One of my favorite aspects of cigars is the variety. There is always the perfect cigar for your drink, meal or even your mood. As fall is fully in effect now, it's time for a slew of perfect fall time drinks and the perfect cigars to pair with them.
Cointreau Ginger Snap and Oliva Serie V
This is the perfect fall time pairing for the fan of something flavorful and a little spicy. The Cointreau Ginger Snap blends together the rich, orange flavors of the Cointreau with zesty ginger, cinnamon, and bitters. This gives it a well-rounded profile with rich, sweet, and spicy notes. It's that profile that makes this a great partner for the original Oliva Serie V. One of the highest-rated cigars in the industry, the Serie V is bold and incredibly flavorful with notes of pepper, cinnamon and a dash of citrus.
El Cafecito and La Finca Tierra Brava
For a great after dinner pairing, you can try out the El Cafecito. This coffee-based cocktail mixes together dark rum, coffee liqueur, Licor 43, some syrup, and chocolate bitters for a dark, rich, and sweet fall-themed drink. The deep, rich flavors are partnered up nicely with the strength of the rum for a libation that is sure to warm you up. To go with the El Cafecito, we lit up the brand new La Finca Tierra Brava. This Nicaraguan puro has wonderful notes of sweet spice, cocoa, earth, and leather making it a great post-meal companion.
Maple Old Fashioned and CAO Session
Both the cigar and beverage in this pairing are a great homage to a simpler time. First you have the fall-themed, maple old fashioned. Shake up bourbon, pure maple syrup, and bitters with a little orange, and you have a sweet version of an old-time favorite. The CAO Sessions was created by Rick Rodriguez to represent the simple times with his friends hanging out, having cigars in his garage. Its Connecticut broadleaf wrapper gives it a rich sweetness that makes it match up very nicely with the Old Fashioned.
Espresso Martini and Tabak Especial Gordo Negra
If you are a coffee lover, there is no better pair than this. First up is the Espresso Martini, a dark, modern take on the classic, James Bond cocktail. It mixes together vodka, syrup, a coffee liqueur, and a little fresh-brewed espresso. It is definitely a drink that'll keep you up at night. Pair that with one of the best coffee infused cigars in the world, the Tabak Especial and you have every coffee connoisseur's dream pairing.
El Puro and H. Upmann 175th Anniversary
This pairing combines two incredibly flavorful and complex products. First you have the El Puro. This unique cocktail is a mix of bourbon, blended Scotch, Campari, marmalade, ginger, and cinnamon. There are a lot of flavors going on in this one drink, but they all work together in a fantastic way. We paired this with the brand new H.Upmann 175th Anniversary. This Nicaraguan puro - no relation - offers up tremendous notes of cinnamon, citrus, smoke, and sweetness making it a powerhouse companion for the El Puro.
