Cigar Special

Cigar Special is the Korn brandy for whisky hour

Sasse's Cigar Special is a Korn brandy made from rye and barley malt, aged for five years in Limousin casks that previously held Cognac, and finished in heavily toasted American white oak. Caramel, honey, a touch of smoke – made for cigars, fireplaces, and long conversations.

Cigar Special is Feinbrennerei Sasse’s answer to the question of why a fine spirit paired with a cigar must always be whisky or Cognac: a Münsterland Korn brandy at 40% ABV, aged for five years in Limousin casks with a Cognac history and perfected in heavily toasted American oak. A tribute to the gentleman’s clubs of the 1970s – with all the comforts of today. The name says it all, but it is not a requirement: it makes a brilliant impression even without a cigar.

In the glass, it shows a warm amber color, with notes of plum, apple, and ripe banana in the nose, accompanied by gently smoky vanilla. Before the first sip, you already get the sense that someone has dressed up this Korn in a tuxedo.

Malt candy, caramel, honey, and coconut

On the palate, the Cigar Special unfolds layers of malt candy, caramel, honey, and coconut rum, leading into a long, warming finish.

You can clearly taste the years in wood: the barrel provides vanilla and sweetness, the rye counteracts it with fine spice, and in the very background, a hint of smoke glows like a good cigar in the next room. Full-bodied, soft, profound – a spirit that knows no rush.

When tasted blind alongside a single malt, it reliably causes astonishment, as hardly anyone would guess that a spirit with such smoothness is a Korn from the Münsterland region. This exact "aha" moment is the pleasure Rüdiger Sasse had in mind.

With cigars, game, and dark chocolate

The Cigar Special is a companion for robust indulgences: a cigar after a meal, braised lamb, beef, or game, or a piece of dark chocolate – preferably in a group that hasn’t forgotten the art of conversation.

Serve it at 16 to 20 degrees Celsius, in a bulbous glass, with time to spare. Its hour comes late in the evening, when the table has been cleared and no one is checking the clock anymore. Those who want to get to know its maritime sister will find the peaty counterpart in the Atlantik Finish – and the Münsterländer Lagerkorn V.S.O.P. remains the family's mild classic.

From the 1970s gentleman’s room to the maturation cellar

The idea for the Cigar Special comes from the gentleman’s clubs of the 1970s, where Cognac or whisky was always served with a cigar – Rüdiger Sasse wanted to prove that a Korn plays this role just as well, if not better.

To achieve this, the distillery combines rye and barley malt and allows the distillate five years of rest in Limousin casks that previously held Cognac, followed by a finish in heavily toasted American white oak. In the "Reifugium" (maturation cellar) in Schöppingen, where the barrels experience all four seasons, the clear spirit develops a profound character. Distilling has been practiced at this location since 1707 – experience that you can taste.

The awards followed promptly: Gold at the World Spirits Award and the title of Spirit of the Year in the aged Korn brandy category. At the IWSC in London, as they recount at Sasse with a smile, it was even considered the best whisky in continental Europe – even though it remains a Korn at heart. Hats off.

At sixteen to twenty degrees in a large glass

Treat it to a large glass and 16 to 20 degrees Celsius – if served too cold, it holds back its caramel and honey. It pairs well with a mild to medium-bodied cigar, but also enjoys quiet evenings without smoke. The 200-milliliter bottle is suitable for a taste, the 500-milliliter bottle for the home bar, and once opened, it keeps for many months if stored upright and in the dark. You can find more aged siblings in the Lagerkorn family from Sasse.