Let me tell you a little story. One morning, not long ago, the coffee pot quit. Could it have been fixed? Possibly. Did we take the time to figure out what happened, like reasonable human beings? Not a chance. Christian, el boss, went out that morning and bought a new coffee maker. A Bunn, no less, so our coffee waiting period is as minimal as possible. That’s just how we roll.
The point is that we love coffee. We even have our very own blend, created by the geniuses as Mudhouse Coffee (here in Springfield). And what, pray tell, is better than coffee? Coffee PLUS cigars.
There are four cigars in particular (amongst our stock) that pair excellently with coffee: Padron 1964, San Cristobal Elegancia, Illusione 68, and the LFD Chiselito.
Hey, check out Jessica’s latest thrift store find! It’s a coffee mug, in case you’re wondering how it ties in to this post. Moving on…
Padron 1964 – Yum. The Padron 1964 Anniversary Series is very popular at our shop. This cigar is rich but not overpowering. It isn’t necessarily a strong-bodied cigar, but it has a lot of flavor. As such, avoid any taste-bud-deadeningly-strong coffees with this cigar. You’ll definitely want a coffee that can compliment the cigar, and not the other way around.
San Cristobal Elegancia – We frequently recommend the Elegancia to new-ish cigar smokers. However, it is also well-loved by many of our customers who’ve been smoking cigars for decades. It has a light to medium body, with a lot of soul. I find it to be rather creamy and satisfying, like… when Cool Whip melts onto pumpkin pie. Annnd, now that’s all I can think about. Why, brain, why?
Okay, back on track. If you want to get the full flavor of this cigar, try pairing it with a lighter coffee. Or, if you want a light cigar to smoke first thing in the morning with your rich coffee, the Elegancia is perfect.
Illusione 68 – Now we’re moving in a different direction than the previous two cigars. The Illusione 68 is strong and rich. This is one you can pair with a strong coffee and still get the extent of the cigar’s flavor. This would be good if you were trying to pull an all-nighter studying for finals. Or maybe if you were preparing to slay a dragon, or defeat the Black Knight, or invade a small country. Whatever floats your boat.
La Flor Dominicana Chiselito – This wee little cigar packs a punch. I can handle it because I’m awesome, but it’s not for the faint of heart (or lung.) Like the Illusione 68, this cigar can be paired with a strong coffee. Or you can smoke it with a light coffee, if you aren’t prepared for your own spontaneous combustion. I’m not saying that would happen, but honestly you never know.
Any thoughts on this topic? Do you have a favorite cigar to pair with coffee? Maybe you should go test out a few, in the name of research. And yes, I’m still thinking about Cool Whip and pumpkin pie.
