Pairing Cigars & Alcohol – Strange Nature

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.

Strange Nature: A Bold Twist on Gin Tradition

Strange Nature offers a daring reinterpretation of classic gin, crafted from an unexpected source – New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Distilled from grapes rather than grain, its base spirit brings a distinctively local character, rich with natural fruit and floral notes. Nature flavours the strange.

This one-of-a-kind gin captures the vibrant essence of its wine roots – aromatic and expressive, balancing tropical zest with fresh herbaceous tones. It’s a flavour profile that’s unmistakably tied to its origins.

The journey begins with 0% alcohol Sauvignon Blanc wine from New Zealand. Using cutting-edge spinning cone technology, the alcohol is carefully removed while preserving the wine’s original aromas and flavours. This pure white spirit is then redistilled with a single botanical: juniper – the heart of all true gin.

Strange Nature’s grapes are grown on a remote riverbed between mountain ranges, in glacially carved soils kissed by cool coastal breezes. The result is a wine – and now a gin – that’s both delicate and bold, familiar yet strikingly original.

With no added botanicals beyond juniper, Strange Nature proves that simplicity can be sublime. All the complexity comes from its remarkable grape-based spirit, delivering an unexpected gin experience that’s clean, aromatic, and truly extraordinary.

Neat

The crystal clear spirit has a funky nose for a gin, with blackcurrant and zesty notes over a mild fresh pine aroma. A silky smooth mouthfeel but with a burst of flavour. Black pepper, blackcurrant, pine and juniper. The black pepper is quite aggressive but when the flavours open there’s a salty pineapple flavour too. The pine, pepper and blackcurrant remain in the finish. This is definitely a unique gin and I would pair this with a sweeter cigar to counter the black pepper. And because of the black pepper, I would also pick a slightly stronger cigar. Something maduro or Connecticut Broadleaf.

Gin & Tonic

The blackcurrant and pine notes break through the almost aroma-less tonic. Those flavours, combined with juniper and pineapple shine through, while the black pepper that was so strong in the neat gin is very muted once combined with tonic. This is a Gin & Tonic for those that want to try a different gin. This will go well with a nice Habano wrapped cigar, medium in strength.

And now for the gin tonic recipe:
2 ounces or 60ml of gin

4 ounces or 120ml of Tonic water

Fill a Copa or Collins glass with ice.
Add the gin, then the tonic and stir gently.

Lemon, Mint & Gin Mojito

The nose has mint and lemon, both come from the garnish. There is a sweet and fruity flavour, combined with lemon and mint, but all watered down to an easy drinkable and mild cocktail. The fruity flavour is the blackcurrant, one of the flavours in the gin. The finish has some black pepper. This is a great cocktail for a milder cigar, and then you’ll quickly turn into Connecticut Shade territory, so pick your favourite CT Shade wrapped cigar.

And now for the lemon, mint & gin mojito recipe:
50ml Gin

10ml Simple Syrup
6 mint leaves
Lemon peel
Soda water
In the bottom of a tall glass or tumbler, muddle the six mint leaves. Add your gin and sugar syrup and give a gentle stir, then fill your glass with crushed ice (or normal cubes, if you prefer). Top up with soda water and garnish with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint.

Strange Mai Tai

The nose gives me lime and almonds. The gin, orange liqueur and pineapple juice are not there at all. But in the flavour they are. This is an amazing cocktail, sweetness, citrus, almond, pineapple and then some botanicals from the gin, with juniper as most notable flavour. Perfectly balanced, tart and sweet. This was a ‘wow’ experience. I paired this with a Plasencia Alma Fuerte from their robusto sample and now I need to get another bottle of this gin and a box of those cigars to recreate this perfect pairing.

And now for the Strange Mai Tai recipe:
45ml Gin
15ml Triple Sec
15ml Orgeat
15ml Lime juice
45ml Pineapple juice
Add everything in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain in a cocktail glass or a coupe, garnish with a slice of pineapple.