Like macaroni and cheese or Holmes and Watson, whiskey and cigars are one of those iconic pairs. So why did Norm Hooten, Tim Young, and friends decide to start a brand based on the latter? Because vodka and vapes were never on the battlefield.

But what makes this pairing so damn perfect? Let’s break it down.

Cigars and whiskey are meant to be enjoyed slowly; especially our sticks and hooch. To truly savor all of the complexities of a cigar and a whiskey, you need to sit back and relax. Most of us are always busy and are glued to our phones, it shouldn’t be a luxury to take a moment out of your day to savor something that was handcrafted with care. 

Smoking a cigar with aged tobacco and drinking a whiskey that has been aged as well is an experience for your taste buds and your nose. Humans have more than 10,000 taste buds, but when you savor something as finely crafted as a cigar or whiskey, it’s your nose that picks up the subtle notes and flavors. Close your nose and eat something. It tastes like nothing. So when you smoke or you’re enjoying a whiskey, you should taste and breathe through your nose.

When we worked with a distiller to perfect Hooten Young American Whiskey, we wanted to make sure that it would perfectly complement our Gothic Serpent and Overlord cigars. Both the Gothic Serpent and Overlord are mild to medium smoking cigars, so our whiskey couldn’t overshadow the cigar. Despite being 92 proof, our whiskey is a smooth and easy sipper. It’s not the loudest person in the room, nor is it the quietest. When paired with either of our cigars, it’s more of a gentleman’s conversation with a small group tucked away in the corner of the room.

The act of pairing a cigar with whiskey, smoking, and drinking is ritualistic and appreciative, and one of life’s pleasures that has stood the test of time. Old Hollywood star, Ava Gardner once said,  ”I wish to live to 150 years old, but the day I die, I wish it to be with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other.” While we can’t deny Ms. Gardner’s acting prowess, we’d strongly recommend a cigar over a cigarette any day.