Cigar & Rum Pairing
New Way
I’ve used the Rum Old Fashioned recipe many times, a trend also followed by many rum aficionados around the world, especially considering the many outstanding rums that have been introduced into the market in the last 50 years. The original recipe calls for American Whiskey which, in my opinion, is at the same level as its rum-counterpart. I would even suggest that the Rum Old Fashioned is better, especially for someone like me who prefers Rum over Whiskey.
There are different versions of the origin of the Old Fashioned, most of them suggesting that this was the common way to consume American Whiskey in the 19th century. While I can’t tell you which of the many versions is the correct one, my humble intention in this pairing is to suggest a New Way to enjoy the rum version of the cocktail.
In all honesty, the recipe does not deviate a great deal from the original. I tried to tweak the cocktail to make it cigar and rum friendly, so I changed the simple syrup to one with ginger, which gives it a special touch worthy of changing the name of its classic ancestor.
New Way Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ oz. Diplomatico Rum
- ¾ oz. Ginger Simple Syrup
- 1 Dash Angostura Bitters
- Orange Peel, as garnish
The method of preparation is simple and follows that of the classic original: add the Ginger Simple Syrup to a Rocks Glass, followed by the dash of Bitters and a dash of non-carbonated water. Combine all ingredients in the glass, add ice cubes, rum and finish with a garnish of orange peel. As you can see, preparation is exceedingly simple, which means you can quickly prepare a second one halfway through the cigar-smoking session.
Diplomatico and Montecristo
The cigar I selected was a Montecristo Number 2, which I’ve had in my humidor for more than 6 years, it was a Pirámide de Habanos (52 x 156mm), always appreciated by classic cigar smokers. The intensity of this cigar is medium-high, particularly this brand of Habanos, which was even better with the additional humidor aging time: well-rounded and with all the typical Cuban tobacco notes, especially leather and dried herbs.
As I started to smoke the first third of the Habano, the pleasant tobacco notes combined marvelously with the New Way cocktail. I selected the Diplomatico Rum for its typical sweet notes and because this style of rum is ideal for a cocktail such as this one. As I sipped the cocktail and approached the end of the cigar, the ginger syrup gave the drink a fresh dimension, with an herbal touch that I can’t imagine working this well with any other type of distillate.
Diplomatico and Montecristo2
There are times when cigars, especially young ones, have aggressive notes from the ammonia, which is naturally lost by the tobacco leaves over time. For this reason, this pairing works great with a cigar that should be aged at least a couple of years in a humidor, otherwise, the overall ginger notes may work against the pairing, rather than in favor.
The key to the success of this cocktail is to have a very good ginger simple syrup, which is very simple to prepare. Start with a 1:1 ratio (by volume) of water and granulated sugar. Combine them in a pot over medium heat, mixing until all the sugar is dissolved. Once cooled, add slices of fresh ginger. You can also use this syrup in other, similar recipes.
I hope you can do this pairing at home. If you don’t have access to Diplomatico Rum, try with a similar one, with a sweet profile. If all the rums you have access to are dry, you can modify the recipe a bit, increasing the amount of ginger syrup. Try to achieve balance and you’ll be impressed by the results.
Cheers!
Philip Ili Barake
#GRCigarPairing
