Pairing Cigars and Wine??

[JonnyO]

What say ye? I tried it last week (with a merlot) and for me it was a taste sensation! I heard from the more wizened that it is not generally done though?

[JoeyGunz]

I do it because I like to do it.
I love cigars, I love red wine!

Who cares if it's the generally done thing, I don't.

[dmacleod28]

i also love a glass or 2 of red wine with my cigars i practically like a good rioja like a campo viejo gran reserva with a good cigar

[ValeTudoGuy]

Yeah, do what suits you.... Personally I rarely find a wine that I think goes with a cigar, but when I do it tends to be a really robust Rioja.

[Edamski]

I used to do it a lot and I found Merlot best personally the JP Chenet works really well. Although the rule of thumb for me is less tannins the better. Light and fruity works best I've found

[tommy]

I think it's a shame to dismiss wine as a cigar pairing. I personally like a very robust Rioja too and that campo is a good one, Waitrose do a very tasty Rioja called Beronia:

http://www.waitrosecellar.com/a-taste-of-cellar/beronia-rioja-reserva

That stands up to pretty much anything you can throw at it. I also love Penfolds RWT Shiraz. If you want a wine that truly compliments the cigar rather than just stand up to it a full bodied white would be a good choice, maybe an Alsace Riesling full of resinous complexity and a touch of sweetness to balance your cigar or a Gewurtztraminer would be a good choice too. I like the slightly sweet but not cloying ones like this:

http://www.waitrosecellar.com/grape-variety/paul-blanck-gewurztraminer

Lastly what about the fortifieds and liqueur wines like the great muscast of Australia:

http://www.waitrosecellar.com/all-wines/campbells-rutherglen-muscat

This Rutherglen from Campbells is one of my favourite drinks full stop, it is great value for money too. A lovely tawny port would be a good choice as would a ruby. There are so many good wines that drink beautifully with a cigar. Some may respond by saying that there are flavour characteristics in these drinks that don't work with a cigar, all I can say to that is that I'm giving these examples from my experience, not from reading about it and my taste buds like the pairings. The trick is to chose a drink to pair with the cigar you want to smoke or vice versa. And if you like a pairing that everyone else hates then great, have that. What you have to watch out for is the sharpness so you might like to pick stuff that you know is well rounded, I have had wines that are horrible with cigars and I might as well brush my teeth before smoking it! I would recommend the viscous resinous whites and the Muscat as a starting point though.

[JonnyO]

Just as an example. Last Friday I paired a monty limited edition 2010 with a Merlot. First time I tried a cigar and wine pairing, imeediately I could taste more lum and cherry from the wine. I will definitely be doing it again.

[Edamski]

Not tried a white intentionally but think I'll give it a go.

Lidle do a lovely dry muscadet that would go withh with an Epi 2 I imagine or another delicate cigar

[oskihen]

Nearly always drink a nice full bodied wine with a cigar or sometimes ale . In the end all this should or shouldn't do regards cigars is bollocks . We all pay a lot of money and put a lot of thought care and effort into our hobby so whatever floats your boat go for it