Perfect Cocktail Pairings for Cigars

Pairing a cigar with a beverage of choice is a fine art, one which is not always easy to get right. It can be a case of trial and error to find what tickles your taste buds as not all palates are alike. It is often common to pair a cigar with your favourite dram of whisky or a strong coffee, but have you ever thought about pairing your cigar with a cocktail? This is a perfect choice for that special occasion.

Whether you prefer a mild cigar, a medium bodied or a fuller spicy cigar to end your evening with, read on for some of my favourite cocktail pairings…

Old Fashioned & Bolivar Royal Corona

50ml bourbon, Ice, 5ml sugar syrup, 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, orange or lemon zest to garnish

This is a classic Bourbon cocktail, popular all over the world and established in the USA in the 1800’s. It is a sweet tasting cocktail with notes of brown sugar and dark fruits and just a hint of spice which matches up perfectly with the Bolivar Royal Corona. The Bolivar Royal is a full flavoured cigar with spicy and woody notes. This cigar starts out as a floral smoke and then towards the end you can expect richer and spicy pepper notes. This pairing is a perfect end to a perfect evening!

Black Russian & Davidoff Signature 2000 

50ml Vodka, 25ml coffee liqueur, Ice, 1 Maraschino Cherry, Cola to top up (optional)

Black Russian is a well-known and much-loved vodka cocktail invented in 1949 by a Belgium bartender serving the US Ambassador to Luxembourg in a Brussels hotel bar. This cocktail is often enjoyed at the end of the evening and works best with a mild cigar. We have opted to pair with the Davidoff Signature 2000, a beautifully mild Dominican cigar which boasts notes of coffee and wood, but best of all has a pronounced creamy aftertaste which would compliment the coffee liqueur perfectly!

Irish Coffee & AVO Classic Robusto

2 tbsp Double Cream, 150ml Freshly Brewed Black Coffee, 50ml Irish Whiskey, ½ tsp Brown Sugar, Pinch of Grated Nutmeg

Irish Coffee is a popular Irish cocktail which dates back to the mis 19^th Century. This cocktail is serviced hot and drunk through the creamy top. A delicious treat to end your special evening in replacement of your normal coffee. Why not try this paired with a medium strength cigar such as the AVO Classic Robusto? This cigar is smooth and creamy, and features notes of pepper and wood, a real treat and definitely one to try!

Cuba Libre & Vegas Robaina Famosos

50ml Rum, 100ml Cola, ½ Lime, Ice

Cuba Libre is basically Rum and Coke. You can use any rum you like with this, but often Bacardi is used, but why not try something new such as Diplomatico… and don’t forget the lime! Cuba Libre’s originated from Cuba and dates back to the early 20^th Century. What better way of enjoying this traditional Cuban drink than to pair it with a beautifully crafted Cuban cigar! The one we have chosen is the Vegas Robaina Famosos cigar. This cigar has complex sweet and woody flavours which pair perfectly with the rum. This cigar has a very spicy flavour towards the end making it an interesting smoke and great tasting cigar!

Why not check out our range of spirits online and make your own cocktails this weekend, and pair with one of these fine cigars to see for yourself!

Written by Hayley Hooker – 10/02/2020