Short answer: match strength first, then flavor. A mild cigar goes with a softer pour, a full-bodied cigar with a bolder one. Then pair flavors that either echo each other, like cocoa with a sherried Scotch, or contrast, like pepper with a sweet bourbon. For Scotch in depth, see our Scotch and cigar pairing guide; for wine and Port, the wine and cigar pairing guide.
Rule 1: match the body
A delicate Connecticut Shade cigar will be flattened by a cask-strength whiskey. A full-bodied maduro will overpower a light Irish whiskey. Pair mild with mild, medium with medium, full with full.
Rule 2: echo or contrast the flavors
- Echo: a dark, cocoa-rich maduro with a sherry-cask Scotch or an aged rum.
- Contrast: a peppery Nicaraguan cigar with a sweet, caramel-forward bourbon.
Pairings we pour in the lounge
- Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story (mild to medium, Cameroon) with a smooth Irish whiskey.
- Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro (medium to full) with an aged rum or a wheated bourbon.
- Fuente Fuente Opus X (full) with a cask-strength Speyside Scotch.
- Liga Privada No. 9 (full, Connecticut Broadleaf) with a high-proof bourbon.
- Diamond Crown Classic (mild, Connecticut Shade) with a light Speyside single malt.
For bourbon in particular, including what wheated, bottled in bond and barrel proof mean at the table, see bourbon and cigar pairing.
Tips
- Sip water between the two to reset your palate.
- Add a drop of water to high-proof whiskey. It opens the aroma.
- Taste the whiskey alone first, then with the cigar.
Try it with us
Our staff build pairings every night in the lounge, and we host guided pairing nights and barrel picks. Sun of a Gun, 1651 S Arizona Ave, Yuma, Arizona. 21+.
Frequently asked questions
What whiskey goes best with a cigar?
There is no single answer. Bourbon's sweetness suits peppery cigars, sherried Scotch suits maduros, and a mild Irish whiskey suits Connecticut Shade cigars.
Does peaty Scotch pair with cigars?
It can, but peat competes with the smoke. Try it with a full-bodied cigar that can stand up to it.
