Scotch vs Rum with a Pipe

shanez · Aug 23, 2019

Had a glass of Tomatin 18 year old Scotch tonight with some Sutliff Sweet Virginia. It was a good combo but during the second half of the bowl I got myself a glass of Pusser's Navy Rum.
I'm noticing lately that rum seems to compliment sweet and aromatic blends better while Scotch is better with other blends.
The sweetness of the rum really does compliment the sweeter blends where the Scotch seems to make them seem more tobacco forward and less sweet. Anyone else notice this?
Next time I'll have to compare a glass of good Brandy to the rum with a sweet blend. And maybe compare a peated Scotch to a Sherry cask Scotch with a nice English or Balkan blend. All in the name of science of course...

alaskanpiper · Aug 23, 2019

I find scotch and bourbon pair the best with all tobaccos, and thats almost always what I go to. Sometimes Rye, but only good rye (high west, lot 40, hudson, woodford, etc). Bad rye is, well.......bad.
The one exception of course, is that I sometimes drink rum with Navy flakes, or any rum laced blend :D It probably hampers my palate a bit for picking up any rum notes out of the tobacco, but it's just so goddamn fun.
But this is all of course, a matter of personal preference. I do enjoy the rum pairings, but my vote will always go to scotch, followed closely by bourbon, when pairing with tobacco.

hoosierpipeguy · Aug 23, 2019

I think it would be which beverage you prefer the most. If I'm going to drink an alcoholic beverage, I prefer a good bourbon. I believe the flavors should contrast a bit. Sweet on sweet masks the flavors of one or both for me.

jttnk · Aug 23, 2019

I wish I liked any form of whiskey, Bourbon, Scotch, Rye, but I just can not drink it. So, I’m learning Rums. Love them with a pipe. Many varieties and distilleries and many good at all different price points.

mso489 · Aug 23, 2019

I like whiskey and rum flavorings in blends but don't often pair them with a pipe.

tidalwave · Aug 23, 2019

I love rum with both cigars and pipes. Centenario 20 years and Zafra 21 year are my go-tos.

lawdawg · Aug 23, 2019

As Hoosier said, a complementary pairing is hard to beat. My go to is bourbon in my glass, and a latakia blend in my pipe. The smoky woodsy latakia greatly complements the sweet bourbon.

PaulTheScandinavian · Aug 23, 2019

When possible,(if funds allow) single islay malts are my preference, otherwise blended scotches, as to Rum, or Brandies,those I bes6 enjoy with cigars

bullet08 · Aug 24, 2019

typically don't drink hard liquor with pipe, but i do notice sweet drinks compliment anything with va. it seems to accentuate the sweetness of va.

redglow · Aug 24, 2019

I'm with bullet...... I don't do alcoholic beverages with my pipe. But, I between rum & bourbon, I think rum sounds best IMHO

papipeguy · Aug 25, 2019

I'm a scotch guy with everything but once in a while I indulge in a great sipping rum- Zaya. Love the stuff and highly recommend it.

stbruno70 · Aug 25, 2019

I have found that sipping a fine scotch while smoking a pipe or cigar is counterproductive as the strong tastes of both the booze and baccy quarrel with each other and clamour for my attention. It would be like having two strong-willed girlfriends at once. Everybody loses.
Instead I prefer a low key sherry or port with my pipe to hum in the background while I concentrate on the tobacco itself.
Parenthetically I have also noticed that a well hopped beer is awful with a latakia-forward blend as both are bitter and amplify that effect.

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