Wimbledon Cocktails and Cigar Pairings
Cigars and fine liquor are a natural pairing, enhancing each other’s complexity and depth. Whether it’s a rich whisky, a smooth rum, or a refined cognac, the right drink can elevate the cigar experience, and vice versa. This synergy is so profound that some cigar brands take it a step further, aging their tobacco in liquor barrels to infuse their cigars with unique flavours.
Several iconic collaborations between cigar and liquor brands have emerged from this shared passion for craftsmanship. Maker’s Mark, for example, offers cigars housed in their signature wax-sealed tubes, while Drew Estate has partnered with Pappy Van Winkle and even crafted Kahlua-flavoured cigars in the past. General Cigars has teamed up with Sazerac, resulting in creations like Fireball cigars and Weller by Cohiba, alongside partnerships with Buffalo Trace. Diesel’s Whisky Row cigars, produced in collaboration with Rabbit Hole Distilleries, are another fine example of this harmonious relationship.
Cuban cigars have also embraced this trend, with Cohiba famously collaborating with Martell Cognac. In Europe, Dominique London, a luxury retailer, has gone even further by acquiring a distillery in Wales, producing their own whisky, gin, rum, and other liquors to pair with their cigars.
Pairing cigars with liquor creates a world of possibilities for the discerning connoisseur, allowing both the cigar and the spirit to shine through their complementary flavours. This rich tradition continues to inspire new partnerships and innovations, providing endless enjoyment for enthusiasts.
Wimbledon Cocktails
When Wimbledon begins, it signals the official start of the British summer. Enter the eager crowds of tennis enthusiasts making their yearly trek to Aorangi Terrace—often braving the rain—to indulge in strawberries and sip on champagne or English sparkling wine.
Ah, Wimbledon! Few things are as iconic as the pairing of strawberries and this prestigious tournament. But the Wimbledon vibe extends beyond strawberries and bubbly. There’s an array of cocktails that perfectly complement the spirit of the games.
Here are some great Wimbledon-inspired cocktails, ideal for enjoying alongside a fine cigar as you watch your favourite tennis star battle it out on the court.
Courtside
The name itself gives away that this is a tennis cocktail, right? And it includes strawberries, so it’s the perfect cocktail for Wimbledon.
The nose is mild, just a mild floral summer fruit aroma with a hint of the lime. The summer fruits provide sweetness, with a hint of a spiked apple juice but that’s it. It is a nice refreshing, relatively low ABV cocktail so perfect for an afternoon tennis match at Wimbledon. But you can’t smoke on the stands though. Pair this with a mild cigar, a Joya de Nicaragua Clasico for example, or a Fonseca Delicias.
And now for the Courtside recipe:
1 small strawberry
3 fresh raspberries
45ml Vodka
15ml Elderflower liqueur
45ml (cloudy) unsweetened apple juice
15ml lime juice
10ml rich simple syrup
Soda to top
Muddle the berries in the base of a shaker. Add all ingredients minus the soda in the shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice. Top with soda, stir gently and serve.
Strawberry Martini
This Martini riff was created in London, the home of Wimbledon. And with strawberries, this is another perfect Wimbledon cocktail. The nose is pure vodka, grain vodka, with only a very little hint of strawberries. This is just a fruity, sweet vodka. But with natural strawberry flavours instead of artificial which is always better. I will pair this with a medium bodied cigar, nothing too sweet but either something creamy or something peppery.
And now for the Strawberry Martini recipe:
5 small strawberries
60ml Vodka
15ml Rich Simple Syrup
2 cracks of black pepper
Muddle the strawberries in the base of a shaker. Add the other ingredients and ice. Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe.
Strawberry Fields
Who doesn’t automatically start singing or humming the famous song by The Beatles when hearing the name of the cocktail? This cocktail uses balsamic vinegar as a garnish, making it unique.
The balsamic plays a bit part on the nose, even though there are only a few drops. The cocktail is quite rich, fresh strawberry flavours with plenty of sweetness from the honey syrup and a nice texture from the egg white. The vodka gives is the body this cocktail needs. The balsamic vinegar ties things together. The balance between the honey sweetness and the lemon is perfect and that makes this cocktail good to pair with cigars even though the citrus flavour is there. A slightly stronger cigar would be good, medium and upwards, with a nice Cameroon wrapper such as the RoMa Craft Baka for example or the Oliva Series G.
and now for the Strawberry Fields recipe:
2 large fresh strawberries (sliced into quarters)
45ml Vodka
15ml of Lemon Juice
15ml of 3:1 Honey syrup
1 egg white
Garnish: Balsamic vinegar and cracked black pepper
Add the strawberries and lemon juice into a shaker and gently muddle. Add the other ingredients and dry shake (without ice). Then add ice, shake again to chill. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with cracked pepper and 5 drops of balsamic vinegar.
Inspector X
