Perfect Match: Great Beers To Drink While Smoking A Cigar!

One of the toughest problems (not really a problem when you think about it) when smoking a cigar is deciding what to drink with it. I tend to go for a Scotch like a Macallan; however, I do tend to stray for a craft beer occasionally. Over the weekend, while smoking with a lifelong buddy,  he brought a Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA and it was a delicious compliment to the cigars we smoked. This was the first time I have had this beer and after doing a little bit of research I admit... I have been living under a rock! Now, I am not a beer snob by any means (hence the cigar blog) so if you have anymore recommendations I would love to hear them.

Here is a list of 5 great beers to drink and what to smoke with them:

Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA

1. Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA- This smooth and creamy craft beer is DELICIOUS. Esquire Magazine called it "perhaps the best I.P.A. in America." Despite the high alcohol content, you don't get the alcohol bite with this beer. This is a great beer to have with a mild, creamy and very smooth cigar like a Macanudo or what we smoked the Diamond Crown Robusto.

Stone Brewing Imperial Russian Stout

2. Stone Brewing Imperial Russian Stout - I first tried this beer when I lived in San Diego as I was looking for a really good local beer. I found exactly what I was looking for in this dark, rich and strong beer! This Stout is thick and full of flavors like roasted coffee and anise. This beer is only available during spring and is usually released during April so pick one up if you see it. This is the perfect beer to enjoy with a strong Nicaraguan like Padron.

Leffe Brown

3. Leffe Brown - Leffe Brown is an authentic abbey beer. Medium in body- it's deep, dark brown color and its full, slightly sweet flavor can be ascribed to the use of darkly roasted malt. This beer pairs great with a  medium bodied Dominican like an Arturo Fuente Don Carlos.

Anchor Brewing Porter

4. Anchor Brewing Porter - I first had this beer after reading it was #6 in the top 25 beers of 2013. This delicious dark beer is surprisingly light on the palette with roasted coffee and chocolate flavors. Not a storng beer by any means but a tasty sidekick to any mild to medium Nicaraguan cigars like Davidoff Nicaragua.

Chimay Grande Reserve Blue Cap

5. Chimay Grande Reserve Blue Cap - This Belgium beer is known for its thick creamy foam, but don't let that fool you, it has a powerful aroma and complex flavors. It is also aged for 5 years before its release which add a balance factor that makes it outstanding. Enjoy this with an medium to full bodied Dominican like a Litto Gomez Diez or Davidoff Millenium Blend.







If anyone has any favorites, please let me know. I am always looking for great pairings!

Brizard & Co.'s Dual Flamed Lighters - Power meets Sophistication!

I know it is Monday but damn what a good weekend! With an NBA record 5 game- 7 matches, exciting Kentucky Derby, and some really good cigars. I hope you all had a similar enjoyable weekend!

Today, we are featuring a brand of accessories that I think represents everything a cigar smoker is- Timeless, Sophisticated & Reliable. Brizard & Co. has been producing high quality cigar accessories for over 10 years and is the leader in leather & wooden cigar accessories.

Before the Environmentalists start in on deforestation and global effects, Cyril Brizard (Founder of Brizard & Co.) partnered with the Forest Stewardship Council (FST), which sets standards for responsible forest management. Through this organization he is able to get his hands on some of the most exquisite wood like Bubinga, Ebony Macassar, Zebrawood & Rosewood and ply them directly onto cutters, lighters and cases without committing any crimes against nature.

The T-30 "Gemini" is one of the most responsive and reliable lighters I have ever had my hands on. This lighter packs a powerful punch with its dual torch flames, strong metal body, a built-in 8mm cigar punch and fuel level window. All of these on their own would produce a great lighter; however, with Brizard's leather and wood style these lighters stand alone as stylish pieces.

Brown Ostrich

Brown  Crocodile

Black Crocodile

Color Orange

Brown Lizard

Sunrise Brown

Black Lizard

Sunrise Black

Sunrise Tan

Ebony Wood

Padauk

Rosewood

Limited Edition -Stingray

Zebrawood

Happy Friday Cigar Smokers!

Photo provided by Cigar Aficionado

Hopefully you didn't work to hard this week, in case you did, here is some great news:

Cigar Aficionado is posting that "Padrón Family Preparing Two Cigars for 50th Anniversary"!

Umm...YES!

They go on to say: "One of the two cigars will become part of the Padrón Family Reserve line, and is tentatively entitled Padrón Family Reserve 50. The smoke will likely be five inches long with a ring gauge of 54, and made with well-aged Nicaraguan tobaccos, many of them grown by the Padróns themselves. This smoke will be made on a continuing basis, but not in large quantities.

The second Padrón 50th anniversary smoke will be far more rare, and will come packaged in a high-end humidor containing 50 cigars. Each humidor will be numbered, and each cigar in the series will be individually numbered as well. Humidor No. 1, for example, will contain cigars No. 1 through 50. There will be at least 500 humidors made, and the Padróns are offering the chance for refills. "Whoever buys the box will have the opportunity to purchase another 50 cigars a year for five years," said Jorge Padrón."

Read the full Cigar Aficionado article here: Padron 50th Anniversary Cigars

I love Padron's just like the next cigar smoker, so you better believe I am getting my hands on a box or a dozen.

I am accepting names, email addresses and phone numbers for pre-orders. It is first come first serve so put your information in the Contact Form and I will let you know more information as it is released!

Happy Friday,

-J

Diamond Crown Cigars- Sweet. Strong & Delicious

Diamond Crown- one of the most cherished cigar brands in the world. Handmade at Tabacalera A. Fuente by the very best Master Rollers, the Cuban-seed filler and Dominican binder contain a complex blend of six to seven individual Dominican tobacco leaves. Each Diamond Crown cigar undergoes a thorough inspection process only the best cigars get released.

J.C. Newman Cigar Company’s long history dates back more than a century to 1895, when Julius Caeser Newman rolled his first cigars in the family barn in Cleveland, Ohio. Starting out as a one-man cigar factory, they prospered through decades and make some of the tastiest cigars on the market.

In celebration of his J.C. Newman Cigar Company's upcoming 100th Anniversary, Stanford Newman wanted to develop a truely exceptional series of cigars unlike any other on the market. He didn't care what it would cost, how much time it took, or even if it would sell. Stanford was in his mid 70s and he wanted to culminate his 50+ years in the cigar business by creating the smoothest, most flavorful, full-bodied cigar possible- thus the birth of Diamond Crown.

Diamond Crown Robusto - Diamond Crown cigars are extraordinary and exceptional Smokes.  This Top-of-the-line, exclusive Cigar has the rarest Connecticut Shade Fermented Wrapper (CFW) available for Cigar production and they take five years to reach peak quality.  It is this "second curing" that evens and develops the Rosado color of the tobacco wrapper and also accounts for much of Diamond Crown's sweet, smooth, rich flavor.

Diamond Crown Maximus -  The Diamond Crown Maximus is made with Carlito Fuente's secret blend of specially aged Dominican tobaccos, and a Special wrapper leaf, which has been exclusively grown on the El Bajo region of Ecuador. The combination creates a delicious and remarkably smooth, full-flavored cigar. This 90+ rated smoke will definitely please all full-bodied fans!

Diamond Crown Julius Caeser -  This ultra premium cigar is rolled by hand in small batches by, Tabacalera A. Fuente. This delicious cigar uses a Ultra-Rare Ecuadorian Cuban-seed wrapper and exquisite tobacco from Central America. The tobacco used for the Julius Caeser Cigars are aged for five years releasing robust full flavors.  Available in limited quantities, these cigars are highly coveted and hard to find.