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Every porch has someone who's never smoked a cigar and is curious about it. This is the pairing to hand them: smooth, mild and hard to get wrong.
The cigar: Ashton Classic Corona (5½ x 44)
The pour: Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Strength: Mild · Smoke time: about 45 minutes
About the cigar. The Ashton Classic is made in the Dominican Republic by the Fuente family's factory, with a U.S.-grown Connecticut Shade wrapper over aged Dominican binder and filler. It's one of the most consistent mild cigars made. Expect cream, cedar, roasted nuts and a light sweetness on the finish, with almost no pepper.
About the pour. Maker's Mark swaps the usual rye for soft red winter wheat, bottled at 90 proof. That gives it honey, vanilla and soft caramel without the spicy bite of a high-rye bourbon.
Why it pairs. Soft meets soft. A wheated bourbon won't overpower a mild cigar the way a high-proof rye would, so a newcomer can actually taste the cream and cedar. The bourbon's honey and caramel pick up the light sweetness in the Connecticut wrapper. It's a gentle start that makes people want a second one.
A tip for first-timers. Don't inhale cigar smoke. Draw it into your mouth, taste it, and let it go. Take a puff about once a minute so it burns cool.
What you'll need
A straight guillotine cutter, the easiest to learn on
Cedar spills or a long match, for a slow, even light
A Glencairn or small tumbler
A travel humidor tube, for the one they'll want to save for later
A few questions, answered
What is a good first cigar for a beginner?
A mild cigar with a Connecticut Shade wrapper, like the Ashton Classic. It is creamy and consistent, with almost no pepper, so a newcomer can taste the cream and cedar instead of fighting the smoke.
Do you inhale cigar smoke?
No. Draw the smoke into your mouth, taste it, and let it go. Take a puff about once a minute so the cigar burns cool.
Why pair a wheated bourbon with a mild cigar?
Maker’s Mark uses soft red winter wheat instead of rye, so it brings honey and vanilla without a spicy bite. It won’t overpower a mild cigar the way a high-proof rye would.
How long does the Ashton Classic Corona take to smoke?
About 45 minutes, which makes it an easy first cigar for an evening on the porch.
