Two of life’s greatest joys are scotch and cigars. As a result, these joys complement each other so beautifully. The wide variety of scotch and cigars, on the other hand, might overwhelm a person with uncertainty. We all have different tastes, and it’s impossible to predict which match will appeal to you. The only way to find out is to try a diverse variety of cigars and scotch.
If you’re new to cigars and scotch, one guideline to keep in mind is matching body weights. Full-bodied cigars go well with heavier scotches, while milder cigars go well with lighter ones. Cigars and scotch are said to go hand in hand. The two are united to form one of the most famous and classic acceptable combinations, providing a real sensory experience. The formulas for the most special scotch and cigars have been developed over the years, if not generations. Before it becomes ready for sale, the completed product is frequently aged for years. The art of cigar pairing may be as broad as possible as you choose. It might be as simple as smoking a cigar and drinking a drink you enjoy, then calling it a day. It might also be a more profoundly insightful experience in which you meticulously match the taste profiles and overall qualities of the cigar with the drink. As long as you’re having fun, there are no failures in the matching game. Examining the nuances of each item, on the other hand, may take your combination to the next level for the connoisseur trying to enhance their pleasure ultimately.
13 Cigar and Scotch Pairings You Have to Try
#1 Famous Black Grouse Scotch and the Dunbarton Sobremesa
This is what people refer to as the connoisseur’s pick. Famous Black Grouse may not have the name recognition of other scotch whiskeys, but true scotch drinkers are fully aware of it. It is one of the most requested scotches in its native Scotland. The Famous Grouse is a blended scotch that combines single malts from The Highland Park and The McCallan. It is nicely balanced, combining Highland Park’s little peat flavor with McCallan’s fruity and sweet flavor. The scotch is ideally paired with Dunbarton Sobremesa. Sobremesa, the first brand for his newly founded firm, Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust, is crafted by the most expert torcedors at Nicaragua’s legendary Joya de Nicaragua facility. This unmatched combination was years in the making and comprised a stunning dark brown Ecuador Habano wrapper, a rich and zesty Mexican binder, and an aged Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Ligero filler tobacco blend. These vitolas are aged in aromatic cedar bins until their medium to full flavors of earth, sweet spice, leather, and coffee shine through with every delicious puff.
#2 Ashton VSG & Lagavulin 16 Year
Lagavulin 16, distilled on Islay, is a strong scotch with an intensified character of smoked butter, peat, and a hint of hickory that is prominent but difficult to resist. We coupled it with Ashton VSG, a mighty powerhouse in the same price range as Lagavulin. The huskiness of the scotch brings out the soil, cedar, and spice aromas that VSG produces, giving them greater exposure to your tongue. People find themselves revisiting the aftertaste of these two behemoths for hours after enjoying them.
#3 Padron 1926 Series & Springbank 15 Year
Padron 1926 series and Springbank 15 year Springback 15 is manufactured on the Campbeltown shore and features brine and peat textures. Springback 15 is more potent than Highland Park, although it has less sherry flavor. It complements the world-class Padron 1926 Series well. Both are full-bodied and provide a delicious syncopation of dried fruits and nuts that users can’t get enough of. Padron’s all-Nicaraguan profile teems with leather, black cherries, coffee, and cashews blend seamlessly with Springbank 15’s organic zest of marzipan, figs, and chocolate. If you just got your workplace skills bonus and want to celebrate, we think the Springbank and Padron 1926 Series are worth a look.
#4 Oban 14 and Henry Clay War Hawk
Scotch flavors and features, like cigars, vary based on locale and producer. Consider the town of Oban. Oban is one of the best Scotches to come out of Scotland’s Highland area. Highlands distillers are often thick, sweet, and very delicious. That is precisely what Oban 14 provides. It has a medium body, is rich and sweet, and has a faint smoky undertone. To avoid overpowering the scotch, we chose something with comparable flavor notes but a little less robust. The 93-rated Henry Clay War Hawk was an ideal fit. The broadleaf binder, paired with the silky Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, results in a rich, somewhat sweet, and smooth cigar. The remainder of the tobacco originates from Honduras, resulting in citrus, spice, and nutmeg flavors. The tastes are bright and energetic, with a deceptive power that catches you off guard.
#5 Glenlivet 18 and an Ashton Maduro
Glenlivet is the gold standard in single malt scotch. It comes from Scotland’s Speyside area, known for the high quality and availability of its natural water. The Glenlivet 18, one of the world’s most famous single malts, is one of the greatest scotches you’ll ever drink, in my opinion. It has a light, silky texture but a rich, sweet taste with chocolate, almonds, and leather hints. For a pairing, we wanted something that matched the smoothness and inherent sweetness of the wine. We chose one of the people’s all-time favorites, the Ashton Aged Maduro.
The Ashton Aged Maduro is made with a carefully aged combination of Dominican long-leaf fillers and a Dominican binder to assure uniformity. This stunning piece is wrapped in a dark, oily, deeply aged Maduro Connecticut Broadleaf. The elegant wrapper, one of the rarest of its kind, looks as tasty as it tastes. When lit, the medium-bodied smoke mixes notes of natural sweetness and mild nutty undertones, enticing the palate with rich, delectable aromas. That is an excellent example of a black cigar with a mellow body. Rich coffee and chocolate notes merge with a creamy and smooth scent to produce a well-balanced and delectable combination.
#6 San Cristobal & Talisker Storm
Talisker Storm is an Isle of Skye-distilled Viking maelstrom of spice and smoke. That is a powerful scotch with large, robust oak and peat characteristics. If you’re going to plunge into this thick drink, we recommend bringing San Cristobal with you as an underwater companion. The cigar is a full-bodied Nicaraguan jewel with lovely coffee and cherry flavors that sandbag the fury of Talisker Storm. San Cristobal also has wood and leather notes that become more evident with the peaty zest of the scotch. Tobaccos that have been extensively matured offer a treasure mine of flavor for the senses. With this solid after-dinner combo, prepare for an evening of pure introspection.
#7 Oliva Master Blends & Glenlivet Nadurra Oloroso
Glenlivet Nadurra Olorosso has been substantially matured in first-fill oloroso sherry barrels, imparting a solid sherry flavor to the pure whisky. When matched with Oliva Master Blends 3, the fruity energy of Glenlivet brings out the burning undertones of brown sugar from Oliva. Both are full-bodied, rich sensations that, when combined, produce a spicy, creamy combination that truly wakes the senses. Add a sliver of high-quality dark chocolate to the mix for an extra layer of rich, deceptive flavor.
#8 High West Campfire and Olivia Serie V Melanio
This pairing’s keyword is simply complexity. I’ve combined two of the most distinctive, tasty, and sophisticated items to create a roller coaster of an experience for you. Starting with the scotch, we have High West’s Campfire. This one-of-a-kind whiskey is a three-way combination of straight rye, straight bourbon, and blended malt scotch. It is pretty complex, beginning sweet, peaking with spice, and finishing smooth and smokey. The Oliva Serie V Melanio comes to mind when I think about complexity and flavor changes. The kick of Ecuador Habano begins strongly but is quickly replaced by a unique leather and sweet flavor from the Jalapa tobaccos.
The Serie V has a rich taste yet is smooth. The lengthy filler tobaccos combine Oliva Nicaraguan Habano that focuses on tobacco from the Jalapa region, which produces a more nuanced leaf than the Estel or Condega districts. This meticulously aged Jalapa mix yields a wonderfully flavorful smoke.
#9 La Aroma de Cuba Noblesse & Macallan 18 Year
Macallan 18 is a Speyside distillery representative that has been matured in selected sherry oak barrels from Spain. Macallan 18 delivers an array of smoke, fall fruit, and spice on the tongue. They matched it with the equally prestigious La Aroma de Cuba Noblesse. The Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos are sandwiched between a vintage Cuban-seed wrapper crafted by Jose’ Pepin’ Garcia. On equal footing, Noblesse meets the buttery profile of Macallan. Macallan’s syrupy flavors of apple strudel and gingerbread accentuate the creamy, flowery textures of spice and almonds in Noblesse.
#10 Rocky Patel Decade & Dalmore 12 Year
Dalmore 12 has been matured for nine years in ex-bourbon barrels made of American white oak. Then, half of it is aged in ex-oloroso sherry barrels for the next three years. It’s sweet but not malty sweetness, and it’s strong with a hint of sherry. That is a fantastic cigar scotch, and we’ve matched it with Rocky Patel Decade because of its rich, complex flavor changes. They both have a lot of taste. The scotch’s notes of marzipan and citrus complement the likes of almonds, black cherries, and spices that Rocky Patel Decade emits. Dalmore’s silky character fits neatly with the chilly, peppery pulls provided by the decade.
#11 Yamazaki and Arturo Fuente Don Carlos
The Japanese malt whiskey sector has been a thorn in Scotland’s shoulder for the past decade or two. While it cannot officially be named scotch because it must be brewed in Scotland, distillers such as Yamazaki have won best malt whiskey honors for years, consistently outperforming Scotland. While we love and adore the original, the Yamazaki is delectable. It’s smooth, yet it has rich wood, leather, and soil notes, with a somewhat nutty undertone. There was one tobacco that would go wonderfully with the whiskey. Arturo Fuente Don Carlos is a high-end brand. Its aged Dominican tobaccos provide a soft but nutty core, while its toothy Cameroon wrapper adds notes of leather, a subtle spice, and wood. A lusciously dark African Cameroon wrapper holds the Dominican-aged long-fillers and binder together. While chocolate and nuts are the most prominent tastes, they are balanced by a sweet cedar and a mild spice. Said, this Arturo Fuente cigar has a delicate depth that only becomes richer with each flawless draw of these medium-full smokes.
#12 My Father Le Bijou 1922 & Bowmore 15 Year
Bowmore 15 is manufactured in the legendary Islay distillery near Loch Indaal and matured in Oloroso sherry barrels, which give the scotch a flavor of honey and apricot. There’s also a strong gingerbread spice aroma. My Father Le Bijou 1922 and I smoked it. Le Bijou 1922, one of Pepin Garcia’s most forward blends, is recognized for producing strong waves of black pepper, coffee beans, and spices that move seamlessly beneath the distinct stamp of Bowmore. On Le Bijou 1922, peated flavors of black licorice and cinnamon from Bowmore mingle with the fierce richness of a magnificent Oscuro wrapper.
#13 Fuente Fuente Opus X & Oban 18 Year
Fuente Fuente Opus X is a classic, extremely rare cigar recognized for its aggressiveness. Opus X emphasizes robust Ligero tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, which impart a rich spice and a chewy, savory aftertaste. If you’re going to drink something with it, it should have some grit to it. Oban 18 does the job. Opus X is known for helping anchor with the spice profusion, emitting sea air and toffee wafts. Oban 18 provides creamy vanilla and wild berry flavors that mix well with the deep characteristic of dried fruit, figs, and black pepper that defines Opus X. Be warned: this combination is not for the faint of heart.
