Cold Nights, Warm Spirits: Chattanooga Whiskey and Foundation Aksum

It’s been over two weeks since I last enjoyed a cigar on the deck. The extreme cold, coupled with some lethargy due to pain, led to the hiatus. I did manage a quick indoor smoke one afternoon at Hogshead Cigar Lounge, which was a nice reprieve. On Saturday, my ever-understanding wife offered an early dinner, allowing me to catch the last of the sun before heading out for a long-overdue cigar session.

For the evening, I wanted a robust bourbon and decided to open the 121.2-proof Chattanooga Whiskey Single Barrel that I had picked up during recent travels. To pair with it, I chose a Foundation Aksum—a cigar I’ve come to appreciate for its bold and complex flavors.

The Foundation Aksum is a 5 x 50 Robusto wrapped in a dark Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf. The binder is Connecticut Broadleaf, and the fillers are Nicaraguan tobaccos from the Jalapa and Estelí regions. The cigar is finished with a pigtail cap and adorned with a band that pays homage to the ancient Aksumite Kingdom in present-day Ethiopia—the legendary resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.

The Aksum delivers a bold smoking experience, with rich notes of sweet espresso and dark chocolate taking center stage. Black pepper, dark cherry, and raisin also make an appearance, complemented by a lingering spice in the finish. It’s a cigar I frequently enjoy with a robust bourbon, and this pairing was no exception.

I was particularly excited to try the Chattanooga Whiskey Single Barrel Bourbon, as it had come highly recommended by other shoppers. It did not disappoint. Before pairing it with the cigar, I poured a bit into a Glencairn glass for a proper tasting experience.

The dark amber liquid released a delightful aroma of fruit and toffee, which I could detect even as I poured it. On the palate, flavors of dark fruit, dark chocolate, and toffee dominated, with a mild cinnamon spice lingering in the long finish. Despite its 60.6% alcohol content, the bourbon was surprisingly smooth—remarkably so for its stated age of “greater than four years.” It drinks like a much older whiskey.

I’m thrilled with my decision to pick up this bottle. The flavors are rich, well-balanced, and satisfying. While it paired wonderfully with the Aksum, I’m curious to see how it complements both milder and stronger cigars in future pairings.

The temperature dipped only slightly as the sun set, making for an enjoyable and overdue moment of relaxation. The Foundation Aksum and Chattanooga Whiskey Single Barrel Bourbon combined to create a pairing that will certainly be repeated.

Cheers!