Cigars and Scotch

I love cigars and have enjoyed them for 37 years, I also enjoyed scotch for just as long. For many years I drank blended scotch – Chivas, Johnnie Walker, and Dewars. Sometime around my late thirties my good friend Tony introduced me to Macallan 35 Year Old single malt scotch. It was like having sex for the first time or the first time I smoked a real Cuban cigar. “What rock have I been hiding under?” I thought to myself. From that moment on I have savored some of the best Scotch Whisky known to man.  I recall being on a business trip to Edinburgh Scotland, the equivalent of to going to Cuba for cigars. It was whisky heaven! I took the pleasure of drinking a 1964 Glenlivet that was to die for. I have been to Japan and enjoyed some of the finest single malts the island nation has to offer.

 

Scotch, especially single malts, are an acquired taste. But once you discover it there is little turning back. They vary in flavor and bouquet  as much as cigars so it is only natural that one would pair a fine single malt with a superb cigar. But where do you start?

First it is important to understand the various styles of single malt scotch. The flavors vary based on the region of Scotland they are produced. These regions are as diverse as the tobacco regions of the world.

 

ISLANDS – Islay and Skye

These malts are known for their smokey peaty flavor and sometimes black peppery notes. They are loaded with flavor and tend to be the most powerful of the single malts. I personally am a big fan of Lagavulan a fine 16 year old deep peaty scotch.  The region is located in the Inner Hebridean Scottish Isles which is a rugged, windswept and barren landscape.

HIGHLANDS

The highlands are are by far the largest whisky producing region. The region is made up of  rugged and coastal areas. The area is vast and the whisky produced from this region can vary greatly in taste and scent. The northern section where most of the heather exists produces a spicy whisky whilst the southern region is known for its more floral scents and smooth character. The coastal region (West Highlands) will generally have a maritime flavor to it. My favorite Highland Malts are Oban and Dalwhinnie.

Speyside

Speyside could be a region of the Highlands but there is so much whisky produced from this area (more than half ) that it is considered a region unto itself for single malts. Speyside whisky is characterized by flavors of honey, vanilla, apples, pears. Whisky from this region is known for long aging and many time are aged in oak then further aged in sherry casks to add distinctive more spicy and dried fruit flavors. Of course my favorite from this region is the one I was first introduced to – Macallan 35, which is aged for 20 years in an oak cask and then 15 more in a sherry cask. They are also known for brands such as  Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and some of the most common blended scotch such as Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal.

Lowlands

The Lowland is a region in the southern most part of Scotland and as the name implies,  it is an area of rolling fields that make it ideal for growing the grain for whisky. Whisky from this region is lighter than other regions and have delightfully fragrant bouquets. You will not find them peaty like those from the Islands or the Highlands.  My palate does not care for Lowland scotch but many new single malt drinkers may find it a way to begin. Best known brands from this region are Glenkinchie, Bladnoch and Auchentoshan.

So you can see that single malt scotch is a lot like cigars. The  flavor, aroma, and strength are a result of the regions where the grain is grown and the age old craftsmanship of the master distillers. The one difference is that single malt is just that, one malt and not a blend, with possibly the exception of those that are double barrel aged in oak then sherry casks.

Drinking Single Malts

There is really just 2 ways to drink a single malt scotch.

1. If it is a young scotch like 10 or 12 years old, you would most likely pour it over ice, usually just one or two cubes. The Japanese actually use an Ice Ball which is a block of ice chopped into a large ball that is placed in a rocks glass and the whisky is poured over it. This allows the ice to cool down the scotch without melting into the glass.
2. If the scotch is older like 16, 20, 30 years or more you would drink it straight in a whisky snifter or rocks glass. You may want to add a few drops of water to the whisky to open up the bouquet a bit but that is a personal preference and depends on the particular scotch.

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A true single malt enthusiast would never mix it with anything else. We leave that to the blended scotches.

Paring the right scotch

Now that you know the different profiles of the variety of single malts out there lets see how to best pair them with your cigars.

If you are smoking a light body cigar I would suggest a Lowland or Speyside scotch so that you don’t over power the flavor of the cigar. Look for a fruity and floral scotch in this case.

Smoking a medium body and flavor stick? Go with a Highland Malt. The spice, heather, and honey flavors will compliment it beautifully. The enhanced combination of flavors will provide a truly enjoyable smoking experience.

So you like a bold, spicy and meaty cigar? Then by all means pour yourself a neat snifter of Islay scotch. The deep peaty flavors will enhance the character of the smoke. You will find tastes sensation that you may ever knew existed.

Pairing the right Cigar

Didn’t i just talk about that? Well in way yes, but you see if you are a scotch drinker and smoke an occasional cigar you may find that the opposite of the previous advice  interesting.

• When you pair a bold cigar with a mild scotch the cigar doesn’t loose its character but rather the scotch is enhanced. The flavor is ratcheted up a notch and the taste buds are stimulated in areas they normally aren’t by just the scotch.
• If you pair a mild cigar with a bold Islay or Highland scotch you may think the scotch will completely  overpower the cigar, and that can be the case as I noted above. But, just like  you add a few drops of water to the scotch, if you select the right scotch like a younger  Oban1 10 or Laphroaig 10 you may find that the scotch offers up some flavors on the palate that you would not normally experience.

 

Of course the decision to pair or not to pair is a personal choice and experiencing scotch without a cigar is enjoyable also. Have fun pairing and let us know what you think.

– Boston Jimmie