No matter what the world offers us in the end, we can find refuge in a lovely cocoon at home. We went in search of the perfect combination with cigars to enjoy this season.
In some cases, the beverage in question is specifically made to be enjoyed with a great cigar. Here, five pairs where the distiller’s skill perfectly (and sometimes purposefully) complements the art of the cigar maker.
JOSEPH MAGNUS CIGAR BLEND BOURBON + DAVIDOFF ROBUSTO INTENSO
It’s a good sign when a bourbon’s master blender also smokes cigars. For the Cigar Blend, Nancy Fraley combined whiskeys aged 11 and 18 years finished in Armagnac barrels to complement her favorite Davidoff cigars; the notes of dried figs and apricots match perfectly with the new Robusto Intenso with its flavors of wet leather and ginger.
KAMIKI INTENSE JAPANESE WHISKY + PLASENCIA ALMA DEL FUEGO
The first whiskey aged in Japanese cedar, Kamiki Intense, is initially matured for three years in bourbon barrels before being transferred to cedar barrels. The result: a floral whiskey with notes of green tea, sandalwood, and yes, cedar, making it perfect for the sweetness of Alma del Fuego, a medium-strength Nicaraguan pure.
WHISTLEPIG OLD WORLD RYE + FUENTE FUENTE OPUSX
This rich and sophisticated beverage is a blend of whiskeys aged for 12 years in new American oak, and subsequently finished individually in Port Wine, Sauternes, and Madeira barrels before being blended. With thick notes of apricots, raisins, and honey, the Old World Rye pairs well with the strength and rich and deep flavors of any OpusX, a pure Dominican cigar – the world’s first.
FRAPIN CIGAR PERFECT COGNAC + FONSECA
The classic combination of cognac and cigars is embodied by Cigar Perfect Cognac, a blend aged 15 to 20 years with soft notes of vanilla, dried fruits, and nuts, with crystallized sweetness and a hint of cedar. This profile makes it ideal for the medium-bodied Nicaraguan terrains of the famous Fonseca, now made by My Father Cigars.
DALMORE CIGAR MALT + PADRÓN 1926 SERIE
Dalmore’s cigar lover and master distiller, Richard Paterson, matured this single malt in bourbon barrels and 30-year-old Matusalem oloroso sherry barrels before finishing it in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. With flavors of tropical fruits, cinnamon, and toffee, it’s a perfect companion for the Padrón 1926 Serie, a Nicaraguan pure with tobaccos aged 5 to 10 years.
