With winter in full swing and the cold set in, it is important to keep warm and cozy. There are few things more satisfying than coming in from the cold on a frigid winter day. Even those who love spending time outside doing winter activities like skiing, ice fishing, skating, or camping will always come back inside to kick it by a fire and warm up.
When warming up inside to escape the cold air, some warm spirits along with a fine cigar are certain to have you melting away. To warm you up this winter, the Cigars.com team has come up with 5 cigar and drink pairings that will have you toasty in no time!
Wookey Jack Rye Black IPA by Firestone Walker Brewing Co. & Crowned Heads Mil Dias Exclusive Box-Pressed Robusto
First up, we have a brew that is certain to warm you up with a high ABV and bold flavors in the Wookey Jack Rye Black IPA by Firestone Walker Brewing Co. What makes this hoppy IPA unique from most other IPAs is the addition of dark malts and rye into the brew. This adds more dimensions of complexity and balances the bitter hoppy notes.
The perfect pairing for a bold brew like the Wookey Jack Rye Black IPA is the Crowned Heads Mil Dias Exclusive Box-Pressed Robusto. An exclusive size for Cigars.com, this 5.5x55 box-pressed beauty is made with a Costa Rican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian core dressed in a reddish-brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.
It’s bold medium-full bodied flavors of spices, leather, earth, sweetness, and creamed coffee will complement the hoppy, spicy flavors of Wookey Jack flawlessly.
Blizzard of Hops by Troegs Independent Brewing & Foundation Wise Man Maduro
Blizzard of Hops Winter IPA by Troegs Independent Brewing is certain to brighten the cold, dark days of winter. A popular seasonal brew, this gold-colored IPA provides a flurry of crisp flavors including citrus, pine, and touches of pepper that cut through the richer foods often had during winter. Not every perfect pairing needs to have complementary flavors, and that is exactly the case with pairing Blizzard of Hops with Foundation Wise Man Maduro cigars.
Built with Nicaraguan long fillers, a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 binder, and a dusky San Andres Mexican wrapper, the Wise Man Maduro offers a medium-full bodied medley of chocolate, spices, roasted nuts, and tobacco sweetness. These darker flavors offer a contrast to the hoppy citrus and pine flavors of the Blizzard of Hops, leading to a more flavorful and complex experience.
Bourbon County Stout by Goose Island Beer Co. & Baccarat Barber Pole
Next, we have a truly unique drink to keep you warm during cold winter nights with Bourbon County Stout by Goose Island Beer Co. A stout beer with deep, rich flavors, Bourbon County Stout is unique in that it has been aged an average of 12 months in bourbon barrels. Bold flavors of oak, vanilla, roasted nuts, chocolate, and caramel on the finish will make any winter evening more pleasant.
To match the complexity of the Bourbon County Stout, a Baccarat Barber Pole cigar. Baccarat doubles the flavor with these eye-catching treats by using two Connecticut wrappers, one Shade the other Broadleaf, over Mexican and Honduran fillers.
Its balanced medium-bodied flavors of chocolate, earth, cream, and touches of pepper and sweetened cap will only add to your experience with the Bourbon County Stout.
Freezin Season by Flying Dog Brewery & Trinidad Espiritu Series 3
Freezin Season by Flying Dog Brewery is a winter warmer beer that lives up to its name and is certain to bring the feeling back to your fingers and toes. When you are coming in from the cold and grabbing every blanket in the house, Freezin Season will be an excellent companion. Its rich and spicy flavors of dark malts, cinnamon, baking spices, brown sugar, and floral hoppy notes will melt the cold away.
With its bold medium-full-bodied flavors of chocolate, pepper, leather, cedar, and tobacco sweetness, the Trinidad Espiritu Series 3 would pair wonderfully with the Freezin Season by Flying Dog Brewery. This delectable cigar is crafted with a zesty Nicaraguan core embraced by a dusky San Andres Mexican wrapper, and its lush Mexican theming will remind you of the summer months soon to come.
Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout & Nub Nuance Single Roast
Last but certainly not least, you can count on the Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout to warm you up during the deep freeze of winter. This deliciously rich stout is inspired by the Russian Imperial Stouts that have been keeping Russians warm during winter for decades, and if there is anybody who knows how to keep warm in winter, it’s Russians.
With its intense 10% ABV and rich dark chocolate aroma, the Black Chocolate Stout is a modern winter classic.
With the Black Chocolate Stout’s rich notes of dark chocolate, an excellent complement would be Nub Nuance Single Roast cigars. Made by the famous Oliva cigar family, these short and stout treats wear a Connecticut Shade wrapper over a Dominican core, and each leaf has been infused with the essence of coffee.
Their smooth flavors of coffee, baking spices, roasted nuts, cream, and hints of cocoa combine with the dark chocolate notes of the Black Chocolate Stout for a winter experience unlike any other.
