Information on Cigars and Alcohol
The cigar has for a long time been viewed as a luxury of the wealthy and powerful and pictures of prosperous males drawing on a stogie and swirling a glassful of excellent cognac have been well documented over the years and memorialized in films and TV. Here are a couple of tips to get you up and running, if you’re just beginning to become involved in cigars and would like to unwind after a long day’s work by puffing a stogie and drinking a fine alcoholic beverage.
Rum, brandy, whisky, and other strong drinks have traditionally been associated with cigar smoking. Many connooisseurs argue that a fine cigar should always be coupled with a strong drink with a subtle hint of sweetness. Although these pairings of drink and cigar have been popular for many years, the idea of pairing cigars with beer has been overlooked. However, beer should not be overlooked as a substitute for strong drink, and lately the trend has been to pair cigar with a variety of different brews. In fact, puffing on a quality cigar while drinking a fine beer has been popularized to the point that it has entered the mainstream culture, and many people are enjoying this popular pairing.
Pairing a good cigar with a good beer is not an easy feat, but when accomplished, it is well worth the effort. If you are a novice, you may indeed need help in pairing your specific cigar with the appropriate beer, as it has much to do with your level of experience. If you have obtained a more experienced palate, however, then you can probably make the appropriate connections between specific types of cigars and beers.
Because cigars are so strong and flavorful, one of the challenges in pairing is to find a beer that complements the intensity of most cigars. Many cigars can be complemented with a good wine or a quality whiskey. If your favorite cigar is described as spicy, woody, with a hint of cedar, try complementing it with a barley wine. The fruity hint of barley wine should complement nicely with the spicy flavor of your cigar. The combination of a spicy cigar with a slightly fruity beer can create an overall creaminess that enhances the flavors of each significantly.
If you have no clue, then you should first find a cigar that you really enjoy, before experimenting with different flavor combinations. Try to identify the characteristics that you enjoy about it and then, find a beer whose flavors you think might ‘match’ or complement the cigar. A great deal of fantastic combinations have been discovered in this very same way.
