The days are short, the weather is cold, the stress of the holidays is over, and the depths of winter are almost upon us. However, this otherwise drab time of year is a time of reflection and celebration as we look back at 2023 and look forward to ringing in 2024.
So you can cheers to the New Year in style and celebrate with flavor, the team here at Cigars.com has come up with the perfect cigar and drink pairings to enjoy during and after your New Years celebrations!
Victory Brewing Merry Monkey & Davidoff Nicaragua
Coming from Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Victory Brewing is ushering in winter with Victory Brewing Merry Monkey. Merry Monkey is a Belgian-style holiday ale that builds on the incredibly popular Golden Monkey brew with flavorful winter highlights. Orange peel, nutmeg, cranberry, and cinnamon bring a new dimension of flavors to Golden Monkey, making it an excellent choice throughout winter.
To pair with the spices and sweetness of Victory Brewing Merry Monkey, we suggest you try the Davidoff Nicaragua. Blended entirely with Nicaraguan tobaccos that have been extensively aged to perfection, the Davidoff Nicaragua delivers an intense medium to full-bodied tapestry of roasted nuts, espresso, leather, baking spices, caramel, and hints of cream.
Sipping on some Victory Brewing Merry Monkey while you puff a Davidoff Nicaragua is a surefire way to make your New Year's celebrations more memorable.
Anderson Valley Brewing Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale & Crowned Heads Le Pâtissier
With winter in full swing, a winter beer is fitting for ushering in the new year, and the Anderson Valley Brewing Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is certain to hit the spot. A malty brew, Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is a winter warmer that will keep the frost of winter at bay. It is characterized by notes of spices, caramel, and toffee that, combined with the 7% ABV, will invigorate the senses.
To pair with the rich, sweet, and spicy flavors of Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale, we thought the Crowned Heads Le Patissier would be an excellent companion. Featuring Costa Rican and Nicaraguan long-fillers, a Nicaraguan Jalapa binder, and a chocolatey Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, the smooth yet rich medium to full-bodied flavors of spices, coffee, leather, earth, and chocolate.
Le Pâtissier make the perfect complement to Anderson Valley Brewing Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale.
The Lost Abbey Judgement Day & Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut
Boldly flavored with even more strength at 10.5% ABV, The Lost Abbey Judgement Day is certain to warm you up on cold winter nights. Judgement Day is a Belgian-style quadruple ale rich with malts for full-bodied and sweet flavors of dark fruit and layers of malt. Brewed with the addition of raisins, Judgement Day offers a dark, rich, and sweet experience that lends itself perfectly to cold weather enjoyment.
While not the boldest cigar in the humidor, the Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut is brimming with balanced flavors that will pair wonderfully with The Lost Abbey Judgement Day. Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut boasts a zesty Nicaraguan core and an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, leading to a rich medium-bodied profile of sweet, spicy, and creamy flavors that perfectly accompany Judgement Day’s malty, fruit-like sweetness.
Highland Brewing Co. Cold Mountain Winter Ale & H. Upmann The Banker Daytrader
Coming out of Highland Brewing Co. in North Carolina, the Cold Mountain Winter Ale is a seasonal Winter Warmer brew made to perfectly complement the cold winter weather. The exact recipe may change from year to year, but the rich spices, hazelnut, vanilla, and malty sweetness always fit the vibe for winter cheer.
The enchantingly rich medium-full-bodied flavors of roasted nuts, cedar, coffee, and leather imparted by H. Upmann The Banker Daytrader are also perfect for enjoying during the short days of winter and make an excellent pairing with Highland Brewing Co. Cold Mountain Winter Ale.
Inspired by the world of modern banking and finance, investing in H. Upmann The Banker Daytrader cigars this winter is certain to pay dividends for your humidor.
Avery Brewing Old Jubilation & Foundation Charter Oak Broadleaf
You can ring in the new year with jubilance and glee by enjoying the Avery Brewing Old Jubilation. Many winter beers have spices added in during the brewing, but Old Jubilation accomplishes rich wintertime notes of hazelnut, caramel, and mocha with a blend of 5 specialty malts.
The strong 8.3% ABV adds to the flavors and is certain to grease the wheels to make your New Years joyous and jubilant.
The perfect pairing for this bold, old ale is the Charter Oak Broadleaf from Foundation Cigar Co. and its founder Nick Melillo. Its Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper, Habano binder, and aged Nicaraguan long fillers sum up to a rich mosaic of chocolate, spices, earth, and sweetness.
The rich chocolatey and sweet profile of Charter Oak complements the caramel and mocha of Old Jubilation, making it a combination that will elevate any New Years celebration.
