Staff, Author at Cigar Life Guy

Why You Should Never Smoke a Cigar With a Hangover

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Staff

If you Google search for the top 10, 20, 30, or 100 hangover cures, you will never find cigars anywhere close to that list. What you will find are liquids, vitamins, more alcohol (hair of the dog), carbohydrates, over-the-counter medicine, Pedialyte, coffee, and many others. Cigars? Nope. When you’re hungover, your body is begging for liquids for a return to normal. The nicotine in cigars dehydrates you. Instead of helping you, cigars are going to worsen your symptoms.

The best hangover cure is to not drink any alcohol. Yet, there will be times when that’s difficult to avoid. Here’s why you should never smoke a cigar while rocking a hangover.

Cigars Worsen Your Hangover Symptoms

With a quick visit to the Mayo Clinic website, you’ll find that a hangover starts when your blood alcohol level drops to zero after a night of drinking. At this point, you will start feeling the common symptoms such as an awful headache and nausea. Other symptoms include fatigue, weakness, muscle aches, stomach pain, shakes, rapid heartbeat, and irritability.

You get all these hangover symptoms because your body is trying to return to normal. These same symptoms worsen when you smoke a cigar. The nicotine from the cigar causes your blood vessels to constrict. And decreased blood flow to your brain worsens your headache and amplifies your nausea.

Hangovers Ruin Your Cigar and Experience

If there’s one thing to add to our recent article, “Four Things That Ruin Your Cigar Experience,” that’s a hangover. With a hangover, you already feel like crap. You think, perhaps a cigar will help you relax. You get some coffee ready and light up a Padrón you picked up the day before. A couple of minutes go by and you slowly take in the smoke. Suddenly, your head starts spinning. Your headache worsens and your mouth gets super dry. You put the cigar out and decide to lay down to recover.

Does that sound like a relaxing cigar experience? No, and it’s going to happen every time you smoke with a hangover. You’re not going to be in a mood to sit back, take in the cigar, and let your thoughts go away. Instead, your mind is going to be on the hangover and how you wish you didn’t chase Jack Daniel’s with a Corona Light.

Even worse, the cigar will go to waste. Re-lighting a smoked cigar at a later time is a big no-no because the cigar won’t taste and smell the same. The flavors and aroma taste like tar on the second go. As a matter of fact, never let a cigar go unfinished. So, don’t smoke if you’re hungover.

Cigar Lifestyle Outliers

All that said, there are many, – a whole, hell of a lot of – smokers in the lifestyle who smoke after a heavy night of drinking. Just walk into a cigar lounge on a Saturday or Sunday morning. You’ll find a handful of smokers smoking their hangover away. These experienced smokers know their bodies better than their own doctors. They almost always have a cigar-hangover-ritual allowing them to relax and enjoy their cigar. It’s as simple as smoking a mild Romeo Y Julieta with bottled water on the side.

If you’re new to the lifestyle, it’s probably better for you to follow the traditional hangover cures. Smoking can hit you hard if you’re not 100% certain. The sooner you’re back to normal, the sooner you can enjoy a cigar without worrying about wasting it.

Photo Credit: Thom Masat

The After-Dinner Cigar: A Great Cigar Lifestyle Ritual

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Staff

One of the best ways to enjoy a cigar is after dinner. Smoking a cigar after a good, hearty meal is a must. With a full stomach, you’ll better enjoy strong, bold Partagas and not worry about getting sick. It’s a great and relaxing way to end your day, especially if you do it with friends or family. The after-dinner cigar is the perfect dessert. It’s full of flavor and contains zero calories. You will find that the after-dinner cigar is one of the most popular rituals in the cigar lifestyle. Smoking a cigar after dinner is one of the best lifestyle rituals.

After-Dinner Cigars Prevent Cigar Sickness

A cigar is enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about puking your guts out. Yet, one of the reasons you get cigar sickness is that your stomach is empty. It’s also a common newbie mistake. You get sick because an empty stomach absorbs nicotine faster. It’s like drinking alcohol on an empty stomach; only the nicotine punches you much harder. Every time you get cigar sickness, you waste the cigar. It would be best if you put it out, then return to it later, but it never tastes the same; this is why many folks enjoy smoking a cigar after dinner.

When your stomach is full, your body absorbs the nicotine slowly. Even the food onboard will help absorb some of the nicotine. So if you’ve been saving one of your stronger cigars in your humidor for a while, smoke it after dinner. You’ll enjoy the strong aroma and flavor without worrying about hugging your porcelain seat.

They Complement Socializing

A great way to celebrate something is with a nice dinner at a steakhouse. There’s nothing like going out for steaks after a big win, a work promotion, or your birthday. Then, the meal ends, and it’s time for everyone to head home. But why stop with the food? After a meal, cigars are a great way to extend the celebration.

After putting away the steaks, a robust after-dinner cigar with some bourbon is a total bonus. Smoking a cigar is a great way to have your friends join the celebration and relax. It’s also a great way to reflect on the celebration and only adds to the experience of eating a nice dinner.

After-Dinner Cigars Boost Metabolism

By replacing desserts with an after-dinner cigar, you’ll consume fewer calories. It offers an excellent, calorie-free way to feel satisfied after a meal. That’s a huge plus for your metabolism. Additionally, a nice dinner and a cigar combination mean you’ll consume less food later in the evening. That’s because the nicotine in the cigar helps to curb your appetite.

Additionally, the nicotine from the cigar binds to your digestive organs, which allows your food to move toward the exit faster. Specifically, nicotine induces peristalsis and moves the digestive tract, creating wavelike movements that push the food in the canal forward. Nicotine’s effect on your digestive system is why you’ll probably find yourself on the John after smoking a strong, after-dinner Cohiba.

Finally, you’ll find that smoking an after-dinner cigar is one of the best rituals in the cigar lifestyle. It relaxes you and your digestive organs after a long day. It helps with your metabolism. And it is a great way to add to your social experience after dinner.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Four Things That Ruin Your Cigar Experience

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Staff

No one ever talks about what can ruin a cigar experience. The last thing you want to do is spend over ten dollars on a high-quality cigar and not enjoy it. Perhaps you’re new to the cigar lifestyle? Maybe you make rookie mistakes such as smoking on an empty stomach or getting drunk? Heck, even hanging out with the wrong people or not relaxing can ruin any cigar experience.

These four things distract you from enjoying the aroma. They ruin the complex flavor notes. They prevent you from getting in a relaxed state. You might as well light your dollars instead of your cigar if you do these four things.

Smoke on an Empty Stomach

When you smoke a cigar on an empty stomach, you get cigar sickness. An empty stomach allows the nicotine from the cigar to enter your system faster. As a result, you get sick. Your head spins and you hover over a garbage can brimming with nausea. This is definitely not the enjoyable or meditative cigar experience you imagined.

If you make the rookie mistake of smoking on an empty stomach, first, put out your cigar. Get some sugar and water into your system to stave off the sickness. Return to your cigar later in the day. The cigar won’t taste as great as the first time you smoked it, but at least you won’t puke your guts out. Just know, if you ever get sick, it’s your fault. It’s not the cigars.

Get Drunk During a Cigar Experience

You’ll also ruin your cigar experience when you drink too much. Your mind loses focus on the cigar. You don’t pay attention to the subtle flavor notes. You won’t reach that meditative state of relaxation. The cigar experience is about taste, aroma, and the relaxing effects it provides. If you drink enough to slur your words, you’ll savor the cigar experience less.

There’s a reason it’s advised to smoke half a cigar before you pair it with whiskey or other spirits. When you smoke half a stick and focus on the cigar experience, you’re less likely to drink too much. You’ll enjoy the experience of smoking a cigar. Once you’re midway through your cigar, pair it with a small amount of the alcohol of your choice for flavor enhancement. There’s nothing wrong with smoking a cigar while partying. Just don’t do it with a quality cigar you spent $10 or more for. A cheap cigar is a better choice here. It’s not like you’re going to remember the cheap flavor notes the following day.

Hang out with the Wrong People

Another way to ruin any cigar experience is hanging out with the wrong people. These are generally the no-smoke crowd. They may not like cigars but sit at your table. They complain about the smell. They’ll also complain about the smoke and tell you how bad smoking is for your health. They’ll dampen your mood leaving you in the opposite of relaxation.

There are also negative people. If you listen to them long enough, they’ll drain your energy. Your mood changes and it distracts you from enjoying the cigars.

Boring people are another group to avoid. They’ll make you want to put your cigar out and leave.

Sometimes, you cannot avoid the wrong people. When you find yourself in this position, you’ll have the perfect reason to go outside. There’s nothing like hanging out on your own and gaining some much-needed peace. In fact, it’s one of the great ways to enjoy a cigar.

Not Relaxing During a Cigar Experience

To fully enjoy the cigar experience, you’ll want to do nothing. That’s right, absolutely nothing. Activities such as golf or yard work can distract you from the cigar experience. You’re not going to relax or focus on your cigar. You won’t pay attention to the flavor notes or the aromas. There’s nothing writing with doing these things while smoking a cigar, but you’ll miss out on the rich experience you would’ve otherwise had. Pair activities with cigars that cost less than $10. That way, you’ll still enjoy a cigar without worrying about wasting your cash.

For new smokers, it’s better to avoid these four things. Focus, instead, on gaining the full benefits of your cigar experience. Don’t allow distractions to get in the way and waste a good cigar.

Photo credit: Pixabay

The Meditative Effect of a Good Cigar

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Staff

When you finish smoking a cigar, you feel calm afterward. It’s the same feeling you get after meditating for 20 minutes. When your entire focus and attention is on your cigar, you get in a meditative state. Smoking a good cigar distracts your busy mind and lets you make simple mental connections. You become present as you smoke your cigar, like a meditation session.

What is Meditation

Meditation is sitting or lying still and thinking of nothing for 15-20 minutes. You don’t think about the past or the future; you are. It’s the direct act and practice of being present. Studies have shown that meditating daily for 15-20 minutes is good for mental health. By focusing your mind on one thing, you get many cognitive benefits. Noticeable effects include significantly reducing your stress and frustration. In addition, your focus and concentration improve, and your tolerance for pain increases.

The act of being present is a technique to clear your mind. It silences your ego and helps you deal with negative feelings such as fear, anger, and sadness. Meditation boils down to clearing your mind of busy and distracting thoughts. You become mindful of your surroundings and how you react to your surroundings. The more you engage in meditative processes, the more you change how you think and approach the world, which is why you do some of your best thinking while enjoying a good cigar.

Good Cigar Smoking Ritual

In a meditation ritual, you sit down, dim the lights, put some meditation music on, and focus on one thing. When you finish, you will feel calm and live in the present moment. Cigar smoking rituals are similar because you’re also following a process and focusing on one thing (enjoying the cigar). The simple act of practice puts you in a meditative state.

Typically, you’ll start your ritual when you come home from work in the hot summer. But, first, you decide it’s time to unwind and check your stock in your humidor.

You grab one of your top-shelf cigars.

You cut.

You light.

You take in that first puff.

You smell the natural aroma, and the cigar ritual has begun.

As soon as you start, your brain begins to slow down. As a result, you spend the next 30-60 minutes in a meditative state.

Good Cigar Experience vs. Activity

Smoking a good cigar is not meditative during specific situations. When you treat cigar smoking as an activity rather than an experience, you will not experience the reflective effects. For example, when you go out and play golf and smoke while you play, smoking becomes an activity. It’s something you’re doing. You’re thinking about your golf game, about your next shot. You’re living in the future and analyzing your game. When you’re sitting on your porch with a top-shelf cigar, it’s an experience. When you’re focused on enjoying your cigars, you’re not thinking about the past or future. You’re in the present, enjoying the current experience.

There’s nothing better than to calm yourself down with a good cigar. So the next time someone gives you trouble for smoking a cigar, tell them, “Hey! Be quiet! I’m meditating here.”

Photo Credit: Unsplash | Charles Etoroma

5 Guests Who Shared a Cigar on Joe Rogan Podcast

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Staff

In the cigar lifestyle, you’ll find yourself sharing stories over a cigar as Joe Rogan does on his podcast. Just sit back, light one up, and let the stories flow. You listen, take a couple puffs, then add a little to the discussion. You can do this with anyone: a close friend or a stranger you met at the cigar lounge. You’ll find Joe Rogan does that now and then with his guests. He’ll invite a friend or a new guest over and have a long conversation over a cigar (and occasionally some bourbon).

Joe Rogan Show Guests

Five guests shared exciting and unique stories over a cigar with Joe Rogan.

Bill Burr (Episode #1491)

In this episode, you’ll find Joe smoking a Partagas and Bill a La Aurora. Both guys have a background in comedy and have known each other for years. It so happens that Bill Burr recently had a kid, and his birthday was the previous day. So, like a good old friend in the cigar lifestyle, Joe Rogan brings out the special cigars and celebrates the good news. They discuss many topics, such as current events and old stories, and share jokes—something you’ll also find yourself doing when you embark on the cigar lifestyle.

Alex Jones (Episode #1555)

The controversial conspiracy theorist is one of the most popular guests on the show. Episode #1555 has over 19 million views as of June 2021. These two guys have known each other for years and are good friends. In this episode, you’ll find Joe Rogan enjoying a CAO. Alex Jones did not smoke one but didn’t mind Joe having a smoke. Like Joe Rogan in this episode, you’ll often find yourself in situations where you might be the only one smoking a cigar. It’s part of the lifestyle; sometimes, you’ll run into folks that don’t smoke but don’t care if you have one. As you’ll see in episode #1555, the flow of the conversation and stories didn’t appear to be interrupted due to Joe’s smoking. If anything, it adds a subtle yet positive vibe.

Phil Demers (Episode #1590)

Alex Jones and Bill Burr may be close friends with Joe Rogan, but this is the first time Joe meets Phil Demers in this episode. However, that didn’t stop Phill and Joe from enjoying a cigar. It shows you that you don’t have to enjoy cigars with close friends. Cigars can bring strangers together. Just walk into any cigar lounge and see that common interests (cigars) bring people together.

Rob Lowe (#1522)

Rob Lowe is one of the few “Hollywood” guests that Joe Rogan has had on the podcast. They were discussing going to outer space when suddenly Joe asks:

Joe: Are you sure you don’t do drugs?

Rob: I don’t.

Joe: Do you smoke cigars?

Rob: Hell Yeah… Let’s go… Let’s F***ing go!

What a great dialogue, something you’ll only hear in the cigar lifestyle. Of course, you can say no to drugs and alcohol, but sometimes you can’t pass up on a cigar. These two guys had a very down-to-earth conversation and became best friends as soon as they started smoking cigars. They arranged a day at the shooting range by the show’s end.

Ron White (#1534)

Another comedian on this list is Ron White. In this episode, you’ll catch both guys going through a tin of cigarillos. Instead of bourbon, they paired the cigarillos with some of Ron’s tequila. Like two good old buddies sharing a cigar, they discuss UFOs, their careers, and life.

The Joe Rogan podcast goes to show you that you can share great stories and, of course, enjoy great cigars. So next time Joe Rogan lights a cigar on his podcast, light up yourself and enjoy the show.

Photo credit: “Joerogan,” by Rebecca Lai of Glasgow, Sweden; Cropped by East718, Wikimedia Commons license CC BY 2.0.

Why Cigars and Coffee Go Together in the Morning

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Staff

In Cuba, the traditional way to start your morning is with a cigar and a strong Cuban espresso. Bar none, cigars and coffee offer one of the best pairings you’ll find with cigars. Simply brew a cup, light your cigar and finish both before you get on with your day. The cigar and coffee go together not just in effect, but as a flavor pairing as well. It’s a great way to get in the right frame of mind before you fire off emails or stretch your limbs for a long day of manual work. It’s also something you can do on a lazy summer weekend morning.

Start Your Day with Cigars and Coffee

Many smokers you meet in the cigar lifestyle prefer a smoke in the evenings. The relaxation effects of smoking are a great way to end your day. Yet, a morning cigar paired with a coffee also offers an enjoyable experience. In the morning, cigars and coffee put you in a reflective mode while also jolting you into action. The smooth combination of nicotine and caffeine picks you up from the morning grogginess. It also gives you a let’s get ready kind of relaxation.

Think about those beautiful early morning days in the summer. There’s usually no one to bother you because everyone’s still slumbering away. It’s you, your cigar, and your coffee. It’s quiet, and it’s the perfect opportunity to organize your thoughts for the day. The perfect combination of cigars and coffee centers you. It lets you ease meditatively into the day without exerting yourself. It’s a quality experience only those in the cigar lifestyle can enjoy. Cigars and coffee are also the breakfast of cigar life champions, but like anything else, you must pair your flavors well.

Cigars and Coffee: The Perfect Flavor Pairing

For many smokers, cigars and coffee are the ultimate flavor pairing. They accentuate and balance each other out. This works because coffee has tobacco flavor notes and tobacco has coffee flavor notes. Both flavor notes are smokey, deep, earthy, and complex with spicy & tangy touches.

The flavors match because coffees are roasted to a specific shade of dark. This provides the coffee with the same heating by-products you get when you burn a cigar. Rich coffee is guaranteed to be full of flavor, bold, and intense. So, the richer the coffee, the better the pairing.

Coffee can go with any cigar due to the complimenting flavor combinations. There’s an endless variety of pairings as there are different types of coffees and cigars. The fun part is figuring out which combinations you enjoy the most. Like cigars, different coffees come from different regions of the world. Since it’s morning, you’ll probably prefer to start with a mild cigar, unless it’s a lazy Sunday morning, then go with a strong Maduro.

Coffee is Non-Alcoholic

Since coffee is non-alcoholic, this makes it perfect for mornings. Coffee is also a more comfortable pairing compared to whiskeys and other aged spirits this time of day. Getting drunk at 9 a.m. is never a great idea unless you’re on vacation.

Whiskey and other spirits pair well with cigars, but whiskey tends to overpower the flavor notes on a cigar. Alternatively, coffee goes with every cigar; whiskey pairings tend to “depend-on-the-type-of-cigar.”

You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy coffee. It’s a ritual that new smokers can enjoy as they get introduced to the cigar lifestyle. It’s also a ritual only those in the cigar lifestyle enjoy.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Six Types of Smokers You’ll Meet at the Cigar Lounge

Posted on June 12, 2021 by Staff

When you begin the cigar lifestyle, you’ll probably start seeing yourself in lounges and cigar shops. You’ll meet a wide variety of people and personalities with the same common interests. The shop and lounge atmosphere vary based on your city. Although each atmosphere differs from the next, cigar lounges share one thing in common. Regardless of location, there are six types of smokers you’ll likely meet when you visit a cigar lounge.

The Boutique Tribe Member

Ritual is the name of the game for boutique tribe members. Offer them a free stick in a cigar lounge, and they will decline if it’s not from a small batch. Boutique cigars are high quality which makes the tribe run on rampant snobbery and elitism. Tribe members refuse to smoke anything that’s not from a boutique or a small batch. Whether it’s cigars, music, beer, cheese, or whatever, there will always be elitists and snobs. So don’t get your feelings hurt when you meet a member of the boutique tribe. It comes with the lifestyle.

When boutique members smoke, it’s according to their ritual. Anything less is undesirable. You’ll never catch them lighting a cigar with a lighter. They prefer long, wooden cigar matches. They must pair the cigar with a specific brand of bourbon or blended whiskey for the perfect flavor note combination.

These folks also tend to be avid collectors. They even keep the boxes the cigars come in. Custom boxes have very unique designs, after all. Small batch cigars are great now and then, but there are other cigars out there, too. Mass-produced cigars exist because there’s a demand for them and they’re worth their price.

The Anything and Everything Smokers

The most enjoyable person on this list is the anything and everything smoker. They have no preferences. They aren’t loyal to a specific type of smoke. They are not impressed by any brand, and they will smoke everything, including house (cigar shop) brands. This smoker likes to visit all the shops in the area and is well known by everyone. They know when to speak, how to listen, and tend to be very charismatic. A man’s man, or woman’s woman. These smokers are great people to have around in the cigar lifestyle. They also carry some of the coolest-looking cigar lighter torches.

Cubans Only Smokers

Cubans only smokers have a way with words that never leaves you doubting whom you’re smoking with. Best of all, they know their Cubans well. In fact, you’ll probably hear them say things like, “I got a hookup that provides Cubans. I only smoke Cubans”

That’s cool.

“Oh man, I can tell by the smell that your cigar has Cuban tobacco.”

Sure, buddy.

You’ll find this group on Facebook asking for Cubans. They want the world to know they smoke Cubans. Visit their home, and you’ll find a collection of Cohiba bands and no cigars. Cuban-only smokers are becoming a rare breed. That’s because the quality of Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras has increased over the years. Also, the US lifted the embargo on Cubans, making the Cuban cigar very unattainable, which also makes smoking Cubans less cool.

Bargain Hunter

The bargain hunter smokers search the web far and wide for the best deals on cigars. They spend countless hours and create spreadsheets comparing prices across the internet. Sometimes they’ll score a nice find, but usually, it’s the opposite. They act surprised when their new cigars arrive dry or there’s a handful missing from the box. It’s a lesson learned. When it comes to cigars, you get what you pay for.

You’ll also likely see the bargain hunter smoking free or discounted cigars. They almost always want to trade cigars hoping to bag a higher quality one. This is the type of smoker you’ll stop inviting over to your events, given that they tend to never bring their own cigars.

Vintage Smokers

Vintage smokers know what they want. That includes the classics such as Arturo Fuente, Padron, Cohiba, Romeo Y Julieta 1875, and Partagas. You’ll find vintage smokers in the shops looking for aged cigars that have been around for fifty, sixty, or even eighty years. Visit a cigar shop or cigar lounge and you’ll also find this smoker correcting your Spanish pronunciation of the vintage brands.

“Coo-bah-no” not “Cue-ban”

Vintage smokers are a tamer version of the boutique tribe. Unlike the tribe, vintage smokers tend to smoke a variety of cigars. They also aren’t snobs about vintage cigars. Yet, they’re also a bit like the bargain hunters. They never bring their own cigars when you invite them over. Instead, they prefer to leave them inside their Audew Electronic Cigar Cooler Humidor.

The Newbie Smokers

Our final type of cigar smoker is the newbie. You can spot them from a mile away because they’re novices when it comes to the cigar lifestyle. You’ll see them on their phones, posting selfies at the cigar lounge to their Instagram and Facebook accounts. If you’re lucky, you can catch them doing a silly dance for a TikTok video. You’ll probably know they’re at a cigar shop because they’ll check-in.

Newbies are great listeners when they’re not on their phones. They are eager to learn about the lifestyle and they need to learn the ropes. Start by telling them not to smoke rings every time, or to stop collecting those bands. Show them how to rotate a cigar every couple of minutes. Tell them if they smoke too fast, they’ll ruin the flavor.

Hopefully, after your good advice, they’ll graduate into the cigar lifestyle.

Whatever type of smoker you are, if you’re happy (and don’t make the rest of us unhappy), then we’re glad you’re smoking cigars and enjoying whatever it is that you enjoy.

Photo credit: Kelvin Robinson Sr. on Facebook, Leaf Life Lounge in Ellenwood GA

How to Select Your Cigar Humidors

Posted on June 6, 2021 by Staff

If you’ve been living the cigar lifestyle for any length of time then you already know how important cigar humidors are for your smokes. You’ll also know all about how to keep it clean and well taken care of. That’s kind of the Cigars 101 type of thing you usually get told by whoever brings you into the cigar world.

Unfortunately, you usually get told “get a humidor” and that’s about it. The rest you have to learn along the way. We all already know a bit about seasoning your humidor. You also know to keep the moisture and humidity right to prevent mold. However, what they don’t always tell you, is how to graduate from a tiny box of smokes to a full cigar humidor that holds all your smokes.

One Cigar Humidor is Never Enough

We’re gonna say this plain: Get a travel humidor. Sure, it’s possible to store a stick or two in the pocket of your jacket for a celebratory smoke after a round of golf. Yet, when you want to smoke while you’re away, not having a travel humidor means relying on whatever you can carry. You’ll hear many tips for traveling with cigars. While many will work in a pinch, the real solution is getting a travel humidor.

Travel cigar humidors aren’t novelty items anymore. You can get quality travel humidors now that will serve you when you’re away from your personal setup. Even if you’re not a jet-setting celebrity like Tom Cruise or Demi Moore, a travel humidor saves you a headache when visiting in-laws or going on vacation.

We’re not suggesting you keep your most prized possessions in a travel humidor. Yet, keeping a few of your regulars around for smoking while you’re away is enough. A cigar lover knows to take care of his smokes even when he’s not on his home field.

Keep Cigar Humidors Separated

We’re not talking about separating your cigars in your humidor. You already know how to do that. We’re talking about taking advice from NBA legend Michael Jordan. It’s rumored that Jordan said, “You should always have two cigar humidors, one with your good smokes for people who enjoy them, and another with some regular smokes for people who don’t know what they’re doing.” Ok, we may be paraphrasing a bit, but the idea is simple.

Keep your good stash in one humidor and have a second for your everyday smokes or the smokes you give to those whom you don’t want to waste your premiums on. There’s nothing worse than handing over one of your best cigars, and then watching the guy or gal choke and put it out less than halfway through.

We honestly suggest you keep a box of lower-quality smokes to pass out to anyone looking to test the waters. It’s fine to give them a good cigar, just not your prized possessions. Keep the really great stuff for your brothers and sisters of the leaf in a separate humidor.

Invest in Quality Cigar Humidors

Everyone living the cigar lifestyle knows that Spanish cedar is the way to go for your cigar humidor. It’s just a fact that the best wood for humidors is Spanish cedar because it resists moisture and mold buildup. It’s also great for letting things age.

However, we all know that one guy who just buys whatever box someone throws at him do he can “have a humidor.” He doesn’t take the time to inspect it for quality. Don’t get us wrong, there are some good products out there that are made from composite materials and most of them will serve you well. Yet, we can’t stress this enough, it’s best to go with an all Spanish cedar humidor if you can. The build quality and the potential of the humidor differ with composite boxes that only have a cedar veneer.

A Spanish cedar box will let you age your smokes for years without worrying about them breaking down in storage.

For those not up on their woods, Spanish cedar, or Cuban cedar as it’s commonly called, is not actually cedar at all. It’s also not from Spain. Instead, Spanish cedar is closer to Mahogany than anything else. Due to its scarcity, it’s often sourced from plantations in Africa that grow it specifically for this purpose.

Here’s another tip we feel we should stress, just in case. Check your seal. Even in a high-quality box, the joints and pivots can wear out and compromise your seal which will ruin the whole humidor. At that point, you’d have as much luck storing them in your pocket.

It’s easy to forget once you’ve had your cigar humidor for a while that regular maintenance and checking is key, but if you really care about your smokes, take the time to check on your box. If need be, replace it.

Go With More Than You Need

This should be a given, but we’ll go over it anyway just for clarity. Don’t cram your cigar humidor as full as possible. How many smokes it will hold likely depends on what you’re storing. Lanceros for example, take up less space than a bunch of beefy Gordos, so you can fit more in your humidor.

The problem is, we see all these ads with humidors filled to walls with cigars and not a space unused. This is terrible for your smoke. Humidity and air circulation are key to keeping your smokes in good shape.

A good rule of thumb is to leave 20% of the space in your humidor open to allow for circulation. Sure, this takes some of your storage space away, but if you value your cigars, then get another humidor.

Like Goes With Like

This last bit of information is something that should probably seem obvious but may not be as easy in practice.

If you’re a fan of several varieties of cigars, like movie heavyweights Arnold Schwarzenegger and Matthew McConaughey, you may want to store different varieties in separate cigar humidors. It’s a matter of personal preference, but it should be noted that cigars stored together in the same humidor with flavored cigars will alter their flavor profile.

If you’ve got some primo cigars that you love the taste of, you’ll want to place them in their own humidor to keep the flavor profile pure. Yes, aging does affect the flavor profile, but not in the same way that storing flavored and non-flavored cigars together will. It’s also useful to keep them in the cellophane to help protect the flavor a bit more, though it’s not mandatory.

Some enthusiasts will go the extra mile and store the same brand together in their own cigar humidor, but storing unflavored cigars together is perfectly fine.

How Much You Care Matters

What you spend on your cigar humidor and how you store your smokes are relative to how you like to enjoy your smokes. We won’t go as far as to say that you must have a solid cedar humidor. We also won’t tell you that storing all your smokes separately is the way to go. These are just suggestions for getting the most out of your passion.

In the end, invest in what you care about most. If you prefer to always have a good smoke with you, then get a quality travel humidor so you never need to go without. If keeping the flavor profile pure is important, buy separate humidors for your favorite smokes.

Finally, we will say this: Quality matters, no matter what you’re going for.

Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Humidor.jpg

Basketball Great Julius Erving Enjoys Cigars

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Staff

Few can claim not to know the name Julius Erving, who also goes by “Dr. J.” He is one of the greatest ever to hit the hardwood on the basketball court. However, you may not know that Erving is a big fan of cigars and smoking around good company.

Erving loves a good conversation with friends while enjoying a smoke, especially if he’s talking about the NBA today. So, you’ll often find him around one of Atlanta’s many cigar lounges.

He’s in good company with NBA stars like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and LeBron James. All of these guys seem to know a thing or two about cigars and winning.

Julius Erving’s Early Days

Erving received his nickname from a high school friend. He grew up in Roosevelt, New York, where he attended Roosevelt High School. He would get his start playing on the high school basketball team here.

Erving went on to play college basketball at the University of Massachusetts, where he quickly became a standout athlete. He enrolled in 1968 and played two seasons with the school. Yet, during those two seasons, he averaged 26.3 points per game and 20.2 rebounds per game. It was a record that only five other players in NCAA basketball history have managed.

In 1971, Erving left college early to play for the former American Basketball Association. At the time, teams weren’t allowed to draft athletes until they were four years removed from college basketball. Thanks to a hardship rule, Erving gained eligibility.

Erving first played for the Virginia Squires team. During that time, he gained a reputation as a ferocious player for his dunking and rebounding skills. Yet, Erving led the league in offensive rebounds. He also made the All-Star team during his rookie year and placed second for rookie of the year. He later led his team to the Eastern Division Finals before losing seven games.

Erving later played one more season for the Squires. Then, thanks to a contract dispute that kept him from being drafted, he scored a career-high 31.9 points per game.

The ABA/NBA Merger

Erving later played for one more team in the ABA – the New York Nets. His performance was impressive. He ranked in the top ten of the ABA in multiple categories and led the team to the final ABA championship.

Erving’s performance was legendary. It painted the Nets as one of the standout teams in the ABA. It also was one of the reasons the Nets came in during the ABA/NBA merger in 1976.

Julius Erving 76ers Trade

Julius Erving is widely known for his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. Yet, one of the reasons for his popularity isn’t because of his phenomenal skills. After the merger, the Nets were set to dominate the new NBA with Erving as their star player. Unfortunately, a pay dispute, followed by legal disputes with the New York Knicks and several lousy trade deals, landed Erving on the 76ers; these resulted in the Nets ranking last in the entire NBA.

Erving quickly grew as an integral part of his new team. While playing alongside current and future basketball greats, he gained star status. He later played for the 76ers, where he accomplished many feats. That included his famous Baseline Move. It was a behind-the-backboard, finger-roll layup. His impressive moves, combined with leading the league with game points, two ABA championships, and an NBA championship, are why many consider him one of the best.

Julius Erving Post-Career Cigar Lifestyle

After retiring in 1986, Erving became something of a businessman. He held many interests, including joining the board of directors of Converse Shoes. He also sponsored a NASCAR team and joined a golf club, among other ventures.

When he’s not busy with business or analyzing sports, Julius Erving enjoys smoking cigars with other cigar enthusiasts. His preferences vary, but he is known to smoke some of the finest cigars. Erving is a fan of a particular shop near his home in suburban Atlanta. Rumor holds that he even has a cigar locker at a high-end shop.

Erving’s business ventures keep him traveling all over the place. Yet, he still finds time to relax and smoke cigars wherever he’s at. When smoking, he prefers to pair a good stick with a nice drink while talking with fellow smokers. Conversations usually revolve around basketball’s current state and its key players.

Erving exemplifies the cigar lifestyle, good smokes, and company in a relaxing atmosphere. Not one to smoke for the sake of it, Erving also likes to take things slow and enjoy the flavor. We can’t say the right way to enjoy a cigar, but we recommend this prescription from Dr. J.

Photo credit: “Julius Erving in 1981 performing a slam dunk against the Atlanta Hawks at en: Omni Coliseum.,” by Jim Accordino, Wikimedia Commons license CC BY 2.0.

The Fear of Missing Out Hits Cigar Events

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Staff

For many of us in the cigar community, we’re getting back to large-scale cigar events after a horrible break called COVID, which is fantastic. Not only are we getting back to events, but it isn’t just you, there are more of them than ever. Of course, social media makes everything look better than it really is. Put it all together, you’ve got a lot of fifty-year-old cigar smokers suffering from FOMO the same way their kids or grandkids do over whatever kids do these days.

What is FOMO?

FOMO is an acronym for “fear of missing out.” Verywellmind.com defines the fear of missing out as, “the feeling or perception that others are having more fun, living better lives, or experiencing better things than you are. It involves a deep sense of envy and affects self-esteem. It is also often exacerbated by social media like Instagram and Facebook.” This is a real thing. The best way to describe it for many folks is remembering when you were in high school or college and you literally thought you needed to go out every weekend night or couldn’t miss a party? That was FOMO.

There Are More Large Cigar Events Than Ever

It used to be there were only a handful of the large events or herfs. You may be familiar with established names like Cigar Heritage Festival, Big Smoke, the Drew Estate Barnsmokers, Black Smoke Miami, and Atlanta Cigar Week just to name a few. This year there are new or relaunched large events in Charleston, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Philadelphia, Orlando, Chicago, and Washington D.C. and this isn’t a complete list. Almost every major metro area now has its version of “Cigar Week.” Cigar Mike and I joke about “McDonough Cigar Week” being a reality sometime soon. (McDonough is a nice small city 20 miles south of Atlanta that really doesn’t need a cigar week)

Frankly, the advent of more, large cigar events is great. Some are more successful, better run, or more popular than others. That’s the natural course of things. Yet, on the whole, having more events that are more accessible to even more cigar smokers is a net positive.

Now You Can’t Be Everywhere

There are so many events now, that even the most engaged cigar smoker can’t be everywhere. In fact, often events are held simultaneously. Most of us, whether we’re consumers or event sponsors, have practical constraints like time and money. We have to start prioritizing events. Ask yourself questions. Which cigar events are most important to us? Location and practicality play a vital role, too. So, which ones are the most practical to attend? After all, if you’re not up for a road trip, then finding something close to home is a win.

Finally, you’ll also want to consider how the event is run. Not all events are run, set up, or deliver what every cigar enthusiast wants or needs. Find common ground that aligns with your desires or goals – what you hope to gain from the event. Which events are the most likely to be well run and deliver on what you want? Sometimes that means you need to get good at saying, “No,” even to cigar events. Declining an event doesn’t mean you don’t support the event. Instead, wish your BOTL/SOTL a successful event. It also doesn’t that you’ll never attend that particular event. It just means that this year, it doesn’t work for you. Be okay with that conversation.

Social Media drives FOMO related to Cigar Events

Let’s face it: social media isn’t reality. Everything looks great on social media. I’ve been to many mediocre events that look incredible online, but the reality turns out much different. No, I’m not going to mention names. We all have a good time at cigar events. If we didn’t we wouldn’t keep coming back. When you check your Facebook or IG at 11 pm on a Saturday, remember what you see at your local Cigar Week event isn’t always 100% reality. Your friends who are posting from there will still be your friends next week when they return. If they’re really good friends, they might even bring a cigar for you! But they’ll still be your friends and you’ll still be able to join them at the next cigar event.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy