Cigars & Scotch: A Cigar Smoker's Guide to Scotch Whisky
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Cigars and Scotch: is there a more classic pairing? Whether you're just starting your cigar journey or are a seasoned member of the Brotherhood of the (tobacco) Leaf, you likely reach for a glass of the pure to accompany your favorite stick. Many smokers have a scotch brand that they swear by and drink with every cigar, while others pair specific malts with particular cigars or wrappers.
But what exactly is scotch, and what makes it go so well with a good stogie?
Well, simply put scotch is a kind of whiskey made in Scotland. Generally speaking, there are two categories of scotch: blended malt and single malt. There are plenty of amazing blends made from a combination of single malts and column-distilled grain whiskey, but for our purposes let's focus on single malt. In order for a scotch to qualify as a single malt, it must be distilled in a pot still from a single mash of pure malted barley. There's no corn, wheat, or rye as you might find in bourbon and other types of whiskey (with an 'e'). It must then be aged in oak barrels for no less than three years and be bottled at a minimum alcohol content of 40%, or 80 proof. Most scotches are aged for a decade or more, and some are aged for additional time in barrels previously used to age sherry, port, Sauternes, or other wines.
Now, just because all single malts are made from just water, barley, and yeast does not mean that they all taste the same. Far from it! Many factors go into the final flavor of the whiskey, including where the water came from, the location of the distillery, and perhaps most importantly the method used to malt the barley.
Since water sourcing and distillery location play such a big part in how the resulting whiskey tastes, scotch is generally divided into four main geographical categories: Highlands, Speyside, Islay, and Lowlands. Let's explore each region to see what makes its whiskey different and what cigars go best with their single malts.
Speyside is one of the smallest distilling regions but is also the most prolific. About 60% off all Scotch is distilled along the banks of the River Spey, whose waters lend the whiskeys their characteristic flavor. Many of the malts go into famous blends, notably Johnny Walker, but the single malts are truly famous in their own right as well. Macallan, Glenfiddich, and Glenlivet all hail from Speyside. Speyside malts are also generally sweet and light but have a much thicker mouthfeel and a minerality that Highland Scotches lack. The sweetness is different, too. Instead of floral and honey notes, expect green apple, vanilla, and dried dark fruit.
If Highland malts serve to lighten a strong Maduro, Speysides go better with a light and sweet Maduro like:
Highland Scotch
The Scottish Highlands: home to William Wallace and enough kilted ruffians to make an Englishman swoon. This rugged countryside has been the heart of Scottish culture for centuries, inspiration to rebels, poets, and songwriters alike. But if the terrain is burly and unforgiving, the whiskey produced there is anything but. Highland Scotch is generally some of the lightest and sweetest available, although as the largest whiskey-producing area the flavors can vary wildly. It's hard to pin down exactly why this is, although the heather-covered landscape offers a clue. Single malts from this region tend to be floral and nutty with a ton of honey and cereal sweetness. Classic Highland malts include Glenmorangie, famous for its many wine finishes, Dalmore, and Glendronach. The complex sweetness of Highland Scotch is the perfect complement to a medium to full-bodied Maduro cigar such as...La Aroma de Cuba Monarch
This rare Maduro offering by Jose “Pepin” Garcia, of My Father fame, is a true joy to smoke. Don Pepin is known for his Cuban-style blends which tend towards flavors of pepper, leather, and cedar. This cigar, then, is a departure from form for him, but this only serves to prove that he is a true master of his craft. Now, this is a Pepin cigar, so it's stuffed full of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long-fillers that do provide a solid background of classic wood and pepper. But the Broadleaf Connecticut wrapper is what makes this enjoyable, pairing perfectly with the filler tobacco while adding a healthy dose of chocolate and earth. This is a complex blend that is on the strong end of medium, which some might think is too bold for light Highland malts. But in reality, the sweetness of most Highland Scotches only serves to heighten the influence of the Maduro wrapper and maintain the well-balanced blend.Speyside Scotch
Speyside is one of the smallest distilling regions but is also the most prolific. About 60% off all Scotch is distilled along the banks of the River Spey, whose waters lend the whiskeys their characteristic flavor. Many of the malts go into famous blends, notably Johnny Walker, but the single malts are truly famous in their own right as well. Macallan, Glenfiddich, and Glenlivet all hail from Speyside. Speyside malts are also generally sweet and light but have a much thicker mouthfeel and a minerality that Highland Scotches lack. The sweetness is different, too. Instead of floral and honey notes, expect green apple, vanilla, and dried dark fruit.
If Highland malts serve to lighten a strong Maduro, Speysides go better with a light and sweet Maduro like: