When pairing a bourbon and cigar for the first time you try to pick a pair that will lead to a nice intertwining of flavors that support each other or better yet elevate them. Sometimes however that harmony falls a little short. Even when both components are strong in their own right. A great example of this is the pairing of Eagle Rare 10 Year with the La Palina Classic Connecticut.

Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon

Eagle Rare 10 Year, a beloved expression from Buffalo Trace, greets you with warm caramel and oak on the nose. On the palate, the bourbon unfolds with elegance starting with brown sugar and a nice subtle cherry, with a finish that leans  toward a dry oak character. It’s a classic bourbon profile: refined, structured, and confidently traditional.

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La Palina Classic Connecticut

The La Palina Classic Connecticut brings a profile that is creamy at it's base, with just enough spice to keep things lively. As the cigar develops, the dominant flavor note becomes a pronounced cedar, which gives the cigar a heavier presence than many Connecticut-wrapped sticks.

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The Pairing Experience

The journey begins with a sip of Eagle Rare 10 Year, where brown sugar and cherry sweetness ease across the palate. Following it with a pull of the La Palina Classic Connecticut adds a creamy texture and cedar spice, at first seeming like a natural fit. But when you return to the bourbon for the next sip, the cedar from the cigar and the oaky dryness of the whiskey collide, creating a lingering bitterness that overshadows the initial harmony.

Scorecard

La Palina Classic Connecticut

• Appearance: 7.7/10
• Flavor Complexity: 7.6/10

• Construction & Burn: 7.6/10

Eagle Rare 10 Year

• Aroma (Brown Sugar & Cherry): 8.1/10
• Palate (Sweet Spice, Oak): 8.0/10

• Finish & Balance: 7.5/10

Pairing Synergy

• Flavor Harmony: 4.5/10
• Complementary Contrast: 4.4/10

• Overall Enjoyment: 4.4/10

Final Pairing Verdict

4.4/10 – A pairing that starts sweet but ends in conflict. Eagle Rare 10 Year and the La Palina Standard Connecticut shine individually, but when paired, the cedar and oak fight for dominance, leaving bitterness in the finish. Enjoy them on their own to appreciate their strengths, but together they fall short of harmony.