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Are you among the wine enthusiasts that are always looking for unique cigars or tasty meals to pair with their favorite drink? Yes? You are at the right place!

Lamb and Red wine, Pasta and cigar, roasted pork, and sweet white wine are only some of the flavorful combinations we know.

Of course, not all types of wines work with all the cigar flavors or delicious foods. Combining smoke products like cigars with drinks indeed requires a lot of understanding and expertise.

But, not all of us are vintners or wine experts. So, how can we know the art of balancing the flavor of wine with our favorite cigars and meals?

Keep reading to find out!

How the Pairing of Wine With Cigar Works?

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The unwritten rule to pair wine and cigar is to match the flavors. Don’t get it? Let us explain! Pair the hard liqueur with a strong cigar. Similarly, choose a light wine for a low to mild flavored cigar.

The strong-for-strong and light-for-light are basic practices that can help you combine the flavors to build your taste.

1.    Red Wine & Cigars

Red wine is most probably one of the common drinks used to pair with all the famous cigars. The reason might be its flavorful variety that works perfectly with the smoky hint.

Full-bodied or medium cigar types can give an enjoyable experience if smoked with aromatic red wine.

Pro-Tip: Keep a water bottle along with you to avoid dehydration while drinking and smoking.

2.    White Wine & Cigars

Yes, despite the delicacy and fruity taste of white wine, you can still pair it with cigars. Light or moderately bodied cigars can really enhance the finest hint of the drink.

However, you should prefer to smoke cinnamon or coffee flavor not to let it overpower the aroma of the wine.

3.    Dry Wine & Cigars

Dry wines are those drinks that have less sugar level as compared to other wines and leave a dry aftertaste in the mouth.

It can be a perfect pair with light, medium, or even full-bodied cigar varieties.

4.    Aged Wine & Cigars

The tannins in the young wines dissipate with age, giving them a unique essence, aroma, and flavor. As the wine ages, its taste becomes stronger, rich, and powerful.

Wine’s bouquet embodies cedar accents, leather dried spices, and so much more secondary flavors that leave a smooth aftertaste –such aged wine pairs well with similar strong cigars.

Healthline explains that cigars can be highly addictive. They can become even pleasureable if paired with mutual flavored wine.

5.    Young Wine & Cigars

Fresh or young wines have a somewhat delicate and light taste as compared to mature wines. You can feel its aroma and flavors right after opening a bottle. Such wines should be combined with cigars with a light taste.

Note: The type of young wines doesn’t matter when pairing with a young cigar. You should always choose a light taste for a light cigar – no overlapping of flavors.

How the Pairing of Wine With Food Works?

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There are almost 20 flavors of taste used to describe a dish which means you can choose various unique wine and food pairings. However, there are two basic things you need to consider:

• Identify bitter, sweet, and acidic wines to match the taste of your dish
• Try to balance the wine intensity with your meal

A good wine-food pairing balances the taste and flavors of the meal with the wine characteristics. Let’s find out which foods to pair with which wine.

1.    Red Wine & Food

The general rule is to pair a delicious red wine with fatty red meat. But it is not always necessary as the final combination depends on individual taste and preferences.

Generally, the bitter flavor of red wine helps in balancing the bold and strong taste of meat. Tomato-based meals like pesto lasagna or dishes that have an earthy hint fit perfectly with red wine.

However, according to forbes, one should avoi pairing red wine and cheese.

2.    Dry Wine & Food

The flavor hints and aftertaste of dry wine can be a perfect match to sip with roasted vegetables. You can also try it with your favorite dessert.

Note: The pairing rule is also the same for dry red or white wine.

Dry white wine will taste better with white fish. In contrast, dry red wine will enhance the flavors of a cheesy or meaty dish.

3.    White Wine & Food

White wine has a sweeter taste that is light on the palate. Pair it with spicy or sour dishes to balance the flavors.

For instance, full-bodied, rich white wines will enhance the flavors combined with prawns, chicken curry, roasted fig, or salmon cakes.

However, sushi, soy sauce, or asparagus flavored dishes may taste weird with sweeter white wine.

Pairing Wine FAQ’s

Here read answers to the most frequently asked questions by the wine-cigar-food community:

What Food Is Best Served WithRed Wine?

Meals like bruschetta, Caprese salad, chicken casserole and roasted duck are some of the best-served foods with red wine.

Generally, bitter wine pairs perfectly with bold meats like beef, lamb, or mutton. They help in balancing the fatty taste of red meat.

How Can You Pair A Drink With A Cigar?

Choose to sip on a full-bodied wine with full-bodied cigars bought at a cigar shop honolulu hi not to let any of the individual flavors overpower each other.

Similarly, you should pair light, medium, and strong wine with low, mild, and bold cigars. According to a story by business insider, one must pick a high quality cigar for the best experience.

What Are The Basics Of Wine And Food Pairing?

The general practice is to choose an acidic wine for the sweet dishes, red wine for bitter (sometimes sweet) foods, and white or sparkly wine for sour meals.

Final Thoughts

There are endless ways to pair wine with cigars and food,some of which we have discussed above.Still,  the choices are never-ending depending on your palate, taste, and liking.

All you need to do is discover that specific pairing that satisfies your taste buds. Be creative; stay flavorful!

Lastly, share with us what more do you want to read about?