Cigar Strengths Explained & How to Pair Them with Whisky

Not all cigars — or whiskies — are created equal. Here’s a practical guide to understanding cigar strengths and how to pair them with the right whisky styles, for balance and enjoyment.

CUBAN CIGARSWHISKY PAIRINGS

Understanding Cigar Strengths

Cuban cigars (Habanos) are generally categorised into five flavour strength levels:

Light Cigars – gentle, creamy, subtle flavours.
- Examples: Fonseca Cigars, Hoyo de Monterrey Cigars, Rafael González Cigars.
Light-to-Medium Cigars – smooth, approachable, with a bit more character.
- Examples: El Rey del Mundo Cigars, H. Upmann Cigars, Por Larrañaga Cigars.
Medium Cigars – balanced flavour, suitable for most palates.
- Examples: Punch Cigars, Sancho Panza Cigars, Romeo y Julieta Cigars.
Medium-to-Full Cigars – richer and more complex, with noticeable spice and depth.
- Examples: Cohiba Cigars (Linea Clasica, Maduro 5), Montecristo Cigars, Trinidad Cigars.
Full Cigars – bold, intense, with earthy, leathery, and peppery profiles.
- Examples: Partagás Cigars, Bolívar Cigars, Ramón Allones Cigars.

Pairing Cigars with Whisky

The golden rule: balance strength with strength. A light cigar will be overwhelmed by a cask-strength sherry bomb, while a bold Bolívar may overpower a delicate Lowland whisky.

Light Cigars

Best with: Light, floral, and citrus-led whiskies (Lowland single malts, grain whiskies, or wine-finished Highland malts).
Example pairing: Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2 with Tomatin Marsala Edition.

Light-to-Medium Cigars

Best with: Speyside whiskies, bourbon-cask aged malts, or lighter blends. Fruity, honeyed drams match well here.
Example pairing: H. Upmann Magnum 46 with Glenfiddich 15 Solera.

Medium Cigars

Best with: Versatile whiskies — sherried Speysides, soft Highlands, or elegant Japanese malts.
Example pairing: Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill with Macallan 12 Sherry Oak.

Medium-to-Full Cigars

Best with: Sherry cask or port cask whiskies, peated drams, or higher-strength bottlings.
Example pairing: Montecristo No.2 with The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6.

Full Cigars

Best with: Powerful whiskies — cask-strength Islay peat monsters, rich sherry bombs, or long-aged single malts.
Example pairing: Bolívar Belicosos Finos with Lagavulin 16 or Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5.

A Note on Personal Taste

While guides like this are useful starting points, pairing whisky and cigars is ultimately a deeply personal experience. What works beautifully for one person may not resonate with another, as it depends on palate, sensitivity to flavours, and even mood or occasion. A lighter cigar might surprise you with a peaty Islay whisky, or a bold Partagás could open up new dimensions in a sweet Speyside malt. The best pairings are discovered through experimentation — trust your own taste above all else.

Final Thoughts

Pairing whisky with cigars is about harmony, not dominance. A good match creates balance: the whisky enhances the cigar’s flavour, while the cigar reveals new depths in the whisky. By aligning strength with strength, you’ll enjoy a richer, more nuanced experience.