Whisky, Rum, Cognac: How to Match Your Cigar to Your Glass

A cigar with a slow drink is the kind of evening you plan around, and it’s surprisingly easy to spoil. Most of us grab whichever cigar came in the gift box and whatever bottle is already open, then wonder why the whisky tastes of nothing. The good news is that price has very little to do with it. What matters is whether the cigar suits what’s in your glass, and there’s one simple rule for working that out.

The cigar recommendations below draw on the expertise of the team at Mr Cigar Shop UK. Let’s get into it.

The one rule of cigar pairing

Cigar pairing comes down to matching body with body. Body is cigar talk for how intense the smoke tastes. A mild cigar is light and a bit creamy, while a full one hits harder, often with pepper or an earthy, almost leathery taste. Spirits vary in the same way, and the higher-proof bottles, the ones with more alcohol in them, carry more flavour.

So a mild or medium cigar wants something lighter or sweeter in the glass, and a fuller cigar can stand next to a rich, strong spirit. Put a heavy cigar beside a gentle Speyside malt and you’ll spend the evening tasting cigar.

Whatever you pair, go slowly. Take a sip between puffs and keep a glass of water nearby.

Five cigar pairings to try this weekend

These pairings start from the bottle, since most people know far more about what they drink than about what they smoke.

Aged rum

Aged rum is the easiest place to begin. It’s sweet, with caramel and vanilla coming through, so the cigar needs to be smooth enough to leave that sweetness alone. A mild to medium, creamy Dominican cigar does the job. For a first try, a mild-bodied option such as VegaFina cigars is an easy match. They’re made by hand at the Tabacalera de García factory in the Dominican Republic and finished in a Sumatra wrapper (the outer leaf, which shapes a lot of the taste). After a few puffs the rum tends to taste rounder, and the cigar adds a bit of spice and toastiness of its own.

Our recommendation: VegaFina 1998 VF 42, a smooth Dominican cigar that lets the sweetness of an aged rum come through

Bourbon

Bourbon has more bite than rum, partly from the rye in the recipe and partly because it’s usually bottled stronger. A mild cigar would vanish next to it. Go for something medium to full from Nicaragua, where the tobacco tends to have a peppery edge; Oliva and AJ Fernández are both easy to find. That pepper picks up the spice in the bourbon, and the vanilla from the barrel keeps the pair from getting harsh.

Our recommendation: AJ Fernández New World Toro, a peppery Nicaraguan cigar with enough body to stand up to a bourbon

Cognac or brandy

Cognac is the after-dinner classic for good reason. It’s fruity and smooth and doesn’t need much help, so pick a cigar with manners, medium-bodied and balanced, something like a Davidoff or an H. Upmann. The dried-fruit sweetness of the cognac softens the smoke, and the cigar brings a dry, woody note that stops the glass from turning sickly.

If cognac feels like too much ceremony for a Friday night, a good brandy works the same way and costs a lot less.

Our recommendation: H. Upmann Connoisseur B, a balanced Cuban cigar for an after-dinner cognac

Single malt whisky

Single malt whisky is where most pairings go wrong, mainly because the label covers so much ground. A Glenlivet or a Glenkinchie, both light and floral, has very little in common with a Laphroaig, which tastes a bit like someone has put out a bonfire in your glass.

The lighter malts want a mild cigar, and a Hoyo de Monterrey, a Cuban known for its gentle smoke, is a safe bet. Peated Islay whiskies and rich sherry-cask malts can handle a full, earthy cigar such as a Partagás. If you’re not sure where your bottle sits, have a sip on its own first. You’ll usually know within a mouthful.

Our recommendation: Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona, a gentle Cuban for lighter single malts and a long smoke for an evening with time to spare

Coffee liqueur or amaro

Coffee liqueur and amaro come out late, when nobody fancies starting a big cigar at half eleven. Coffee liqueur is sweet, amaro is bitter and herbal, and both are rich enough that a small glass goes a long way. A shorter, mellow cigar suits that time of night, and VegaFina Coronas are a good size for it, with the same creamy character as the rest of the range. They take the edge off an amaro’s bitterness and sit nicely alongside the coffee in a liqueur.

Our recommendation: VegaFina Corona, a shorter, mellow smoke for a late coffee liqueur or amaro

A few practical tips

A few practical bits before you start:

• Light slowly with a wooden match or a soft flame, toasting the end of the cigar without letting the flame touch it.
• A corona lasts around 45 minutes and a robusto closer to an hour.
• Have the spirit neat or with one ice cube, because mixers drown the pairing.
• Keep water on the table throughout.

Then pick one spirit and one cigar and clear an hour, ideally with a chair outside and your phone left on the kitchen counter. If the match isn’t quite right, you’ve still had a decent hour, and you’ll know which way to go next time.

This article is intended for readers aged 18 and over. Please drink responsibly.