Cigar Pairings

Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro Exclusivo & Port Pairing

A Padron Anniversary paired with a lovely port makes for a great experience every time. It can be great for either relaxing at the end of the day or for celebrating a special occasion, especially if you have a special aged port to match. It also makes for a great after dinner treat.

Something to consider is aging a Padron Anniversary of your choice in your humidor for a few years along with a bottle of port in your home, and bringing the two together when the moment is right. Beautiful!

Today was a casual afternoon that was so gorgeous I had to take a moment and enjoy this pairing. I went to Vintropolis, a wine bar, and although you cannot smoke inside they offer a great patio area with a fountain and heaters for the cooler nights. With the sun out, the weather was just perfect for a late afternoon smoke.  Even though you cannot smoke inside, it is always nice to see a humidor with cigars near the bar.

Padron & Port Pairing

Padron 1964 Anniversary M Exclusivo

Padron makes very beautiful cigars that are full of flavor and perfect for any palate. I think they have a characteristic that everyone can appreciate. The wrapper has a slight rough look to it, and though it may not be perfectly silky smooth you can be certain the smoke absolutely is. The 1964 Anniversary tends to be more of my go to whereas the 1926 Anniversary and 45 are more for special occasions.

With its rich flavor and medium to full body, this cigar tastes lovely accompanied by a tawny port. Ports are a wonderful dessert wine that tend to be heavier in texture and range in flavors and dryness or sweetness. I like sweet- but it has to be balanced. Too much can be overpowering, of anything. I think in this case the tawny notes from being aged in wooden barrels compliments the cigar and makes for an elegant pairing.

What are some of your favorite pairings?

Padron 1964 Anniversary M Exclusivo and Port Pairing

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Oliva Serie V And St. Bernardus Christmas Ale Pairing

I love a nice Belgian ale, and with the holiday season I think now is the best time to take advantage of the Christmas ales for cigar pairings. The Oliva Serie V is a favorite of mine that I will often get a craving for. It’s smooth full bodied flavor with espresso, dark chocolate, and a great balance of spice allows for great pairing options.

In this tasting, I am pairing my cigar with the St. Bernardus Christmas Ale. The pairing made for an interesting balance and really made the subtle notes of the cigar stand out.

I’d be curious to try this pairing again after aging a bottle of the ale- beers from Belgium do well with aging and would be nice to age with cigars. Definitely something to consider!

Oliva Serie V

Wrapper: Habano Sun Grown

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Jalapa Valley Ligero

Oliva Serie V

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

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Ashton Aged Maduro Paired With Chocolate

This is a very nutty and creamy smoke that is complimented and intensified when paired with dark chocolate.

This is a pairing shown to me by Jared Biocca of Ashton Cigars. For a treat, try this tasting at home or with a group of friends and see for yourself how the chocolate compliments the Ashton Aged Maduro so beautifully. I love to incorporate food and wine pairings with my cigar, and this one is fantastic!

This particular cigar is the Ashton Aged Maduro #20, a corona sized cigar which is an ideal size to consider for new smokers. It is also a great size to consider when tasting a new style of cigar for the very first time.

Another thing to be aware of with cigars is that the color of the wrapper has no relation to the strength of the cigar. This is a great example, as the wrapper may be very dark in color, it is quite mild and smooth in taste. By no means is darker to be interpreted as stronger.

And this is one yummy smoke to consider!

The wrapper is a limited Connecticut broad leaf and has a natural sweetness that balances with the nutty richness of the cigar. The style is medium bodied, though on the lighter side near mild. It is a very smooth smoke and quite enjoyable at any time of the day.

If you are new to cigars or just want to continue exploring your palate, this is an excellent choice you may end up craving again and again.

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Cabaiguan Robusto Extra With A Grand Cru Belgian Ale

 

Mmm, my latest indulgence has been a lovely pairing of Tatuaje’s Cabaiguan Robusto Extra with the St. Sebastiaan Grand Cru Belgian Ale. Both are so rich, creamy, and have that nice spice in flavor that they make a wonderful combination. Enjoy.

CABAIGUAN

ROBUSTO EXTRA 5 1/4 x 50

Wrapper: Connecticut Seed Shade Grown Ecuadorian

Filler: Nicaragua

Binder: Nicaragua

Medium-Bodied

mmm, love it!

Cabaiguan Robusto Extra

Cabaiguan Robusto Extra

Cabaiguan Robusto Extra

St. Sebastiaan Grand Cru

Belgian Ale

St. Sebastiaan Grand Cru Belgain Ale

Grand Cru

Cabaiguan Robusto Extra

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