Favorite Beverage with your leaf

[MartinH]

I think this has been discussed once before, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway. Since I've just been diagnosed with diabetes, I can certainly not enjoy too much of the adult elixir sitting in my fridge and cabinet.

Personally, I've found that a good whiskey or bourbon go well with a full bowl of my favorite leaf, but now I'm trying to find alternatives. Since I'm still struggling with tongue bite issues, at least with some blends, I need something to drink while smoking.

I have tried sodas, coffee, and they all help it. I guess my favorite thing right now is a coffee with the briar in hand. With enough cream added to the mix, it provides me a smooth companion to the inevitable tongue bite.

What do you prefer?

As an addendum, I have to say that I've tried drinking my beers with the light briar, but none of my dark, wheat, or dark-wheat beers seem to go well with the pipe. They actually make it taste horrible.

So, "Prost!" as we say in Germany!

I'd like to hear your favorite beverage while smoking, whether it's an adult beverage or not, is up to you.

LOL

 

[Trekkerdude]

When im at home and I have the chance to relax with my pipe, I enjoy a nice glass of cider brandy. As I am at the moment an aromatic smoker, I find something in the flavour and smoothness of the brandy compliments the tobacco.

Either thing is nice to enjoy bu itself but bring them together and its a different experience all together.

 

[idbowman]

I love beer, but as you say, it just doesn't seem to go so well with a pipe (maybe different blends would mix better, but nothing I've had).

Coffee works well, but my personal favorite is tea. Earl Grey works very well with a number of blends, English Breakfast with others. Russian teas would probably go very well with Latakia, but as I don't care much for either I've never tried pairing them.


Oddly, some times I find that nothing hits the spot like apple juice.

 

[dougc905]

+1 on the tea.

Coffee and tea are both acidic and tend to compliment the basic ph (alkalinity) of pipe & cigar tobacco smoke. Alcohol such as beer or wine on the other hand, tends to be alkaline as well. So it doesn't compliment the smoke. This from The Tobacconist Handbook.

 

[Harlock999]

Earl Grey is a must pairing for English blends with a heavy Lat content, in my opinion.

 

[Mikem]

In the morning a nice cup of coffee. At night after work sitting in front of my chimenea enjoying the fire and nice 12 year old Scotch or whiskey.

 

[jlong]

For me, bourbon, coffee, or black tea go good with english blends. I don't know why but Pepsi Cola goes hand in hand with Prince Albert.

 

[dshpipes]

Generally depends on the blend. If I'm smoking English, I'll brew a cup of coffee. If I'm smoking VA, I'll make some green tea with honey. If I'm smoking in the evening, I take a scotch no matter what's in my pipe. Macallan 12 yr, anyone? 8)

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Interesting question.

Great replies.

Myself, it really depends.

If I need to rid my tongue of a heavy meal, I need something to cut through the after-dinner flavors, and I prefer a sipping vodka for lighter Virginias or Burlyes, rye or scotch (Islay/Lowland) for fire-cured VAs or English blends.

If I'm just there to have a straightforward smoke, water (not iced) or light tea work great.

Sparkling mineral water (non-flavored/sweet) is excellent for testing new tobacco.

Coffee works for many heavier smokes, but I drink my coffee slightly lightened or black (or just espresso).

Beer sometimes works, but it depends. I like very heavily-flavored beers, and I find some of the spiced, smoked and stout stuff I enjoy really just negates the pipe and the flavors fight each other, then again, some others work well. It depends on the beer's chemistry, and the tobacco chosen. It's a bit more daunting for me, so I usually keep my beer and pipe separate.

Good sakè (chilled/room temperature) can be a real joy with straight Burley, I've discovered recently.

 

[Dave_In_Philly]

In the morning, coffee with burley. In the evening bourbon with VAs or scotch with Englishes. Beer always goes well with everything. Though, to be honest, more often then not, just a glass of water.

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

As I am a fiend for tasting the tobacco, I don't pair a smoke with anything that might adulterate it. Both coffee and water work for me.

 

[idbowman]

Coffee and tea are both acidic and tend to compliment the basic ph (alkalinity) of pipe & cigar tobacco smoke. Alcohol such as beer or wine on the other hand, tends to be alkaline as well.[/i].

Science? Pfffff.....

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Coffee usually leans acidic. It'd be perfect for alkaline Burley. 8) :study:

 

[Gumball]

Earl Grey tea with English Blends for me.

 

[J Soshae]

I seldom take a beverage outside with the pipe. I do swish a little orange juice or grape juice after I smoke a tobacco that is prone to tongue bite.

This forum was my education on the chemical aspects of tongue bite.

 

[christeaux]

Coffee in the morning but when I get home in the evening nothing beats a nice glass of Johnny walker black and a bowl of my favorite blend. The smooth smokiness of jw compliments pretty much every blend I've tried.

 

[MisterE]

+1 for coffee. I like it strong and black. I like mineral water later in the day too. Its a great palate cleanser and caffiene free.

 

[Keltic Cherokee]

I really enjoy Lapsang Suchong Tea ; its a black tea
that is smoked as part of the curing process.
It tastes like Tea made over a campfire.

Hope ya like it

Ron H

 

[MartinH]

I really enjoy Lapsang Suchong Tea ; its a black tea
that is smoked as part of the curing process.
It tastes like Tea made over a campfire.

Hope ya like it

Ron H

Since I've had to give up coffee, and drink mostly decaf teas, this tea is of interest. I do drink a tea with caffeine in the mornings, but that's it. Right now I'm drinking PG tips, but the tea you mentioned sounds quite interesting.

 

[MartinH]

Coffee in the morning but when I get home in the evening nothing beats a nice glass of Johnny walker black and a bowl of my favorite blend. The smooth smokiness of jw compliments pretty much every blend I've tried.

I have to say, that I get the Johnny Walker thing. You drink it straight on the rocks or with something? Figure not drinking it straight is probably a sacrilege, eh?