What kind of cigar goes best with port wine?

[Bull Moose]

Hey guys, so I bought a bottle of Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage 2003 today and I was wondering if any of the brothers had tried port with stogies and, if so, what seemed to be the best pairing? Types of cigars or specific cigar suggestions are fine with me. Here are some I have that I thought would go well:

- Padron 1926 no. 2
- Casa Magna Colorado
- AF Anejo no. 77
- Padron 1964 exclusivo
- Tatuaje J21
- La Caya Cameroon
- RP vintage 1990

Now my first instinct is to say the Padron 1926 since I know it has a lot of cocoa and mocha notes but I want suggestions! Thanks guys!

 

[Moro]

The questionat the beginning really would be answered with: Depends on which port AND yer palate. I'd suggest ye try the port alone first, notice the notes in it (nose, taste,...) and FROM THERE decide according to the notes in the cigars. Don't forget to keep them from overpowering the other.

 

[jwintosh]

h. all of the above! on second thought, i wouldn't smoke the anejo with it...

 

[Moro]

h. all of the above! on second thought, i wouldn't smoke the anejo with it...

Thus far the best pairing for the Shark that I've found, is some Havana Club 7.

 

[Danilo]

With Port... generally it pairs well with chocolate... so look for the stick that will give you some strong chocolate notes, and maybe even a rich coffee flavor will pair well.

 

[tatjunkie]

With Port... generally it pairs well with chocolate... so look for the stick that will give you some strong chocolate notes, and maybe even a rich coffee flavor will pair well.

If thats the case then a Tat Reserva SW Maduro would go great with it

 

[VirginIslander]

Thus far the best pairing for the Shark that I've found, is some Havana Club 7.

But for us stateside boys n girls....I can get the cc's but not the sauce

 

[Phi Delt]

Bill, that can be remedied with a simple liquor bombing. ;o)

 

[Zen Cigar Man]

I believe the LBVs tend to be more Ruby than Tawny, that said you're gonna get more fruit with the Ruby. I generally stick to Tawnys when pairing them with cigars. But try it alone first and then let your palate point you to your cigar.

 

[Zen Cigar Man]

I take that back. LBVs are left in the barrel longer, so they're probably somewhere in between that oakiness from a Tawny vs. the fruitiness from a Ruby. That said, Paddies always go great with Port.

 

[walkingnerd]

taylor stuff are good man but think of getting an older one ... since ports are good after a certain age ... 10 years ... 20 are nice ... 40's just getting expensive ...

 

[Bull Moose]

Yeah, I would love to try some higher end stuff but the college student budget gets kinda iffy past $20 a bottle...

So based on what I've heard so far I guess I'll have to go with that 1926 Padron. I'll let you guys know how it went!

and yes, LBVs are left longer in the barrel. The store I went to didn't have any of the 2000 vintage (probably too rich for my budget anyways).

 

[tubaman]

so they're probably somewhere in between that oakiness from a Tawny vs. the fruitiness from a Ruby.

This has been my experience. I also prefer the Tawny vs. LBV. Tawny ports stand up to the flavor of a cigar more imo. Unless you've got money to burn, the difference imo between 20 year and anything older than that is not justified. But that's me, maybe some have a more discerning palett than me. For tawny ports, I have yet to find a better pairing than a Monte 2. For a LBV, I would think a nice Raphael Gonzolez Coronas Extra would be a wonderful pairing. Or possibley a QdO Corona.

 

[Bull Moose]

Well I ended up going with the Padron 1926 and I thought it was an awesome pairing. The two really seemed to work off each other since both had some chocolately notes.

Oh and that Padron 1926 no. 2 is one badass cigar. Perfect draw, burn, flavor, everything I should expect from Padron was definitely delivered. I can't wait to try this pairing again with perhaps an ever older port!