Heading to the Kentucky Derby? Here are 6 tips on how to pair a cigar with bourbon
by Dana McMahan
It’s Kentucky Derby Week! And Mother’s Day! So let’s talk cigars.
Every year for as long as I’ve lived in Louisville, I’ve smoked a cigar on Kentucky Derby Day. That’s no surprise, according to freelance spirits journalist Maggie Kimberl.
In most parts of the world, if you ask how people celebrate, the answer is probably Champagne, Kimberl said, while in Kentucky we would likely say bourbon. (We definitely check that box on Derby!) And often, she said, cigars will be part of the celebration with plenty of people having that once-a-year smoke.
Happily, these two things are even better together. And luckily for us, Kimberl is an expert on the topic; she writes the cigar pairing column for American Whiskey Magazine where she’s content editor, and she teaches American whiskey and cigar pairing classes.
Let’s start by getting one thing out of the way.
The image that comes to mind of a cigar smoker may well be of a man, and if you saw my email inbox full of PR pitches leading up to Father’s Day, you’d think they were the exclusive province of men. But, obviously, women, are cigar enthusiasts, too, Kimberl said. To wit: one recent virtual workshop she led had some 30 female participants.
And here in Louisville, our cigar scene is pretty strong among both men and women, Kimberl said, having made a comeback in the recent past after the 90s boom faded.
Although smoking is banned in general at public places, you can smoke at Match Cigar Bar in Jeffersonville, as well as at Riverside Cigar Shop and Lounge. On this side of the river, she said, “the porch at Bourbons Bistro is a great place to enjoy a cigar,” and members (and guests) at the Louisville Thoroughbred Society can smoke in designated areas.
And, of course, outside at Churchill Downs, you can light up.
I will be the first to acknowledge that I know absolutely nothing about cigars. So if you’re likewise a novice, Kimberl has some tips for enjoying and pairing a cigar during Derby Week.
How do you choose a cigar?
How do you know where to start when choosing a cigar? It’s not quite as simple as saying if you like xyz type of bourbon, you’d probably like a particular type of cigar, Kimberl said. In general, she said, think about whether you’d prefer something full-bodied, or on the lighter side. Then it’s best to simply ask the tobacconist at the shop. They can ask you a few questions about your tastes, and should be able to point you to a cigar you’ll enjoy, she said.
How do you pair a cigar with bourbon?
As for pairings, if you’re drinking at the track, we know it’s going to be a Brown Forman product like Old Forester or Woodford Reserve. Now, “there's an old adage in the whiskey world that if you’re smoking a full-bodied cigar, you should be drinking a full-bodied whiskey and if you're drinking a light whiskey you should smoke a lighter cigar,” Kimberl said.
But guess what? “That's bunk,” she said.
Instead, you want complementary flavors, she said. For example, if you’re drinking at the Kentucky Derby, she recommends the lower-proof Old Forester 86 paired with an Arturo Fuente, which should be readily available at the track.
Or, again, she encourages especially those of us new to cigars to let the tobacconist make a pairing recommendation.
What are some cigar and bourbon pairings?
Outside of the track (where we have the world of bourbon and plenty of cigars available), Kimberl has a few pairing suggestions:
Liga Privada Undercrown Shade Grown with Old Grand-Dad 100 Bottled-in-Bond
My Father Fonseca Casacos and Kentucky Peerless Double Oak Bourbon
Keep in mind that nobody says you have to always pair certain cigars with certain bourbons. One good bourbon standby that pairs well with a variety of cigars, Kimberl said, is Four Rose Yellow Label.
Where can you buy cigars in Louisville?
“For one-stop Derby shopping, Liquor Barn and Cox's Smoker's Outlet are great choices because they have both bourbon and a bountiful selection of cigars depending on the location,” Kimberl said.
If you’re just shopping for cigars, hit J. Shepherd at 1429 Bardstown Road or Riverside in Jeffersonville, she said.
What are some celebratory cigar picks?
What should you look for if you’re buying a celebratory cigar — say your horse won the Kentucky Derby or you want to spring for something nice for Mother’s Day? Kimber’s picks are:
Tips for lighting, smoking a cigar
What else should we know? To light your cigar, use a wooden cigar match, Kimberl recommends a plain Bic-style lighter or even a micro torch.
In case you were wondering, no, you don’t inhale. And no, you can not bring a cigar cutter into Churchill Downs.
Finally, if you’re used to smoking other things that you might smoke more quickly, slow down with your cigar, Kimberl said, and check-in with yourself. If you’re feeling lightheaded or start to get nauseated — which can happen if you’re not used to it — it’s more than OK to put it out and come back to it later when you can enjoy it.