Pairing Cigars & Alcohol – Ravini Latte Macchiato
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.
Ravini Latte Macchiato
I like coffee liqueur, although I am not the biggest fan of Kahlua because of the sweetness. I also like Irish Cream once in a while for a rich and decadent cocktail. So when I saw this Ravini Latte Macchiato liqueur at the supermarket chain Aldi, I simply had to pick up a bottle. It was dirt cheap, less than 10 euro for a 500ml bottle and it has an ABV of 15%. They also had an Espresso coffee and a Capuchino version, but the latter was not in stock.
The bottle shows an Italian flag and says Gusto Italiano, while the text at the back of the bottle mentions Italian joy of life, yet the liqueur is made in Friedeburg, Germany and most likely it’s a house brand for the Aldi chain as I can’t find it anywhere else online.
Neat
If you would have given me this drink in a Glencairn, as I am drinking it now, without telling me what this is, I would have guessed that this was Bailey’s. It looks like it, and it smells like it. As for flavour, it’s slightly thinner than Baileys, and the vanilla sweetness is slightly stronger. Because of the creaminess and the sweetness, I would pair this with a medium bodied cigar without sweetness nor cream in the flavour profile.
Mocha Martini
A cocktail first made in London before it went worldwide. The crème de cacao and Ravini Latte Macchiato dominate the nose. The vanilla sweetness of the Ravini Latte Macchiato shines through with some of the cacao and the bitterness of the espresso. The vanilla is further enhanced by the bourbon, and the bourbon also gives this cocktail a little kick. A slightly stronger cigar will be good with this, medium plus to strong, with a bold flavour. Pick your favourite full bodied, full flavoured cigar if you pair a cigar with this cocktail.
And now for Mocha Martini recipe:
45ml Bourbon
30ml Fresh hot espresso
15ml Ravini Latte Macchiato or Irish Cream
15ml Brown Crème de Cacao
15ml Cream
Shake the ingredients minus the cream and strain into a chilled coupe. Then float the cream on top.
Shaft
Yes, this cocktail is named after the famous detective John Shaft, a legendary Hollywood character. The nose is all coffee with a hint of vanilla cream. The flavour of the cocktail surprises me, it’s liquid dark chocolate with a little kick from the vodka. It’s rich, it’s decadent, it’s delicious if you love dark chocolate and I happen to be a fan of dark chocolate. This will go well with a strong Nicaraguan powerhouse such as the Diesel Unholy Cocktail and the Oliva Serie V cigars.
And now for Shaft recipe:
30ml Vodka
60ml Cold brew coffee
30ml Irish Cream
15ml Coffee liqueur.
Shake all ingredients and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Irish Alexander
If you’re after a bit of luck-of-the-Irish, it’s hard to go past an Irish Alexander. A riff on the classic dessert cocktail, the Brandy Alexander, this drink mixes Cognac VSOP, Irish Cream Liqueur and, of course, Cream.
The cocoa garnish dominates the nose, yet some of the Irish Cream or Latte Macchiato aroma shines through. The cocktail is rich, decadent, velvety soft and creamy. The vanilla, milk chocolate and nougat flavour of the cream shines through, with a little kick from the brandy. This is the perfect after dinner cocktail, and will go great with a stronger, bolder cigar. I am thinking Nicaraguan, something with plenty of spice to compliment the flavour party in your mouth.
And now for Irish Alexander recipe:
45ml Cognac
45ml Irish Cream
15ml Cream
Shake all ingredients with ice. Then strain into another cocktail shaker and dry shake. Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass and dust with some cocoa powder.
Mudslide
This is not the frozen version, or the fancy version with chocolate stripes, but a simple mudslide. There’s something odd with this cocktail; after shaking and straining the cocktail makes a sound like it’s a carbonated drink and the bubbles are being released. Yet there is nothing carbonated in there.
Again, the nose is dominated by the latte macchiato. The latte macchiato, which tastes like a cheaper version of Bailey’s, is the strongest flavour in the cocktail with added sweetness from the Ravini coffee liqueur with a kick from the tasteless Smirnov vodka. Its mildly creamy, its sweet, it’s boring cocktail and the only interesting part is the strong chocolate flavour. It’s odd, as it tastes both like dark chocolate and milk chocolate. I would go for a stronger Habano cigar with this cocktail, but I doubt that I will ever make this cocktail again.
and now for the Mudslide recipe:
2 dashes of chocolate bitters
30ml Irish Cream (or Ravini Latte Macchiato)
30ml Coffee liqueur
30ml Vodka
Add all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain in coupe without any garnish.
Inspector X
