A Sweltering Evening with Southern Draw and Montenegro

The news and social media are full of reports about the extreme heat affecting much of the country, Virginia included. For my part, I accept that it’s July in Virginia. Temperatures approaching 100° are neither unusual nor unexpected. However, with “feels like” temperatures nearing 110° predicted over the next couple of days, I decided to get an early start on watering the lawn while enjoying a cigar on the screened porch, when the actual temperature was only 92°.

I searched for a light, refreshing digestif and settled on Amaro Montenegro. I’ve been slowly acquiring an assortment of amari. These Italian herbal liqueurs are crafted from a variety of botanicals infused or macerated in alcohol. Although bitterness lies at their core, they offer a wide spectrum of flavors ranging from sweet citrus and floral notes to warming spices and earthy herbs. They are typically served neat as a digestif, though many also shine in cocktails.

Amaro Montenegro is one of the gentlest and most approachable of the amari. With a restrained bitterness, it offers notes of candied orange peel, vanilla, and honey. The floral sweetness balances bitterness without being cloying or syrupy. 

I selected a Southern Draw Evening Primrose for the cigar accompaniment. I've had some in the 5½ x 54 Robusto size in the humidor since June 2025. The cigar features an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper, an Indonesian Sumatra binder, and fillers from several growing regions of Nicaragua. Though the cigar features a moderate pepper component, it is balanced by a subtle floral sweetness layered with cedar, toasted nuts, citrus, and delicate floral aromas.

It was that underlying floral sweetness that led me to pair the Evening Primrose with the Amaro Montenegro.

The initial draw delivered a substantial burst of pepper and cedar, which briefly gave me pause about the pairing. Almost immediately, however, those bold flavors were tempered by notes of toasted bread and a creamy floral sweetness. I spent several minutes simply enjoying the cigar’s balanced complexity before reaching for the amaro. The combination of gentle pepper, toasted bread, roasted nuts, soft spices, and sweet citrus was thoroughly enjoyable on its own.

Taking my first sip of the amaro confirmed that I had made the right choice. Despite their contrasting flavor profiles, the pairing was remarkably complementary. Montenegro’s orange and honey notes softened the cigar’s early pepper, making the smoke seem creamier. As the cigar developed richer cedar and toasted nut flavors, the amaro contributed hints of vanilla and baking spice that seemed to emerge naturally from the cigar rather than stand apart from it.

The floral interplay between the two was particularly striking. The Evening Primrose’s subtle floral nuances were gently elevated by Montenegro’s delicate botanicals, bringing those notes to the forefront and lending the cigar even greater elegance.

As the hour-long smoke drew to a close, the cigar developed deeper roasted flavors. Amaro Montenegro’s restrained bitterness and honeyed sweetness refreshed the palate between puffs, allowing the cigar’s complexity to continue unfolding. Rather than overwhelming the cigar, the amaro accentuated its more delicate flavors, creating a balanced and sophisticated after-dinner pairing.

Despite the oppressive heat and humidity that pushed the “feels like” temperature close to 100°, the complementary flavors of the Southern Draw Evening Primrose and Amaro Montenegro provided a refreshing counterpoint to the evening. As I settled into the pairing, time passed quickly, and the summer heat seemed almost an afterthought.

Cheers!