A Few Basic Tips to Consider for Pairing Fine Cigars with Your Favorite Beverages

Somewhere between college and middle age, an adult's flavor palate evolves from some of the more basic pleasures in life to choices that become much more refined. They basically go from beer and pizza to cognac and a fine cigar. Now, don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with a large pepperoni sicilian-style slice of pizza hot out of the oven with a cold glass of Stella Artois for dinner. But once in awhile you might want to savor something a little more sophisticated. That's when it's time to break out the humidor and open up the liquor cabinet.

The problem becomes how do you correctly pair these two wonderful things that are great on their own. How do you discover just the right drink that goes with just the right smoke? Finding good drink pairings with cigars can be much harder than it sounds. What follows are a few good tips to keep in mind when trying to accomplish that.

Ask an Aficionado - If you're a newbie to the cigar world or just starting out in your quest to find the right drink to complement your smoke, a good first step can be to ask your local cigar aficionado. Find someone who obviously knows their stuff when it comes to fine cigars. This could be an uncle, a friend, or even a really good chef at a great restaurant might be able to help you with this. Sit down and talk to whoever it is and discuss what things you like and dislike about various cigars. Talk about strengths and flavors. This should result in several recommendations for you to go out and purchase, which you can take home and try at your leisure. Discovering the type of cigar you like first is an important part in making a good drink pairing.

Plenty of Drinks to Choose from - As far as wines go, stick with sweet ones. Avoid things that are too rich and buttery. Scotch and cognac are tried and true, but don't be afraid to pour a good aged rum over rocks to pair with just the right smoke as well.

Stay Away - Avoid things like gin and vodka. They're just not a good match for any kind of smoke really. It doesn't matter if it's mild or strong. They just don't mix.

Contact Corona Cigar Co. to find out which cigar would pair perfectly with a fine wine or the just the right spirit.