Cigar Pairing Guide

The right pairing elevates both the cigar and the drink. The fundamental rule is matching intensity to intensity: a bold bourbon with a full-bodied cigar, a lighter coffee with a mild or medium smoke. Every cigar below is in stock and ships from our Columbus, Ohio humidor. Pairing suggestions reflect both the flavor data in our catalog and recommendations from leading cigar resources.

Cigars and Bourbon: The Classic Pairing

Bourbon and cigars are arguably the most natural pairing in the cigar world. Bourbon's caramel, vanilla, oak, and spice notes complement the earthy, cedar, cocoa, and leather notes found in medium to full-bodied cigars. Match bourbon intensity to cigar strength. A high-rye bourbon with bold spice suits a full-bodied cigar. A sweeter wheated bourbon pairs nicely with a medium smoke.

Cigars and Coffee: Morning to Afternoon

Coffee and cigars share roasted, earthy characteristics that create natural harmony. Match coffee roast intensity to cigar strength. A medium-roast coffee with a medium-bodied cigar, a dark roast or cold brew with a fuller smoke.

  • Arturo Fuente Hemingway Work of Art Maduro 5-Pack (4 7/8 x 60) | Medium-Full | Cedar | Pairs with Coffee. Fuente's classic Hemingway perfecto in a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. Cedar notes with a coffee pairing create a seamless morning or afternoon experience.
  • Drew Estate Factory Smokes Toro Maduro Bundle (6 x 52) | Medium | Cocoa | Pairs with Coffee and Cola. One of the best value medium cigars in our catalog. Cocoa notes and an accessible medium body work well with a dark roast coffee.
  • Liga Privada No. 9 Belicoso (6 x 52) | Full | Espresso | Pairs with Espresso and Hot Chocolate. When you want the pairing to match the cigar in boldness, this is it. The Liga No. 9 Belicoso is a full-bodied espresso bomb that rewards a serious espresso pairing.
  • Arturo Fuente Rothschild Maduro (4 1/2 x 50) | Medium | Coffee | Pairs with Espresso and Hot Chocolate. The coffee flavor note in this Fuente makes the espresso pairing almost too obvious. A 45-minute smoke for a focused morning coffee session.
  • Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto (5 x 52) | Medium-Full | Coffee | Pairs with Espresso and Hot Chocolate. Cigar Aficionado's No. 8 cigar of 2016. The Melanio line is Oliva's flagship, and its Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper calls for a strong espresso or quality cold brew to keep pace.

Cigars and Wine: Pairing with Intention

Wine and cigar pairing requires matching intensity carefully. Tannins in bold red wines can clash with the bitterness in strong cigars. Port wine is the most classic and forgiving pairing for full-bodied cigars. Fuller reds like Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon work with medium to full smokes. Lighter reds and dry whites suit milder cigars.

  • Liga Privada No. 9 Robusto (5 x 54) | Full | Cocoa | Pairs with Port Wine and Mocha. Port wine is the definitive pairing for the Liga No. 9. The rich cocoa notes and full body match the sweetness and depth of a good tawny port perfectly.
  • Liga Privada No. 9 Corona Doble (7 x 54) | Full | Cocoa | Pairs with Port Wine and Mocha. Cigar Aficionado's No. 10 cigar of 2015 (94), and the largest format in the Liga lineup for the longest pairing session. An 85-minute cigar deserves a quality bottle of port.
  • Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Maduro (6 1/2 x 43) | Medium | Chocolate | Pairs with Port Wine. A Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro Fuente with chocolate notes that pair naturally with port's sweetness and depth.
  • Don Carlos by Arturo Fuente Belicoso (5 3/8 x 52) | Medium-Full | Nutty | Pairs with Red Wine. Cigar Aficionado's No. 4 cigar of 2015 (94). The Don Carlos Cameroon wrapper with nutty notes pairs well with a Pinot Noir or a lighter Cabernet.
  • Padron 1964 Anniversary Imperial Maduro (6 x 54) | Full | Espresso | Pairs with Espresso and Hot Chocolate. The Imperial Maduro also works beautifully with a rich port or a bold Cabernet Sauvignon for a premium evening pairing.

Cigars and Cocktails

Classic cocktails pair beautifully with the right cigar. Rum-based cocktails complement maduro wrapper cigars naturally. An Old Fashioned or Manhattan suits a medium to full-bodied smoke. Avoid highly acidic or citrus-forward cocktails with strong cigars as the contrast makes both harsher.

  • Gurkha Revenant Corojo Toro (6 x 54) | Medium-Full | Cedar | Pairs with Aged Rum and IPA. The Corojo wrapper and cedar notes work particularly well with an aged rum or a craft IPA for a bold but not overwhelming pairing.
  • Arturo Fuente Hemingway Work of Art (4 7/8 x 60) | Medium | Spice | Pairs with Spiced Rum and Chai Tea. The Cameroon wrapper spice in the Hemingway Work of Art pairs naturally with the warmth of a spiced rum cocktail.
  • Gurkha Nicaragua Series Robusto (5 x 52) | Medium-Full | Spice | Pairs with Dark Rum. A bold Nicaraguan Corojo that calls for a dark rum to match its intensity.
  • Oliva Serie V 5-Cigar Sampler | Full | Varied | Pairs with Old Fashioned. Five sizes of one blend, three of which have made Cigar Aficionado's Top 25. An Old Fashioned made with a quality bourbon is the ideal companion.

General Pairing Principles

  • Match intensity to intensity. A mild cigar with a bold drink or a strong cigar with a delicate drink creates imbalance where one overpowers the other.
  • Consider burn time. Use the Cigar Nation Burn Clock™ to make sure your cigar lasts as long as your drink.
  • When in doubt, go medium. Medium-bodied cigars are the most versatile pairing partners across all drink categories.
  • Non-alcoholic options. Sparkling water cleanses the palate between puffs. Cold brew coffee works beautifully with medium cigars. Quality hot chocolate pairs well with full-bodied maduro cigars.

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