What's new

cigars and alcohol

Rating - 100%
37   0   0
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
1,195
I cannot say the number of times I have passed up smoking one of my favorite full-bodied accompanied by an equally full-bodied porter.

I'm a huge beer drinker and brewer. Many of you may or may not know that I used to be the assistant manager of a microbrewery, so I would probably say that beer is my "first love" when it comes to alcohol vs. cigars.

I've just never paired the two because I tend to be a little sensitive to the nicotine factor. And since my taste buds tend to gravitate more towards fuller bodied cigars, I wasn't sure how a high alcohol content beverage would interact with that for me.

However, when thinking about it, any time I get a nic-kick it goes away in mere minutes by just downing something sugary.

And alcohol is converted to sugar through digestion.

So my question is this - does alcohol actually dull the Vitamin N in a fuller-bodied blend, creating a very mellow and pleasant experience?

Or do the two interact in a way that "ramps each other up"?
 

Dread

I sell cigars
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Joined
Sep 19, 2010
Messages
690
Location
Manchester, NH
Ive found that drinking beer while smoking helps to battle the vitamin N dose, I drink mostly IPA's but also indulge in Porters and Stouts relativly often as well.
 

orangedog

Navin R Johnson
Rating - 100%
83   0   0
Joined
Dec 14, 2010
Messages
2,504
Location
On A Plane
Anyone actually have a chemistry background (or similar)? This is an interesting question that someone in the community can answer, yes?
 
Rating - 100%
37   0   0
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
1,195
Anyone actually have a chemistry background (or similar)? This is an interesting question that someone in the community can answer, yes?

Yeah, I was basically just wondering how nicotine and alcohol interact with each other.

For example, when mixing high amounts of caffeine (say, a strong cup of coffee) with nicotine, the chemicals strengthen each other.
 
Rating - 100%
8   0   0
Joined
Jul 17, 2010
Messages
1,791
Location
Philadelphia
Hmmmmmm nicotine can be either a stimulant or depressant i think it depends on how much you consume and how fast. Alcohol is a depressant. So since we tend to smoke cigars at a steady slow relaxing pace I would say the effects are considerably the same. So ah..ha they coexist wonderfully :thumbsup:
 
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
27
I find that a beer (or two) or a scotch takes the edge off of a strong cigar. However, sometimes the flavor of a scotch can overwhelm the cigar. I normally like to drink scotch straight. However, when I'm smoking a cigar with scotch, I like to add a little water.

- Greenhouse.
 
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Joined
Jun 1, 2010
Messages
228
Location
St. Louis
I agree with Greenhouse, that scotch sometime overpowers a cigar. However, my normal drink of choice with a cigar is bourbon or bourbon and coke, which goes great and keeps me from getting a nic fit. If I'm working or can't drink at the time, I'll do a Mountain Dew or Coke and those also help keep me "balanced".
 
Rating - 100%
37   0   0
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
1,195
I find that a beer (or two) or a scotch takes the edge off of a strong cigar. However, sometimes the flavor of a scotch can overwhelm the cigar. I normally like to drink scotch straight. However, when I'm smoking a cigar with scotch, I like to add a little water.

- Greenhouse.

A man after my own heart!

Straight scotch is where it's at. The bee's knees, if you will :glassesgr
 

Clint

Clint
Rating - 100%
206   0   1
Joined
Nov 10, 2006
Messages
7,192
Location
West Hills, CA
I don't drink anything alcoholic when I smoke...Why impair your palate?!

A wonderfully complex cigar can get totally (and literally!) drowned with something beer, wine, Scotch....Why do it?

I understand your point is would beer remove the N kick, but I guess I worry more about losing the subtle nuances that a great smoke can provide.

..Just MVHO
 
Rating - 100%
37   0   0
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
1,195
I don't drink anything alcoholic when I smoke...Why impair your palate?!

A wonderfully complex cigar can get totally (and literally!) drowned with something beer, wine, Scotch....Why do it?

I understand your point is would beer remove the N kick, but I guess I worry more about losing the subtle nuances that a great smoke can provide.

..Just MVHO

I feel the same way.

I think an alcoholic beverage would pair very well with a cigar I've already smoked and whose flavours I would like to compliment with something.

But whenever I'm smoking a new cigar...WATER. With a side of ICE.
 
Top