As cigars smokers we all tend to indulge in the good things in life. Anything that slows down time, clears our thoughts, and leads to great memories and conversations. As long as I have been a cigar smoker the pairing of choice for cigars has always been whiskey, and for good reason. Different types of whiskey tend to carry very similar flavor profiles found in premium cigars as well as many complimentary flavors that can enhance the experience. Therein lies the key to a successful pairing.
The formula is simple: The flavors need to marry up with the existing flavors in the cigar while not overpowering the experience. Sprinkle in some flavors that are present in your beer or cigar that are not present in the other and that only heightens the experience. When you think about beer, there are quite a few that can easily fall into this algorithm. The scary part is that there are so many different styles of beer that it also results in a ton of varieties that can easily ruin a cigar experience.
I am a huge craft beer drinker so I try to squeeze in these pairing every chance I get and have realized that certain cigars pair wonderfully with certain beers:
- Lagers/Light Ales: Light-bodied cigars. ex. Connecticut shade, Sumatran
- Porters: Mid-range body cigars. ex Cameroon, Ecuadorian, Dominican
- Stouts: Full-Bodied Cigars. ex Nicaraguan, Broadleaf, Habano
While this is just a quick road map you really need to take each and every blend into consideration. Not all Sumatran cigars are mild just as not all Nicaraguan cigars are full-bodied. Think about the flavors in each cigar. Does it carry a lot of spice? Then you may want to go with a Stout. Is it both spicy and sweet? A barrel-aged stout may be more your jam. But try pairing that same barrel-aged stout with a mild-bodied cigar and the beer will be the only thing you taste. Just think about each pairing, the body in both the cigar and the beer, the flavors withing both and make your pairing decision based on that.
Being of German descent, I have always been a big fan of German beer. One pairing that I feel is the good happy-medium to start out with and work your way outwards is always a good German Marzen. Marzens are known to carry a decent amount of malt and body yet result in an incredibly smooth and reliable experience. This makes for a perfect cigar pairing foundation as in most cases a good Marzen wonโt dominate the pairing experience nor will it fall flat with paired with even the boldest of cigars.
In the end, donโt be afraid to experiement. Each time you smoke a cigar, think about the flavors and if you have ever had a beer with similar notes. Each time you take a sip of that ale ask yourself: โIs there a cigar in my humidor that would pair with this?โ. Be adventurous. And in the end if you find yourself still hesitant, grab a Marzen, light up your favorite stick, and enjoy.
