Whether you’re celebrating a precious milestone or just trying to calm your nerves after a rough day, lighting up a cigar definitely does the trick.
To take it one step further, do as other gentlemen do and pour yourself a big glass of cognac.
That said, you will need to find the best cigar to pair with cognac to get the most out of the experience. And for that, we’ve got your back.
Best Cigar To Pair With Cognac: Brief Reviews
1. Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro
Our Rating:
The Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado was chosen THE #1 CIGAR OF THE YEAR by Cigar Aficionado for their Top 25 Cigars of the Year list!!
The Olivia Serie V Melanio Maduro is a full-strength, Figurado-shaped cigar.
The wrapper leaf, which came from Mexico, is called San Andres, while the cigar is hand-rolled in Nicaragua.
This cigar measures six and 1/2 inches long and has a ring size of 52/64.
Review
The Melanio Maduro burns evenly for a little over an hour and gives off a smokey and creamy coffee taste.
Because of this, you will find that it is one of the best cigars you could smoke with a cognac.
On the other hand, you can also enjoy it with younger spirits like whiskey and brandy.
If you do, in fact, decide to pair it with a bottle of cognac but don’t have a specific brand in mind yet, here’s a quick suggestion.
The Hardy V.S.O.P. gives you a mixture of mocha and vanilla, complementing the cigar’s creamy coffee taste.
However, if you’re trying to achieve a more contrasting taste between your cigar and cognac, try one of Hennessy’s Master Blender’s Selection Number 3.
Instead of being creamy like mocha and vanilla, this cognac is leaning more towards the fruity spectrum of spirits.
Overall, smoking any Oliva Serie V cigar while you drink any fruity or sweet cognac will surely be a great pair.
Pros:
- Burns for about 75 minutes
- Creamy coffee taste
- Also a great pair for other spirits
Con:
- None to mention
2. Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour
Our Rating:
The Winston Churchill Late Hour is a product of Davidoff.
It is a full-strength, Churchill-shaped cigar about seven inches long and with a ring size of 48/64.
The wrapper leaf is called Habano, which came from Ecuador. However, it is hand-rolled and processed in the Dominican Republic.
Review
Compared to the Oliva Serie V, the Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour cigar burns longer at approximately one hour and 30 minutes.
The cigar itself has been in production since 2017, and it was initially famous for being paired with Scotch whiskey, especially The Dalmore.
However, that’s almost entirely because of how it was marketed.
As other cigar enthusiasts began to explore the potential of the Winston Churchill Late Hour, they soon realized that it also pairs well with a wide variety of cognacs.
The smooth draw, combined with the dark toasted flavor and hints of caramel, brown sugar, and maple, contrasts many smooth and mature cognacs.
If you’re trying to go for a more powerful combo, pair it with the Remy Martin XO Cognac.
The spicy sting of this bottle mixed with a citrus finish is like a gentle kick to the soul.
On the other hand, if you want to blend the flavors instead of contrasting them, opt for the Branson Cognac Grande Champagne V.S.O.P.
The clove and cinnamon spice of this cognac works well with the caramel and brown sugary taste of the Winston Churchill Late Hour.
Pros:
- Burns longer
- Great with cognacs and Scotch whiskeys
- Smooth draw
- Sweet finish
Con:
- None to mention
3. Drew Estates Liga Privada No. 9
Our Rating:
The Liga Privada No. 9 is a proud addition to the long list of quality cigars from Drew Estates.
It’s a full-strength cigarillo about four inches long and has a ring size of 32/64 or half an inch.
The wrapper leaf is called Broadleaf, which came from Connecticut. However, the cigar was processed and hand-rolled in Nicaragua.
Review
This luxurious cigar will provide you with one of the richest smoking experiences you could ever have.
It draws smoothly, and the taste starts sweet. After a while, the woody, spiced, and almost black peppery flavors will slowly crawl into the spotlight.
As you get closer to the second to the final third of the cigar, you’d notice hints of raisins and sweetgrass.
What we like about it is that none of the flavors overpower the other. Instead, all of them blend into one smooth smoking experience.
Because of how classic the taste of this cigar is, you may want to pair it with more daring cognacs.
For instance, the D’Ussé X.O. Cognac’s dark chocolate and blackberry flavors should blend well with the sweetness of the Liga Privada No. 9.
On the other hand, because this cigar is rather flexible, you can also opt for stronger cognacs.
The tanginess of the Hine Cognac X.O. Homage will highlight the woody taste of the Liga Privada No. 9.
Pros:
- Rich smoke
- Smooth draw
- Sweet but woody taste
Con:
- Burns for just an hour or shorter
4. Plasencia Alma Fuerte Sixto II Hexagon
Our Rating:
The Plasencia Alma Fuerte Sixto II Hexagon is a full-strength, Gordo-shaped cigar about six inches long.
What’s more interesting is that it has a ring size of 60/64 or almost a full inch diameter.
Its wrapper leaf is called Habano, which came from Nicaragua. Unlike other cigars, it is hand-rolled and processed in the same country.
Review
The rich taste of this cigar is thanks to its unique, bold blend that provides you with a plethora of flavors.
It starts with a chocolate, coffee bean, and cocoa taste but eventually transitions to a stronger leather, spicy, and woody taste with a cinnamon finish.
The best part is that it burns for almost 85 minutes.
It’s a good idea to invest in the best cigar lighter to light it up perfectly, considering the ring size of this cigar.
It was one of the highest-rated cigars back in 2017 and ranked within the top 10 of Cigars of the Year.
It is still widely sought today, especially if you’re trying to find a cigar that works great with your cognac.
That said, the Sixto II Hexagon is better enjoyed with mature blends of cognac.
If you want a complementing taste, go for Hennessy’s X.O. Cognac.
The smooth but powerful soft vanilla taste of this drink will mix well with the spices of the Sixto II Hexagon.
On the other hand, pair the cigar with Hine Rare The Original V.S.O.P Cognac for a mellower combination.
Even though it starts with a strong leathery taste, the cognac ends with hints of citrus, which is great for the cinnamon finish of the cigar.
Pros:
- Burns for well over an hour
- Highly rated
- Interesting combination of flavors
- Smooth draw
Con:
- None to mention
5. Padron Serie 1926 Torpedo Maduro
Our Rating:
The Padron Serie 1926 Torpedo Maduro is a limited-edition cigar released for the 40th anniversary of the brand.
It is a full-strength, torpedo-shaped cigar about six and 1/2 inches long with a ring size of 53/64.
The wrapper leaf is Habano, which came from Nicaragua. Plus, the cigar is hand-rolled and processed in the same country.
Review
The most interesting thing about this cigar is that the filler tobaccos used were aged for five years.
That’s definitely a luxurious cigar every enthusiast should try at least once. Even the box that it comes in is of premium quality.
It has been listed as the Cigar of the Year. Some would even argue this is the best cigar to ever come from Padron.
The cigar perfectly balances the flavors of coffee, nuts, chocolate, and black cherry, with the earthy spices lingering in the background.
As every cigar enthusiast knows, you shouldn’t waste a one-of-a-kind cigar with simpler cognacs. Instead, it’s best enjoyed if you pair it with the Dalmore Cigar Malt.
As the name suggests, this cognac is distilled solely for the purpose of drinking it while smoking a cigar.
Richard Peterson, the distiller of this cognac, is also a cigar smoker, so he knows what smokers look for in the best cigar to pair with cognac.
This cognac’s tropical fruits and cinnamon flavors blend perfectly with the sweet and earthy taste of the Padron Serie 1926 Torpedo Maduro.
You might also want to invest in the best cigar ashtray to keep it lit as you take a sip of your cognac.
Pros:
- Top quality
- Five-year-aged tobacco
- Listed as Cigar of the Year
- Coffee, chocolate, and earthy spice flavors
Con:
- Limited edition; might be hard to come by
Which Cigar Pairs Well With Cognac?
Of the five, the Padron Serie 192Torpedo Maduro wins by a mile. The quality of this cigar is just on a whole different level.
If you can find a bottle of cognac made specifically for cigars, there’s no doubt you’d have the most memorable cigar-smoking experience ever.
For a more affordable option, or when you can’t find the Padron Serie 1926 anywhere, go for Drew Estates Liga Privada No. 9.
The perfect blend of the flavors makes it a great cigar to partner with any bottle of cognac or even other spirits.
Try out all the cigars on this list, and let us know which one you think is the best cigar to smoke with your cognac.