UK Cigar Scene Magazine October Issue 10 | Page 9

“With coffee I prefer a cigar that is medium in strength but with good complexity. Logically I would not want something too long, assuming I will continue to drink coffee for the duration of the cigar. My current favourite “go to” cigar happens to marry very well with coffee. That is the Trinidad Coloniales. If I am having coffee and cigar early in the day I prefer a latte or flat white. Later in the evening, I prefer espresso.” - Amir Saarony, Cigar lover, writer and traveller. Toronto, Canada “Cigar - H. Upmann Half Corona. Coffee – My favourite is an espresso from Costa Rica with a little whipped cream on top to complete the cream flavours of the H. Upmann.” - Rhys Davis Hamilton, Davidoff, London “Cigar - RASCC or a Cohiba Siglo II . Coffee Cuban coffee as a Cortadito or a well made Lilly Italian.” - Nino Munoz, Cigar lover and traveller. ‘The Flying Cigar’ “Cigar – An H Upmann half corona would do nicely with a quick coffee. Coffee - I love the Nicaraguan coffee from my friend the Coffee Fairy - Hada del Cafe.” - Sarah Saunders, Women’s International Cigar Club. Kent “If it’s the day time my ideal coffee and a cigar is a Rafael Gonzalez perla or late afternoon would be a Partagas short... Regarding the coffee I actually only drink tea!!” - Sarah, C.Gars. Chester “My favorite cigar with a coffee is a Nub Sungrown 358. My favorite coffee with a cigar is a double espresso.” - Rob Fox, Managing Director of James J Fox “I rarely drink coffee, but I make an exception when I’m in Cuba and after a good meal. I’ve a simple ritual when in Havana, a light breakfast followed by an espresso with a La Gloria Cubana Medaille d’Or no.4 or no.1 to get my motor running. I’m a huge fan of these slender panetelas and never want to smoke anything too demanding on the taste buds in the morning. My after dinner smoke tends to be much bolder and I like to light up something like a Ramon Allones Specially Selected 2. I know this may sound clichéd but I really like a good Cuban espresso with a teaspoon and a half of brown sugar. As Cuban coffee is roasted at a lower temperature than your typical Italian coffee, it has less bitterness for me and there’s a smoother creamier flavour (even without sugar). I only drink espressos and double espressos as I don’t like milk in my coffee.” - Mike Choi, Manager of the Edward Sahakian store & lounge at the Bulgari Hotel, Master of Habanos “I only drink black coffee, unsweetened. Americano, sometimes espresso. W ith coffee I like Lanceros, either Cohiba or a Monte Especial. Pushed for time, a Por Larrañaga panetela is perfect. One of my favorite cigars in Cuba is coffee in the lobby of the Habana Libre hotel with a shop rolled panetela by Mario the shop roller at the LCDH there. No seco or ligero tobacco, all volado and the simple coffee-sweetness of the cigar pairs very well with a morning coffee. The perfect first cigar of the day in Havana.” - Andy Ryan, Cigar lover and traveller. Dublin “I had to have my say as I kicked this whole project off. Cigar - Trinidad Reyes or Partagas short if its Cuban and a Fuente Hemmingway short story as my favourite New World coffee cigar. Coffee - Mild coffee (ideally from my local coffee shop) or from Franco in Jermyn Street in a Cappuccino. Alternatively Illy Crema in the summer, Cortado in Cuba.” - Nic Wing, Editor, UK Cigar Scene. 8