Some nights call for splitting time between a beer and a whiskey rather than picking one. If you are smoking a cigar through both, the safest move is to build around whichever drink you plan to spend more time with. A full-bodied cigar can get lost next to a delicate beer but holds its own fine next to a pour of bourbon or scotch, so these four are picked for cigars strong enough to survive that switch.
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The Cigars
What to Drink With Each One
- Liga Privada No. 9: a Russian imperial stout on the beer side, an Islay scotch on the whiskey side. Both are dark and peaty enough to match the cigar’s intensity.
- Camacho Corojo: a smoked porter or a peated single malt. The pepper in the cigar wants some smoke to answer it.
- Oliva Serie O: an amber ale or a rye whiskey. Medium body on both sides keeps things balanced.
- Padron 1926 Series No. 48 Maduro: a bourbon-barrel stout or a straight bourbon. The chocolate and espresso notes in the cigar echo what is already in the drink.
A Few Rules for Switching Between Beer and Whiskey
- Drink water between switches. It resets your palate so neither drink gets muddled by the other.
- Go beer first, whiskey second. Beer’s carbonation and lower alcohol make it the gentler starting point.
- Keep the cigar’s pace slower than either drink. Sip both, do not chase the cigar to keep up.
More Ways to Pair Beer and Cigars
For a lighter, beer-only approach see our Best Cigars for Stout and Porter guide, or go back to the full beer and cigar pairing guide.
FAQ
What cigar goes well with both beer and whiskey?
Full-bodied cigars like Liga Privada No. 9 or Padron 1926 Maduro hold up to both a strong beer and a whiskey without getting lost.
Should you drink beer or whiskey first when having both with a cigar?
Beer first, then whiskey. The lower alcohol and carbonation in beer make it the easier starting point on your palate.
Why do dark, full-bodied cigars pair best with whiskey?
Whiskey’s intensity needs a cigar with enough weight to not get overwhelmed. Milder cigars tend to disappear next to a strong pour.
