Great Hot Drink Pairings For Cigars
In last week’s blog we looked at the superb pairing options between coffee and cigars, but you don’t have to stop at coffee when you’re looking for a warm beverage to enjoy with a cigar. Here are some of our other favorites.
Hot Toddy. There are a myriad of ways to make a proper toddy, but the general ingredients are hot water, whisky, lemon and honey. Some people add cinnamon, clove, or use brown sugar, but the basic recipe will work just fine. Hot toddies are an excellent way to unwind, and pair well with a more robust, bright cigar, since the toddy will supply all the sweet notes. Just don’t fall asleep in your armchair with a lit cigar!
Tea. Not everyone likes coffee, but you can pair tea just as well. Tea flavor profiles are much lighter, so most cigars will dominate the pairing. Ranked from lightest to heaviest in taste (and caffeine, incidentally), teas go White, Green, Yerba Mate, and Black. Yerba Mate in particular pairs superbly with cigars; it’s an earthy tea with notes of tobacco already in the taste profile. It’s the perfect afternoon pick-me-up on a cold day.
Mexican Hot Chocolate. Before you laugh at the idea, try a proper Mexican hot chocolate with your favorite cigar. Forget the overly sweet version kids enjoy, and step it up with dark chocolate, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. We suggest skipping the whipped cream, which will just coat your taste buds.
One of the most rewarding aspects of cigars is the fun of pairing them up with different food and drinks. If you have a favorite hot drink/cigar pairing, share it with us on our Facebook page, our stop in our store and browse today!