I am looking for a good cigar within 5-12 bucks to pair with a bottle wine under 30 bucks.

Try a Don Pepin, Arturo Fuente, Tatuaje, and there are even some VSG's in that price range.

As for the wine (which is not the easiest thing to pair with a cigar), you need something full bodied with a fair amount of residual sugar. Something like a real good Zinfandel. If you can find it, the Consentino Cigar Zin could be nice.

Here are the winemakers notes: Classic Cigarzin blend of exotic fruit and spice aromas. Pomegranate, rhubarb, red cherries, and cream flavors intermingle in a rich, concentrated style with spicy notes. Structured with a bright fruit tartness despite being big, rich, and mouthfilling throughout.

I gather you were refferring to a red wine, and not a "fortified wine" such as Port...

I agree with Mahnum. Don Pepin stuff is great. I tried one of his that he just started rolling the other day, but it has totally blanked from my mind.

Also a Rockey Patel Edge would go nice.

Remember this Scootrer (and it is especially true with wine)- Opposite flavours will complement each other. Dry wine will bring out the sweetness of the cigar. Sweet wine won't etc etc.

In my opinion an Oliva V paid with a good Tawny port.
A good decent priced Tawny is Sandeman. I've paired the two in the past and enjoyed.
I feel that tawny port goes the best with a cigar.
Of course this is JMHO.
Enjoy.

What say you to an Australian Syrah with a cigar?

quote:

Originally posted by SAXON9075:
What say you to an Australian Syrah with a cigar?

Sure it could. But you gotta get one with lots of jamy, berry flavors. Something "basket pressed".

I haven't been able to do it yet and I love both. Good port though is much easier if you care to give it a try.

You know, after reading Suckling's column recently, we've been doing "Havana Sundays" ... champagne and Cuban cigars. The combination is fantastic, and the bubby completely cleanses and refreshes the palate. Even $9 Ballatore sparkling wine works.

Try the Camelot Cabernet Sauv. You will not believe that you are drinking a $10 bottle of wine. And on the cigar side, pretty much anything from Oliva or DPG.

quote:

Originally posted by littoines:
In my opinion an Oliva V paid with a good Tawny port.
I feel that tawny port goes the best with a cigar.
Of course this is JMHO.
Enjoy.

I have to agree with you. Althought I didnt drink a port, I had a full red and paired it with the V and I have to admit I think it was the best cigar/wine pairing I have had so far.

Now, spt, you must understand there is a difference between red wine and port wine. Red wine gets it's alcohol content from the sugars contained in the grapes, with nothing added -- mostly, but chaptalisation is another story.

Port wine is a fortified wine. They add alcohol during fermentation to stop the process and have copiuous amounts of residual sugars. Hence a much sweeter wine than table wines. Not the same thing at all.

They may both be good with cigars, but it's 2 totally different things.

you need either a not very tannic red, like a fruity zinfadel or shyraz and pair it with a "meaty" cigar, I only smoke cubans and PSD4 comes to mind. Saint luis rey A could also work, since it has some fruityness.