of beers...on ice. Non alcoholic: Mostly iced coffee with milk and sugar. Sometimes loose leaf black tea or a bottled Honest Tea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lasabar Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 My father had Champagne tastes and a Beer budget and he passed that on to me. I'm not much of a wine drinker so I cannot list any of them with any sort of conviction. As for Spirits I usually use a single malt scotch, neat, or some type of dark rum (Bacardi 8yr or Appleton XO) As for beer I like my beer like I like my water..... Miller Lite. Gets me buzzed and doesn't overpower the cigar. Anything else would be a Diet coke, Root beer or Ice Water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skalls Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Beer: Guiness has paired up well with any cigar that has either roasted nut/tobacco and earth flavors for me. Spirits: Bourbon works well with sweeter flavored cigars. I love peated scotches (Lagavulin, Kilchoman, and Ardbeg, yum) but they wreck my pallet and I don't get much out of a cigar after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted July 17, 2015 Author Share Posted July 17, 2015 Cider pairing: Brothers Toffee Apple cider That is one I have to try 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Red Wine pairing: I must credit our beloved founder of Cuban Cigar Website and FoH Moderator, Trevor2118 for introducing me to the fine pleasure of drinking Red Wine with cigars. A Cabernet Shiraz with a fine cigar always go nicely! White Wine pairing: I do enjoy White Wine, especially if fruity, but have not tried it with a cigar. Fortified Wine pairing: I also enjoy Port, but have not tried it with a cigar. Spirits pairing: Where do I start? Single Malt such as Ardbeg, or blended Japanese Whiskeys such as ***** from the Barrel. I also love Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey straight or with Coke. I mainly choose Cognac if I want a spirit with a cigar, my favourite is either Hennessy XO or VSOP. I also love cocktails with cigars. Give me any of the following: Caipirinha, Sidecar Cocktail, Negroni, Manhattan (with Rye), Martini, Old Fashioned Cocktail (with Bourbon or Rum), Sazerac (with Rye), Black or White Russian or an Espresso Martini. These cocktails I always come back to. Beer pairing: I'm not much of a beer drinker. If I do, I prefer a dark ale like Guinness, but not with a cigar. Non Alcoholic pairing: Most of the time, I enjoy a Black Espresso (or Stovetop) Coffee, without sugar, with my cigar. This is the drink I enjoy the most! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soutso Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Glad to see others mention my favourites. These are either a cold Coca Cola or a cold flavoured milk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophistic Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 No wine & beer for me. Spirit: Dry Gin like Tanqueray or No.3 + Light Tonic (Schweppes Dry or Fentimans Light) / Non-Alcoholic: Light Tonic or Coke. Love Espresso but not a fan of pairing it with cigars, overpowers the palate instead of refreshing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phreedh Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I'm a simpleton and mostly drink carbonated non-alcoholic beverages with my cigars, or coffee. If I'm having coffee, it's black Swedish percolator dark roasts from Zoegás or Arvid Nordquist. Sodas, I prefer Coke or Vanilla Coke, but cane cola, cream soda and similar sillyness have worked rather well with cigars too. Dr Pepper as well, surprisingly enough! I do like whisky or rum with my cigar, but have no pairing ambitions. At the moment I only have one bottle of rum, but it's a nice enough 23 yrs QRM Ron Quorhum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomF Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Red Wine pairing: No thanks. White Wine pairing: No thanks Fortified Wine pairing: What in heaven's name is this...??? Spirits pairing: Now we are talking....a Bourbon Manhattan, a good Cognac, A good single malt, preferably Clynelish, 10 Cane rum Beer pairing: Yes! A crisp, cold pilsner! Non Alcoholic pairing: Ice water, iced seltzer, coffee (hot or iced) with cream no sugar, sweet black tea, iced cola But my favorite is to drunkenly pour a splash of red wine into my glass of rum... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlee Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Favourite pairing for me is a good cup of green tea or water. Tend to prefer something that cleanses the palate If I had to drink something alcoholic, then a cigar with a good single malt or cognac would work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treberty Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Great topic! He it goes: Red Wine pairing: Never. Unless I were stuck on a deserted island with a few cases of good Chateauneuf White Wine pairing: Never. Unless I were stuck on a deserted island with a few cases of good Chablis Fortified Wine pairing: Rarely now... used to like Barros Colheita with my cigars, but out of that phase now. Spirits pairing: Calvados or Armagnac, any good single malt (anything with character and complexity, can't be too peaty though), rum (Mulata 7 does the job for me) or bourbon/old fashioned (Evan Williams single barrel or Buffalo Trace neat, Evan Williams Black for my OF...). I'm very flexible when it comes to spirits! Beer pairing: A good micro-brewery IPA - it's Lawson's these days - or a nice stout - always St-Ambroise! Non Alcoholic pairing: water or espresso Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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