There are certain combinations in life that just work.
Steak and potatoes. Golf and questionable language. Recliners and absolutely no intention of getting back up. And then there’s a great cigar and a good rye whiskey.
This week at Haskins Hideout Cigar and Bourbon Lounge, we’re putting two heavy hitters together for a pairing that punches well above its $20 price tag: a Rocky Patel Vintage 2006 Toro and a pour of Bulleit 95 Rye for just $20.
Yes, twenty bucks.
Frankly, at that price, I’m not sure whether we’re running a cigar lounge or just making poor financial decisions for your benefit. Either way, you win.
Let’s Start With the Rocky Patel Vintage 2006
The Rocky Patel Vintage 2006 San Andreas is the kind of cigar that reminds me why Mexican San Andres tobacco has developed such a loyal following. The star is that dark, rich San Andres wrapper, which gives the cigar a wonderfully earthy personality. Once lit, expect flavors of earth, leather, pepper and spice, along with a darker sweetness that can bring cocoa and chocolate into the conversation. It’s rich without beating you over the head.
That matters with a pairing. I don’t want a cigar so aggressive that I can’t taste my whiskey, and I don’t want something so delicate that the whiskey bulldozes right through it. The Vintage 2006 occupies that sweet spot where there is plenty of flavor and enough strength to stand its ground.
The Toro size makes it even better for settling in and taking your time.
And around here, we strongly encourage taking your time. Mostly because our chairs massage you while you smoke, which makes productivity seem like a terrible idea.
Now Pour the Bulleit 95 Rye
If you normally reach for bourbon, this is a great opportunity to spend a little quality time with rye. Bulleit 95 Rye is bottled at 90 proof, and as the name suggests, it is built around a mash bill containing an impressive 95 percent rye. That high rye content gives Bulleit its distinctive spicy personality.
On the nose, you’ll find oak and sweetness. Take a sip and you get vanilla, honey and spice, followed by a crisp, clean finish that hangs around long enough to make you consider another sip.
Which you probably should. For educational purposes, obviously.
What I particularly like about Bulleit Rye with a cigar is its balance. Rye whiskey can sometimes come across like somebody emptied the spice cabinet into your glass. Bulleit brings plenty of rye character, but the vanilla and honey notes soften those sharper edges.
That makes it extremely cigar friendly.
So Why Do These Two Work So Well Together?
This is where the fun starts. When I pair whiskey with cigars, I’m looking for two things: complement and contrast. The Rocky Patel Vintage 2006 brings earthy tobacco, leather, pepper, cocoa and dark richness. The Bulleit brings rye spice, oak, vanilla and honey. Take a draw from the cigar first and let the smoke settle across your palate. Then take a small sip of the Bulleit.
The rye spice picks up the pepper and spice from the cigar almost immediately. Meanwhile, the whiskey’s vanilla and honey provide contrast against the earthy, leathery character of the San Andres wrapper.
Then there’s the chocolate and cocoa character you can find in the cigar. Put that alongside vanilla, honey and oak from the whiskey and suddenly you have another layer to the pairing.
Neither one disappears. Neither one takes over. They just keep passing flavors back and forth.
That’s exactly what I want from a good cigar and whiskey pairing. The cigar should make you notice something different in the whiskey, and the whiskey should send you back to the cigar looking for flavors you might not have noticed on the first few draws.
And if you spend an hour debating whether you taste cocoa, dark chocolate or espresso, congratulations. You’ve officially become one of us.
There is no known cure.
Your Chair Is Waiting
Of course, what you smoke and drink is only half the equation. Where you enjoy it matters too. If the weather cooperates, grab this pairing and head outside to our huge patio. Stretch out, enjoy the summer evening and remind yourself that mowing the lawn can probably wait another day. Prefer air conditioning and luxury? Come inside.
Grab one of our oversized leather heated and massaging recliners, fire up the Rocky Patel, sip your Bulleit and watch the game on one of the dozens of TVs throughout Haskins Hideout, including our massive 86-inch and 100-inch big screens.
Seriously, once you’re sitting in a massaging recliner with a cigar in one hand, rye in the other and a 100-inch television in front of you, going home becomes significantly less appealing.
We accept no responsibility for that.
Rocky Patel Vintage 2006 Toro + Bulleit 95 Rye = $20
That’s this week’s pairing at Haskins Hideout Cigar and Bourbon Lounge.
A rich San Andres-wrapped Rocky Patel Vintage 2006 Toro. A spicy, smooth pour of Bulleit 95 Rye. Two flavor profiles that were practically begging to meet each other.
And the whole pairing is just $20.
Come grab one, find your favorite spot on the patio or claim a massaging recliner inside, put the game on one of the big screens and settle in.
Because some weeks deserve a cigar.
Some weeks deserve a whiskey.
This week deserves both.
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