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The Perfect Pair

The classic duo of high quality cigars and rum have always
been a mark of good taste—and of a great gift.

Story and photos By Mark Holston

When the whirlwind of Father’s Day activities subsides and dads everywhere grab a moment for themselves, it’s a safe bet that many will relax with a savory puro and a snifter of aged rum. For centuries, the allure of tabaco y ron has proven irresistible. These elemental products of the Caribbean Basin have been a cornerstone of the region’s economy for centuries and are deeply interwoven into the cultural fabric of nations from Venezuela to Cuba through song and prose. For connoisseurs, a bottle of premium rum and a humidor packed with hand-rolled cigars is the next best thing to a trip to a tropical retreat.
Since rum first met Coca-Cola over a century ago, the beverage has enjoyed enormous popularity as an inexpensive base for tropical cocktails. It’s only in recent years that rum has gone upscale and has begun to attract the attention of enthusiasts of cognac and other sipping-quality libations. Dark rum, sometimes aged for almost a quarter of a century in oak casks, where it has mellowed and developed a rich, complex and distinctive flavor, is suddenly being heralded by discerning drinkers.
“Rum is finally getting to that point where people realize it’s something more than just the stuff in that sickly sweet thing they had on vacation once,” says Martin Cate, whose Forbidden Island tiki lounge in Alameda, California specializes in pricey rum.
As a general rule of thumb, the more years of aging, the more suitable the rum will be for
enjoying solo. Those in search of truly remarkable rum will seek out such distinctive brands as Guatemala’s Ron Zacapa, Venezuela’s Ron Añejo Aniversario and Ron Matusalem’s Gran Reserva, a Cuban classic now made in the Dominican Republic. You’ll pay $35 or more, but, at a fraction the cost of other fine liquors, it will be worth every penny.
And what a more fitting accompaniment than a great cigar? As Gary Bahrenfus, manager of Tampa’s Edwards Pipe & Tobacco Shop notes, such countries as Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic are now producing the best tobacco in years.
“When you pick up a cigar,” he says of today’s affordable premiums, “there’s not a bad cigar.” True aficionados like their puros hefty and loaded with flavor. It’s hard to go wrong with such traditional brands as Romeo y Julieta, Bolivar and Montecristo, which are affordable and of high quality. A personal favorite is the Brazilia line, produced in Nicaragua and featuring a dark Brazilian wrapper for a powerful and memorable taste.