‘Cigar Whiskies’ (or ‘Cigar Malts’ for Single Malt whiskies) are especially crafted to complement a fine cigar. These whiskies are designed, selected, or marketed to pair well with cigars. They are typically richer, fuller-bodied, higher-strength expressions intended to stand up to the intense flavours, oils, tannins, and smoke of premium cigars.
However, there is no legal definition for ‘cigar whisky’ in Scotch or other whisky regulations, so the category is stylistic rather than formal.
The whisky most widely credited as the first commercially successful ‘cigar malt’ is The Dalmore Cigar Malt, created by Richard Paterson for The Dalmore in 1999. Paterson designed it specifically to pair with premium cigars, especially Cuban cigars such as Partagás, at a time when almost no whisky brand explicitly developed an expression around cigar pairing.
The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve 44% abv
The category-defining release created by Richard Paterson in 1999. This whisky was created as the perfect Single Malt to enjoy with the world’s finest cigars. Matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels, and finessed in Cabernet Sauvignon red wine barriques and González Byass Sherry casks which have previously contained 30 year old Matusalem Oloroso sherry.
“The body, structure and character of this extraordinary expression is the perfect complement to a fine cigar.” Richard Paterson, Master Distiller
Tomintoul Cigar Malt 43% abv
Tomintoul Cigar Malt is an intricate combination of classic Tomintoul Single Malts and rare peated Tomintoul Single Malts. Each of these individual single malts have been either matured fully or finished in hand-selected Oloroso Sherry butts, sourced from Andalucía, Spain.
Tamdhu Cigar Malt IV Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky 53.8% abv
Tamdhu Cigar Malt IV is the fourth release in Tamdhu’s Cigar Malt series. Bottled at 53.8% ABV, non-chill filtered, and matured exclusively in first fill European oak Oloroso sherry casks, this annual batch release is crafted to complement the complexity of a luxury cigar, rich and textured.
Cigar Whiskies from Independent Bottlings and/or Single Cask Releases
Chieftain’s The Cigar Malt Single Cask #6175 Whisky 14yo 2006 Vintage 59% abv
This Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been specially chosen the meet the exacting criteria of the Ian Macleod selection panel. Aged for 14 years in a single sherry butt, tit was distilled at an undisclosed Speyside distillery in 2006.
The Corriemhor Cigar Reserve Whisky 46% abv
The Corriemhor was Richard Paterson’s first recipe for his Cigar Malt. It has been matured in a mix of American ex Bourbon barrels and Spanish ex Sherry Casks.
Fruitful Spirits The Cigar Malt 16 Year Old (Batch 2) 51.7% abv
Saltire Rare Malt Speyside 18yo Cigar Malt Series 48.8% abv
The first release from Saltire Rare Malt’s Cigar Malt Series is a limited edition 18yo from a ‘lost distillery’ in Speyside. The liquid has a deep-copper richness in colour, a complex, sweet & fruity taste, heavily influenced by 1st Fill Pedro Ximenez and Bodegas Ximenez-Spinola cask.
Scarabus Cigar Malt Whisky 46% abv
This addition to Hunter Laing’s Scarabus collection was created specifically to complement the experience of a fine cigar, with the whisky sourced from an undisclosed Islay distillery. It has been matured in a combination of sherry and fortified wine casks.
Signatory Vintage The Cigar Reserva Speyside 16yo 50% abv
The Single Cask Auchroisk 14yo whisky Cigar Malt 55.5% abv
The Whisky Cellar Robusto Cigar Malt 8 Year Old 52.5% abv
‘Robusto’ is a commonly used term in the world of fine cigars, referring to a full flavoured, short but substantial smoke. This whisky created by Keith Bonnington at The Whisky Cellar has been crafted to be full-flavoured with lots of rich Oloroso sherry cask influenced character and subtle background smoke from hand selected peated Islay malts, balancing wonderfully with the intense toasty-sweet notes of an aged cigar.
Cigar Whiskies from outside of Scotland
Bankhall The Cigar Malt British Single Malt Whisky 43% abv
This Single Malt Whisky is matured in virgin oak casks resulting in a complex whisky with notes of vanilla, spice and rich caramel.
Clonakilty Cigar Blend Irish Whiskey 52% abv
Irish whiskey from County Cork in Ireland, this cigar blend was specifically designed to pair with premium cigars. The blend is made up of double-distilled malt with 10yo grain whiskey finished in Ziko’s Rage Imperial stout casks.
Cigar Whiskies from the USA
Buzzard’s Roost Cigar rye 52.5% abv
Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential The Untitled Cigar Malt Project American single malt 57.45% abv
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Armagnac, Sherry, & Cognac Cask Finished straight bourbon 56.8% abv
Old Elk Cigar Cut Island blend 55.85% abv
Penelope Bourbon Cigar Sessions Chapter 1 American Whiskey 50.5% abv
Starlight 5 year old Carl T. Huber’s Cigar Batch bourbon 55.85% abv
Still Austin Tanager Cigar Blend Bourbon 53.75% abv
Virginia Distillery Co. (VDC) Cigar Blend 54% abv
World Whiskey Society 20 Year ‘Reserve Collection: Cigar Blend’ American Light Whisky 48% abv
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