Pairing Cigars & Alcohol – Blue Cocktails

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.

Brilliantly Blue: Why We Love Blue Cocktails

There’s something undeniably captivating about a blue cocktail. With their vibrant, almost electric hue, these drinks are as much a feast for the eyes as they are for the palate. Whether you’re sipping one poolside or serving them at a party, blue cocktails bring an instant sense of fun, flair, and tropical escape.

Often crafted with liqueurs like blue curaçao, Hpnotiq, or UV Blue Vodka, these drinks don’t just look the part—they’re bursting with fruity, refreshing flavours too. From frozen blends to sleek martinis, blue cocktails offer a playful twist on classic favourites and can instantly elevate the mood of any gathering.

Much more than just a pretty drink, their brilliant colour evokes feelings of joy, celebration, and a carefree holiday spirit. It’s no wonder they’ve become go-to choices for summer soirées, beach parties, and anytime you’re in the mood for something a little out of the ordinary.

Mermaid lemonade

The combo of lemonade, blue curacao, and rum works miracles in this tropical cocktail that will make you feel like a mermaid. And the cocktail looks astonishing, with the light blue colour. It looks incredibly tropical. The nose has lemon, and I don’t know if that’s from the garnish or from the lemonade. I think it’s the first one, as the crushed ice mutes the aroma of the liquids.

The cocktail itself makes the white rum shine. All the funky and grassy notes of the white rum are on the front of this drink, with a hint of orange and the lemonade following in the second wave. It’s quite balanced, not too sweet, not too tart, not too boozy and it makes a great drink for a beach bar. As for pairing it with a cigar, I would go for something on the milder side. A nice creamy Connecticut shade cigar, but one with a thicker ring gauge.

And now for the Mermaid Lemonade recipe:
15ml Blue Curacao
60ml White rum
120ml Lemonade
125ml of crushed ice
1 lemon slice and two maraschino cherries for garnish
add half the ice in a big wine glass. Add the Blue Curacao, then the rum before adding the rest of the ice. Then add the lemonade. Garnish with the lemon slice and the cherries.

Blue Hawaiian Cooler

You will need a blender for this cocktail, and you need to be very thirsty of have two friends with you as this recipe serves three. But when it’s still in the blender, it will look like it’s way more.  The nose is almost nothing due to the ice, but the cocktail looks amazing because of the colour. The coconut notes are strong in this cocktail, supported by the pineapple. The alcohol is subdued by the ice, but I bet that this cocktail will get you drunk fast as it’s easy to drink and you don’t taste the alcohol. Pair this with a thick, fat and creamy mild to medium bodied cigar and you’re in heaven

and now for the Blue Hawaiian cooler recipe:
120ml White Rum
120ml Blue Curacao
60ml Coconut Rum
60ml Cream of Coconut
60ml Pineapple juice
1 kilo or slightly less than 2 lbs of ice
Add all the ingredients in a blender and blend until it has the consistency of a slushy. Pour into several hurricane glasses, serve with a straw and garnish with a pineapple chunk and maraschino cherries.

Lake Water

For a non-traditional blue curacao cocktail, you can’t go wrong with a Lake Water drink. This drink combines vodka, gin, tequila, rum, triple sec, melon liqueur, raspberry liqueur, blue curacao, sweet and sour, and an orange slice or peel as garnish for a delicious cocktail. Substitute pineapple juice for the fruit liqueurs for a unique twist.

This cocktail is green in colour. There is a mild aroma of watermelon and citrus. This cocktail is a riff on the Long Island Iced Tea, just as the previous cocktail, yet the flavour profile is completely different. Sweeter with a raspberry finish, while the cocktail itself has a watermelon flavour with agave, juniper and floral notes combined with citrus. I would pair this with a strong, bold and peppery cigar. Something that stands up to the sweetness and contrasts with the flavours of the cocktail.

And now for the Lake Water recipe:
15ml Vodka
15ml Blue Curacao
15ml Gin
15ml Rum
15ml Tequila
15ml Raspberry liqueur
30ml Sour Mix
1 splash of Midori
Fill a Collins glass with ice, add all the ingredients minus the Midori and stir gently. Then add the splash of Midori for a nice effect

Envy

The Envy cocktail is a striking blue-green tequila-based drink that brings bold tropical flavours and eye-catching colour to any summer gathering. Refreshing, vibrant, and effortlessly simple, it’s the kind of cocktail that instantly sets the mood for outdoor entertaining.

What makes the Envy cocktail so appealing—beyond its mesmerising hue—is how easy it is to prepare. With just three readily available ingredients, it’s a fuss-free favourite. The foundation is your preferred tequila, paired with blue curaçao, which delivers both the vivid colour and a subtle hint of orange. A splash of pineapple juice rounds it all off, adding a bright, fruity burst that perfectly balances the mix. It’s sunshine in a glass—with a twist of envy.

The nose is all agave, not surprising with these three ingredients. Blue Curacao and pineapple juice don’t have much aroma anyway, and a cherry adds to the look but not to the nose of the cocktail. The pineapple and blue curacao mellow down the bite and kick of the tequila without disturbing much of the characteristics of the spirit. It just mellows it out and adds a little fruity sweetness with a hint of pineapple. This will go great with a smooth cigar, something well rounded and balanced. Nothing to strong or bold, something that won’t break the balance of the cocktail.

and now for the Envy recipe:
45ml Blanco Tequila
30ml Blue Curacao
15ml Pineapple juice
Maraschino cherry to garnish
Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the cherry.