For the 2009 holiday season, The Beverly Hills Cigar Club (BHCC) presents the 2010 Top 10 Champagne and Cigar pairings so you know what to smoke and drink as you celebrate this holiday season.

Champagne for the Christmas Holiday. Photo by Peter Butler Design & Illustration Ltd

The best part of the list is that it offers a little bit of luxury for every pocketbook. By offering a pairing from the high end to the more affordable, the Beverly Hills Cigar Club makes it possible for everyone to enjoy bubbly and smoke for the holidays.

BHCC’s 2010 Top 10 Champagne and Cigar Pairings:

1. Louis Roederer Cristal Brut ’02 paired with Goldwin LOUIXS Rosado. The 2002 Louis Roederer Cristal has a Wine Enthusiast rating of 98 and retails for $299. The LOUIXS cigar is from a rare Nicaraguan Rosado leaf and provides two hours of smoking. It sells for $50.
2. Perrier Jouet Blanc de Blanc Flower Bottle ’99 with Arturo Fuente Opus X Perfecxion. The ’99 Perrier Jouet has a Wine Spectator rating of 90. $279.99. The Opus X is one of the rarest and highest rated brands in the world. $40.
3. Moet & Chandon Champagne Brut Rose Imperial with Padron Anniversary 1964 series “A”. The Moet & Chandon, with a Wine Spectator rating of 91, retails for $69.99. The box-pressed cigar offers an even burn with nutty and spicy flavors for $32.
4. Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvee with Davidoff Zino Platinum Crown Series Rocket. The Bollinger with a Wine Spectator rating of 93, sells for $59.99. The cigar is a thick torpedo – a light, mild- to medium-bodied cigar at $30.
5. Piper Heidsieck Champagne Brut ’98 with Montecristo White Churchill. The elegant champagne, with notes of tobacco and leather, has a Wine Spectator rating of 92 and sells for $59.99. It pairs with the Montecristo white cigar, which is creamy, mild, and smooth. $10.
6. Domaine Carneros Brut Rose with Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Illusion. A top choice by Connoisseurs Guide, the NV Dom Carneros Brut Rose Cuvee de la Pompadour celebrates the life and times of Madame de Pompadour (the great courtesan and mistress of Louis XV) who is credited with introducing champagne to the court. $45. The Ashton is a thin, pressed cigar that is dark and oily. $9.
7. Deutz Champagne Brut Classic with Macanudo 1968 Toro. This non-vintage champagne has a Wine Enthusiast rating of 93. $39.99. The Toro is dark with lots of cedar flavors and sells for $9.50.
8. Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label with Rocky Patel Decade The Forty Six. Clicquot’s signature non-vintage Brut has a persistent sparkle and elegance for $41.99. The cigar is short and box-pressed, spicy and meaty with sweet, woody notes and a coffee bean finish. $8.
9. Chandon Sparkling Pinot Noir Brut Reserve with CAO LX2 Toro. Wine Enthusiast called this vintage “one of the best Chandon bubblies,” and gave it a 93 rating. $21.99. The CAO is a dark, solidly rolled cigar for $7.25.
10. Mumm Napa Valley Sparkling Wine Cuvee M with Don Tomas Cameroon Perfect 1. This is one of California’s best sparkling wines. It won two gold medals at the 2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition. $18.99. This perfect has an oily wrapper, draws well and has hints of sour cherries. $6.90.

For the perfect pairing of champagne and cigars this holiday season you can feel luxurious and still meet the budget that makes you most comfortable. There’s nothing like a great Cristal, but the Yellow Label Veuve Clicquot Brut is a nice bubbly that is always elegant and fun to serve.