Pairing Cigars & Alcohol – Stalla Dhu Benriach 110 Proof
Cigars and alcohol. Two luxury products that go hand in hand, and sometimes even meet on business level. Aging tobacco in whisky, rum, or cognac barrels is a practice several brands do to achieve extra flavour to the wrapper for certain lines. The famous bourbon brand Maker’s Mark has their own cigar, sold in tubes with the signature wax coating. Drew Estate works with Pappy van Winkle and used to make Kahlua cigars. Mombacho has the Diplomatico series. General Cigars works with Sazerac, which resulted in Fireball cigars, Weller by Cohiba and collaborations with Buffalo Trace. And there is the Diesel Whisky Row, a collaboration with Rabbit Hole Distilleries. Fratello Cigars also sells craft beer. Most famous are probably the Cuban collaboration between Martell Cognac and Cohiba. Dominique London, the European retailer with more than 20 shops in the UK, Belgium, Switzerland and the Canary Islands takes it one step further. They bought a distillery in Wales and produce whisky, gin, rum, vodka and liquors. They were kind enough to sponsor Cigar Inspector with samples so we can write about pairings.
Stalla Dhu Benriach 110 proof
Stalla Dhu is an independent bottler. They purchase barrels from famous distilleries and bottle them. The first- and second-generation members of the family carefully select whiskies that show promise and then age them in their own casks before bottling. Often the name of the original distillery is mentioned but not always. This whisky comes Benriach, a distillery with a history dating back to 1898. And it’s a history with bankruptcy, seasonal operating times and the distillery changed hands multiple times.
This spirit was distilled in early May of 2010 and bottled in 2021. For 11 years, the spirit was aging in Z10/3664, a hogshead cask. I have bottle 247 of the only 327 bottles available of this single cask limited edition. And it’s strong, 110 proof which means the ABV is 55%.
Recently was at a whisky tasting where I was shocked by the difference in glass. In Glencairn glass the whisky was like liquid chocolate, in a highball glass, the same whisky was almost undrinkable, flat and not palatable. So, I am trying this whisky in both glasses, neat and diluted with some water or ice, then as an old fashioned, and as a whisky smash to see what to pair the whisky with
Glencairn
The spirit is light in colour and it’s quite a thin whisky. On the nose I smell quite some ethanol but with sweetness and peaches. The mouthfeel is sticky and warm with very sweet flavours of caramel, toffee, cake frosting, and butter cake. The finish is spicy with leathery, woody notes and it is long lingering. This is a very pleasant and smooth whisky that doesn’t feel like 55%/110 proof at all. Even though this Stalla Dhu Benriach 110 proof has a high alcohol percentage this could act as a daytime drink. Any non-sweet, medium to full bodied cigar will do. I paired it with a Plasencia Year of the Tiger limited edition and that was a joy.
Highball
The same spirit, the same amount yet in a different glass. And the difference is clear on the nose immediately: the alcohol aroma is gone. The spirit now tastes like caramel with white grapes and peaches. Sweetness of toffee and caramel with a soft and creamy mouthfeel. There is a little bit of vanilla with a leathery and spice undertone. Its subtle and friendly. I would like to try this with a very sweet Sobremesa Brûlée, but this whisky can also go well with a strong Joya de Nicaragua or just about any Cuban cigar. This is a versatile whisky when it comes to a cigar pairing.
Old fashioned
One of the oldest and most classic cocktails out there, and one that I am very happy to make on a regular basis as it’s easy to make, sophisticated and delicious with the right spirit. Ion the nose there is some orange, but not overly strong. Just like in the neat versions, there is some peach, this time with a light alcohol aroma. This cocktail has a lot of character. Toffee and nougat plus a caramel sweetness with a bite and a spicy and leathery aftertaste. There is also a little citrus. This is a perfect warming, drink for colder days. There is some bitterness, almost like there is a dash of Campari in the mix but there’s not. Good for a warming earthy woody cigar. A cigar with lots of pepper in the profile can work also.
and now for the Old-Fashioned recipe:
1 sugar cube
3 dashes of bitters
2 oz or 60 ml of Stalla Dhu Benriach 110 proof
orange peel
Put the sugar cube in a highball glass, add the dashes of bitters and a splash of water. Muddle the sugar cube. Add ice and the whisky. Stir for 10 seconds, then add an orange peel.
Presbyterian
A famous book about cocktails, the Cocktail Codex, mentions the Presbyterian as similar to the Moscow Mule and the Dark and Stormy, being simply spirit combined with ginger ale.” And I happen to like mule style cocktails, so this might be one for me. On the nose there isn’t much going on, just a hint of alcohol and a little bit of ginger. The mouthfeel is dry. The cocktail is very refreshing with flavours of apple, grapes and ginger. But somehow the flavours are muted and mild, possibly die to the club soda and the dilution from the melting ice. There is some of the whisky profile in the drink too, but also very muted, Since this is such a mild and almost neutral cocktail you can smoke any cigar with it. Mild or strong, any flavour pattern.
And now for the Presbyterian recipe:
2 ounces or 60ml of Stalla Dhu Benriach 110
2 to 3 ounces or 60 to 90ml of ginger ale, chilled, to top
2 to 3 ounces or 60 to 90ml of club soda, chilled, to top
Add the Stalla Dhu in a Collins glass over ice and top with equal amounts of ginger ale and club soda.
Inspector X
