Staff, Author at Cigar Life Guy

Rise of the Best Mexican Cigars

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Staff

When pressed to name where the best cigars come from, the almost unanimous response is Cuba. Nicaragua is usually a fairly close second, followed by the Dominican Republic. Mexico typically doesn’t immediately jump to mind. That has been changing over the last several years. The cigar industry in Mexico is recognizing a true renaissance. Much of this is due to enhanced measures focused on quality control. Well-established producers recognize the fine quality that Mexican-grown tobacco can provide. If you enjoy Maduro cigars, chances are you have smoked some of the best Mexican cigars made with the jet black San Andres Negro wrapper from Mexico.

A Rich History of the Best Mexican Cigars

The San Andres valley is the most notable area for quality Mexican cigar production. This area has a rich history of growing tobacco dating back to the ancient Mayans.

In 1880, the Turrent family arrived in the San Andreas Valley. Here, the soil is rich in volcanic ash and offers one of the best places for growing tobacco in Mexico and along the Gulf Coast. It was here the Mexican tobacco Industry was born. Te-Amo cigars were established 80 years later. They became the leading brand of some of the best Mexican cigars. The casual cigar enthusiast has loved Te-Amo cigars for years. They treasure these cigars for their smooth blend and wallet-friendly price.

Beyond the Working Man’s Cigar

Te-Amo cigars enjoyed a reputation as a working man’s cigar. This is because they are affordable and have a growing ubiquity at deli counters, especially in New York City. Yet, the Turrent family still makes them. The Turrent family maintains a careful eye on the quality of the tobacco that goes into the cigars.

Many fine producers such as Partagas and Romeo Y Julieta recognize the quality and potential of Mexican tobacco. They use Mexican wrappers and filler in some of their cigars. Mexican cigar makers want to be more than an everyman cigar. Their focus is on premium trophy cigars. They often blend their Mexican tobacco with Nicaraguan, Cuban, or Dominican seed.

The Best Mexican Cigars

The Turrent family has been making cigars for five generations in Mexico under the Te-Amo brand. So, they launched their own family label of premium cigars and named it Casa Turrent. The line that bears the family name aims to produce a premium brand Mexican cigar with attention to detail and the rich history of Mexican tobacco.

Of the roughly 400,000 kilos of tobacco produced in Mexico, 60% finds its way into well-known brands. A strong selection process allows the finest leaves to find their way into Casa Turrent. The Casa Turrent line has been received favorably by reviewers and aficionados since its release. That’s particularly true of its box-pressed line, which is compared favorably to Padron.

Smoke Local Cigars on Vacation!

Numerous stories circulate about tourists getting ripped off in places like Cabo San Lucas and Cancun with counterfeit Cuban cigars. Why not smoke locally? If there’s one thing any aficionado can’t argue with, it’s the quality and freshness of Turrent cigars. Turrent Cigars wants you to lavish every moment of your premium smoke. So, they also offer many high-end lounges — Casas, to suit your pleasure. Here, you can kick back and relax. Bask in the comfort of a premium local cigar and some equally indulgent house-made tequila to pair with them. Can’t make it to Mexico? Soak up the rich local tradition at home and enjoy one of the best Mexican cigars available!

photo credit: commons

Jennifer Lopez Loves Cigars, Too!

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Staff

Jennifer Lopez is no stranger to a good smoke. And when it comes to smoking sticks, Jennifer Lopez loves cigars. In fact, she’s been smoking cigars since she first appeared on our television screens in the early 90s. Then, she was a Fly Girl on “In Living Color.” However, try telling her that cigars are a guy thing. You’re liable to get a dropkick response from her if you do. One this is certain, though, her love of cigars has not slowed her down.

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez are Smoking!

It doesn’t hurt when you’re a cigar lover whose fiance happens to be power-hitter Alex Rodriguez, either. Alex is a well-known cigar aficionado. He told the story about enjoying his favorite cigar at 5 a.m. with several other New York Yankees. It happened outside of a pizza shop the morning after they won the World Series.

Jennifer Lopez and Rodriguez are a power couple photographed frequently smoking their favorite brands. Jennifer Lopez tends to favor Padron. Meanwhile, Alex quickly points out his love of Hoyo De Monterrey, the first cigar he ever smoked. It was introduced to him by none other than Michael Jordan during a round of golf.

Jennifer Lopez: Cigars and a Healthy Lifestyle

The eternally young Jennifer Lopez remains one of the hardest-working stars in Hollywood. Besides movies and being a judge on a television dance show, she maintains a grueling live concert show in Vegas that is heavy on dancing.

Lopez credits her biggest beauty secret to staying young with getting sleep. “It’s the one thing I won’t allow to be interrupted.” In her most recent film, “Hustlers,” she was forced to endure long hours on the set smoking cigarettes (as part of her character, Ramona). It was a habit that started and ended with the movie. However, she likes her cigars and refuses to let the cigarettes become a terrible habit!

Jennifer Lopez’s Island Connection

In the video to the song “Dinero,” Jennifer Lopez and Cardi B can be seen living the high life while liberally enjoying trophy cigars. Although both Bronx, New York natives, Lopez and Cardi B, share traditional island routes from their families. Jennifer Lopez’s parents are from Puerto Rico, while Cardi B’s family is from Trinidad and the Dominican Republic.

Both singers clarified that the cigars were not simply part of the video as props. “Cigars are a part of the Latino blood. It’s what families do together after big meals.” The two divas shared plenty of cigars on and off the set!

Still Jenny From the Block

Jennifer Lopez spends ample time traveling. She has homes in Miami. Lopez performs at Vegas stage shows. But she also enjoys spending time with friends back in the Bronx when she has a little extra time. Wherever her travels take her, Lopez never leaves home with a humidor packed with her favorite Padrons. And she always shares a few with her friends along the way. After all, sharing a cigar with friends is one of the best things about spending uninterrupted time together.

Despite her crazy schedule, Lopez enjoys the relaxing benefits of a good cigar. It allows you to stop for a few brief moments and take in life’s simple pleasures before returning to the day’s hustle. Any cigar lover can agree with that.

Photo credit: “Jennifer Lopez During an Interview, 2019,” by MTV International, Wikimedia Commons license CC BY 3.0

Tobacco Business Interviews Dave Arlinghaus

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Staff

There are few things more thrilling than seeing your name in print. Well, except kicking back with your favorite smoke. Yet, here we are delivering some exciting news. Tobacco Business magazine featured a 4-page interview with Cigar Life Guy, Dave Arlinghaus. Actually, it’s a fantastic 4-page interview from the May/June issue that we highly recommend you check out. The interview is a tell-all of the Cigar Life Guy story and how the business works. It also highlights how we delight cigar smokers with huge savings on life insurance.

There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that when it comes to smoking cigars and buying life insurance, your life insurance rates often cost more for smokers — even if it’s an occasional Montecristo. However, this feature in Tobacco Business magazine gives a shout-out to cigar smokers across the nation that there is a better way to buy life insurance, and Cigar Life Guy, Dave Arlinghaus can show you how, but the interview didn’t stop there. It covers some of the intricacies of the business of life insurance for cigar smokers and why we do what we do.

Life insurance is one of those things that’s important to have, but no one should be penalized for puffing on the occasional Gordo or wrapping your lips around a Macanudo or Arturo Fuente. So, today we celebrate Cigar Life Guy’s interview in Tobacco Business. We encourage you to check out the full interview linked below.

PDF version

Link to article (begins on page 28).

Cars and Cigars: Smoking on the Open Road

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Staff

Have you ever considered how much time you spend in your car? Whether you’re commuting for work or driving for pleasure, a car can quickly feel like a second home at times. So if you’re content to puff away on your panatella at home, why not cherish a Churchill on the road? Pairing cars and cigars might mean that smoke lingers, leaving some odor, but it’s not as bad as cigarettes. White vinegar and baking soda are both known to reduce any lingering effects. That’s especially true when you combine them with store-bought, odor-eliminating sprays.

Cruising the Pacific Coast Highway With A Cigar

How many of us have dreamed of cruising the California coastline? So take a drive stretching from San Diego to San Francisco along the California coastline, or even go to Seattle? It’s an epic trip well-suited for mindfulness and contemplation. So what better companion could you ask for than a favorite cigar to smoke along the way?

Plan a stop in Point Reyes. Then, take a break to indulge in the famed blue cheese or oysters from the Hog Island Oyster Company. After a great meal, find a quiet spot to sit by the sea. Let the salty air blow away the smoke rings from your favorite trophy cigar. Many wonderfully scenic opportunities range from the majestic Redwood forest to the breathtaking shoreline. You may need to pack several cigars to experience it all!

Look Forward to Rush Hour

Unfortunately, for many of us, the closest we will ever come to an epic cars and cigars road trip is the one we make every day coming home from work. If you live near any metropolitan area, you know that ride could take an hour or more at quitting time.

Instead of dreading the ride, why not look forward to it? Throwdown your windows, throw on your favorite music, and light up your favorite stogie. Since you know how long the commute is, plan an appropriate cigar. Hopefully, that trip is only a Petit Corona; if it’s worthy of a Gordo, you have our sympathies! Use that time to eliminate stress and turn it into an enjoyable event.

Classic Cars and Cigars

Across the country, there are countless classic cars and cigars events where people can showcase two of their favorite passions. America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, is a big-time annual event featuring sponsorship from Montecristo cigars and Balvenie scotch.

It celebrates the good life and offers a rare peek at some of the greatest cars in automotive history. The evening fills with music, dancing, food, and the love of great cigars. Cars and cigars are inextricably linked and always celebrated.

Cars and Cigars Are The Perfect Travel Companions

Some of the most extreme enthusiasts of cars and cigars have built-in humidors in their consoles, so they are never separated from their favorite smoke. Whether enjoying a cigar while behind the wheel or pulling over to a particularly scenic location to sit back and savor an impromptu smoke, remember, it’s about the journey, not the destination!

Don’t worry too much about any lingering odor. Smells will fade, but the memory of the ride doesn’t have to. If you are that worried, keep those windows rolled down. Better yet? Get a convertible!

Photo Credit: “A Man in a Car Smoking a Cigar,” by RODNAE Productions, Pexels

Chefs and Cigars: A Recipe for a Great Smoke

Posted on May 10, 2020 by Staff

If you thought the world’s top-rated chefs and cigars were a poor mix because of their refined palates, you would be wrong! Some of the top chefs from famed Michelin-starred restaurants are as passionate about cigars as they are the food they cook. Chef Eric Ripert tastes up to twenty sauces a day and still counts on a great cigar almost every day. Some chefs look forward to cigars for a quiet moment after a busy dinner shift in the company of fellow kitchen staff. Others savor them as part of a big meal finale with friends and family. One thing is certain, chefs and cigars definitely have their place in the kitchen!

Cohibas in the Kitchen

Chefs Eric Ripert and Jose Andres have built significant restaurant empires with multiple outposts located in favorite cigar hot spots like Las Vegas, Miami, and New York. The chefs have vastly different cooking styles. Ripert is a brilliant technician with fish. Andres is a leader of the tapas or small plate movement that set the standard in the country. What they have in common, though, is a love of brilliantly crafted cigars.

The smokes Ripert and Andres enjoy, reflect their personalities and their cooking styles. Ripert’s go-to cigar is a Cohiba Esplendido, which has a smaller ring gauge and tends toward a milder flavor. Andres favors the Cohiba Behike, a brasher, bigger ring gauge cigar that packs plenty of punch.

Chefs and Cigars Help Create a Great Anniversary Davidoff

Chef Thomas Keller of The French Laundry is such a cigar enthusiast, that he and four fellow chef friends were asked to create a fiftieth-anniversary cigar for Davidoff. The tobaccos selected became the Davidoff Chef’s Edition and reflect the food and spices that embody the chef’s preferred food pairings.

Rich flavors infuse the final tobacco blend. These include the essences of licorice, oak wood, Szechuan pepper, coffee, cumin, and chocolate. According to the chefs, the most compelling part of the creative process was the fermentation of the tobaccos. Creating the different flavor profiles was like choosing the flavor profiles and components that go into a fine meal. The top chefs and cigars they created were a recipe for a great smoke.

Emeril Loves Hand Rolled Cigars

Famed chef, Emeril Lagasse has been smoking cigars most of his life. What intrigues him most is the craftsmanship behind a well-made cigar. Hand rolling is artistry, and part of the entire cigar smoking experience. Like food, it’s important to know where your cigar comes from.

The journey from tobacco seed to cigar is no different than the journey of the food he cooks. It’s something he taught his own kids, “Orange juice doesn’t come from a carton; it’s the same thing with cigars. People don’t understand all that goes into growing it, aging it, enjoying it.”

Chefs and Cigars Create the Perfect Dessert Alternative

All the chefs had one thing in common; they would skip dessert in favor of a cigar. Timing is everything and after a big meal, a cigar is a perfect complement. Especially when paired with the right cocktail. Aged tequilas and scotches more than compensate for dessert.

Thomas Keller stocks a custom-made humidor at the French Laundry. Keller offers rarities like cigars to guests instead of dessert. No matter what the meal is, don’t forget to add a cigar to the menu and create your own recipe for a good smoke!

Photo credit: Davidoff

Steve Harvey: Cigar Lifestyle in Show Business

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Staff

If you flip through the channels fast enough, at some point you are going to find a show featuring Steve Harvey’s smiling face. You can catch him in any number of movies or sitcom reruns. You will also likely find him hosting one of several shows such as his Emmy-winning daytime talk show, “The Family Feud,” “Little Big Shots,” or any number of beauty pageants. Cigar lover Steve Harvey is the hardest working man in showbiz today and, yes, he enthusiastically indulges in the cigar lifestyle.

Time Is Money

Time is money. Everyone knows that or should know that, and discovering the path leading to the greatest reward quickly is essential for success. In fact, during the early 1900s, there was a famous bank robber named Willie Sutton. Sutton was unique compared to others in that his victims considered him as the most polite bank robber there was. At one point, Sutton was asked why he chose to rob banks. His response was simple: “Because that’s where the money is.”

This level of simplicity and rationalization doesn’t stop with Sutton, though. If you ask Harvey why he smokes cigars, and he’ll give you an equally pithy answer, “Because that’s all I’ve got!” Expanding on that, he says, “I need these little moments for me.”

From the time Harvey wakes up until the time he goes to bed, he takes multi-tasking to the next level. If it’s not the television shows, comedy specials, or one of the new books he is writing, he could easily be talking with one of the Presidents. He has consulted with both Presidents — Trump and Obama.

Steve Harvey on Staying Humble

Steve Harvey was far from an overnight success. He grew up in West Virginia as the son of a coal miner. Harvey held several jobs before catching his first break. Even then, he continued living out of his car until the age of thirty. Additionally, he was no stranger to bathing at the public pools. Harvey has never forgotten his roots or the lessons his mother taught him about staying humble and paying it forward.

As someone who grew up less fortunate, Harvey focuses on those less fortunate than him today. He received an NAACP Image Award for his philanthropic endeavors, but it’s not about giving money. His advice books on marriage and rising to your full potential have helped countless readers.

Steve Harvey and Living Large

Just because the man hasn’t forgotten his roots, doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy the finer things in life. On television, Harvey is known for his dazzling clothing style (he believes he owns well over 300 suits). One of his biggest extravagances is cigars.

With homes and offices in Atlanta and Chicago, he makes sure he is always fully stocked at all times. In both offices, he has five different humidors covering an array of cigars. One is dedicated to Cubans, another to Davidoff, and one to the funky Acid Collection which he keeps separate from everything else. He is most proud of the humidor in his Atlanta man cave. It’s the size of a small retail store!

Steve Harvey: That’s a Fine Wrap

Steve was late to the cigar lifestyle. He began in earnest with the birth of his son while in his early forties. Since then, cigars are part of his day, even if that day is scheduled down to the minute.

His smoking habits reflect that and he enjoys what he calls twenty-minute smokes. These quick smokes are typically mild to medium-flavored short cigars with a substantial ring gauge. When he feels particularly luxurious and has the time to spare, he’ll enjoy one of his favorites like a Fuente Opus X or Cohiba Siglo VI. Harvey jokes that he’s not a cigar snob; he wants his cigar to look and feel like a cigar — anything but a cigarette!

Photo credit: <a title=”Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons” href=”https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SteveHarveyHWOFMay2013.jpg”><img width=”512″ alt=”SteveHarveyHWOFMay2013″ src=”https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/SteveHarveyHWOFMay2013.jpg/512px-SteveHarveyHWOFMay2013.jpg”></a>

Cigars and Baseball: A Beautiful Combination

Posted on April 26, 2020 by Staff

Baseball has always been America’s favorite pastime. The leisurely, thoughtful pace of the game made cigars the perfect companion to the sport. Going back to the late 1800s when baseball first began, players often smoked cigars while they were in the middle of a game. Almost one hundred and fifty years later, cigars and baseball are still enjoyed by players and fans alike. There’s even a team called the Atlanta Cigars, an amateur men’s baseball team that features former and future major league baseball players.

Cigars and Baseball Cards

Antique baseball cards were always sponsored by major tobacco producers. The famed “T-206” set from 1909 featured a Honus Wagner card that has sold for millions of dollars at auction. Cigar boxes frequently featured prominent players.

White Owl Invincible Cigars which were created around the same time as baseball, was roundly endorsed by none other than Babe Ruth. Every time you bought a pack of Worch Cigars, you could send in a coupon for a card from the set they created. So, you might say that cigars and baseball have been a perfect pair since the dawn of the game.

Sultans of Swat

Babe Ruth was one of the most famous players ever to smoke cigars. Yet, he also knew how to roll them and often stepped up to the plate with one. In a way, cigars and baseball were and still are much like Spinach to Popeye.

Some of the most notable home run hitters were big-time cigar fans. Roger Maris once held the single-season home run record. Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, and David “Big Papi“ Ortiz all hit the long ball and also loved cigars. Sheffield and Ortiz even have their own lines. Sammy Sosa loved Fuente Opus X so much, that Carlos Fuente Jr. made baseball bat-sized cigars for him.

World Champions

It’s not just the power hitters who are big fans of cigars. Jack McKeon, who won the World Series in 2003 managing the Marlins, has been smoking cigars since 1949. The story is that he’s such a big fan that if you were looking for him in the clubhouse, you only had to follow the cigar smoke!

Legendary manager Joe Torre knows a thing or two about winning and victory cigars! He has smoked plenty of victory cigars after the game but has said his real joy is smoking one before the game to relax and focus. When the San Francisco Giants went on their World Series-winning run in 2010, 2012, and 2014, the players were all rewarded with cigars during the celebration.

The celebrations following the Red Sox 2018 win were legendary. Let’s just say there an excess of cigars and champagne played a major role that day. It’s very possible that a few Big Papi Cigars were enjoyed that night.

Enjoy Cigars and Baseball on Opening Day

The average time of a baseball game has stretched to more than three hours. While you can’t enjoy cigars and baseball at the stadium, you can light up a good smoke and watch the game at home or your favorite cigar lounge. Three hours is enough time for two cigars and a few cocktails to pair with them.

Extra innings? Sounds like a bonus smoke to us! You have to choose your lineup carefully. We like to start the game with a nice mellow smoke to get through the first several innings. Then, follow that by a real, full-throttled closer to properly end the game. However you pick your lineup, you can’t go wrong when you’re enjoying two of America’s favorite past times.

Photo Credit: Thompson Cigar

Cigar Life Guy™ Launches Online Apparel Store

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Staff

For Immediate Release

ATLANTA – Cigar Life Guy™, a leading cigar lifestyle brand, recently launched a branded online apparel store. Founder, Dave Arlinghaus received requests for branded merchandise from fans. “I’ve received numerous inquiries from the cigar community,” said Arlinghaus. Fans were “asking where they could purchase Cigar Life Guy gear.” With that, the online apparel store was born.

Cigar Life Guy Meets Queensboro Shirt Company

Cigar Life Guy is partnering with the Queensboro Shirt Company. The Queensboro Shirt Company to manufacture, embroider and fulfill all apparel orders. Products will include designer labels as well as budget-wise items. Arlinghaus aims to ensure that fans have a variety of items to choose from. So, fans can buy the branded merchandise they crave.

T-shirts
Hats
Polo shirts
Outerwear and more

Queensboro Shirt founder, Fred Meyers said, “As someone who also enjoys an occasional cigar, I can appreciate what Dave is trying to do with his store.” “We are delighted that he has chosen us as a partner for this project. We love the logo and nothing would make us happier than to see Dave sell a ton of it,” said Meyers. “When you are a long way from home, there is nothing like a good cigar to put everything in proper perspective for you. It is the least our service folks deserve.”

About Queensboro Shirt Company

Fred Meyers founded the Queensboro Shirt Company in his New York City dorm room during the late 1970s. Since then, the shirt company has evolved. It began by running small ads in the back of the New Yorker magazine and the Wall Street Journal. Now, it is a leading, online merchant of custom logo apparel and promotional products. The company operates out of a 100,000 square foot facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. Yet, it has distribution centers in Dallas, Texas, and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Operation: Cigars for Warriors

Cigar Life Guy wanted to support a charity it believed in when launching its online apparel store. So, it could think of none more fitting than Operation: Cigars for Warriors. If you’re not familiar with them, here’s the dish.

One goal drives Operation: Cigars for Warriors — to do our part to make our troops’ lives a little better. The organization, Cigars for Warriors distributes requested comfort items to troops deployed in combat zones. The organization celebrated shipping its one-millionth cigar (the #1 requested item) in 2019. Operation: Cigars for Warriors has been a 501(c)3 organization since 2012. It has a platinum certification from GuideStar, information for financial transparency.

Apparel for a Mission

“The selection of Queensboro as a fulfillment partner addresses my key criteria,” said Arlinghaus. “They produce outstanding quality products. I love wearing the apparel as well.” The Queensboro Shirt Company is also known for its award-winning customer service. Arlinghaus agreed and stated that pricing was another reason that strengthened the partnership. “Queensboro’s customer service is extremely strong,” said Arlinghaus. “Also, the customer pricing will also represent a good value for money spent. Finally, the icing on the cake is the ability to earmark all profits I would have received to an outstanding cigar charity, Cigars for Warriors.”

Operation: Cigars for Warriors founder, Storm Boen responded about the charitable impact. “Cigars are the single most requested item by deployed troops, both men and women. A cigar provides a moment of relaxation in the middle of a stressful situation. We are excited Cigar Life Guy has chosen to support our mission.”

Dave Arlinghaus is a staunch supporter of America’s military. Cigar Life Guy plans to donate 100% of net profits from store purchases to Operation: Cigars for Warriors. It’s a cause that perfectly aligns with Cigar Life Guy while supporting our troops. The organization provides comfort items like cigars and cigar accessories to deployed U.S. troops

If you’re looking for some great gear, be sure to visit our apparel store today.

About Cigar Life Guy

Cigar Life Guy™ is the cigar lifestyle brand owned and operated by cigar aficionado, Dave Arlinghaus. Its media properties provide entertainment and education. It’s focused on social cigar smoking and the great conversations that occur over a social cigar. Cigar Life Guy™ also builds awareness for the huge savings opportunity regular cigar smokers have when purchasing life insurance. Through its life insurance brokerage, Cigar Life Guy™ helps cigar smokers realize those savings. That includes non-tobacco rates for cigar smokers, which often equal up to a 70% savings. Dave Arlinghaus has been an independent life insurance broker since 2010.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

For media inquiries, or to request an interview, please contact:

Dave Arlinghaus

dave@cigarlifeguy.com

404.521.8134

Salud! Cuban Cocktails, Rum and Cigars

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Staff

What better thoughts conjure up images of life in Old Havana than spending a leisurely afternoon in an outdoor café with good friends and rum and cigars while enjoying one of the signature cocktails for which Cuba is famous? Fresh tropical fruit, local ingredients, and plenty of ice create refreshing drinks to counter the sweltering heat. The critical local element is Cuban rum. Few combinations are better than the marriage of rum and cigars, and neither has to be Cuban for you to enjoy them!

The Most Famous Pairing: the Mojito

The mojito is the drink most synonymous with Cuba. A mojito is to Cuba, as a Pina Colada is to Puerto Rico or a Manhattan is to… Manhattan! It combines rum, soda water, fresh lime juice, sugar, and fresh, crushed mint.

Over time, many variations have risen. Substitutions include tequila or vodka. At its heart, an authentic Cuban mojito is always rum-based. While enjoying a mojito, we recommend a cigar that isn’t shy with its flavor. Something that can stand up to the drink’s tartness, sweetness, and a brisk hint of mint. A nice, fat Nicaraguan Gordo with a Maduro wrapper that packs a punch is our choice to go the distance with the bounty of flavors in the cocktail.

Go Bananas with the Daiquiri

You don’t need to make all daiquiris with bananas or strawberries; consider other fruits (beyond maraschino cherries). Many legends suggest its creation lies in the village of Daiquiri by a mining engineer. It gained fame in the 1930s in a frozen version served at the bar Floridita, one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite watering holes.

The basic version is white rum, sugar, lemon juice, and maraschino cherries. Ernest Hemingway preferred the Papa Doble, a double shot of rum, and easy on the sugar. To honor the man and the myth, we recommend any Cuban cigar you are lucky enough to get your hands on. In reality, Ernest Hemingway smoked cigarettes while a wartime correspondent; he never really enjoyed cigars. It was always his ties to Cuba that enhanced that myth.

Simple Rum and Cigars: Cuba Libre

Sometimes the essential recipes are the most timeless. For example, the Cuba Libre sprung to life in the early 1900s when Coca-Cola began exporting its colas to Cuba. Cuba Libre, which translates to “Free Cuba,” referenced Cuba’s newly won freedom from Spain. It comprises cola, rum, and a splash of lime and is usually served in a tall glass with plenty of ice.

Given the simple, everyday aspect of the ingredients, we recommend pairing it with your favorite typical smoker. A nice Connecticut shade wrapper, preferably a Lonsdale, will last as long as the drink, so you may maximize your enjoyment time.

Rum and Cigars: The Long Game

Remember, to make these drinks as authentic as possible, you must keep your ingredients fresh. Always make sure you have an ample supply of ice as well! By all means, take some liberties with the recipes to make your own little slice of Havana. There are no wrong combinations, especially for your choice of rum and cigars to complement the cocktails! Cheers!

Photo credit: Pixabay | Anestiev

Poker and Cigars: A Winning Combination

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Staff

It’s tough to beat certain combinations. Clambakes and the beach. Fishing and beer. One of our favorite combinations is cigars and poker. Cigars have been synonymous with poker for as long as we can remember. Even in the famous “Dogs Playing Poker” painting, the bulldog is always chomping on a stogie; it may be a veiled homage to Winston Churchill. One thing we know for sure, there is nothing greater than the combination of two of our favorite past times.

Poker and Cigars are Good for Business

The World Series of Poker is the biggest poker tournament in the world and comes with a hefty price tag of $10,000 to enter. Tournament week is one of the busiest weeks in Vegas. Only the Superbowl and March Madness are busier in terms of capacity and money moves. That money tends to find its way into cigars. Vegas retailers point out a significant surge in cigar sales during the biggest poker tournaments. Some companies like Escobar Cigars have gone as far as sponsoring poker tours — even the players themselves!

We Know Poker and Cigars Work, But Why?

We spoke to several avid poker players and asked why they had an affinity for cigars while playing poker. For some, it’s the epitome of relaxation, doing two favorite things at once. A well-rolled Nicaraguan allows them to focus on something besides the game and settle the jitters that come with high-level performance.

Others believe it adds a layer of intimidation, like a victorious general emerging from battle. But, on the other hand, they all agree they love the camaraderie and simple bonding that comes with sharing a cigar with their fellow players. One player confessed that cigars helped hide his “tells”— those little secret signals, and sometimes not-so-secret signals, that a player unconsciously does that give away his hand.

Gotta Know When to Hold Them

A well-kept humidor is something that most casinos always have. Nothing is better than celebrating a big tournament win or a great night of cards with a cigar.

Casinos know that the better the player does, the more likely they are to splurge on a premium or rare cigar. They remain one of the few places where you can still smoke cigars relatively freely; being well-stocked with an excellent selection is in their best interest. Before big games, players often target sure trophy cigars in the humidor that they would never buy regularly but would become a coveted prize after realizing a significant win.

The Long Game

One common theme among most poker players who enjoy cigars is timing. Simply put, you have a few hours to kill when you play in a tournament or a friendly house game with your buddies. So why not combine multiple pleasures? You don’t have to force yourself to have your cake or eat it; you can do both!

One thing is sure; whether you bluff your way to a big win in Vegas and take a victory lap on the strip with a cloud of smoke behind you or you find yourself in Atlantic City on the wrong end of a straight flush and have strolled the boardwalk alone with your Robusto, cigars, and poker will be inextricably linked!

Photo credit: Pixabay | HOerwin56