Sipping and Smoking: The Buffalo Trace Edition

Last July, while passing through Kentucky, I picked up some Buffalo Trace cigars during a visit to the distillery. I had heard of the co-branded cigars before but wasn’t particularly familiar with the blend. Given their display in several cabinets at the gift shop, I wasn’t entirely confident in how well they had been stored. Not all the cigars looked pristine, so I selected a couple of the best-looking ones to bring home. Since then, they’ve been resting in my humidor. On a relatively warm evening this week, I decided it was time to light one up—with a pour of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, of course.

Buffalo Trace Cigars are produced by General Cigar in the Dominican Republic, designed to complement and be enjoyed with the bourbon of the same name. The blend features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper covering a Brazilian Arapiraca binder, with barrel-aged Piloto Cubano and Nicaraguan tobaccos making up the filler. I chose the 5x49 Robusto vitola for my purchase.

The cigar had an attractive oily sheen on its wrapper and felt densely packed. However, the draw was initially too tight, requiring two deep insertions with my trusty PerfecDraw tool. (In over two years of owning the PerfecDraw, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve needed it, but every time, I’ve been grateful to have it.)

Once lit, the Buffalo Trace cigar proved more flavorful than I expected. I believe the Brazilian Arapiraca binder contributes a rich earthy sweetness, with notes of licorice and nutty caramel. There’s also a spicy cedar element that lingers pleasantly on the finish and leaves a slight tingle on the lips.

The first couple of inches burned unevenly, which prompted my OCD to step in for frequent touch-ups. Fortunately, after some attention, the cigar eventually settled into a sharp, slow burn, providing a satisfying 70-minute smoking time.

I paired the cigar with a pour of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, served in the heavy rocks glass I had also picked up at the distillery. At 90 proof, this bourbon delivers classic notes of toffee, dark fruit, and oak, with lingering hints of vanilla and cinnamon on the finish.

While the pairing was enjoyable, I wouldn’t say it was especially unique compared to other good cigar-and-bourbon combinations. Like the bourbon itself, the cigar offers a pleasant and approachable flavor profile that’s easy to enjoy without much fuss.

I’m looking forward to trying the other Buffalo Trace cigar I have on hand. Next time, I might pair it with a more robustly flavored bourbon, perhaps another from the same distillery, to see how well the cigar holds its own. Overall, the Buffalo Trace cigar delivers a flavorful and satisfying smoking experience—one that matches the spirit of its namesake bourbon, even if it doesn’t surpass other tried-and-true pairings.

Cheers!