cognac dipped cigars?

[dtbach]

Many years ago while in the Navy, a bunch of us went to a high end restaurant in Singapore. We had just spent over 100 days at sea and had plenty of cash (plus I was single and getting flight pay). We really didn't care what the meal would cost as it was in "funny" money and we wanted to indulge.

Well, after 5 courses and many bottles of wine, a cute little thing rolls in a large humidor on a cart. We all thought, what the hell is this, but hey looks like a great idea. She asked each of us in turn what we wanted (they could have been swisher sweets for all I knew then but on reflection there were lots of cubans in the mix) so I picked out a long one with a nice brown coat (probably a Churchill) and she went through a great performance of massaging the cigar, cutting it, toasting the end just right and then before she gave it to me, dipped it in a shot glass of cognac. All I remember is that it was one of the great smokes of my life! :ccool:

I thought it was great at the time, but wonder, is that something that other guys do once in a while? I mean dipping the cigar into an alcohol of choice before enjoying?

 

[Knickerbocker]

I've never done it. Do not see a time I ever will. I feel like it's something older people do. I've never seen someone my age (25-30ish) do it.

 

[dtbach]

I've never done it. Do not see a time I ever will. I feel like it's something older people do. I've never seen someone my age (25-30ish) do it.

That's about how old I was at the time. The resturant was probably for older folks though. Anyway, I still remember it fondly 30+ years later.

 

[Hoshneer]

I got a couple cheapy cigars I'd give it a try.

 

[mwlabel]

I'd try it with some cheap ones. I'd be afraid of ruining the construction and flavors of a nice smoke.

 

[CWS]

At our B&M in Ventura I would say 50% take the dip in cognac that is offered.
It used to be a way to hydrate the cigar. In the old west and in other locales, humidors rarely held moisture and cigars were often dry. A quick dip in alcohol would add moisture and then quickly dissipate.
Others used alcohol to make a lesser cigar taste better...see Rum Soaked Crooks. I bought a few bundled cigars years ago to send my son and they guy dipped them before I could stop him. They sat in a sealed container for a few weeks before he smoked em. Said they were great. Cheap cigar with nice booze.

 

[Nacho Daddy]

You young guys are missing out on a treat.A bit of your favorite high proof beverage on the head of a cigar can be delightful.I usually dampen my finger and spread it on the cigar rather than dip,but the result is the same.
Take a lesson from the old farts occasionally,it could be a good thing.............

 

[Cigary43]

This practice has been around for about 100 years and some of the FOG's will still do this but don't expect 'dipping' the end of the cigar will hydrate the rest with that taste of cognac or other libation. What is does is give the head of the cigar a nice taste but understand that doing it may also cause the head to be too saturated and then will unravel the cigar. Infused cigars are sold by Gurkha and other brands and while I enjoy cognac or scotch quite a bit I let the essence of the libation coat my mouth and then take a draw. This gives me the best of both worlds and doesn't cause issues with my cigars.

 

[Fitze55]

You young guys are missing out on a treat.A bit of your favorite high proof beverage on the head of a cigar can be delightful.I usually dampen my finger and spread it on the cigar rather than dip,but the result is the same.
Take a lesson from the old farts occasionally,it could be a good thing.............

It actually sounds intriguing and I might give it a try.

 

[Tobacco Giant]

I let the essence of the libation coat my mouth and then take a draw. This gives me the best of both worlds and doesn't cause issues with my cigars.

This is what I do as well. Find the right pairing and it's pure bliss.

I've tried the dip on a few occasions, I prefer the just taking a sip first.

 

[Cigary43]

I let the essence of the libation coat my mouth and then take a draw. This gives me the best of both worlds and doesn't cause issues with my cigars.

This is what I do as well. Find the right pairing and it's pure bliss.

I've tried the dip on a few occasions, I prefer the just taking a sip first.

I'd be interested in what you drink when pairing...I like a bit of sweetness so I drink Drambuie half of the time and then the other half I drink Amarula which coats my mouth with a nice chocolate taste and the finish on my cigars really hangs around a lot longer. It can make a mediocre cigar taste so much better.

 

[BradMc]

If I'm drinking alcohol at all it is cognac, a lil sip n a lng draw, OMG the flavor of the cigar is enhanced (not so much sweeter) the cognac to me is smoother......Take head , u will want to drink the cognac n not sip , It does sneak up on u .....trust the FOG's

 

[Tobacco Giant]

I let the essence of the libation coat my mouth and then take a draw. This gives me the best of both worlds and doesn't cause issues with my cigars.

This is what I do as well. Find the right pairing and it's pure bliss.

I've tried the dip on a few occasions, I prefer the just taking a sip first.

I'd be interested in what you drink when pairing...I like a bit of sweetness so I drink Drambuie half of the time and then the other half I drink Amarula which coats my mouth with a nice chocolate taste and the finish on my cigars really hangs around a lot longer. It can make a mediocre cigar taste so much better.

Woodford Reserve bourbon and an AF Magnum has been one of my favorite pairings so far. Very sweet and creamy combination, IMO. As a matter of fact, I won't even smoke any of my magnums unless I'm pairing it, that's how good it is. Knob creek pairs well also, although I'll typically throw a couple ice cubes in there to help open it up.

A lot of my regular smokes are a bit fuller, many coming from the MF factory and I haven't been able to find a perfect pairing for them just yet. Jdog turned me on to Glenmorangie which has been working pretty well, but I'm not sure it's a perfect match like the WR and AF Magnums. Any suggestions?

 

[jsnake]

Anything infused with cognac is disgusting to me so I would never try this. We all have different tastes so I am not knocking it. You can do what you want with your own cigar but I have never seen anyone do this.

 

[James]

I mainly smoke full bodied cigars and my favorite pairings are Macallan 12 yr. and Balvenie doublewood. I think it's the sherry cask aging that makes the difference IMO. With medium bodied smokes i go to the Glenlevit or Glenfiddich and sometimes Makers Mark.

 

[dtbach]

Anything infused with cognac is disgusting to me so I would never try this. We all have different tastes so I am not knocking it. You can do what you want with your own cigar but I have never seen anyone do this.

Lets not get confused here. The cigar had a quick dip in the cognac, it wasn't "infused"

 

[Cigary43]

If I'm drinking alcohol at all it is cognac, a lil sip n a lng draw, OMG the flavor of the cigar is enhanced (not so much sweeter) the cognac to me is smoother......Take head , u will want to drink the cognac n not sip , It does sneak up on u .....trust the FOG's

Lol....you got that right. I sip my Drambuie or Cognac so that I get the mix of the libation with the smoke...just doesn't get much better than this. My problem is that I love the mix so that means I'm sipping like a madman and when you factor I'd be smoking a churchill size cigar...you get the idea. I go through a 12 ounce flask in no time and then I get the 'jimmy legs' and that can be serious problems when you're already on a cruise ship.

I let the essence of the libation coat my mouth and then take a draw. This gives me the best of both worlds and doesn't cause issues with my cigars.

This is what I do as well. Find the right pairing and it's pure bliss.

I've tried the dip on a few occasions, I prefer the just taking a sip first.

I'd be interested in what you drink when pairing...I like a bit of sweetness so I drink Drambuie half of the time and then the other half I drink Amarula which coats my mouth with a nice chocolate taste and the finish on my cigars really hangs around a lot longer. It can make a mediocre cigar taste so much better.

Woodford Reserve bourbon and an AF Magnum has been one of my favorite pairings so far. Very sweet and creamy combination, IMO. As a matter of fact, I won't even smoke any of my magnums unless I'm pairing it, that's how good it is. Knob creek pairs well also, although I'll typically throw a couple ice cubes in there to help open it up.

A lot of my regular smokes are a bit fuller, many coming from the MF factory and I haven't been able to find a perfect pairing for them just yet. Jdog turned me on to Glenmorangie which has been working pretty well, but I'm not sure it's a perfect match like the WR and AF Magnums. Any suggestions?

Glenmorangie is very good with cigars but like with Drambuie...this habit can get expensive in a hurry esp. at $50 a bottle. I tend to smoke a cigar every night and a bottle of Drambuie is history after a week.