Bourbon and Cigar Pairings

Sometimes in life, absolute magic happens when you combine two separate entities. Alone, they can be enjoyable, but when paired together, an entirely new experience is presented, elevating the delight to new heights. This experience we’re talking about, the magic of pairing bourbon and cigars.

How to pair bourbon and cigars

If you were to speak to a lot of typical cigar buffs, they’d more than likely suggest to pair a full bodied cigar with a full bodied bourbon, and pair a smoother, medium bodied cigar with a lighter bodied bourbon.

On the flipside, some aficionados take the opposite approach. For sweeter or earthier cigars, they’d suggest you pair them with a bourbon that’s bold and full of spice. While for spicier cigars, you’d try to pair with a bourbon that’s smoother, or has some sweet notes so that liquid compliments the earthiness of the cigar.

In the end, taste preferences are very subjective, so we always say feel free to pair your cigars with any bourbon you enjoy.

However, if you’re just getting into pairing bourbon with cigars, here’s a few easy steps to follow.

1. Puff on your cigar, rolling the smoke around in your mouth
2. After releasing the smoke, take a sip of your bourbon, rolling it around in your mouth
3. Rinse and repeat

If you’re tasting multiple bourbons in the attempt to find your favorite, try jotting down notes of anything that was different between the liquid and your cigar. That way, if you’re ever trying to remember those perfect pairings for your preference, you’ve got something to go back and reference.

Can you infuse cigars with bourbon?

You absolutely can. We know a lot of cigar gurus who like to dip the end of their cigar in a glass of bourbon before they fire up. Ultimately, cigars are kind of like sponges, they’ll soak up the flavor and aroma of what they’re exposed to.

However, if you’ve never experimented with infusing your own cigars, we’d suggest trying it with something less valuable just in case you aren’t pleasantly surprised with the outcome. For instance, we wouldn’t recommend taking something like a Cohiba Spectre and soaking it in bourbon for your first go-round.

Cigar World’s top bourbon and cigar pairing suggestions

Makers Mark & CAO Consigliere 

Pappy Van Winkle & Partagas Black Label

Eagle Rare & Punch Diablo

Rabbit Hole Dareringer & Diesel Whiskey Row Sherry Cask

Blanton's & La Gloria Cubana Serie R

W.L. Weller Special Reserve & Cohiba Royale

Bulleit & Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure Selección

Buffalo Trace & Macanudo Inspirado Red

Get some bourbon and cigar pairings from Cigar World members

Howbucks Likes:
Elijah Craig with CAO L’ Anniversaire Maduro

Goomba Likes:
Punch Rare Corojo & Michter’s Bourbon

Want to find your perfect bourbon and cigar pairing?

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What’s your favorite bourbon to pair with a cigar?

We hope you enjoyed the read, and if you have any perfect cigar and bourbon pairings, let us know in the comments below!