Pairing cigars and a beverage... with a twist.

[teamgreg8]

Good evening gents,

I hope this is the correct area in the forum for this question. If not, my apologies!

I have an interesting situation. For the next 6 months, I am not allowed more than one drink per week due to the medication I'm on. Trying to defeat latent tuberculosis with isoniazid = very little fun.

Basically, are there any suggestions out there for enjoyable beverages that compliment cigars without alcohol (besides non-alcohoic beer)?

Thanks!

[Salvelinus]

Seems like I see a lot of members on here enjoying root-beer with a smoke. Haven't done it myself but it might be worth a shot. Coffee with a smoke is stellar if you're a coffee drinker.

[DaBear]

Root beer and coffee are good standbys, especially with earthy sticks. Personally I smoke with a bottle of Cheerwine within arms reach all the time.

[TJtorpedo]

This sounds kind of nuts, but Dr. Pepper does it for me. Coke is also a favorite, with or without rum!

Don't mean to pry into your medical situation, and I'm definitely not a doctor, but alcohol aside, is smoking cigars considered OK while you're fighting TB?

[T.G]

Pellegrino. They also have a lemon version that isn't bad either.

[Ogre]

Another for the Root Beer.

[tengel78]

Root beer or Coke for me.

[Wharf Rat]

Besides black coffee, I drink a lot of iced tea, unsweetened with lemon.

[Digs]

I have been using cream soda for year, it seems to keep my palate clean.

[Ismith75]

Cream Soda, iced tea, coffee and root beer for me :tu

[Apoco]

One pairing that I hardly see mentioned is chocolate milk. If you have a really sweet maduro - chocolate milk is pretty much the bees knees.

Past that - I usually go for root beer or diet coke.

[backwoods357]

I have been using cream soda for year, it seems to keep my palate clean.

Past that - I usually go for root beer

What brands do you usually prefer?

[teamgreg8]

Thanks for the replies! I would classify myself as a novice with cigars, so now not only am I testing all kinds of cigars, I can also test out these drink suggestions!

Smoking cigars would seem bad for tuberculosis but I have a latent form of it. It's not active, nor is it contagious. The only restriction I have is the alcohol. I'm in flight school for the Navy and I am allowed to fly with my condition so that's kind of my barometer for how little of an issue it is for my body.

Thanks again!

[Big Maduro]

Coke. Coffee. Ice tea. Arizona teas. Ice coffee

[replicant_argent]

Ginger ale, hot chocolate, tea, Dr. Pepper, there are many things out there that can complement a cigar. The only way to find your perfect match is to experiment. Get to it, sir!

[Digs]

What brands do you usually prefer?

I like A-Treat, but will usually drink what ever cream soda I can find.

[andromalius]

Coca cola for me if alcohol is not allowed.


..... I'm in flight school for the Navy.....

Thanks for your service!!! :tu

[lenguamor]

Heritage Dr. Pepper or Throwback Pepsi. Or Mexi-Coke, if you can find it and not pay too much.

[Reaver2145]

Try a Pousse Cafe Variation #12 Its many drinks 5 to be exact in one.

[teamgreg8]

Coca cola for me if alcohol is not allowed.




Thanks for your service!!! :tu

Serving is a privilege and I'm happy to do it. Thanks for your support!

[replicant_argent]

Try a Pousse Cafe Variation #12 Its many drinks 5 to be exact in one.

The OP was asking for non-alcoholic options. Thusly the other responses of a non-alcoholic nature.

[Reaver2145]

nevermind i read without as with

[Apoco]

What brands do you usually prefer?

I'm an IBC kinda guy. :tu

[44stampede]

I am enjoying a good quality coffee even more than I would my red wine or single malt right now.
Of course I also smoke in the morning on the weekend mostly and feel a little weird breaking out the bottle at 8am. I know...weird right?

[Sonic04GT]

Cream Soda, iced tea, coffee and root beer for me :tu

I drink sweet tea for non-alcoholic. I will definitely try those other 3.

[MurphysLaw]

Ironbeer is one of my favorites, not sure how widely available it is though.

[LostAbbott]

Ok this may sound crazy but.... Milk... Try it and you might just find you love it. It can open up a huge number of flavors in the cigar that you never knew were there.

[BHalbrooks]

I'm on board with everyone else with recommending:
AW Root Beer, only AW for me.
Coca Cola
Coffee

I'll also drink Water sometimes, nice change up since I try to avoid drinking a lot of Coke.

[jluck]

Try a ***** Cafe Variation #12 Its many drinks 5 to be exact in one.

Fixed it for ya'. dang PG censor. Think kitty cat.

I like MUG brand rootbeer and cream soda. Henry's makes a good product too.

[irratebass]

In the latest Ca interview with Brad Paisley he doesn't drink either and he says he likes to pair his smokes with Yoo Hoo and Grape Juice, I have yet to try these, but I am going to try the grape juice tonight maybe, will let you know.

[md4958]

As some others have mentioned: Pellegrino, Lemon Pellegrino, Coke, coffee.

The Pellegrino leaves your palate feeling crisp and refreshed and the carbonation makes for a more interesting mouth feel

The Limonata (Lemon Pellegrino) and Coke have citric acid that refresh the palate

Coffee goes great with cigars, as the flavors compliment each other... the stronger the cigar, the stronger the coffee.

Several guys have mentioned rootbeer, but I havent had an opportunity to pair it with a cigar yet.

[Subvet642]

Coffee with a smoke is stellar if you're a coffee drinker.

+1 :tpd:

[Blak Smyth]

In order of favorites:

Coffee (Always a home run)
Cream Soda (Sometimes it is too sweet for cetain smokes, othertimes amazing)
Water (Great for hydration and leaves you able to taste the pure cigar)
Coke (Works well with some smokes)
Birch Beer (Works well with some smokes)
Root Beer (I find it can bitter certain smokes)

[BlkDrew]

Of course I also smoke in the morning on the weekend mostly and feel a little weird breaking out the bottle at 8am. I know...weird right?

some of us work nights, so 8am is our 5 o'clock.

i have yet to try cream soda, but i have heard a lot about it. I have tried Pelligrino and enjoyed it.

[Blak Smyth]

some of us work nights, so 8am is our 5 o'clock.

i have yet to try cream soda, but i have heard a lot about it. I have tried Pelligrino and enjoyed it.

If you are smoking something creamy it will elevate it. I can't drink cream soda without a cigar now.

[shopkins82]

Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, and Gingerale are my favorites. As far as Root Beer goes, I usually like something with a bit of bite in general, but I'm actually finding a creamier Root Beer with more vanilla goes better when smoking.

On the alcoholic front, I had a very pleasing smoke with a strange drink just the other night. A friend of mine received a bottle of Three Olive Loopey (fruit-loop flavored Vodka) as a gift, so we started experimenting and came up with the "Dirty Tucan", "Fruity Russian", or some other made up name consisting of the Loopey vodka, creme de minth (the only non-coffee cream liquor we had), and half-and-half with a few fruit loops on top to garnish... it was like Saturday Morning cartoons with booze! Also, strangely, a nice compliment to the Factory Throwout No. 59 Sweets we were smoking that night.

[Digs]

If you are smoking something creamy it will elevate it. I can't drink cream soda without a cigar now.

:tu:tu:tu

[teamgreg8]

This board is the best. Thanks again for all the responses, I have many beverages to try. The three that pique my interest the most are cream soda, dr. pepper, and pellegrino.

[Emjaysmash]

Cream soda FTW.

[Malazan]

What's the best tasting Root Beer out there?

[Ranger_B]

Craft root beers and cream sodas. Teas, sometimes I muddle some mint and berries with some club soda.

[JenksAnejo]

I never thought about trying cream soda with a cigar. That sounds like a great idea though! Coffee is generally my drink of choice with a stogie; water is also a close second. I will have to go pick up some cream sodas at the store tomorrow.

[lenguamor]

What's the best tasting Root Beer out there?

Virgil's.

[irratebass]

ok I tried grape juice last night with a Kristoff Sumatra and it was delicious, the sweetness really brought out some more flavors. Gonna try this again soon.

[Poronico]

Water with cucumber and lime is quite nice with a smoke.

[RWhisenand]

My favorite drink with a cigar is black coffee, so that would be my suggestion.

However, as an earler poster suggested, I think I'll be tring some San Pelligrino with a smoke. That sounds great!

[Reaver2145]

Ok after having a good think about it.

For dry and woody i would say either tonic or club soda with ice and a little twist of lemon (the bubbles help keep things fresh)

For medium body but sweet sungrown types i would go iced tea with a spoon full of natural honey.

For medium spicy its milky coffee all the way.

For anything full its normally black coffee no milk or honey.

Thats what i find goes with my palette for cigars you prolly wont like it but hay there's always a good ginger beer instead as that goes with anything IMHO.

[Doctorossi]

Coconut water.


/thread

[lenguamor]

Coconut water.


/thread

I'd forgotten about coconut water since I haven't bought any in a while; it just got so god-awful expensive as it gained popularity.

Great choice!

[Poronico]

I'd forgotten about coconut water since I haven't bought any in a while; it just got so god-awful expensive as it gained popularity.

Great choice!

Damn those yuppie trends!

[Doctorossi]

I'd forgotten about coconut water since I haven't bought any in a while; it just got so god-awful expensive as it gained popularity.

Great choice!

Yes, it's tough to find reasonable pricing, but some of the Latin brands (Goya, Jumex) can be found for less and on sale from time to time. I find it an especially good pairing with the drier, cocoa-powderier end of the cigar spectrum.

[bonjing]

Thanks to Slim, I like Arnold Palmers 1/2 tea 1/2 lemonade.

I also like Ginger beer with cigars