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Food and cigars are two of life’s great pleasures. People enjoy both individually, but they’re even better when paired together. The combination provides an enhanced experience while relaxing us cigar fanatics.
Food and cigars complement each other in many ways. These two intoxicants have different flavors, textures, and mouthfeel. Plus, they’re both enjoyed at different times of the day. Some people even enjoy eating while smoking. It enhances their dining experience and makes the dinner itself more enjoyable. Each component should be chosen wisely to maximize pleasure. Smooth to medium-bodied cigars tend to pair better with pasta, seafood, and vegetables, whereas medium to full-bodied cigars tend to pair better with beef, pork, chicken, and other meats. Finding a balance between the tasting notes of your cigar and meal is also important. If your cigar’s profile is heavy on the pepper or spice you may want to stay away from spicy foods. Many foods naturally complement cigars; these include nuts, chocolate, and various sweets.
Chocolate satisfies your sweet tooth while providing energy; and sweets are a great after-meal treat. One sweet crowd favorite that you may want to avoid is ice cream, as the cold can numb the palate. Choosing when to eat can be just as important as what you eat, if you’re new to cigars or looking to enjoy a full-bodied cigar you may want to eat a meal before you light up.
Foodies can learn new recipes that complement their favorite cigars. You can also find new places to smoke with menu items designed to hit the right notes in your cigar. Essentially, pairing food and cigars creates new experiences that everyone in your group can enjoy!
Food and cigars make for a memorable night and this month’s tour selections will get you off on the right foot. Put some smoke in the air & Bon Appétit!
We couldn’t talk about food pairings and not give you one — and a fairly simple one at that. It doesn’t get much easier than making a sandwich and that’s exactly what the Medianoche is. So, while you’re enjoying your Romeo y Julieta Media Noche, why not make the sandwich to accompany it. Before I get into how to make a Medianoche, let me first tell you how it got its name. Medianoche translates to “midnight.” This cousin to the Cuban sandwich is often served around midnight at nightclubs around the Cuban capital of Havanna.
The difference between a Cuban sandwich and a Medianoche is the bread. A Cuban sandwich uses Cuban bread, whereas a Medianoche uses egg bread. Inside, take some beautifully seasoned pork, top it with a slice or two of ham, then some freshly-sliced Swiss cheese, and finish it off with mustard and pickles.
The cigar version of a Medianoche doesn’t include meat, cheese, or mustard, but what it does include is an incredible flavor profile. The dark, chocolate-colored San Andrés maduro wrapper lends delectable notes of espresso to a blend of Dominican long-fillers and binders that include hints of earth, nuts, molasses, and white pepper. You may not want to wait until midnight to enjoy this gem but rest assured, if you pair it with a Medianoche and dark rum, you’ll be one happy smoker.
CAO Pilón is proof that old-school methods are still relevant. The blend employs a technique that dates back to 19th century Cuba by using a pilón – which is a carefully layered stack of tobacco leaves that helps ferment the tobacco to maximize the flavor and color of the leaves. It costs a little more and requires more energy, but alas, everything good takes time and energy to obtain. Under an Ecuador Habano wrapper lies an exceptional blend of Nicaraguan long-fillers and binder. A harmonious blend, CAO Pilón is a medium-bodied beauty both to behold and smoke.
Man O’ War Virtue is the smoothest member of the Man O’ War lineup, brought to you by master cigar maker AJ Fernandez. Draped in a golden Ecuador Connecticut Shade wrapper over perfectly aged long-fillers, the blend is complex and refined. Man O’ War Virtue is a smooth to medium-bodied Nicaraguan handmade delivering hints of cream, white pepper, oak, almonds, toast, and sweetness. Virtue is one of the most flavorful smooth to medium-bodied cigars that you’ll experience, with just enough kick to keep full-bodied fans coming back for more.
One of Rocky Patel’s top-selling lines features an exclusive barrel-aged blend. Rocky Patel the Edge Barrel-Aged offers the same great smoking experience as the rest of the line with added layers of character and complexity. Patiently aging the hand-selected ligero leaves in bourbon barrels adds nuances of lush flavors while smoothing out the leaves. The blend utilizes a bold, red-hued Habano wrapper over an eclectic blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan ligero long-fillers and a Nicaraguan binder. With hints of caramel, charred oak, pepper, leather, and earth, this full-bodied handmade is a virtual masterpiece.
The Toraño Exodus Gold 1959 was created in memory of the Cuban cigar families who fled Cuba in 1959 due to the Communist revolt. The blend features an oily Habana 2000 wrapper accompanied by a complex blend of Dominican, Honduran, Mexican, Nicaraguan, and Costa Rican tobaccos, which gives the cigar a mouth-watering medium to full-bodied profile. After lighting, your palate will be enveloped in notes of chocolate, vanilla, cedar, and pepper. Rated 92 by Cigar Aficionado, the Toraño Exodus 1959 robusto is a staple in many aficionado’s humidors.
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