Interview Questions for Ferdinand Piet
Tell us about your background in the world of cigar.
– I started enjoying cigars on a trip to Indonesia back in 2005. I wasn’t a smoker, I used to smoke cigarettes from my 18th till my 20th year, so in 2005 I was smoke free for over a decade. But when I went on vacation, my buddy said “Let’s buy some cigars and relax with a glass of whisky and a cigar every night.” I mean, it’s vacation right so why not. I enjoyed the cigars so much, that I maxed out my credit card on the flight home and haven’t looked back since.
How did you first get into cigar tasting and reviews?
I bought all kinds of cigars on my way back from Indonesia to The Netherlands, I didn’t know anything about cigars. But I accidentally bought a horrible cigars as well, a machine made Cuban cigar, Guantanamera Cristales. When I lit that cigar and tasted the horrible aroma, I knew I had to learn more to avoid future mistakes. I started a (now defunct) blog with reviews just for personal use, just to keep track of my preferences and good cigars.
What’s your general approach when pairing a cigar with a drink?
After twenty years, I know what to expect from certain cigars and certain types of tobaccos, even if I haven’t smoked that specific cigar before. And I pair my drink with that. If I know it’s going to be a milder cigar, I will stay away from the heavy and strong drinks. If I know it’s a sweet cigar, I won’t pick a bourbon of a sherry cask whisky but I’ll go for a spicier rye for example. But it also works the other way around, if someone pours me a specific drink, I try to pair that with one of my cigars.
What’s your earliest memory of a pairing that truly impressed you?
We go back to that same vacation in 2005. We were in Yogyakarta, poolside and I lit a Romeo y Julieta No.2, a Cuban cigar with a little bit of spice while sipping on a virgin mojito. The sweetness and the mint of the mojito with the spice of the cigar merged so well, that was an eye opener. And it shows, cigars can also pair amazingly well with non-alcoholic drinks.
How do you balance strength and complexity between a cigar and a drink?
I know more about cigars than about drinks, so for me it’s easier to start with the drink. I taste the drink and then think “what flavours and what strength would pair well with this”. Based on that answer I will pick a cigar. Either to match the flavour profile, or to contrast it. For example, if you have a citrus forward cocktail such as a daiquiri, I taste the drink to see how tart it is and then decide on the cigar. Citrus forward drinks are hard to pair with cigars, if the cocktail is too tart, hardly any cigar can stand up to it.
Are there any particular cigar brands or regions you find more versatile for pairings?
No not really because there are so many drinks to choose from. For every cigar there will be a matching drink or cocktail.
Do certain types of spirits (e.g. rum, bourbon, scotch, cognac) pair better with cigars than others?
Cigars and whisky are a classic combination and these two are often paired together, but I am a firm believer that rum is a better choice. Rum and cigars originate from the same region, the same soil and share a common history. And products that share the same heritage often pair well.
Have you explored pairings beyond spirits—like coffee, wine, or cocktails?
Yes, coffee can be a good pairing, cocktails too but that depends a lot on the ingredients. Cocktails with a lot of citrus don’t pair well, absinth cocktails are also not a good mix but more spirit forward cocktails such as a simple old fashioned (either with whisky, bourbon, rye or even rum) are fantastic with cigars. And on a hot summer day, a simple gin & tonic with a medium bodied cigar is heaven.
Wine is hit and miss. The taninnes in wine can clash with cigars, but a good Italian Barolo or Amarone can work with a cigar. One of my favourite pairings is with a fortified wine, a ruby or tawny port is the perfect companion for a cigar.
What are some underrated drink choices for cigar pairings?
I have to say port, although cognac (or brandy) comes in as a close second.
Can you suggest a classic pairing everyone should try at least once?
A bourbon Old Fashioned with the League of Fat Bastards Serie L Robusto, or a dark rum Old Fashioned with the League of Fat Bastards Serie O Giggly Piggly. Note: the L series is currently available in Malaysia, and can be found at Trinidad Cigar Club TTDI, Trinidad Cigar Club Eastin Hotel, and Monte Carlo Gardens.
What’s your current favorite pairing and why?
That’s hard to say, as it depends on my mood, on how my day went. You don’t eat the same food every day right? I have that with cigars and drinks as well. Not that I drink every day, let me make that clear. But when I am too lazy to shake a cocktail, I make a simple rum Old Fashioned with a good Nicaraguan cigar.
Are there any surprising combinations that worked unexpectedly well?
Not with alcohol, but a few years back we tried pairing durian with cigars and with the right cigar (a cigar with an earthy profile) it worked really well.
What advice do you have for someone new to cigar and drink pairings?
Try, try, try. Explore, find what you like by trying many combinations
Are there common mistakes people make when trying to create a pairing?
People often try to match flavour profile, but often you need to have some contrasting profiles to enhance the experience.
How do you cleanse your palate between smokes and sips?
There are several options, sips of water, both still or sparkling but a friend gave me a tip to have some fennel seeds as those will clear a palate too. Apple juice is a good palate cleanser too.
Have you noticed any trends in pairing preferences over the past few years?
Tequila is now more popular than ever, and that sips through in cigar pairings. But when it comes to Mexican spirits, I prefer mezcal, which technically is part of the tequila family.
Are there any new cigars or spirits you’re excited to pair soon?
League of Fat Bastards is releasing two new lines soon, the Serie F and the Skinny Bastarda. The last one is aimed at female cigar aficionados and is made in a cigar factory owned by two sisters. Looking forward to try those cigars and to see what to pair those with. These new lines have not yet launched in Malaysia.
