Cigar and Bourbon Pairing

Bourbon and cigars share a lot: oak, caramel, spice, and a little char. When the pairing is right, each one makes the other taste better. When it's wrong, one simply drowns the other out. You don't need to memorize tasting notes to get it right. A few simple ideas cover most of it.

Match the weight

The most useful rule is to match the body of the cigar to the strength of the pour. A mild cigar with a light Connecticut shade wrapper gets lost next to a barrel-proof bourbon. A full, dark maduro will flatten a gentle, lower-proof pour.

• Mild cigars go well with softer, wheated bourbons and lower proofs.
• Medium cigars, like many Habano and Sumatra wrappers, are the most flexible and work with most standard bourbons.
• Full-bodied cigars can stand up to high-proof and high-rye bourbons.

Balance sweetness and spice

Bourbon brings sweetness from the new charred oak: caramel, vanilla, brown sugar. That sweetness takes the edge off a peppery cigar. On the other hand, a sweet maduro next to a sweet wheated bourbon can turn into a lot of dessert. A spicier, high-rye bourbon gives it some contrast.

How to taste them together

Light the cigar and give it a few minutes before you start sipping, because the first draws are rarely its best. Take a small sip, let it sit on your tongue, then draw on the cigar. Notice what changes. A splash of water in the glass will open up a high-proof bourbon and keep it from numbing your palate. Keep a glass of plain water nearby too.

Try it with company

The best way to learn is to try two or three combinations side by side with a friend and compare notes. Tulsa's cigar lounges with full bars are built for exactly that, and the bartenders usually enjoy helping. Several of them host tasting and pairing nights through the year.

Please enjoy both responsibly, and don't drive after a night of tasting.