“Smoking cigars is like falling in love. First, you are attracted by its shape; you stay for its flavor, and you must always remember never, never to let the flame go out!"
—Winston Churchill
During this month of love, we asked beloved Roswell purveyors of cigars, sweets, spirits and wine to play matchmaker.
Scott Bailey, owner of The Cigar Merchant of Roswell is our expert on cigars and shares some of his favorites to pair. "In general, full-bodied cigars go with full-bodied spirits. Mild cigars with light-bodied spirits," says Scott.
Pair with bourbon:
Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro $$$
My Father Le Bijou $$
CLE Corojo $
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked offers full body notes of vanilla and dark caramel, counterbalancing the sweetness of chocolate mousse in the S'mores Baked Alaska. However, the back notes of hazelnut and spices blend well with the charred marshmallow meringue in the dessert - a great trio along with a cigar. "The creamy finish of this bourbon finishes off the marriage with the dessert," says Eddie Elrod general manager at Uncle Jack's on Canton Street.
Pair with scotch:
Fuente Hemingway $$
Flor De Los Antillas $
The Stagg Jr. "lingers with cherries and cloves and just a taste of smokiness," promised Eddie.
Pair with red wines:
Plasencia Alma Fuerte $$$
Ashton Aged Maduro $
To pair with sweet desserts and dessert wines:
Ashton Cabinet $$
CLE Connecticut $
Save room for dessert! The S'mores Baked Alaska at Uncle Jack's on Canton Street pairs beautifully with a cigar. It has a layer of graham cracker crumb with a scoop of rich chocolate mousse, covered in torched marshmallow meringue.
"Port wine often has touches of cinnamon spice to the taste profile and pairs perfectly with chocolate," says Eddie. "The wood notes of the port with the notes of mature fruit tie together with the charred marshmallow meringue."
To pair with mead:
Montecristo White Label $$$
Avo XO $$
When one imagines pairing a beverage to a fine cigar, bourbon whiskey almost certainly comes to mind. "Three or four ounces of an ambrosial liquid is the perfect partner for nearly any variety of cigar, whether claro or maduro, robusto or Churchill," says Sean Walcek, owner of 5/4 Meadery in Roswell. "However, there's another wonderful elixir whose full flavor stands up to the brashness of tobacco, yet is mellow enough not to overpower it. Surprisingly enough, it happens to be the world's oldest alcoholic beverage: Mead."
Mind's Rye premium Mead from Roswell's family-owned 5/4 Meadery is barrel-aged in freshly decanted rye whiskey barrels and combines tannic notes with the pleasant essence of raw local Georgia honey, creating a perfect partner for sitting on the deck in your favorite chair enjoying a hand-rolled cigar. Bold enough to stand out, yet smooth enough to not steal the show, Mind's Rye premium Mead is a sophisticated drink that will pair perfectly with your favorite cigar.