05/01/2026
Art of the Ash #50: Betting on the Right Pairing 🐎🥃
Derby Day isn’t just about what you’re drinking, it’s about what you’re smoking with it. And if there’s a signature move tomorrow, it’s the Mint Julep.
That cool hit of mint and crushed ice? It’ll wash right over a lighter cigar and leave you tasting… nothing. If you’re reaching for a julep, you need a cigar that can hold its ground, think a medium-bodied stick with a little spice or wood to cut through the sweetness and actually complement the drink instead of disappearing behind it.
Flip side: if you’re sticking with something lighter and smoother, skip the julep and go bourbon neat or an Old Fashioned. The goal isn’t to overpower, it’s to match strength with strength so both the cigar and the drink show up.
Good pairings don’t fight. They finish together.