The afternoon light filtered through the windows of The Ariston in downtown Nashville as Paul Pearse settled into one of the leather chairs in the smoking lounge. Around him, the low hum of conversation mixed with the rich aroma of premium tobacco. A businessman in a tailored suit sat next to a contractor in work boots, both leaning back with cigars in hand, laughing about the game on Sunday. This was exactly the kind of scene Pearse had envisioned when he opened the high-end cigar bar two years ago.

“You might go to your favorite restaurant once a month,” Pearse says. “At cigar bars, people come sometimes twice a day. You have an opportunity to build real relationships, and that’s really what it’s about.”

It’s a long way from where he started. At 18, Pearse came from Ohio to help his father and brother-in-law run a small tobacco shop in Franklin, Tennessee, just south of Nashville. He couldn’t even legally drink yet, but he was already falling in love with the culture surrounding cigars.

“I learned much more from the guys that would come into the store than any of the classes I was taking at that time,” Pearse says. The shop became his classroom, where customers would share bottles they loved and teach him about flavor profiles, aging processes, and the subtle art of pairing tobacco with spirits.

What started as a part-time job during college turned into a passion project, then a career, and finally a thriving family business. Today, Pearse is one of the owners of The Ariston, complete with a full liquor license, cocktail program, wine list, and smoking lounge. It represents the culmination of more than a decade in the business, a far cry from that first retail shop opened in 2013.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time,” Pearse says. “We really specialize in the experience of it and the culture of it, and then we really focus on some of the higher-end products.” 

The Ariston is now one of four locations his family operates, including a cocktail bar in East Nashville.

For Pearse, the appeal of both cigars and whiskey lies in what he calls “a beautiful combination of science and art.” The creation of either product requires technical mastery, but also an intangible quality that separates the good from the exceptional. When it comes to pairing them together, there’s a bit of magic involved.

“The first thing I talk about, kind of a pairing 101, is to match intensity levels and contrast flavor profiles,” Pearse says. He looks at the intensity of the cigar versus the proof of the whiskey, making sure neither dominates or takes away from the other. “Then look at contrasting flavor profiles. If something is a little bit drier on the salty mode or a little bit sweeter, you want to balance that out with something spicy.”

It’s a philosophy that guides his winter pairing recommendations, all chosen for their accessibility. Pearse wanted to highlight combinations that don’t require waiting for October releases or scouring secondary markets.

Davidoff Aniversario No. 3 Tubo with Jefferson’s Ocean

Cigar: Davidoff Aniversario No. 3 Tubo

Whiskey: Jefferson’s Ocean

“That is my go-to cigar when I don’t know what to smoke, or don’t know what mood I’m in,” Pearse says of the Davidoff Aniversario No. 3. “That’s my daily morning smoke.”

For Pearse, Davidoff represents the Bentley of cigars. The company produces limited quantities, maintains only about 250 retailers in the country, and The Ariston locations hold three of those coveted spots. The quality of construction and care taken with the tobacco results in what Pearse considers exceptional value.

“We truly believe the price point is a little higher than your typical cigar, but it is lower than it should be,” he says.

Jefferson’s Ocean, aged at sea, brings a natural minerality and subtle salinity that enhances the cigar’s cedar notes.

 “If you’re smoking the Bentley of cigars, you need a whiskey that’s gonna match that kind of quality,” Pearse says. The pairing offers sophistication without pretension, depth without difficulty.

Padrón 1926 80th Anniversary Maduro with Leipers Fork Bottled-in-Bond

Cigar: Padrón 1926 80th Anniversary Maduro

Whiskey: Leipers Fork Bottled-in-bond Tennessee Whiskey

The Padrón 80th Anniversary showcases what Pearse considers the standard of Nicaraguan tobacco. 

“They really created what Nicaraguan tobacco could be, and they’ve stayed true to that to this day,” he says. The Maduro wrapper brings richness with notes of cocoa, espresso, and spice, along with what Pearse describes as a mild, natural sweetness that develops as the tobacco ages.

Leipers Fork, a local Middle Tennessee distiller, produces one of the most popular bottles at The Ariston. 

“They are making unbelievable stuff,” Pearse says. The Bottled-in-bond Tennessee whiskey is clean and complex, with roasted barley, dark fruit, and caramel notes that complement the cigar’s natural salinity. It’s the kind of pairing that works beautifully after dinner, especially alongside a well-prepared steak.

Byron 21st Century Elegantes with Yamazaki 12 Year

Cigar: Byron 21st Century Elegantes

Whiskey: Yamazaki 12 Year

If Davidoff represents the Bentley of cigars, Byron would be the Rolls Royce. This extremely small producer creates what Pearse calls his most anticipated cigars. 

“There’s incredible detail in terms of packaging and branding, but also an insane amount of construction work, aging, and different techniques that are more commonly used to create some of the more elegant and luxurious tobacco experiences,” he says.

The Yamazaki 12 represents a similar philosophy from the Japanese whiskey world. 

“Japanese whiskey just takes something great and makes it better,” Pearse says. The three-wood aging process creates layers of honey, butterscotch, and gentle spice that mirror the cigar’s delicate cedar and buttercream notes. “You get that kind of scotch homage. Scotch and cigars go so well together, but this is something that is pushing boundaries, is a little bit more refined, has a little bit more depth of flavor.”

Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9 with Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel

Cigar: Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9

Whiskey: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel

“Actually, this is my first favorite cigar,” Pearse says of the Liga Privada No. 9. It was the smoke that made him understand what cigars could really do, showcasing chocolate, coffee, and a thick creaminess that felt both bold and smooth. “This was the first cigar that I really took a step back while smoking and said, ‘Wow, cigars could do this? It could produce these flavor profiles?”

The Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel brings oak and char notes that balance the cigar’s dessert-like qualities. While Pearse admits toasted barrel finishes aren’t always his preference, this particular combination works.

 “Balancing out some of those creamy, kind of desserty notes with a little bit more oak, with a little bit more char, really finishes and balances some of the counterparts back and forth and creates a much more luxurious experience,” he says.

For those new to cigars or whiskey, Pearse emphasizes that enjoyment should come first. 

“A lot of guys don’t care, and they just say, ‘Hey, I like this to smoke, I like this to drink. I don’t care if they pair together,’ and that’s going to make them happy,” he says. “And at the end of the day, I’m in the happiness business.”

But beyond the products themselves, Pearse believes the real magic happens in the spaces where they’re enjoyed. 

“Go out and find a good lounge that cares about tobacco and cares about the culture around it,” he says. “From peace of mind to networking, it’s about escapism. This is a place to sit down for an hour, to turn off the laptop, get away from the boss who’s screaming at you, and just decompress and relax.

“It really breaks barriers, and it connects people whom you had no idea how to talk to or how to connect with, and it gives you that common ground to start a conversation,” he adds. “And that’s really the beauty behind it.”

Photos courtesy of the Ariston