Whiskey and cigars are a match made in heaven. This holy grail of luxurious partnerships combines the flavors and styles of two distinct elements to create something extraordinarily magical.
Join us in our journey to find the perfect cigars and whiskey pairings to start the year right.
It’s best to explore high-end whiskey and cigar offerings individually to understand their flavor profiles before pairing them.
R&R has an impressive collection of premium cigars that call their humidor home. They also have a top-tier selection of global favorites available on their online store. You can browse through their extensive listing to find the right fit.
Here are the best cigars of 2023 that you can pair with your choice of bourbon for an unforgettable experience.
Wrapped in a Sumatra Oscuro wrapper, The Black Warrior is made with two leaves of Ligero from Honduras and Nicaragua with a fine addition of viso from Nicaragua. It comes in two sizes: Robusto (5.5 x 50) and Box Press Torpedo (6.5 x 52). The latter, a Reagan favorite, is rated 91 on Cigar Coop. A hit with the locals, this cigar is a must-try.
If The Black Warrior is a bit intense for your tastes, try its mild version—Casa de las Estrellas. With the same tobacco as the Black warrior and wrapped in a light Sumatra wrapper, the Casa de las Estrellas comes in three different sizes: Toro (6 x 52), Box Press Torpedo (6.5 x 52), and Lancero (7 x 40).
Experience top-tier quality, flavor, and construction with Arturo Fuente’s award-winning cigar portfolio. The long burn, smooth draw, and attention to detail given to these cigars make them one of the best ones to pair with a fantastic bourbon.
Built on friendship and fun, these cigars use rare, well-aged tobacco to complement their unique flavors. They come in two high-quality selections: Long Live the King Cigars and King is Dead. Both variants have distinct flavors and tones and complement different palates.
Offering full-bodied smokes, La Flor Dominicana Cigars have a rich, bold taste and a stunning construction to their name. Their quality and general presentation make them one of the best cigar brands on the market today.
Known for consistency and construction, Rocky Patel Cigars come in light-bodied to full-bodied variants. With cinnamon, spicy, woodsy, nutty, leathery, coffee, or chocolate notes, these sticks are meant to be enjoyed by any cigar enthusiast.
Whiskey improves with age. If you’re looking for a distinct flavor that hits all the right taste buds, you’ve come to the right place.
R&R is the only 100 Year Bar in Tuscaloosa. Here is a listing of aged whiskies that can be found and enjoyed at R&R.
This listing is by no means comprehensive. Please visit R&R Cigars’ website to learn more about their outrageous collection of Single Malts. You can explore the 50 different premium whiskies that call R&R home. From Angel’s Envy, Bakers, Basil Hayden, and Blood Oath Pact, Bookers to Clyde Mays, Elijah Craig, Four Roses, Rhetoric, 1792, Strahan’s, Westland, Whistlepig, and Woodford—you can be assured you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Your inner whiskey enthusiast is sure to enjoy this vast collection. The question is: are you willing to explore?
Pairing the best cigars and whiskey can be tricky, especially if you’re just getting used to the lifestyle of sipping whiskey in one hand and puffing a stogie in the other.
We’ve compiled a list of the important things you should consider when dabbling in this age-old union:
When you’re combining the flavors and tones of two very different things, you must take the makeup of both elements into account. For example, if you prefer cigars with strong top notes, it’s best to link it with something that has the muscle to stand up to its boldness. Try to balance the flavors of the two without overpowering either.
To enhance the flavors of your choice of cigar and whiskey, indulge in pairings with contrasting flavor profiles. If you want to go for a bold, spicy cigar, you will do well to pair it with a bourbon that carries a hint of sweetness. If you’re going for a light cigar, pair it with a mild, subtle scotch.
Cigars at R&R have impressive flavor profiles that give enthusiasts the freedom to pick and choose one to pair with the wide variety of bourbons available.
When browsing for pairings, try to meet power with power. If you’re opting for some sweetness in a cigar, pair it with a bourbon with caramel and vanilla notes.
Everyone’s palate is different—what might be a sure hit for one will be an absolute no-go for others. There is no one-size-fits-all solution if you’re looking for the best of the best.
This is why aficionados recommend experimentation. You can try light, mid, and overwhelming pairings and decide what would be the best whiskey and cigar pairings for you.
Now that you know how to pair whiskey and cigars, it’s time to give free rein to your imagination and explore the world of this age-old union.
Think the research process is too hectic? Skip to the good part with this tried-and-true combination.
Pair Arturo Fuente Anejo’s luxurious flavor profile of creamy spices, brown sugar, and cocoa with the smoke, leather, tea leaves, wood, and herbs aroma profile of Angel Envy’s Cask Strength. This pairing’s complementary flavors are sure to be ones you will return to, time and again.
An incredible listing of global-favorite cigars complements the all-encompassing state-of-the-art whiskies well-stocked in R&R’s bar and humidors. Cigar and whiskey enthusiasts should be hooked for life!
Celebrate the new year with the best cigars and whiskey pairings that made 2023 worthwhile.
So, what are you waiting for? Soothe your cravings and unleash the enthusiast in you by relaxing and recharging at R&R’s premium cigar and whiskey bar in The Cigar Mansion located at 2703 Fitts Street in Tuscaloosa. Text The Mansion at (205) 722-2741 or contact us to learn more. You are sure to find the pairing of your dreams!
