If you have been following this blog for a while, the name Aaron “Sig” Sigmond will probably be familiar. For those who may not know him, Sig is an American author, editor and publisher who has spent more than three decades immersed in the world of cigars.

He was the founding editor of SMOKE magazine and The Cigar Report, and is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Impossible Collection of Cigars, Arturo Fuente: Since 1912, and, most recently, CIGARS: A Biography and its follow-up, CIGARS: A Culture, which is out this October.

I have been a fan of Sig’s books for some time, so I was particularly interested to hear that he had ventured into the world of Cognac.

When a bottle of it arrived in the post for me to sample, I was more than a little intrigued.

I certainly wouldn’t describe myself as a Cognac connoisseur, but the opportunity to pair a Cognac created by someone so deeply rooted in cigar culture with a good cigar was simply too interesting to pass up.

So, what exactly is Delamain SIG CIGAR XO?

Launched in 2025, Delamain SIG CIGAR XO is a limited-production collaboration between Sig and Charles Braastad, ninth-generation descendant of James Delamain and the House of Delamain’s current maître de chai.

Their friendship dates back to the late 1990s and has been built around a shared appreciation for two things that reward patience: fine eaux-de-vie and premium tobacco.

The collaboration brings together the expertise of a cigar specialist with generations of Cognac-making experience.

The first release, Delamain SIG CIGAR XO Edition No. 1, was unveiled at an invitation-only dinner hosted by Sigmond, Braastad, Ettore Moraschinelli of EGM Cigars, and legendary Manhattan restaurateur Ken Aretsky at Aretsky’s Patroon.

It sold out shortly afterwards.

Now comes Edition No. 2.

Edition No. 2

The second release features an updated label and another strictly limited production run.

Age: XO (extra-old)
CRU: Grande Champagne
Bottle size: 70 cl
ABV: 40%

Aromas: Rounded and complex with fruity aromas, orange zest, vanilla “rancio”, with hints of underwood and vine shoot.

Taste: Dried raisins and rich candied fruits, mellow and round in its full, ripe and powerful maturity.

Style: Balanced and elegant, with subtle oaky notes, satiny smooth; with a presence that expresses both the delicacy and richness characteristic of extra-old Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie style that will appeal to cigar enthusiasts.

Edition No. 2 is being made available for the first time in the United Kingdom and select international markets.

A closer look at what is in the bottle

SIG CIGAR XO is produced by the House of Delamain, whose history dates back to 1824 and whose reputation is built on traditional craftsmanship and long ageing.

The eaux-de-vie are sourced exclusively from Grande Champagne, the most prestigious cru of the Cognac region. Its chalk-rich soils are particularly suited to producing spirits known for their finesse, complexity and ageing potential.

The Cognac matures in Delamain’s historic Grand Chai, an 18th-century cellar where the limestone walls provide the humidity and natural temperature variations that allow the spirit to develop slowly over time.

For this collaboration, Charles Braastad drew on Sigmond’s expertise as a cigar specialist to create a Cognac specifically intended to work alongside premium tobacco, balancing the delicacy and richness of extra-old Grande Champagne Cognac with the character and intensity of a good cigar.

Both fine Cognac and premium cigars are products of time, patience and craftsmanship. The tobacco has to be cultivated, fermented and aged before it becomes a cigar, while the eaux-de-vie spend years developing in the cellar.

My Review

I paired this Cognac with a cigar from Sunday Cigars, which I’ll be sharing more about soon. What interested me most about the pairing was seeing how the SIG CIGAR XO complemented the tobacco.

The cigar itself was medium to full-bodied, and I thought the Cognac was an excellent match. Once the cigar was lit, the Cognac seemed to draw out additional flavours from the tobacco, creating a more rounded experience than either offered on its own.

SIG CIGAR describes the XO as having aromas of fruit, orange zest, vanilla, rancio, underwood and vine shoot, with flavours of dried raisins and candied fruit, alongside subtle oak.

For me, though, the standout note was rich vanilla, giving the Cognac a smooth, rounded sweetness. Beneath that was a deeper, almost caramel-like character, which worked particularly well alongside the cigar. Had I not known I was drinking Cognac, I could easily have mistaken it for a whisky.

Overall, I really enjoyed the pairing. The Cognac complemented the cigar without overpowering it. I’d happily pour myself another glass — and, ideally, light up another cigar alongside it.

Where to find it

Delamain SIG CIGAR XO is already finding its way into cigar clubs and lounges, with the Cognac scheduled to be served at Arturo Fuente Cigar Club in Santo Domingo, Club Mareva in Beirut, and The Carnegie Club in New York City.

Later in the year you’ll be able to find this Cognac at some of the UK’s leading cigar establishments/groups, including:

• Dominique London Group
• N°6 Cavendish Cigar Merchants
• Davidoff London
• Alfred’s Club / Bourdon House – Dunhill
• The Beaumont
• Sautter of Mount Street

For more information, visit sigculture.com.