Sip and Smoke Like a Whale at Andre's Lounge

Sometimes a whale needs an after dinner drink before turning in the night after long day of gambling. Or perhaps a time to relax before making that table reservation at a club later on the evening. A pinnacle of refinement might be at Andre's second floor Cigar Lounge, where a world-class selection of cognac and cigars awaits. The ambiance is decidedly club-like, a throwback to when people enjoyed civilized conversation, like the library in Downton Abbey. Eater looks through some of the cognac and cigar pairings that whales would likely order at the lounge:

Remy Martin, Louis XIII — The king of cognacs and the undisputed choice of whales around the world ($350 per glass). The eau-de-vie brandies blended into this legendary cognac are between 40 and 100 years old. The aromas are floral and complex, with a nearly everlasting finish that should pair well with a sweet, spicy cigar like the Montecristo No. 2 ($38). The Dominican-made, medium-bodied torpedo cigar is one of the most popular in the world, boasting a rich flavor that is best enjoyed slowly.

Hennessey Paradis — A great after-dinner cognac ($80), this terrific, full-bodied blend is fragrant, elegant, and balanced. Such balance would require an equally well-made cigar, such as the Cohiba Corona. Though a smaller cigar, it doesn't overwhelm the palate like a larger, darker cigar ($26). The smooth, rich flavor is medium-bodied and slightly creamy.

Courvoisier L'Esprit — One of the most expensive cognacs in the world ($795 per glass), L'Esprit is powerful and spiced on the front and mellow in the finish. Some of the vintages for this cognac go as far back as Napolean I. Presented in a custom Lalique crystal decanter, this cognac would pair nicely with a full-strength cigar such as the Padron 1925 80th Anniversary Perfecto ($80), which has a hefty 54 gauge.

Larressingle Tenareze Tres Vieille — It's always nice to enjoy some Armagnac as well, and this bottle from Larressingle ($135 per glass) has blends with at least 21 years of age. Armagnacs are column-distilled instead of pot-distilled so the flavors are little bit more intense and wild compared to cognacs, though this bottle is still quite refined. An Ashton VSG (Virgin Sun Grown) Illusion ($35) cigar with 4-5 year old aged Dominican tobacco is a great smoke with spice, coffee, and creamy notes.

· All Coverage of Andre's [~ELV~]
· All Whale Week 2013 Coverage [~ELV~]