Staff, Author at Cigar Life Guy

Maduro Cigars: Deep, Dark, and Delicious

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Staff

Cigars usually come in one of two classifications of wrappers: Natural wrappers or Maduro wrappers. Natural wrappers range in color from light yellow Connecticut Shade to brown Habano. Maduro cigar wrappers vary from dark browns to black. There also is a green leaf variety of wrappers with Candela-wrapped cigars, but these are rarer. Maduro cigars can be a little confusing, as the term refers to the color of a wrapper leaf. Mostly, this refers to the fermentation process of making the Maduro wrappers.

The Maduro Fermentation Process

The fermentation process is how Maduro cigars get their dark, rich colors and slick sheen and their sweeter, deeper, and more robust flavor notes such as dark cocoa, molasses, and black pepper. Maduro leaves come from the top of the tobacco plant, where they’re heartier and thicker. These top leaves get more time and sun, allowing photosynthesis to create more sugars and natural oils to build up and more protection against harsh sun rays. After the leaves are harvested and air-cured, they are stacked into large piles to ferment.

The fermentation time is longer than natural wrapper leaves. A longer fermentation time translates to the darker color. The spices in the Maduro wrapper also round out. They develop into a more mellow flavor. This is how Maduro gets its name, which means “Ripen” or “Mature.” Oscuro is another term used for Maduro cigars. They are closer to black, like La Flor Dominicana’s Colorado Oscuro No. 5.

Maduro cigar leaves also are fermented under more intense heat than other wrappers. Temperatures reach up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit as organic decomposition transforms starches in the leaves into sugars. This is also because of the weight of the large piles being fermented. Sometimes, manufacturers add more weight to the stacks to press the leaves tighter. Once the fermenting piles reach the correct internal temperature, blenders shuffle around the bundles, ensuring the leaves are fermenting evenly. High temperatures also contribute to caramelization of the sugars in the leaf. This creates dark wrapper leaves and eliminates more ammonia for smoother and milder tastes.

Maduro Cigars Leaf Growing Regions

Typically, Maduro cigars come from U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf, Mexican San Andres Negro, or Brazilian Mata Fina and Arapiraca tobacco varietals. Connecticut Broadleaf is the most common leaf used for Maduro cigars. They originated in the United States’ Connecticut River Valley and have broad leaves that turn dark brown or black. You can find Connecticut Broadleaf on the wrappers of Diamond Crown No. 3, Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust Mi Querida cigars.

San Andres Negro comes from the San Andres Valley of Mexico near the gulf. Their tough leaves make them prime candidates for the intense fermentation process to create a Maduro wrapper. They were primarily associated with Te-Amo brand cigars in the 1970s, but now Drew Estate uses San Andres Negro in their Undercrown Maduro blends.

Brazil grows its Maduro wrappers in the Bahia region off the Atlantic coast. Mata Fina, meaning “Thin Forest,” has three types coming from different areas: Mata Sul, Mata Norte, and Mata Sao Goncalo. Each has different microclimates they grow in and different taste characteristics. Brazil also has Arapiraca tobacco leaves which are thicker than Mata Fina but have a milder flavor. Micallef Grande Bold Mata Fina is one cigar that uses a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper.

Top Myths for Maduro Cigars

The darkness of a Maduro-wrapped cigar doesn’t equate to the strength of the smoke. Some cigar smokers believe that all Maduro cigars have a more pungent flavor or have higher nicotine content, but that is a myth. Since Maduro wrappers are aged for an extended period and under higher heat, the taste is sweeter thanks to the higher sugar content. The additional time allowed for them to mature gives these leaves a mellower flavor as well. The aging time doesn’t add nicotine content or make cigars more potent. As Maduro cigars age longer in a humidor, the flavors marry more. The oils also move more toward the surface, creating a rich and complex smoke.

Pairings and Conclusion

Dark beer makes a good pairing with Maduro cigars. Hearty dishes like seared steak and baked potatoes, or anything rich and fatty, complement the taste of dark Maduros. Dark rum, Scotch whiskey, and dark red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot go well with Oscuro sticks.

Whether you’re new to the cigar hobby or are a seasoned cigar aficionado, Maduro cigars are worth a consideration. The care that goes into the aging process ensures rich aromas and deep flavors and the process to make these glistening wrappers requires time to develop their dark colors. So, cigar smokers should spend more time with these artisanal delights.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Four Reasons to Love Cigar Lounge Communities

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Staff

The atmosphere in a cigar lounge brings people together. “Brothers of the Leaf” or “Sisters of the Leaf” describe lovers of fine hand-rolled cigars and their passion for each other. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands of cigar smokers have banded together online by joining virtual cigar clubs through social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, sharing pictures of their latest stogie. However, there’s a different energy when people physically come together to smoke cigars and enjoy the company of other cigar smokers in cigar lounge communities.

Unless you have your smoking room, places to herf indoors are few. That’s where the local brick-and-mortar cigar lounge comes in to offer refuge. Whether you’re an experienced smoker or just getting into the cigar lifestyle as a newbie, cigar lounges provide a haven for tobacco enthusiasts without worrying about the smoke police. Here are four reasons to love cigar lounge communities.

No Judgement in Cigar Lounge Communities

The magic of a cigar lounge is how it brings people together, whether they’re white-collar business people or blue-collar engineers. Beyond cigar talk, aficionados share life stories to further the bond of the Brotherhood of the Leaf (or Sisterhood). It’s not uncommon to hear someone letting off steam about their workday. The lounge community almost acts like a group therapy session in a way. Someone will usually listen to your story and offer their own. Once you walk through the doors of a cigar lounge, you become part of a community dedicated to the cigar lifestyle.

It’s always heart-warming seeing people from different walks of life come together under the banner of enjoying a good cigar. It’s equally heart-warming listening to discussions about the last stick they smoked while describing the flavors and aromas of puffing on a handmade artisanal product. Whether you’re smoking a $20 or more Davidoff or a $7 Charter Oak is irrelevant — cigar communities are a judge-free zone. It doesn’t matter as long as you enjoy what you’re smoking. Occasionally, you’ll get the “I only smoke Cubans” guy, but he’s probably not smoking a Cuban cigar in the lounge. In cigar lounge communities, it’s about taking in the luxury of smoking a cigar and sharing the experience with the peace of mind of knowing you’re among people as passionate as you.

Cigar Knowledge

There’s always something new to learn with cigars. The cigar industry is expansive, with new products coming out every quarter. Regular lounge goers are welcoming to rookie smokers, quickly inviting them to share their enjoyment of the leaf. Usually, the first question is, “What are you smoking?” before getting to know the new folks. These veteran cigar smokers have different palates and will share their cigar experience and recommend new stogies. If you smoke the same stick consistently, you can spread your knowledge among the cigar lounge communities and get someone else to try it. Then, you can compare notes after they puff on your favorite cigar. Maybe you’ll find something in the tasting notes you haven’t had before.

Cigar Lounge Community Companionship

Bonding over a cigar is one of the best experiences in a cigar lounge community. That people gather in the same room while sharing the same love of a niche activity creates a connection. Friendships and business partnerships can develop over a good smoke and drink. A good cigar lounge with a friendly atmosphere creates the perfect networking environment as long as you’re there to enjoy smoking with others.

Arguments are few in a cigar lounge. Discussions about sports teams can sometimes get heated. Still, most places try to avoid hot-button topics like religion or politics. At most, you’ll hear about excise taxes raising cigar prices. There may be some friendly ribbing, but that’s all done in jest. When you get to this point, you know you’re among friends.

Great Environment

A good cigar lounge will have a hospitable staff that regularly keeps the room clean, usually emptying the ashtrays hourly. Comfortable seating is a must. Sitting on a butt-numbing chair while herfing on a Churchill for an hour or two is no fun. A sound ventilation system is also essential to prevent the haze of cigar smoke from clouding up the room. Also, having air conditioning or heating makes everyone more comfortable. Music or TVs are often available. They provide background noise as long as they aren’t so loud that they drown out conversations. If a cigar lounge sells drinks or has a BYOB policy, it’s a big plus. All of this provides a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for smokers to enjoy.

Cigar lounges have a way of letting cigar enthusiasts drop their worries at the door and engage with other like-minded individuals looking to get away from daily stress regardless of race, religion, or creed. It’s a great place to join other smokers and escape life’s stresses in a casual environment. So if you find the lounge empty, call your friends! They’re probably looking for a haven to puff in, and cigar shops are more than happy to fill up their lounges.

Photo Credit: Cigar Life Guy

Six Things a New Cigar Shop Owner Should Do

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Staff

Cigar shipments are up and some in the industry are hinting at a second Cigar Boom following the original boom in the 1990s. The U.S. economy, despite a global pandemic, has been in a decades-long bull market creating unprecedented wealth for many. Borrowed money is cheap and easy relative to historical norms. More Americans are working remotely, giving them greater schedule flexibility. Together, you have the perfect recipe for a lot of very green, wannabe new cigar shop owners to enter the market. If this sounds like you, then there are a few things you must know to reap rewards and create your own cigar shop success story. Here are six basic business fundamentals you need to know to stay smokin’ happy and in business.

Who Opens New Independent Cigar Shop?

The owner of a typical new, independent cigar store* is someone with a mid-to-high income full-time job that loves cigars and thinks it would be fun to own a place. Obviously, these operators want the store to be financially viable and don’t overtly go into it thinking about it as a hobby, but the reason they’re in the cigar business is because they want to be in the cigar business. Income from the cigar store is not typically what pays the family’s monthly expenses. Variants on this include several individuals, typically friends, partnering on a store or a recently retired mid-to-high income individual that opens a store as a retirement business. A commonality here is that while they love cigars, have spent a lot of time in humidors, and (may) have some business experience outside of cigars; most of them have never really been in the cigar business before.

Find a Cigar Shop Mentor

“Mentor” has become a buzzword or cliché over the last decade or so but find someone or a small group of individuals that have successfully run retail cigar stores/bars/lounges and will share with you some of the marketing and operational keys to success. This person may or may not be in your market and may or may not be in a competitive situation with you. Focus on individuals that have a track record of success, have run similar scale operations (e.g., transferrable lessons), and similar backgrounds (e.g., outside work demands, family demands, shared values).

This isn’t a formal “mentoring relationship” like you read about in big corporate America. Your mentors may not even know you view them as mentors, per se. You don’t run an ad or post on LinkedIn that you’re looking for a cigar mentor. Good mentoring relationships develop organically because the parties genuinely like each other. Mutual cigar friends might be very helpful in making introductions. Spending some time at national or regional events is a great way to identify potential mentors.

Keep Regular Shop Hours

Some of you will think this is obvious, and it doesn’t need mentioned. Yet, for too many cigar shop operators, not opening the doors happens too often. Anyone who has regularly visited different cigar shops will tell you they are no longer shocked when they arrive at a locked door. You can’t sell anything if your doors are closed. Nothing frustrates regulars and potential new customers alike more than arriving to find a closed store. The potential new customers won’t give you a second chance.

Despite our social media- and Yelp-driven world of round-the-clock feedback, most potential customers won’t admit you’ve lost out. You never hear about the sales you missed; you can only guess. Not only do you lose the direct sales you could have made that day, but the value of a long-term customer. Obviously, genuine emergencies rarely occur, but it shouldn’t be the norm that the store doesn’t open on time. The most likely reason for the store not opening is a staff call out or no show.

As a side note on your hours of operation, while you don’t technically own the posted hours for your store on Google, Facebook, and other online websites, your customers rely on them. You can always blame Zuckerberg, but listing the wrong hours costs you money. Task someone with checking listed hours on Facebook and Google at least weekly and correcting any mistakes.

Hire Cigar Shop Staff

As the new owner of a shiny new cigar store, you may think there’s nothing you’ll love more than spending much of the week in the store. Even if you’re used to spending over 20 hours per week in the lounge as a patron, everything changes once you step behind the counter. As a patron, you can get up and leave any minute. If you’re working, you’re there. Unless you decide you’d rather be somewhere else and you to close the doors, which isn’t a good idea either (see “Keep Regular Hours” above).

You’re a high-income earner in your day job. That’s how you got the money to buy the cigar shop! Your time is more valuable than what the prevailing wage is for most of the cigar shop jobs. So, hire staff where it makes economic sense, which is most of the time. You should know how to perform all the roles and be a substitute, but for your quality of life, don’t make yourself live behind the counter. If the only way your budget works continuously is with very low labor costs because your staff primarily includes you, your partners, or family members working unpaid, then you don’t have a business. Instead, you have a hobby. Hope you’re enjoying yourself!

Keep Cigar Shop Humidors Stocked

You’ll hear all kinds of excuses for a light humidor, most notably “It’s not our fault! Manufacturer is out of stock!” In reality, that’s often a partial truth. It’s not unusual for a couple of items on back-order. However, if most are out of stock in the store, it’s because they weren’t reordered. Out of stocks directly cause lost sales in humidor. They also send a bad vibe to your customer base. It’s a message suggesting you don’t care or that you won’t be here long. A light humidor is often a precursor to a store closing. According to A.T. Kearney, out of stock levels are a critical item for nearly all retailers.

Focus on Cigar Shop Location

You’ve heard the mantra, “location, location, location” all your life. So, there’s no need to beat it to death. You get the importance of location on the success of any brick and mortar retail establishment. Yet, there are a couple of things to consider. Be cognizant of any current or potential future legislation risk affecting tobacco or alcohol sales. Second, be wary of a location that’s too good to be true. These are often home to multiple successively failed businesses. Don’t let your ego get in the way. Remember, many other operators that came before you failed in that space. Some locations just are not good for retail.

Know Your Numbers – Invest in a Point-of-Sale System

Many small retailers will think they can initially get away without a point-of-sale system and they probably can on the productivity side. They think if sales volume is slow enough, then they don’t need the operational efficiencies generated by a POS system. Unfortunately, this initial thinking drags on. The loss you experience in going without a POS system is not knowing what’s going on in your business. Your inventory management and profitability at the unit level reflect that loss. The data is the difference between guessing and knowing.

*Author’s note: This description of a “typical” store and owner is an archetype. It represents insight from interviews with countless cigar shop owners. Obviously, all owners will not fit this description in background or mindset. It also assumes a small cigar shop composed of usually 1-5 employees. That includes the store owner and employees.

Photo credit: Unsplash

Candela: “Those Green Leaf Cigars!”

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Staff

Cigar wrappers come in many shades and colors. There are almost as many wrappers as there are shapes. The most we’re familiar with are the light tan of Connecticut shade wrappers, the medium browns of Habanos, and the oily dark Maduros. Walk into a cigar store’s humidor and you’ll most likely see hundreds of selections sporting one of these wrappers. Occasionally, especially around St Patrick’s Day, you’ll see green leaf cigars. You might even think that maybe they need more time in the tobacco barn. Or, you might wonder whether cigar makers dye the wrapper green like green beer or a Shamrock shake. You might find a stick wrapped like a barber pole with a Connecticut, Maduro, and a pale green leaf wrapper.

These rare verdant cigars go by a few different names: American Market Selection, Double Claro, and Candela. Spanish for “Candle”, Candela cigars offer a milder taste than Connecticut shade cigars. Yet, they are still full of flavor and can add something different to a humidor. They offer sweet vegetal notes like grass and fresh hay or dried herbs and green tea leaves.

The History of Candela Cigars

Legend has it that back in the ‘40s, Cuban tobacco farmers accidentally created Candela wrappers when there was excess humidity in the curing barns. To combat this, they used heat to help dry the tobacco leaves. Instead of coming back to brown Habanos, they opened the barn doors and discovered that some leaves stayed green. Thus, the Candela wrapper was born.

The green wrappers brought in a lot of green money for tobacco farmers in the late ’50s. For a while, Candela green leaf cigars were the most popular type of cigar to come out of Cuba for American cigar smokers. They were so popular that they became known as American Market Selection cigars outside of the US. Almost every red-blooded American had a green stick in their mouth. The milder taste and aroma of a Candela were preferred to the strong, full-bodied cigars from Havana. After President John F. Kennedy (who was a huge fan of Candelas) enacted the embargo on Cuban exports, Candela cigars were harder to come by. By the early ‘70s and ’80s, Candela wrappers fell out of favor and gave way to Connecticut shade wrappers as America’s choice for a mild tasting cigar.

How Cigar Makers Create Candela Cigars

Much like Maduro, Candela refers to the curing process rather than the type of wrapper leaf used. There’s a process to create these emerald wrappers. Tobacco leaves are picked before reaching full maturity. Then, they hang in sealed curing barns to dry. Vents on the floor and barn roof allowed for a full flow of air to breeze through. When the heat slowly rises in the barn from 90 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit, it locks in the Chlorophyll, which colors a leaf green. Essentially, the leaves bake until fully dried. At this stage, the leaves grow fragile to the touch and require rehydration for leaf pliability. After that, cigar makers store Candela leaves in a cool place instead of the usual pylons.

This is faster than curing regular cigar wrappers. Normally, green leaves from the tobacco plant are taken and hung in curing barns for 30 to 45 days. Slowly, the combination of heat, humidity, and time turns the tobacco leaves from a bright green to the rich brown shades that we see today. By quickly heating the leaf and controlling the humidity, you cut the time of making Candela wrappers to about 72 hours, instead of waiting a month.

Today’s Candela Green Leaf Cigars

Nowadays, Candelas only take up a small space on shelves of cigar store humidors. Names like Arturo Fuente, Camacho, and Macanudo offer green leaf cigars, but they can be hard to find at your local brick and mortar store. However, newer cigar makers, like Alec Bradley, Illusione, and Acid by Drew Estate, have a few Candela cigars in their lineup for smokers to puff on. These emerald beauties are worth having a stick or two in your humidor. The light, clean tasting notes of Candelas go well with good rye on a golf course or sitting on the deck after mowing your lawn.

Photo credit: Davidoff/Jeff Elkins

Atlanta Cigar Experience 2021 Highlights

Posted on September 30, 2021 by Staff

Cigar Life Guy was pleased to once again be a lead sponsor for Cigar Mike’s Atlanta Cigar Experience in and around Atlanta, Georgia, September 20-26, 2021. Several hundred cigar enthusiasts from around the country and the world descended on Atlanta to mix with local smokers across at least fifteen venues throughout the week. We’re going to break it all down to give you a taste of what the smoke was all about, and it begins with Cigar Mike Bennett. So, sit back, light up and read on.

“Cigar Mike” Bennett

The weeklong series of events of the Atlanta Cigar Experience is the brainchild of twenty-five-year cigar industry veteran Mike Bennett. Yet, Bennett is affectionately known simply as “Cigar Mike.” Bennett reflected on the week, “Atlanta is special to me since it’s my hometown. I felt so much love seeing my friends — old and new, visit. I was just thrilled everyone had a great time again this year.” Cigar Mike regularly hosts large gatherings of cigar lovers across the country. Notably, he will have his second annual “Cigar Mike Vegas Takeover” in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 4-7, 2021.

Up next, Black Smoke Magazine hosted its official release party to mark the publication’s debut.

Black Smoke Magazine Release Party

Stanley’s Cigar Lounge, a new lounge in town, was the lucky venue that held the most noteworthy party of the week. In fact, local entrepreneur and owner, Monica Coleman, opened the doors to this venue just this month. The event marked the official release for the inaugural issue of Black Smoke Magazine. Additionally, the debut cover featured Atlanta cigar icon Christine Morgan and BSM owner Kennedy Achille. You might also know Achille simply as “TK”. Regardless, we’ve rounded up over 35 great images of this event and linked them here for your viewing pleasure.

Besides Christine and TK, countless other industry personalities made the pilgrimage to Atlanta for the week’s festivities as well. In fact, even the legendary Boston Jimmie joined the fun. So, make sure you check out his recap as well. Finally, there were also more cigar companies, brand owners, manufacturer representatives and store owners than you could count. So, if you’ve never been to the Atlanta Cigar Experience and you’re going to be in the area next year, consider adding it to your calendar. Speaking of, let’s dive into what the Atlanta Cigar Experience entails.

Atlanta Cigar Experience Featured Events

The event kickoff began on Monday at the Cigar City Club in Sandy Springs. The kickoff event is mostly for locals. Yet, the party brought together many shop owners and representatives, too. In fact, anyone in the area who could get away on a typically slow Monday showed up for the event.

Tuesday was day two and turned into a complete street takeover of Main Street in Lithonia. There were parties held indoors and outdoors at the local crowd favorite, Life N Times Cigar Lounge. The lounge offers a selection of coffee, wine and spirits, and favorite boutique cigars to patrons. So, stopping here for a smoke is always a must.

The prerelease announcement party for ATL Cigar Co.’s new line extension “Magic,” arrived on day three of the event. That was on Wednesday, of course. The prerelease announcement was made at Atlantucky Brewery in Downtown, which is also a great place to grab a craft brew. The brewery also carries a local favorite you’ll want to try: Kentucky Mudd chocolate milk stout.

Thursday was day four of the Atlanta Cigar Experience. It also marked the day for the aforementioned Black Smoke Magazine Party in at Stanley’s Cigar Lounge in South Fulton. So, everyone headed over to join the festivities and enjoy a good stick.

On Friday afternoon, we headed over to the Quick Shot gun range near Buckhead. Guests spent time on the range popping off a few rounds for fun. After that, there was a barbecue buffet featuring Barbeque & Smoke sauces and related items. It was enough to make your mouth water. After the wild afternoon on the range, everyone enjoyed an exquisite evening at the Davidoff of Geneva store in Buckhead. Unfortunately, if you didn’t make it to the Atlanta Cigar Experience this year, you’ll miss out on the Davidoff store in the future. The store is closing its Atlanta location at the end of the year and will be missed. Not to worry, though, there are still plenty of other venues to pique your interest and enjoy a good smoke and fellowship at.

Saturday started with a bang. There was a day party takeover at Cam Newton’s Fellaship Lounge in Downtown. After that, event patrons enjoyed the evening at The Patio Social Club in Smyrna before wrapping up the sixth evening of the experience.

Sunday was the final day of the Atlanta Cigar Experience and with it came a finale any cigar enthusiast can appreciate. The finale was at King’s Cigar Lounge and featured all the NFL games on big screens and more barbecue. King’s is just a short Uber ride to the airport. So, cigar enthusiasts returning home can have a final smoke or three before catching their return flights.

Besides the featured evening parties, each afternoon of the Atlanta Cigar Experience included an organized “pop-up” event at a local shop or lounge. The pop-up events are a great way for cigar enthusiasts to mingle in a laid-back environment and check out a local cigar shop or lounge they’ve never visited.

Giving Back: Cigars for Warriors Fundraiser

Giving back and providing opportunities for others to giveback is always a staple of Cigar Mike events. One example for this year was Cigar Life Guy’s “Cigars Just Taste Better in Atlanta” T-shirt promotion. Atlanta Cigar Experience guests received a gift of a fun shirt showcasing Atlanta when they made a donation to Operation: Cigars for Warriors. Shirts were also available at retail partner Highland Cigar Co. and several pop-up events in the weeks leading up to the event. Cigars for Warriors is a 501 (c)(3) charity that has received over $2,000 donated so far. It uses these funds to send cigars to U.S. troops deployed overseas.

What Patrons Said About Atlanta Cigar Experience

When asked what they thought of the Atlanta Cigar Experience, guests had much to say.

“A.C.E. is an annual event for me. I enjoy seeing my extended cigar family. My [personal] quote is ‘That’s why you don’t have no friends…we have family!!!’ Thanks for the Family Reunion, Mike” – Kevin Watkins, Founder, Black Cigar Aficionados.

“The Atlanta Cigar Experience captured the true essence of what the cigar lifestyle is all about! As always, Cigar Mike was the ultimate ambassador to a great week of fellowship” – Reggie Kimble, Stickmen Blog.

“The Atlanta Cigar Experience hosted by Cigar Mike, was a true celebration of the cigar lifestyle, the appreciation of cigar lounges and small business owners who are a part of the lifestyle. It was an honor for Barbeque and Smoke to be a part of an amazing week full of events. We look forward to working with Cigar Mike and his team in the future and are always glad to return to Atlanta, GA” — Mac Bostic, Owner, Barbeque and Smoke.

“Atlanta Cigar Experience is an event I plan to never miss. Cigar Mike makes sure to create an experience like no other. I love the different vibes in the venues. I came last year for the first time knowing my Mom was gonna be gone when I got back. So it’s also my getaway and how I celebrate her leaving this earth with fellowship and enjoying others in the cigar culture” — Calvin “King Hollywood” Jenkins, Owner of Luxe Cigar Lounge in South Carolina.

“You can always count on Cigar Mike to put on a great Atlanta Cigar Experience. I believe much of that is due to his passion for premium cigars and his love for his hometown. Our industry is fortunate to have someone like Mike Bennett” — Eddie Tarazona, Owner, Tarazona Cigars.

“The Cigar Mike experience is always really exciting. You never what you’re going to experience and what to expect. Mike is an experience in his own way. Everything is always tailored to the people and for the people who travel from any distance to be there” – Akbar Alam, manager of Fellaship, an exclusive lounge and restaurant in Atlanta.

“Everywhere you went, you could see and feel Mike’s advocacy for the industry and small business. Cigar Mike is good for both the cigar industry and culture” — Greg Willis, a partner of Emperors Cut Cigars.

“Cigar Mike has an amazing network of people that we were so excited to host at Stanley’s. His connection to the pulse of the cigar community is unmatched” — Monica Coleman, Owner, Stanley’s Cigar Lounge.

“Mike is the host of all hosts! The vibe and events were great” — Mr. SODO in Houston.

“Tuesday night was an amazing experience at Life N Times Cigar Lounge Block Party. Truly enjoyed all the cigar enthusiasts from all sides of the country come together to celebrate Atlanta Cigar Experience 2021, hosted by Cigar Mike. It was a true cigar event that featured vendors, bourbon, cigar sponsors, and music that honored the Atlanta cigar industry” – M.J. Smith, Owner of Life N Times Cigar & Coffee.

“My trip to Atlanta from New Jersey was truly worth it! Mike was a great host. It really was an Atlanta Cigar Mike Experience!” — Donnell Isaac, Silverback Cigar Crew.

“There are days when I stand in awe of Cigar Mike. Though his schedule is often hectic, he is always seems to be in the moment, enjoying the company of whoever is in his presence. This ability is truly a remarkable skill, and I am honored to learn it from a great man” – Leroy Lamar, President, ATL Cigar Co.

That’s a Wrap

The Atlanta Cigar Experience is an annual event, traditionally held the fourth week of September. Look for coming details about the 2022 Atlanta Cigar Experience event and then mark your calendar.

Photo credit: All images are credited to Cigar Life Guy except for Akbar Alam, which is credited to Instagram.com/aalam.

How to Cleanse Your Palate Before Smoking Cigars

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Staff

Have you ever had your favorite cigar and enjoyed the nuanced tasting notes only to have it taste completely different or even bland the next time you try it? Perhaps the aroma has changed and something seems off about your smoke. You may be the victim of palate or olfactory fatigue! To get the fullest flavor out of your premium hand rolled cigar, cleanse your palate so the flavors of the smoke roll over your taste buds and waft through your nose. What you eat, drink, and smell from the environment you’re smoking in can affect the nuances of your cigar to some degree.

The Science About Taste and Smell

The human tongue is made out of receptors we call taste buds which look like small bumps. These bumps contain papillae that are specifically shaped to receive only certain structures. Think of them as shaped containers that can only contain one shape. If a container can only hold a square object, then a circular object will not fit in. When the papillae acclimate to a specific structure they send a signal to your brain telling it something is sweet, sour, salty, bitter, or savory (or umami). With all of these combined, we receive the signal of what the brain perceives as flavor.

In addition to that, when you chew food or, in our case, smoke a cigar, these structures also travel their way up to your olfactory sensors in the uppermost part of your nose. These sensors also send signals to your brain and when mixed with the signals from your taste buds they tell the brain what flavor you’re experiencing.

So whether you get cocoa notes while smoking a maduro or sweet cream notes from a Connecticut your taste buds and olfactory sensors are receiving certain structures and telling your brain the closest thing akin with which you’re most familiar.

Taste, Smell and Smoking Cigars

If you’re smoking the same cigar day after day or even different cigars one after another your sense of taste and smell can become overloaded. Tasting similar things over and over again may cause your brain to become dull to the signals your tongue or nose are sending.

For example: if you burn toast you will smell it immediately and your brain will tell you something is burning. After throwing the toast in the trash, the smell will linger but after a while your brain will forget or block out the signals that say something is burning. If you leave the room and come back, the smell of bad cooking will be fresh in your mind.

Thankfully, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you freshen your palate and experience your favorite cigars as if you were experiencing them for the first time.

Cleanse Your Palate and Taste Buds

Water

Room temperature water helps hydrate and refresh your taste buds. If you drink cold water, it will shrink your receptors and impede the papillae from grabbing on to flavor particulates. The more they can grab, the more intense the flavor.

Sparkling Water

Not only does sparkling water help to hydrate your mouth, the carbonation can stimulate the tongue, allowing your taste buds to get ready to receive more flavors.

Coffee

The acidity in coffee helps cut through flavors lingering in the mouth. Black coffee is best as cream or milk can coat the tongue in fats that can mess with what you’re tasting in your smoke. The bitterness in coffee can also help contrast certain flavor notes. Sometimes a brew can overlap with the coffee notes in cigars and highlight other flavors like cocoa or caramel. The aroma of coffee can also clear out your olfactory senses. You will often find coffee beans in a jar at cologne stores to help freshen your sense of smell.

Tea

Much like tobacco, tea leaves are grown in similar conditions and left to dry and age like cigars. It’s the same with coffee. The acidity improves your ability to taste cigars. Try pairing the color of your tea with the color of your cigar wrapper. The two complement each other’s taste. If you’re smoking a bold maduro, go for some black tea. A fun combination to try is light green tea with candelas. Again, the smell of tea can freshen the old sniffer right up.

Citrus

Similar to coffee and tea, drinks with lemon or lime help freshen your taste buds. Citrus preps your taste buds to take in more flavors. You can also add a slice of lemon or lime to your water, sparkling water, or tea. This improves the palate cleansing power.

Ginger

That pile of pink pickled ginger on your sushi plate isn’t just for show. Eating pickled ginger in between bites of your nigiri washes the palate. It prepares your tongue to taste the subtleties of the fish you’re eating. If eating pickled anything sounds gross while smoking, try ginger ale or ginger beer instead. The spiciness can complement the pepper notes in a Habano wrapped cigar.

Sparkling Coffee

Apparently, mixing espresso or coffee with sparkling mineral water is a thing. Is it a good thing? That’s subjective. However, it makes for an interesting experience when puffing on a good cigar. The fizzy acidity works wonders on the taste buds. Again, the aroma of coffee helps with the ol’ olfactory sensors. Speaking of which…

Cleanse Your Palate and Olfactory Senses

Eighty percent of taste is mostly what we smell. Something that comes to mind is retrohaling. Retrohaling is when you take a puff and let it roll around your mouth for about 10 seconds. Then, you blow it out through your nose. When you retrohale, you find different aromas that aren’t as pronounced on the tongue. Here are two sure fire ways to cleanse your nostrils of stagnant smoke that aren’t already mentioned above.

Cleanse Your Palate with Fresh air

If you’re in a lounge or a smoking den, no matter how well ventilated it is, the scent of cigars will still linger in the air. This can be especially true with flavored or infused cigars. Remember when you burnt your toast earlier? It’s the same idea. Simply get up and get a little breather outside. Getting some fresh air resets your brain from the constant stimulation it’s getting when sitting in a room.

Cleanse Your Palate with Your Own Skin

Another easy way to refresh your olfactory sensors is to smell your own skin, but only if you’re not wearing cologne. If you’re in a lounge or smoking in a room you shouldn’t smell of cologne anyway as the scents can horribly affect your cigar experience as well as others who are present. Don’t be “that guy”. This is another good way to ruin your cigar experience. If you’re not that guy, smelling the crook of your elbow or the skin on your arm provides your brain with what it’s already familiar with: your own scent.

Cleansing Your Palate When All Else Fails…

If you’ve tried everything and your cigars taste bland, then your palate may be burnt out. To help repair your senses, eat bland tasting foods for a week or two. Unsalted water crackers are good for this and, for this reason, many often pair them with cheese and wine. Plain oatmeal or whole grain bread also helps your taste buds refresh. Plus, you should be eating these anyway as they’re good for you and heart healthy.

If your sticks are starting to taste samey samey, these tips and tricks will help out. Your tongue and nose will thank you and those cigars will taste better with a cleansed palate. Try some of these methods before smoking your after-dinner cigar! Protip: if you ate something fatty, like a good steak, try to order a lemon sorbet if you can. It’s a good dessert as well as a good palate cleanser.

Photo credit: Unsplash

How to Cut a Cigar Without a Cigar Cutter

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Staff

It’s a beautiful day outside and you’re enjoying yourself. The sun is shining. There’s a slight breeze in the air, and you think to yourself, “Wow, what a perfect time for a cigar!” You pull out the cigar that has been waiting for you to light it at this very moment. You grab your cigar poker to loosen the tobacco, but disaster strikes. You realize that you left your cigar cutter at home! If this has ever happened to you, then fear not. Thankfully, there is more than one way to cut a cigar. With a little creativity and resourcefulness, we’re going to teach you how to cut a cigar and turn this rough situation into a win.

How to Cut a Cigar Using your teeth

Back in the day, good cigar cutters were a luxury. Many cigar-smoking veterans have developed the tried-and-true method of clipping their cigars with their teeth. While this takes practice and experience to get right, it is still one of the most effective ways to clip your cigar in a pinch.

While holding your cigar, place the cap of the cigar between your front teeth. Start by slowly bringing your teeth together like a good cigar cutter. This helps break through the cap. Then, bite swiftly to cut the rest of the way through. Take care, though. You don’t want to bite off too much of the cigar.

How to Cut a Cigar Using a Knife

If you’re the type of individual who carries around a pocketknife, then it’s your time to shine. Before cutting, sharpen your blade. Remember, you want your blade to slice through the tobacco, not tear it. A dull blade can deal more damage to a premium cigar than anything else.

Upon pulling out your cigar, place your blade about 1/12 of an inch from the top of the cap. Now slowly rotate your cigar in the direction of the wrapper until you have completed a circular slice the entire way around the cigar. If you’ve done this correctly, the cap should pop off on its own. If the cap has not yet come off, then try to find a flat surface you can set your cigar on. If you can’t find a flat surface, make sure to hold the cigar firmly. Place your blade within the cut you have just made and quickly press the blade through your cut.

Punch a Hole

When you use your teeth or a knife to cut a cigar, you always run the risk of cracking the outer layer of tobacco. If your cigar is too precious to take those kinds of risks, then your next best option is punching a hole in the cap. Punching a hole in the cap allows you to smoke the cigar without completely removing the cap. The only thing you have to worry about is making sure you get the correct airflow.

First, find a sharp-pointed object. This can be anything from a screwdriver to a fishing hook. If you have matches, you can even use a dull knife to sharpen the end of a match as a makeshift hole puncher. We’ve even used a thorn from a wild rose bush before. Now the best way to accomplish this is to take your sharp object and poke it directly through the top of the cap. Once the hole has been punched, put the cigar in your mouth and test the draw. Widen the hole with your tool of choice until you get the desired airflow.

While we hope you’re never in a situation without your good cigar cutter, it’s good to have the ability to get by without it. Check out the rest of our cigar articles to discover more useful tips on cigar smoking, like how to select a great cigar humidor. There’s a lot of culture that comes with cigar lifestyle!

Photo credit: Pixabay

Yahya McClain: Boxing World Champion to Cigar Buff

Posted on September 4, 2021 by Staff

Yahya McClain (born John McClain in 1967) has crammed a whole lot of living into his slightly more than half a century walk on this earth. Yahya is a two-time boxing world champion – once as a light heavyweight and once as a cruiserweight. Following his boxing career as a fighter, McClain trained and then later married Laila Ali, the daughter of arguably the greatest boxing world champion of all time, Muhammad Ali. Currently the CEO of YES Filmworks, Inc., McClain has spent the past three decades in the entertainment industry as a promoter, manager and producer. Many of his unfiltered escapades are chronicled in his 2013 autobiography “And Still: The Memoirography of Yahya McClain“.

If you see McClain these days, it’s usually with a lit cigar in his mouth. The guy just loves his cigars. Cigar Life Guy was able to catch up with McClain and chat a bit at Highland Cigar Co. in Atlanta where both hold memberships and tend to hold court most afternoons.

Boxing World Champion Yahya on Gratitude

Cigar Life Guy: Boxing has changed since you were coming up and so has the world. Would you recommend a young person today box?

Yahya McCain: I would most definitely recommend boxing because of all the great things it has done for me. The lifestyle it has afforded me and my family. I’ve been all over the world because of boxing. Made millions of dollars and had all the toys. The discipline that boxing instills in a person can be useful throughout a person’s entire life.

CLG: What advice would you give someone looking at getting started boxing?

YM: Find yourself a teacher of the art of boxing and not just a coach or some guy hollering at kids in the gym. Find someone that is passionate about what they do. When you do find that vetted, tested, and proven teacher; and if you are welcomed into his fold, please respect him, and listen to him. Do as he says and trust the process.

CLG: If you could change one thing in professional boxing what would it be?

YM: I would make it so that no matter who the fighter is or what race the fighter is if the guy loses a fight give him a rematch. Don’t make him wait years. If that fighter gets in the ring, puts fans in the stands or has the fans that happen to see him fight and start screaming and yelling because of his or her performance, well then, that fighter should keep being showcased on the main stage. Win, lose or draw. Don’t exile a fighter that loses a close fight.

Muhammad Ali was a Genuine Man

CLG: You had a chance to know a side of Muhammad Ali that many did not. What are one or two things about Muhammad Ali the person that the public didn’t get a chance to see?

YM: First, he was always on 100 until the moment went to sleep. He loved and would entertain groups large or small. Second, his plan from the beginning of his career was to use his fame and celebrity to do his part in helping this world to be a better place for all human beings.

Cigars Offer a Connection to Family

CLG: When did you start smoking cigars?

YM: I started smoking cigars for real in 1999 or 2000. It was when I retired. But prior to that my grandfather used to smoke cigars every day since I was a baby. He used to cut our hair and he always had a cigar hanging in his mouth and his breath stunk so bad. Who knew years later I would be an avid cigar smoker? He also played golf, he had a picture hanging in his barbershop of him and Joe Louis playing golf together with a cigar in his hand. Again, who knew? God had it to where he allowed me the opportunity to play golf with my grandfather and we smoked a cigar together before he died.

Cigars Make Traffic More Tolerable

The way that I really got hooked on cigars was due to that 405 freeway in Los Angeles. Man, the traffic is so bad and I had to commute from the Valley to LA Boxing gym to train Laila Ali. The gym was near the airport so I was done with that traffic. Then one day I said let me try to calm my nerves with this cigar. So I lit it up and smoked in my Benz for the first time and the next thing I knew I was at home. That’s the day I became an official cigar aficionado. At that point I was hooked. Cigars are a part of who I am. I’m known for my hats, cigars, and boxing.

CLG: What do you enjoy most about smoking cigars?

YM: I love the way a cigar smells when it’s being smoked especially if I’m smoking it. But I really love the calming cool sensation you get from it. The other big benefits are the lifestyle and the great people you get to meet and form relationships with, people from around the world!

CLG: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a friend or someone that is just starting to smoke cigars?

YM: My advice to new cigar smokers is start with a Perdomo or something along those lines and skip the chocolate, wine, and tasty cigars [Editor’s note: skip the flavored cigars]. I mean at least try a real one first.

The Boxing World Champion is Not Done

CLG: What’s next for “The Champ?” Any professional projects we should be looking out for soon?

YM: Related to boxing, I’m a ring announcer and a boxing referee. Outside of boxing I have several creative projects. I’m writing every day. I have a feature film about baby mama drama, and I have the first season of 10 episodes of a spin-off tv show written as well. Both the film and the tv series have a female lead that is fighting for fathers’ rights!

You know, I am really enjoying life to the fullest these days. My wife, my kids, my whole family, my mom, my brothers, I mean I’m blessed. We are living the dream and staying out the way!

CLG: Thanks Yahya, some good stuff!

Follow Yahya McClain on Instagram at @thevoicechamp

Photo Credit: Yahya McClain

Six Things Your Cigar Bartenders Wish You Knew

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Staff

The cigars are only one aspect of the experience at the cigar lounge. By and large the cigar bartender at your local cigar bar appreciate the job they have, certainly relative to other bar gigs. Yet, there are a few things you as a patron ought to know. So, we reached out to the community of cigar bar staff to get the scoop from their perspective. Here’s what your cigar bartenders wish you knew:

Cigar Bartenders Work for Tips

Like other bartenders and servers, most of our incomes come from tips. The hourly wages we get won’t cover our Uber rides or childcare for our shifts. But we like working in cigar bars. On whole, cigar folks are good tippers, relative to other places we work. That’s a big reason for us to stick around.

Some cigar folks can do better, though. We’re talking about some members or a regulars who receive many freebies such as coffee, soft drinks, or etc., or who don’t purchase from the humidor, often as a result of membership fees. Cigar bartenders still must serve you even though we didn’t get paid on your annual membership. Throw us a little something now and then or don’t tip as a percentage of your check. If you’re here all afternoon and buy a coffee, we might refill your cup six times. But when it comes time to pay, even 50 percent on your $3 check is way light for the service we provided.

Also, we genuinely appreciate small gifts, like the gift of a cigar from your personal humidor. But that cigar doesn’t pay our bills. It’s better to tip appropriately. Then, if you want to give us something in addition to that, it’s perfectly fine.

Cigar bartenders are also realistic. We understand when you purchase a box of cigars or make a large purchase out of the humidor and pay via one credit card tab. If that tab is co-mingled with your small bar tab, we don’t necessarily expect you to tip 20 to 25 percent of the entire tab. Of course, if you do then we certainly won’t complain either.

Cigar Bartenders Don’t Want to Date You

You want to date us, too? Seriously, guy! You’ve probably got kids older than us! Besides, we’re more than likely married or seeing someone. Just because we’re not wearing a ring or talking about our significant other doesn’t mean we’re on the market. And even if we were, you aren’t what we’re looking for. Yes, we’re attractive. Yes, we might be dressed somewhat provocatively. We might also flirt with you a little or are happy to see you. But we also work for tips. That doesn’t give you a license to be a creep.

Bartenders and Servers Talk About You

Ever wonder whether secret conversations about you are happening among us? They are, but that’s usually a good thing, not a bad thing. If you’re a creep or an awful tipper, then we’ll tell other staff members and probably a few of the regulars. We’re not priests, doctors or lawyers. There is no such thing as cigar bartender or smoker confidentiality. Alternatively, if you’re a good guy or gal, then we’ll share that informally with the rest of the staff and our favorite regulars, too. This is kind of news enhances your status within the bar, though.

You may not realize that we refer business all the time, but we do. In fact, you’d be amazed how many referrals we give. We consider it a win-win. If you’re a business professional and a cigar bar regular, then let me know what you do once we’ve become acquainted. Don’t do it in an obnoxious way, though. We’ll choose who to refer you to and if it’s appropriate. Of course, if you don’t make a positive impact on us, that referral opportunity will probably not happen. You’d be amazed how many conversations in the bar we take part of. People are always looking for referrals.

Don’t Be a Seat Hopper

One of the great things about the bar is that it is informal with open seating. Don’t abuse it. We understand that you might move seats occasionally. We also understand that you might want to talk with a friend who’s visited. The problem is every time you get up, that’s a seating area we must clean. That’s particularly now that we live in the COVID-19 era. Now, our work also involves sanitizing seating areas for the next person. Some regulars dirty half a dozen seats within a two-hour span and it drives us nuts!

Cigar Bartenders Not an Expert on Cigars

Are cigar bartenders also cigar experts? Maybe, but the odds are that we don’t even smoke cigars! We’re bartenders, not a tobacconists. We might not even know the difference between a Corona and a Connecticut. And we certainly might not know that a cigar can be a Corona as well as a Connecticut. Unless you know differently, we’re probably not the one to geek out with about minute cigar details. Stick to regular bar room conversations with us like sports, current events or etc. If you want to talk cigars then everyone else in the bar is probably a better candidate than us. There is one expectation, though. We won’t complain about the smoke or cigar smokers in general. If we didn’t want to be around smoke we wouldn’t be working here.

Know What Time It Is When We Interact

Part of our job as a bartender, even if it is unwritten, is chopping it up with you and other regulars. In fact, that’s one of the best parts of working in a cigar bar. The cigar crowd is usually a joy to be around and we learn a lot about life from you. You might not know this, though, because we haven’t said as much. Some of your suggestions and advice benefit us greatly in our personal lives and sometimes even our non-bartending professional endeavors. We grow as individuals from some of the smokers we meet this place.

Hard stop, though: When we’re slammed with work, our job is to make drinks, not be your conversation companion. Look around and read the room. Read our body language. Then, let us do our job get those drinks out! We had a great chat an hour ago, but it’s prime time now.

As a side note, if you’re here watching the big game and you know you want to leave as soon as it’s over, clear your tab in the middle of the fourth quarter. We go through this every Saturday and Sunday. You know it and we know it. Everyone wants to close out tabs at the same time. If you don’t want to wait, then close out early so you’re free to leave sooner.

Hopefully all of this was helpful. Be good to us and we’ll be better to you. We really do appreciate you and your patronage. Additionally, we also realize that customers like you pay our bills. We just ask that you treat us with the same respect we offer you. We can’t wait to see you again tomorrow.

The Final Word

Working as a cigar bartended isn’t always easy, as you can see. In fact, sometimes it’s downright challenging. Cigar Life Guy has had the priviledge of speaking with many cigar bartenders to gather this important information for you. Not only does this advice help your friendly bartenders, it also helps you, as a cigar enthusiast, elevate your status while visiting your favorite cigar lounge. If you’re new to cigar lifestyle, then might not know the conversations and other things that go on behind the scenes of the cigar bar. We hope you enjoyed this post. More importantly, we hope you’ve gleaned something valuable to level up your cigar lifestyle.

This blog reflects conversations with many bartenders in cigar bars who wished to remain anonymous. It includes some generalizations as well. Certainly, some bartenders are true cigar aficionados and love the leaf more than anyone in the room. You might also find a bartender who wants to date you, but good luck. Regardless, don’t be a creep, but do enjoy cigar lifestyle.

Photo credit: Unsplash

Five Things You Should Know Before Beginning Cigar Lifestyle

Posted on August 8, 2021 by Staff

Beginning a cigar lifestyle is not for everyone. In fact, if the thought of drawing in the rich flavor and aroma of a fine cigar doesn’t appeal to you, click away. However, if you ever thought about smoking cigars or you currently enjoy an occasional stick, then this is the article for you. Cigar lifestyle is one of comaraderie and the ultimate enjoyment of some of the finest cigars created. However, there are a few things you should know to help you decide whether beginning cigar lifestyle is for you. So, kick back in your chair, light that stick, and read on.

Research the Cigar Lifestyle

Before you begin the cigar lifestyle, do a bit of research. It’s as simple as perusing the internet on your phone. With so much information available, you’ll want to discover the benefits, disadvantages, costs, and more. As a matter of fact, you’ll find a lot of useful information browsing the articles section of CigarLifeGuy.com.

Just a general research and browsing the web provides a ton of information to help you decide whether cigar lifestyle is for you. For example, you willdiscover that a cigar is nothing like cigarettes or chewing tobacco. It’s 100 percent handmade, long-leaf tobacco with no additives or fillers. The nicotine buzz you get from cigars is nothing like that of cigarettes or chewing tobacco, either. The important takeaway is that by doing some research, you’ll know what you’re getting into.

Expect to Spend Some Cash

Everything you’re going to smoke turns into ash. In the end, you won’t hold anything because cigars are consumable items. They are not a necessary item. They are a luxury, which is probably why you don’t often see 20-year-olds enjoying a fine cigar. Typically cigar lifestyle is occupied by those who have an established life and disposable incomes. Good cigars and cigar accessories cost money and lead to an overall better experience.

Don’t be the bargain hunter. You’ll end up smoking the cheapest cigars and using the cheapest cutters. All these combined lead to a horrible cigar experience and no one enjoys a cigar that tastes bad. It’s better to save some cash and buy some mid-range cigars. It’s also better when you can invest in a cigar humidor, lighter and a quality cutter. Overall, be prepared to spend some cash in the cigar lifestyle. You’ll thank yourself for it later.

Have Cigar Lifestyle Smoking Buddies

Everything is easier when you smoke with friends. You can learn from them, relax, and enjoy the cigar together. Socializing is a big part of the lifestyle and it’s even better when you do it with friends. Friends that can show you the ropes in the lifestyle or buy bundles together. Plus, smoking cigars gives you a good excuse to hang out with your buddies.

Yes, there are many smokers that enjoy cigars on their own. However, it’s better to start out with friends. You can learn from them so that you don’t repeat mistakes that would make you hate cigars. Also, you can always check out a cigar shop or lounge. You’ll make friends simply by visiting and hanging out at the lounges and shops. You will find that people in the cigar lifestyle love talking about cigars.

People Around You May Not Like Cigars

Cigar smoking can make you unpopular with certain people. There are going to be people who don’t like the smell or smoke of your cigars. People close to you will express concern about your health and start suggesting you quit the lifestyle. The last thing you want is your spouse to have problems with you because of your new cigar lifestyle. In any case, smoking cigars gives you a good excuse to leave your house and enjoy a cigar outside on your patio or in backyard.

American culture tends to be very anti-tobacco. A lot of people think anything related to tobacco is bad and evil. Try smoking in a public area you’re not familiar with and you’ll probably catch some dirty looks from random strangers. You’ll have random people asking cynical questions about cigars and reminding you of the hazards of smoking cigars.

Don’t Just Stick to One Cigar

If you’re beginning the cigar lifestyle, don’t just stick to one cigar. Smoke a variety of cigars and find out what you like. The first couple of cigars may not taste good to you or you may have smoked them the wrong way. Eventually, you’ll find that one cigar you enjoy and have a good experience with. Don’t be afraid to try different brands. If you’re not sure, buy samplers. If expanding your palate is something you can’t do or something you don’t have time for, perhaps the cigar lifestyle isn’t for you.

These five things should help you consider whether the cigar lifestyle is for you. The cigar lifestyle may seem a little complicated at first. Yet, if you have a good group of friends to smoke with and a nice cigar, you’ll find yourself in cigar lifestyle for a very long time.

Image by Pixabay | Ben Kerckx