It's safe to say that cigars pair well with just about any beverage you could imagine. You've most likely experienced the subtle flavors of a whiskey cigar pairing, or the cold refreshing taste of a craft beer and cigar pairing. We at Cigars.com were so involved in our pairing research, that we forgot one of the most age old cigar beverage partners, rum. This combination is the truest form of pairing you can achieve, seeing as both cigars and rum originate from the same areas around the world. When the age old masters were sitting in their factories, blending different combinations of tobaccos to find that perfect blend, rum was their friend and confidante. It is in that spirit that we finally were able to release an accurate rum and cigar pairing.
Havana Club Anejo Clasico and Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real
This Puerto Rican-based rum is supposedly based on the same recipe used in Cuba for the original Havana Club. Crafted by Bacardi, the Anejo Clasico is aged for 1-3 years before it is filtered, then stored another 3 months in oak barrels for it to mellow out. It is not the most luxurious rum we've ever had, but for the price, it is fantastic. Pairing it with a Reserva Real was a no-brainer. The smooth creaminess of the cigar blended effortlessly with the brown sugar and vanilla notes of the rum. This is a great pair for an aficionado on a budget, but who still wants to experience a great flavor matchup.
Diplomatico Reserve Exclusiva and Alec Bradley American Classic
One of our favorite rums on this list, the Diplomatico Reserve Exclusiva has yet to disappoint. It is crafted in Venezuela using molasses and then aged for 12 years in a copper pot. This golden rum is incredibly rich and sweet, with heavy notes of dark chocolate, molasses and cinnamon. The Alec Bradley American uses a golden brown Connecticut wrapper that is the perfect partner in crime to the Diplomatico. Notes of cream, leather, and toffee swish around your mouth before combining with a sip of rum that is pure nirvana.
Flor de Cana Centenario 25 years and Montecristo Crafted by AJ
Flor de Cana is one of the world's finest rums and a favorite of the cigar smoker. Anyone who has ever visited the coveted cigar factories of Esteli in Nicaragua has at the very least tried Flor de Cana, and more often than not, they become infatuated with the brand. The 25 Years was named the best rum of 2017, and we couldn't agree more. It emits wonderful notes of wood, buttery sweetness, and chocolate, giving it one of the more complex profiles we have tried. The new Montecristo Crafted by AJ proved to be up to the challenge of pairing with this elegant beverage. Being a Nicaraguan manufacturer himself, it is not hard to believe that AJ has had some Flor de Cana, even maybe while in his blending room. The rich dark wrapper of the Montecristo proves to be a great companion to the 25 years and a perfect pairing for the fan of Nicaraguan flavors.
Don Q Gran Anejo and Oliva Serie V
Another Puerto Rican delight, the Don Q Gran Anejo is exactly that, Anejo. For the layman, Anejo means aged and this rum is made up of blends that have been aged up to 12 years, making it smooth, slightly mellow, but adding in new flavor notes that weren't apparent before. It has a fruity aroma with notes of apples, citrus, and a wonderful spice as well. The Oliva Serie V is as complex as they come, but it was the aged tobacco that made this a great pairing. The aged Nicaraguan creates a smooth yet spicy aroma for the cigar that was undeniably agreable with the rum.
Cruzan Single Barrel (Distiller's Collection) and Arturo Fuente Don Carlos
The winner of several gold and silver medals at Rum tastings around the world, the Cruzan Single Barrel is the epitome of a high end, small batch rum. The blend is aged up to 12 years and creates a unique, balanced flavor profile consisting of notes of caramel, leather, wood, and a buttery finish. When I heard leather and wood, I knew I had to go with the Don Carlos from Arturo Fuente. The Cameroon wrapper on that cigar always gave me heavy notes of leather, wood, and cedar, yet it was still exceptionally smooth due to the years of aging. This is a pairing for the true connoisseur.