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Don't you hate overly-lengthy intros to promised lists? Yeah. Dito. Lemme just hit you w/ the title again: Top Ten Non-Alcoholic Drinks to Pair w/ Cigars (EXcluding Coffee). Now, in no particular order...
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TEA: Zino Davidoff recommended pairing with tea above even coffee. I can't say I'd buy that, but tea does deserve a good tick more recognition as a pairing alternative than it currently gets. Particularly black or spiced tea with cream & sugar. I'd say it covers well both your grandfather's Connecticuts and all but the boldest of not your grandfather's Connecticuts. Even some mellow Habanos get along well with a spiced tea.
DR.PEPPER Maduro leaves love Dr. Pepper. It brings out their ripened dark fruit tendencies and is a level-match as to sweetness -- OK, maybe the DP pulls up the Maduro there. Still, nice. You have a Maduro lacking some Maduro qualities? This will fix that. Please do not google "DP." (nsfw)
Let's focus more here. Maduro aside, Dr. Pepper doesn't get the respect it so richly deserves while thinking across-the-board cigar pairings. It's both as flexible as cola and as niche as root beer. So much so, that it left root beer sans a spot on this list.
CREAM SODA Please do drink this with a Corojo. Thank me later. If you can grab an orange-flavored cream soda, thank me right now, you filthy ingrate.
COKE This is the coffee of soft drinks. Best with a sweet over bitter smoke.
PEPSI This is the coffee of soft drinks, w/ a ton of sugar. Bit more cushiony body to sooth harsher/sharper smokes.
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CHERRY SODA Candela. this one is all about Candela and maybe that's why it brings the most quirk to this list. I like quirk in moderation. Can't stand whimsy at all, tho.
LEMONADE Criollo, you're up. yw #refreshing and all-time summer pairing.
HOT CHOCOLATE Calm a Nicaraguan Puro. Spice up your hot chocolate with a Nicaraguan Puro. Yin, Yang. Yang. Yin. Be a kid again! I did warn against whimsy, tho. Swiss Miss packs, nothing fancy. Whip cream? wtf did I say about whimsy?
ORANGE JULIUS If Virginia is for lovers, Maryland is for crabs. (Fortunately, those clear up easily 'nuff.) If Nicaragua is for hot chocolate, the Dominican Republic is for Orange Julius.
MILKSHAKE Any cigar. Any flavor of milkshake. Trust. Me. The cool smooth texture just screams (calmly, joyfully) "Calgon, take me away."
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I'm not a huge outro fan, either. thx
