Cigars and Whiskey: A True Love Story
Author: Nathan Williams
What comes to mind when you think of cigars and whiskey?
Is it a smoky jazz club with cliental dotted about the room, each group and pairing wrapped up in scintillating conversation? Is it an image of people on a yacht, savoring the flavor of a full-bodied scotch, looking out over the water and contemplating the meaning of life? Is it of a writer sat at a computer desk, asking you what comes to mind when you think of cigars and whiskeys, in a weird meta-conversation that clearly means the author has had too many coffees this morning?
If you can picture all three scenarios then you’d be spot on!
Thanks to a cigar sommelier in Dalian, Liaoning Province, locals can now enjoy the finest imports of cigars and whiskeys with good company in some very cool locations.
Alex Lee, cigar sommelier in Dalian
Alex Lee started running Cigar and Whiskey events last year, but due to COVID 19 prevention measures, his events hadn’t matured as he wanted. 2021 is set to be his year! But before you meet Alex…
To the fake aficionados reading this article, you can drop the pretense. Do you know how many guys I meet claiming to be experts in whiskey’s and cigars? It’s a lot. It’s the next step up from claiming to know how a failing football team can beat the odds and win the championship.
I understand the appeal, as I myself am an enthusiast.
Author Nathan Williams enjoying a cigar
But when tasting whiskey, my knowledge goes so far as to say “Yes, this is indeed whiskey.” As for cigars, I knew it was cool when a character from my all-time favorite TV show “Quantum Leap”, Rear Admiral Al Calavicci, smoked them in almost every scene.
Now that I know Alex Lee is on the scene, I may be taking a trip to Dalian to learn how to talk about these finer things with some authority.
Alex shares how he fell in love with whiskey and cigars and why he started hosting events for others to enjoy them.
When did you start smoking cigars?
“I first started in 2013. I understood that cigars are something to savor, to sit with and enjoy. When I smoked cigars, it was always with friends and we’d share stories. I’ve made some close friends because of cigars; I’ve learned new life philosophies and life lessons.”
When did you fall in love with whiskey?
I remember being first impressed by good quality whiskey when I was traveling Europe and visited a small village near Loch Ness, Scotland. I forget the name of the village now, but I remember walking into a bar and the owner telling me there was 300 types of whiskey in that area, some home brewed and some from larger and well-known producers. Combing my love of cigars and my new romance, whiskey, seemed like a match made in heaven.
What was it like running your first cigar and whiskey event?
The owner of my favorite whiskey bar was very supportive; we held a very intimate event with just 10 people. The attendees showed up well dressed. We smoked and drank, discussing the flavors of each and the pairings. It’s fun to help people find out what whiskey goes with the type of cigar they like. After that people talked openly and anything and everything, it was pretty relaxed. My own journey with cigars started with a good smoke and great discussions, this was no different.
How did your second event go?
The second event was a little difficult. We advertised it as “Boats and Smokes: A Cigar Cruise” in November. COVID restrictions were still in place. The selection of cigars and whiskeys on offer were impressive, but the captain didn’t allow smoking inside, so we all had to go on the deck, which would have been lovely in summer, but it was the start of winter. It was a good learning curve; I think our summer events will be a huge success!
What advice would you give to a novice cigar smoker?
First of all, I work with your budget. I pride myself on providing high-quality cigars for fair prices. If you’re a beginner, I advise not to start too strong, go for a medium-body cigar, so you can at least get an idea of the flavors you like, then progress on to a full-body, stronger flavor. Pairing your cigar with a whiskey that you like can really enhance the flavor; some people dip the end of the cigar in whiskey before chopping it to smoke. I have one client in Huongzhou who pairs his cigars with yogurt. I have not tried that combination yet.
After my “serious” interview ended with Alex, because I am British, he recommended Davidoff’s The Late Hour – Toro cigar. These fine cigars feature a pristine Cuban-seed wrapper over Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos that have been further aged in the finest Scotch single malt whisky casks.
Learn more about Whiskey & Cigars and have them delivered
I don’t think many people would chose a whiskey and cigar event for a date night, but after reading this article I hope they reconsider. My mouth is watering and I am craving for some deep and meaningful conversations with a Scotch single malt in hand.
If you feel the same and would like to talk to Alex about his events, or even have some excellent cigars delivered to your door, contact him by scanning his Wechat QR code below.
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