Pipe and Cigar Beverage Pairings

[TimmyBoston]

When I'm smoking my pipe or a cigar I often wish to enjoy a nice whisk(e)y with it, but nearly everytime I run into a problem, the smoke/heat etc from the pipe/cigar deadens my tongue and gives the spirit and very acidic taste and sharp bite, effectively ruining the whisky.

Does anyone have any recommendations of other beverages to pair with my pipe/cigar? Or any advice of how to fix what is wrong with my smoking technique that's ruining my whisky experience.

Thanks

[Tinzien]

Old Dominion Brewery Root Beer goes excellent with my cigars and pipe tobacco.

[rikrdo]

Tim:

My 2 favorite beverages while smoking:

Coffee and Port

I have never enjoyed whisky with the pipe/cigar.
I also never understood while cognac was so popular.

[Jim]

Coffee is a great choice!

[CapeCodJay]

Coffee is a great choice!

Or Tea for those mider smokes.

[F16WarBird]

Some of my personal choices to accompany a pipe;

Sherry, Meade, Lillet, hot buttered rum (http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_20985,00.html), or a martini.

[judge]

I like Blanton's single barrel bourbon but I have yet to find a cigar to intimidate Lagavoulin's 16 yr old scotch.

[BrewShaver]

Good rum is unbeatable with a cigar ... just about any cigar.

Barleywines and imperial stouts (and the occasional darker strong belgian ale) work well with stogies as well -- stouts particularly with maduros.

I dunno nuttin' about pipes.

[Lynchmeister]

Good rum is unbeatable with a cigar ... just about any cigar.

Barleywines and imperial stouts (and the occasional darker strong belgian ale) work well with stogies as well -- stouts particularly with maduros.

I dunno nuttin' about pipes.

Agreed. I had the opportunity to try some high end rum called Zaya, which went extremely well with the Sancho Panza Double Maduro I was smoking.

Now I'm craving a Guinness with that same cigar...

...payday can't come soon enough!

[Tinzien]

I'm partial to a lime-aid w/ Grey Goose or a mojito when partaking of my King Arthur's Court or Frog Morton on the Town tobaccos.

[WithTheGrain]

When I'm smoking my pipe or a cigar I often wish to enjoy a nice whisk(e)y with it, but nearly everytime I run into a problem, the smoke/heat etc from the pipe/cigar deadens my tongue and gives the spirit and very acidic taste and sharp bite, effectively ruining the whisky.

Does anyone have any recommendations of other beverages to pair with my pipe/cigar? Or any advice of how to fix what is wrong with my smoking technique that's ruining my whisky experience.

Thanks

For cigars, I am a beer guy. But, Hornsby's Cider (the darker variety) is actually really decent with a cigar. It doesn't have the added sugar like alot of cidars, it holds up. For non-alcoholic choices, regular Dr. Pepper is actually a good choice as well...

[Dinder1]

Tim:

My 2 favorite beverages while smoking:

Coffee and Port

I have never enjoyed whisky with the pipe/cigar.
I also never understood while cognac was so popular.

+1 on the coffee and port.
Tim, as far as your smoke becoming bitter etc....try slowing your pace a little. I view the enjoyment of a good smoke as a mini vacation, so I always set aside a minimum of one hour (uninterrupted)to devote to the experience.

[Iceman]

I prefer a good Ale with my cigars. Something with a bit of hoppiness to it.

Of course, I dont mind having 2 fingers of Jack Daniels or Jamesons Irish whikey either.

[Newfie]

Coffee is a great choice!


Or Tea for those mider smokes.

Yes and yes.

I prefer strong coffee with a cigar, and steeped tea with a pipe.

I know it's a YMMV thing, but I have never found any booze good with a smoke other than a nice Port or a Sherry.

[analog_kid]

I enjoy white tea(usually iced unless it's morning)with a mild Dominican cigar. I find both to have gentle, subtle flavors that complement the other very nicely. A stronger smoke needs a stronger beverage like a nice hoppy beer as Iceman mentioned. I like Blue Moon Summer Ale with something medium in body and maybe a light brown or red with something stronger.

I also drink scotch or whisky if I'm in the mood. Too bad I only have a few drops of Jack left in the liquor cabinet...

[El Kid]

#1 Port. I especially like LBV's.
#2 Rum. Only When I can't find a Port.
#3 Coffee. For daytime (lunch) smoke.

Cheers,
Alexis

[Lynchmeister]

The other night I was drinking a mojito and I went a bit heavy on the fresh squeezed lime juice. Unfortunately it almost completely killed the taste of the cigar. I'll chalk that one up to experience.

[FloppyShoes]

Believe it or not, I like a glass of OJ with my evening smoke.

[TimmyBoston]

It had been a very long time since I pulled out my pipe, so I put in some Virginia Flake and lit up along with a nice glass of Pappy 15. It RUINED the Pappy. Just awful. :cursing:

I think I really need to learn how to smoke a pipe before I can actually pair it was whiskey. It destroyed my tongue and I couldn't even come close to enjoying the rest of my bourbon. :frown: