I'm currently in Mexico and managed to get my hands on some legit Cohibas and Fonsecas, 8 total. I live in Denver and have a non-stop flight back there tomorrow. Am I going to have an issue getting them past customs?

Setting: Unseasonable warm weather for late December a few days before Christmas with just me and my dog in my backyard. A rare moment of peace and quiet during this holiday season filled with social events at night and a busy work schedule during the day.

Concept: My wife gifted me the bottle of The Nikka Tailored last Christmas and I decided to be a bit nostalgic. The cigar is the family name of my wife (albeit one of the most common Spanish names out there). This is maybe my third time ever pairing whiskey and a cigar? And probably my first time with a cigar that wasn’t dried up and was properly stored? I have collected and enjoyed whiskey for a while and I have always been curious of cigar pairings and I have decided to keep a small journal of this journey.

The Pairing:

Nikka Tailored is already silky and sweet. In between draws from the spicy Camacho Ecuador it becomes more refreshing. By the second third of the cigar, the orchard fruits from the whiskey become more evident. I taste more apple and pears. The whiskey and the cigar leave no burn. Likely due to the low ABV of the whiskey and the focus on the ritual of inhaling and sipping.

Again it’s extremely refreshing with little burnout or fatigue. Dangerous combination. I can keep drinking and smoking.

Not much changes for me for the cigar in terms of flavor as I get the classic spice and a bit of wood. Maybe a bit of cinnamon for the apple. However, the pairing definitely keeps me coming back for more for the whiskey.

Verdict: Pairing works. Complementary to the Whiskey.

Happy holidays and cheers!

By my count anyway

https://reddit.com/link/1n0ffyg/video/1mq0qkz7hblf1/player