Kahlua

Good cigars and good drink—that's what it's all about. We can't tell you how often our panel members reach for a big glass of chilled Kahlua when smoking a good stogie… probably because it's never happened. Kahlua isn't one of those alcohols that comes to mind when thinking of a good pairing with a premium cigar. But somehow, the creativity of Drew Estate has challenged our thinking once again. Now, if you think about it, there are plenty of cigars that present notes of chocolate and coffee, so Kahlua really isn't that farfetched a partner for a fine smoke (in fact, we tried a couple of the Kahlua Coronas with coffee gently spiked with the stuff—and it was great!) But it was a challenge even for the crafty folks at Drew Estates to capture the exotic flavor of Kahlua in a premium cigar and blend it into a well-balanced cigar. We can't tell you how they did it (because they won't even tell us), but rest assured, this Esteli, Nicaraguan-rolled cigar remains a premium smoke, made with aged, long-leaf filler from the same country, an Indonesian binder, and a Colorado-claro-toned Connecticut wrapper. The most notable aspect of this cigar is the aroma—pre-burn and during the smoke (the Kahlua is evident from the start). People won't run out of the room when you light this one up—it's actually a crowd pleaser. Members of our Beer of the Month club should pair this with the Peg Leg Imperial Stout we've sent you. Rogue's mocha porter is a sure bet too if you can get it. Of course, a Black Russian will do nicely, for obvious reasons.