Orion21 Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I have drunk wine with cigars since I started smoking cigars in 2008 and have only recently started to enjoy scotch and bourbon. Wine seems to pair really well with many Cuban cigars. I enjoy drinking a good Merlot or Cabernet with Bolivar, H. Upmann or RyJ because it compliments the earth and wood I find in those marcas a lot. I will open a nice Pinot if I am smoking a QdO, Trinidad or Cohiba because the lighter body of the wine own't overpower the cream, grass and sweetness I find in those cigar quite often. However, the best match for almost any Cuban cigar is Champagne. I know, it's a feminine wine normally reserved for celebrations, but it's awesome with most Cuban cigars that aren't coco bombs. Try it, you will like it. If any of you drink wine with your cigars often what do you enjoy?
orangedog Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I drink wine quite often with my cigars, although I do not find it to be the best beverage to pair. Some of the sweetness in Champagne makes sense... I've had the best luck from a pairing standpoint with Reislings... and a friend converted me to German over the PacNW. If you want to go red, and have a stronger cigar, I've had good luck with aged Amarones. Otherwise, I don't think the flavors mesh well together - at least when compared to rum. Scotch works as well, but typically speysides, lowlands, etc. Highlands or islays? Can be risky waters. Don't get me wrong... I thoroughly enjoy them all... just potentially not optimal in terms of pairing. I recently did a sampling of rums that were "finished" in wine casks... similar to what many of the distilleries started doing a decade ago. One was finished in Latour, one in Y'Quem, and one in Lafite. They were unreal. I think the Latour was the only one that had a flavor I really liked, but they were incredibly unique - much more than I expected, and for that reason were very enjoyable. Back to wine... interestingly, I agree with your point on a softer wine pairing with cigars. I have not had a lot of fun with French wine when paired with meals/steaks, or on a stand alone basis... but wines that have a bit more finesse, like French wines, do go well with cigars. And, I would be remiss to mention cult Cali Cabs and the Super Tuscans when I want an all out flavor assault... big dark fruit, tobacco, smoke, dirt... you can taste it until lunch the next day. Fantastic!
fozzie Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 If champagne is a feminine wine then spank my ass and call me Shirley! I tend to go for big reds with cigars, lounging out under the stars after an awesome barbeque, hmmmm..........God I hate the winter!! My favourites at the moment:- Waxed Bat El Campeador El Bombero President XV Black Stump Also picked up some bargain Amarones and Barolos recently that should go well. As for spirits, I'm on Jonny Drum Private Stock at the moment, can't go wrong!
Puros Y Vino Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Dry reds don't seem to pair well for me. I prefer going with Rieslings, Gewurztraminers or Cava/Champage/Prosecco for best results. And of course Port. That always pairs well.
orangedog Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 And of course Port. That always pairs well. Ah, good call. I've only had a few ports that were to my tastes, but it brings to mind Madeira as well.
Orion21 Posted January 23, 2014 Author Posted January 23, 2014 I can't believe I forgot the late harvest wine. I like port, but I love late harvest Cabernet and Zin. They are perfect with most Cubans that aren't twangy.
FLB03TT Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I like to match the color of the beverage to the color of the cigar wrapper. Pretty much all amber colored drinks. Amber beers like a good IPA, Speyside Scotch in cool, dry climates and Rye Whisky or Dark aged Rum in warmer more tropical climes. Sometimes a root beer is perfect, if not in mood for alcohol.
Jeremy Festa Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Champagne all the way. At anytime of day. I will go with other wines if they spill over from dinner. Beers if before dinner, and whiskies after 10ish!
Surucipe Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 talking about Sauternes, Late Harvest's etc, I think it was Ken who once mentioned Vinsanto's. Tried that and I find that the sweetness goes really well with most cigars.
marper331 Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 im not a big fan of sweet wines so I typically pair up a good california cab or a pinot noir with my cigars. Otherwise I will go for a good single malt. I think it depends on where I am smoking and how long I plan on staying out/awake.
paulF Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I find that Tawny ports go really well with most CCs. Although some reds are ok but don't think the big punchy varietals like Syrah or Cab Sauv work that good unless they are in a blend! +1 about late harvests and whites too. I find that they are not as powerful as reds so they don't interfere much with the Cigar taste!
Squarehead Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Merlot and Shiraz on the red side,Gewürztraminer and Late Harvest Riesling on the white side.
beamer Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I prefer to enjoy my wines and cigars separately. I've yet to find a pairing that compliments either in a way that I like more than enjoying them alone.
Edwhatever Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Port is my No.1 choice. Then its Italian Chanti
Lotusguy Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Try a white port - goes extremely well with light to medium bodied cigars that tend to get overwhelmed by most red wines. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Natedog Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 I have drunk wine with cigars since I started smoking cigars in 2008 and have only recently started to enjoy scotch and bourbon. Wine seems to pair really well with many Cuban cigars. I enjoy drinking a good Merlot or Cabernet with Bolivar, H. Upmann or RyJ because it compliments the earth and wood I find in those marcas a lot. I will open a nice Pinot if I am smoking a QdO, Trinidad or Cohiba because the lighter body of the wine own't overpower the cream, grass and sweetness I find in those cigar quite often. However, the best match for almost any Cuban cigar is Champagne. I know, it's a feminine wine normally reserved for celebrations, but it's awesome with most Cuban cigars that aren't coco bombs. Try it, you will like it. If any of you drink wine with your cigars often what do you enjoy? That actually makes perfect sense. Champagne or sparkling wine is the best form of "wine juice" to drink with food. It cleanses your pallet and really allows you to taste the food your eating so if it does the same for cigars that would be great. I haven't had any champagne with cigars but now I'm going too. btw champagne is not a girly drink in any way at all period!
Ken Gargett Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 there are plenty of earlier posts on champagne and cigars and how well it works. take strong exception to the feminine comment. how on earth anyone thinks of krug, bolly and a great many others as feminine is beyond me. vin santo certainly works. late harvest, botrytis wines. ports and other fortifieds. notwithstanding that we do the vids with reds, and smoke heaps of cigars with reds, i really don't think they work well. perhaps richer wines like amarones. and may be lighter reds like gamay based wines.
Bill Hayes Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Sherry Dark Rum are probably my two favourites followed by a sweetened coffee then simply sparkling mineral water then cola & rum then probably a wheat beer. I would like to try champagne and white desert wine. Will have to give it a try. I find a lot of red wine is a bit full of tannins and it distracts from the cigar - although an earthy pinot noir can sometimes work for me.
Ken Gargett Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 I love port. Never heard of White port. very popular in france. or was. and portugal, of course. obviously made from white grapes. often used in cocktails. not considered to rank with the top notch ports.
brutusthebuckeye Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 take strong exception to the feminine comment. how on earth anyone thinks of krug, bolly and a great many others as feminine is beyond me. Ken..I like Champers and Riesling with cigars...BUT in the States "men" don't drink Champers in public unless its New Years or at a wedding....Some may disagree but that's just the way it is where I'm from....
PuffDaddie Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 A good dark rum like Havana club goes great with cigars.
beamer Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Ken..I like Champers and Riesling with cigars...BUT in the States "men" don't drink Champers in public unless its New Years or at a wedding....Some may disagree but that's just the way it is where I'm from.... Seriously? Please, listen to Ken and let a good bottle of Bollinger knock your socks off.
Cisco Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 I believe Sir Winston Churchill loved champagne and used to drink it often with cigars ( Pol Roger perhaps?). I have not tried it personally but I can see an H. Billiot going well with an aged QdO Corona. I certainly don't look at champagne as being feminine..heck James Bond drank it. I tend not to pair cigars with my wines as I prefer to enjoy the nuances of the wine with food. However, I do enjoy cigars with port, sherry (palo cortado, etc), and beer (stout, RIS, porter). Of course, cognac, bourbon, whisky, and aged rum often make great pairings. I like a good Calvados as well.
Skyfall Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Ken..I like Champers and Riesling with cigars...BUT in the States "men" don't drink Champers in public unless its New Years or at a wedding....Some may disagree but that's just the way it is where I'm from.... ^ This And in Texas, even those two events are questionably accepted.
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