What is your any-time/all-time favourite drink to enjoy with a good Cuban cigar?

[CanuckSARTech]

I've looked back through some old threads, and I didn't really find one total thread that answered my question, so here's a question/poll for the Forum...

What is your "go-to" drink to enjoy with a cigar, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic?

Now, I'm not talking about an individual drink to go with each individual cigar. We all know how a Cohiba Robusto is a completely different taste experience from a Partagas Serie D No. 4, and how a different drink paired with each can enhance each experience (for example, like a wheat beer and a strong Cuban coffee paired with each, respectively). I know everyone has their favourites for each individual cigar, and even within that, there's a plethora of choices with each type of beverage (scotches, for example - holy crap, are there a lot to choose from!).

But, what I'm trying to figure out, is what is the general consensus of what is a "safe" beverage to enjoy with a Cuban cigar. I know what I pick, but I'm wondering the Forum's opinion here, to maybe help out some of those who are newer to Cuban cigars. What is an alcoholic, and then a non-alcoholic, beverage that you would choose/suggest to be consumed while, say, sparking up a cigar that's newer to your palate, that you haven't had a chance to enjoy before, and you know nothing of it? You're coming into it absolutely neutral - you stayed away from other people's reviews, you don't know what the flavour profile of the cigar is already reported to be, and you're smoking it relatively blind. What drink would you choose to fully enjoy your cigar experience, to let your palate absorb all of the Habanos lusciousness?

Please choose one of each - both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Yes, I know there's a lot of beverages that could be listed on there - but I wanted to keep the choices to within a dozen. And, I know there's an abundance of Cuban selections - but, we are pairing these with a Cuban cigar, so, I thought that it would be more than fair to list pairing products arrisen out of the same soils.

Enjoy, and cheers.

[samb]

If its a completely new cigar, my best bet usually lies in a plain ol' coffee. Other than that, I like to have a glass of wine with a cigar best. Depends on the mood too, sometimes a beer or scotch comes to mind. In the winter, I find myself reaching for brandy with the cigar.

[Habanakane21]

I usually...almost every time drink water with cigars. Especially during the weekdays. But on weekends I turn to beer. Nothing to strong that's going to overpower the cigar of choice. My 3rd choice would be rum and lastly whiskey. Also for some weird reason, once in a while I like root beer or cream soda with cigars.

[nandos83]

hennessy vsop is my drink of choice when enjoying a cuban although these days im starting 2 get into single malt scotch glenmorangie being exceptionally well, have a bottle of glenmorangie signet which im opening next week and going 2 pair it with a cohiba siglo VI gran reserva should be intresting.

on another note had some hennessy xo last night at my gf's sister's engagment and keeped thinging i should have brought a cigar, i actually have had it a few times but could not remember it being that smooth, highly recommended if your a cognac drinker.

water being my non alcoholic drink of choice especially when trying new cigars for the first time

[groza]

I find that the 3yo Havana Club or coffee (sometimes with a bit of Kahlua added) go very well with most cigars but if I want a cold and refreshing drink I will just go with a coke.

[sepp]

Quad shot latte!

[thechenman]

While I drink all types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with my cigars, i would say that my goto alocholic beverage would be Ron Zacapa Centernario 23 Anos neat. My goto non-alocholic beverage used to be a coffee type drink, either a latte or espresso; however, these days I find myself turning to Coke Zero. i really like that pairing.

[Rogers72]

I seem to always drink alcohol with cigars. In order of frequency:

1.) Scotch

2.) Bourbon or other American Whisky

3.) Gin

4.) Champagne

5.) Red Wine

6.) Beer

[MrGlass]

Depends on where I am. At my local, it's either coffee or scotch (more often the former). At home, it's more often water.

I never drank rum until I was introduced to Ron Zacapa (and convinced to try some). Really nice, but haven't gotten around to buying any for myself.

[tsolomon]

1. Rum - Zaya or Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Anos

1. Bourbon - Woodford Reserve or George Stagg

3. Port - Fonseca 10 year Tawny or Warre's Otima 10 year Tawny

For the hot weather, it's rum. As the weather gets cooler I switch to bourbon or port.

[Puros Y Vino]

I find that Port or Cognac goes well with most cigars. Typically I try to pair the cigars strength to the drink. For me, strong cigar = milder drink. You don't want them to overpower each other. They should complement. Also, for aged cigars, champagne goes well. It helps clean your palate and enjoy the subtle flavours of an older cigar.

[perfectform]

Alcoholic-Zacapa XO

Non-Coffee/Water

[bassman]

A good dark beer or water. While I love good red wine & aged dark rum, I don't drink either with cigars as it dries out my mouth too much.

[MasterOfEvil]

I am going to have to go with cognac. Remy Martin XO, Louis XIII would be nice...

[sharks]

Zacapa XO is my go to but if I dont want something alcoholic I usually go for coke or coffee

Sharks

[micha]

Wow, there's quite a majority going for the non-alcohic. Wouldn't have guessed.

I love my cigar with a nice glass of rum (just discovered the beautiful matching Zacapo 23) or a fine red wine (preferably a good shiraz or other, not to heavy and fruit-laden). All of course accompanied by a glass of clear water.

[habone]

Coffee anytime...escpecially in the fall and winter by the fireplace.

Basil lemonade with lots of ice in the summer...I drink gallons of it!

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

PX Sherry

Coffee (not necessarily Cuban)

[CanuckSARTech]

Wow, there's quite a majority going for the non-alcohic. Wouldn't have guessed...

I've been thinking the same thing. As people have been posting to this thread, I'm amazed at the number of people who are mentioning non-alcoholic drinks, and/or just good ol' plain water. I'm a little bit flabbergasted, honestly.

Maybe it's just my Canadian sensibility. A cigar gets paired with a rum, and a Cuban pairing works better than most. Like I said, just could be the drunken Canadian in me.

[Martindelmundo]

1.coffee

2. rum

3. scotch

4. Beer

5.whatever else

Coffee has always been my perfect choice with a cigar. be it morning noon or night. Thanks to the many generations of over-consumption of coffee it seems that caffeine has no real effect on the coffee drinkers in my family. So it's 9:30 p.m off to smoke with a cup-o-joe.

[ucla695]

Wine, Port, Rum, coffee and water for me.

[archosaur]

1. Rum and coke is my go-to alcoholic beverage, it seems to pair well with most cubans and cigars in general. Since it's a mix I don't usually opt for top shelf rums.

2. Coffee/espresso is my good safe bet as a non-alcholic choice.

[CUBANO]

Zacapa XO or Centenario. And of couse Havana Club &yrs old, anejo.

[theholmesmob]

Mostly have a cigar on the weekend afternoon/evening's so it's either with the afternoon coffee or the evening wine (bar generally opens at 4pm but that depends on how much more of the kids I can take!)

[B.HOBS]

1: Beer - Admitted Beer geek here!

2: Red Wines

3: Scotch