Have you ever wondered if you can pair cigars with food? As we near the six week celebration of friends, family, cigars, and food from Thanksgiving to New Years, chances are that you’ll think of it soon if you already haven’t!

The short answer is that yes, you can pair your cigars with food.

Since it’s your cigar and you’re the boss, you can pair it with anything you like! And the foods that you choose to pair your cigars with will ultimately boil down to personal preference, meaning that it would be foolhardy of us to try and handpick specific pairings.

But a pairing is a pairing, and that means that you’re presented two logical methodologies: compare or contrast. When pairing by comparison, we combine like items and when pairing by contrast we combine items that share opposing characteristics.  For example, to pair by contrast would be to pair sweet and savory flavors.

One thing that we like to keep constant, however, is the body of the pairing. By pairing mild-bodied things with each other, the compare or contrast methods place both items on equal footing and allow the magic to happen.  When pairing a mild item with a much bolder item, it creates a situation where one item over powers the other.  And yet some people swear by pairing mild and bold things together, creating the ultimate contrast.  In all things cigar related, go with your gut and do what feels right.

The What and Why

Here are some helpful guidelines in pairing your meals with cigars from two of the most popular regions:

• Pair light meals with Dominican cigars

• Pair light desserts with Dominican cigars

• Pair heavy meals with Nicaraguan cigars

• Pair decadent desserts with Nicaraguan cigars

Dominican cigars are known for providing subtle, sweet flavors that pair exceptionally well with food and beverages when they’re not being overpowered. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and some cigars from this region have the body and strength to rival Nicaragua.  Use your judgement based on what’s in your humidor, but sticking to Dominican cigars for light meals and desserts should do the trick.

Nicaraguan cigars are known for being powerhouses that provide rich, bold experiences. These are best paired with your heavy meals and decadent desserts.  Think of it like putting your heavyweights and lightweights together in the ring.  For an extra touch, consider pairing your leathery Nicaraguans with red meat and your spicy cigars with dessert – you’ll thank us later.