Staff, Author at Cigar Life Guy

Cigar Smokers in an Anti-Tobacco World

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Staff

Each year, anti-smoking laws get stricter. That makes it harder for cigar smokers and tobacco users to find places to indulge. Smoking laws usually target cigarette, e-cigarette, or vape users. Yet, when it comes to those who smoke cigars, the laws, rules, and regulations get a little more complicated.

Government Lumps All Nicotine Use Together

Beverly Hills is an interesting case study in the ongoing debate. Presently, it’s illegal to smoke almost everywhere within the city limits. That includes apartments and condos. In 2019, Beverly Hills City Council proposed a new tobacco law. It would be one of the most stringent anti-tobacco laws in the country if passed. The law would end the sale of all forms of nicotine including cigarettes, cigarillos, chewing tobacco and etc. The exceptions are nicotine products. So, we’re talking about patches and gums that help smokers kick the habit.

When news of the impending law was released, the Beverly Hills City Council received a sea of letters. The city’s cigar lovers also visited council meetings in protest. Also, cigar smokers gained support from one of the city’s high-profile residents. It was the former California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. In a letter to the city council, Schwarzenegger wrote that he supported the ban. But, he highlighted the distinction between cigarettes and cigars. “I am right there with you,” said Schwarzenegger. “I agree with your battle to protect people from the dangers of tobacco smoke and I trust that (the city) will recognize the fundamental difference.”

Later, lawmakers amended the bill. The amendment permits cigar smoking in three dedicated cigar lounges within city limits. They include the Grand Havana Room, Buena Vista Cigar Club, and Nazareth’s Fine Cigars.

Life Insurance Companies See the Difference

Life insurance companies are also starting to make distinctions between the two. Usually, life insurance rates for cigarette smokers and other tobacco users are higher. Recently, some life insurance companies are making special dispensation for cigar smokers. That’s especially true in cases of occasional cigar smoking. A small handful of progressive-thinking life insurance companies took it a step further, though. They are offering regular or daily cigar smokers the standard, non-tobacco rates. If you’re interested in this, Cigar Life Guy can help you. However, if you smoke regular cigarettes, then you can expect higher premiums. These premiums are often three times higher or more than those offered to cigar-only smokers.

Unfortunately, it’s likely that more tobacco bans like these will start popping up elsewhere. Yet, cigar smokers should take comfort in knowing that some are making distinctions. Lawmakers and life insurance companies can make the distinction. There is a difference between the long-term health risks of cigars versus cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Photo credit: Pixabay

Smoking Cigars Helps Relieve Stress

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Staff

Everything about cigar smoking is enjoyable. It starts with the texture of its wrapper, or capa, to the rich aroma of Cuban coffee and cocoa. You nestle the stick between your thumb and index finger and bring it to your lips. You draw in tendrils of smoke and savor the taste. It’s earthy, roasted, and woody. As you blow smoke from your mouth, a welcome feeling of tranquility passes over you.

For decades, there has been a major debate surrounding cigars. Are they detrimental or beneficial to your health? Some accuse cigars of being as dangerous as their ever-popular cousin, the cigarette. Yet, there has been a steady rise in evidence to the contrary. Many are coming forward to say that smoking cigars help relieve stress and anxiety.

This information has sparked interest in smoking cigars among a newer following. No longer is puffing on a good stogie reserved for the older gentlemen of a society long-passed. Women and Millennials are also joining in. For many, their hope is that smoking cigars will help them to blow away their stress.

Smoking Cigars Relieves Stress

So, how exactly can smoking a cigar help relieve stress and ease tension? Somebody once described the near-magical qualities of a cigar when they said:

“…cigar smoking is a soothing stress reliever and a valuable part of the sanctity of one’s life. The simple act of cutting and lighting becomes an anchor, and that first whiff of toasted tobacco sends us to a place of sheer nirvana that no pharmaceutical company could ever concoct. And here, I rest my case. Cigar smoking is good for you.” ~Anonymous, www.cigar.com

The experience of smoking a tantalizing stogie is sensual and pleasurable. A few great health benefits accompany it as well.

Relaxation

The nicotine in tobacco acts as a stimulant and a sedative. That’s why you feel calm and relaxed when smoking cigars. As a result, you can really control your mood with a few puffs. The more nicotine you inhale, the more sedated you become. Remember to practice moderation as you smoke your cigar. You’ll achieve the perfect amount of relaxation while remaining aware of your surroundings.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Smoking cigars also have many meditative qualities. Cigar aficionados attest that smoking has a positive effect on their blood pressure. Puffing and blowing create a trance-like state when you smoke. Tobacco also helps to settle your mind and quiet your thoughts. Since meditation lowers blood pressure, allow a cigar to place you in that same mindset. You’ll likely gain the same results.

Increases Dopamine Levels

Nicotine affects the dopamine levels in our bodies. Dopamine is a chemical that’s involved with your body’s pleasure center. It leaves you feeling happy and motivated. This automatic response is one reason why nicotine has very addictive properties. It makes perfect sense that developing a love for cigars can help relieve stress and make you happier.

Flavor Plays a Role

It’s also worth mentioning that, if relaxation is your ultimate goal, flavored cigars are the way to go. Flavors like vanilla can cause feelings of calm and tranquility. Also, as cigars age, their tobacco flavor mellows. They develop a smoother, creamier taste. This makes for a pleasant, relaxing experience for your senses. It also calms your stress levels.

Popularity Among Young Adults

A 2008 study suggests young people believe smoking makes a great “coping mechanism”. This attributes to the growing popularity of cigar lifestyle magazines, like Cigar Aficionado. One article, “On Doctor’s Orders” favors smoking to ease stress and anxiety.

“As director of a center for the diagnosis and treatment of stress-related disorders, I am aware of the benefits of various methods of relaxation from bio-feedback to yoga. Whereas all have their benefits, smoking a cigar, for me, has advantages no other method has … As a psychiatrist, I can’t bring myself to discourage cigar smokers. I have given cigars to patients on occasion and have received my share of some great cigars in return … It is my professional opinion that cigar smoking is beneficial to one’s mental health.” ~ Dr. Charles Carluccio

A Stogie a Day to Keep the Doctor Away

Most people hesitate to state smoking cigars are 100% effective in relieving stress. Remember that smoking is never a cure for mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Yet, there’s no denying the overwhelming sense of peace that comes over you as you puff on that delicious San Cristobal. The rich flavor of roasted nuts, coffee, and nutmeg lingers on your tongue. Its earthy-smelling smoke curls and twists around your head. Images of a simpler time spring to mind. Your worries fade into the background as you convalesce in the deep, nutty aroma.

Ahh. This is what it’s all about. This is the cigar lifestyle at its finest.

References

The following references were used:

“Adolescents’ Perceptions of Smoking and Stress Reduction,” Sage Journals 36.4 (2009).
“On Doctor’s Orders,” published in Cigar Aficionado.
“Cigar,” Wikipedia.
“Cigars Are Good For You,” Cigars.com.
“Dopamine.” Wikipedia.
“Learning Your ABCs: Cigars 101, Part II,” Cigar Aficionado.
“The positive effects of nicotine” (2014).
“Meditation Effective in Reducing Blood Pressure,” Kent State University.
“The Stress-Relieving Benefits of Cigar Smoking Outweigh Potential Health Risks,” Vintage Chic’ Cigar LLC.

photo credit: Pixabay

Rising Cigar Aficionados: Women and Millennials

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Staff

Tendrils of cherry-scented smoke twist, curl and roll as they rise from the cigarillo held between the young woman’s fingers. A box of Swisher Sweets lies on the counter while the clerk counts the change. It’s the last box until the next shipment arrives on Thursday. Anyone else looking for their cherry cigarillo fix will have to wait or buy them elsewhere. It’s a common thread among tobacco retailers across the U.S. today as is the rising number of women and younger adults joining the ranks of cigar aficionados.

Cigar smokers have long enjoyed a status symbol among affluent society. The association usually envisions a cigar smoker with that of a middle-aged, white gentleman in a cozy, over-sized, leather office chair. Yet, this is one cliche that no longer rings true of all cigar aficionados today. Instead, cigars and cigarillos have adapted to a new group of smoking enthusiasts, including younger adults and women. What draws them in? The appeal begins with the slim, sweet-flavored cigarillos, but it doesn’t stop there.

Rich in History, New on Flavor

Who knows where the idea to roll a leaf and smoke it came from, but we’re glad someone thought to try it. While cigars have their historical beginnings in what may have begun as ceremonial purposes, they have risen over the centuries to include social status symbols, camaraderie, and public and private enjoyment. Even Christopher Columbus, the man credited with spreading stogies to Europe, couldn’t have known how far the cigar would travel over time and ultimately shape today’s smokes.

The cigar is no longer limited to the pleasures of affluent European men, despite its ongoing association as a status symbol. Now, cigars and cigarillos have adapted to modern culture and that includes an appeal to today’s young adults and women. Stogies are on the rise and there’s no telling how far they’ll grow, but it’s what’s contributing the rise in the cigar economy that’ll make you smile and puff some more. So, light ‘em up, kick back, relax, and read on.

Stogies on the Rise

The popularity of cigars and cigarillos is steadily rising. In fact, cigars are growing at about 2% per year with the U.S. being the largest global market, according to Statista. Younger adults and women are rushing in to try their first leaf. Lighting up is less about what’s trending and more about the counterculture with cigar clubs and herfs toking up virtually everywhere. So, what’s the deal?

For many, it’s a way to get social and connect with different minds and a common interest. It’s about relaxing after a long day or a hard exam. Or, chilling with your friends or simply kicking back and puffing on a long stick. It’s also about newer flavors that enthrall and entice. It’s about all this and more.

Forget the affluent smokers of old for a moment. No one ever said there was a societal restriction to smoking, and if they did, it’s old news, Baby. Grab your Gurkhas, your Rocky Patels, and anything else you can get your hands on and light ‘em up. Today, there’s a cigar or a cigarillo designed for nearly everyone, every age, and every gender. From Swisher Sweets to Macanudos to the Montecristo and beyond. It’s an affinity for the smoke, the culture, the camaraderie, the pleasure, and more. Stogies are on the rise and young adults and women are taking notice.

Why Today’s Women Love Cigars

For today’s women and young adults, cigars and cigarillos are all about the experience, the rich, unique flavors, and much more. They’re sexy. They’re fascinating, and they’re relaxing – all rolled up inside one stick. For those sampling the leaf, many of today’s cigarillos are available in fun, fruity flavor bombs that tantalize the taste buds at an affordable price while offering a unique tobacco experience.

Cigarillos might carry some resemblance to the modern cigarette in size or shape. But make no mistake, cigars and cigarillos are made differently than cigarettes. That gives them their unique, natural flavors and exceptional quality from the first puff to the very last. So, what do women really think about cigarillos and cigars? Let’s find out.

“They [the cigarillos] lasted longer than a cigarette. I never smoked a whole one at once – just half in one session and the other half a couple of hours later.” – Shaylee Morton, Andover, Maine

This is one opinion, sure, but it’s certainly not the only one. Cigarillos are popular for beginner cigar smokers and women, often due to their slender size, shape, and the new flavor bomb infusions. So, how do they compare to the common cigarette?

From Cigarettes to Cigarillos

As we mentioned, sometimes size really does matter and the slimmer shape and flavors are gaining popularity among women. Filters or non-filters? That depends on individual preference, but with so many juicy new flavors to choose from, who cares?

“The cigarillos I bought didn’t have a filter and I really liked that. They were thin and smaller [than traditional cigars], easier to hold, and easier to throw in your purse. I love the grape flavor. That one is my favorite.” – Donna Ward, Morton, Illinois

Well, there you have it. The flavor is a powerful thing. Yet, if you thought that the cigarillo was the only player in the game for women, you might want to reconsider. Throngs of women are taking to cigars more now than ever before. In fact, a simple search on Facebook yielded not one, but four different groups and several websites dedicated to women cigar aficionados.

Cigars smoking is no longer viewed as a taboo thing for women to do. So, ladies, grab your sticks and puff away, but why stop there? The world needs more quality cigars to intrigue them, right? With that said, it’s time to go beyond the smoke.

Beyond the Smoke

Going beyond cigar-smoking means stepping it up a notch. It’s not rocket science or anything, but neither is it just about smoking the finest leaf around either. It’s so much more than that and to fully appreciate it, you must immerse yourself in it, and for some, only a full immersion will do. That’s precisely what Afro-Cuban-American twin sisters and cigar aficionados, Yvonne and Yvette Rodriguez did down in Miami.

Tres Lindas Cubanas goes beyond the smoke as the first female-owned cigar brand to launch in the U.S. It was their love of leaf and ancestral history that brought this cigar lover’s dream to fruition. This dynamic duo specializes in superb Nicaraguan manufactured stogies that dazzle the taste buds in packaging that does triple-duty by branding their product, ensuring tantalizing freshness, and dishing up some simple, but sophisticated packaging eye-candy along the way. It’s cigars like these and more that’ll leave you proud to nub your stick all the way down.

Today, cigar smoking isn’t just about the smoke. It’s about camaraderie or even joining a herf. It’s also about relaxing with a Macanudo or Montecristo. Finally, it’s about savoring the richness in leaf, the fullness of flavor, and the love of life in general. Cigar lifestyle isn’t just about smoking a cigar or cigarillo. So, if you’re ready to join the clan of rising cigar aficionados, then grab your stick and light that baby up.

How to Light a Cigar the Right Way

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Staff

Unfortunately, it’s a sight that I see all too often. A good cigar gets destroyed by a case of runaway canoeing. In other words, the hard & uneven burning that can occur with an improper lit cigar. The unfortunate truth is that a surprising number of passionate cigar smokers were never taught the proper way to light a cigar. Call it a fluke, or blame it on the generation gap. But the ignorance has got to go. Whether you missed it the first time around or you need a refresher, here’s my take on the correct way to light a cigar.

A Matter of Distance: Lighting a Cigar Like a Pro

It all begins with the actual distance that you put between the heat source and the tobacco. That is, the lighter (or match) and the cigar. All the time, I see uneducated cigar smokers drawing the open flame back and forth across the end of the cigar. They’re waiting for it to catch fire. This brutish and ineffective at igniting an even burn. But, it also demonstrates a basic lack of understanding of how fire actually works.

Here’s the important bit: a flame is hottest at the top, not in the middle. So holding your cigar in the flame is exposing it to the lowest temperatures that the heat source has to offer. Don’t believe me? You should run this little science experiment before reading further.

As it turns out, high, directed temperatures are necessary for the best burn lines. For this reason, you want to position your heat source a few centimeters under the cigar. The flame should not actually touch the cigar. The idea is the air above the flame will be hot enough to ignite the tobacco without touching it.

Toast, Don’t Scorch

The real art of lighting a cigar comes in understanding the difference between scorching and toasting. Scorching is what occurs when you do not take your time. Instead, you try to light the tip of the cigar as fast as possible, holding the heat source too close, or puffing too harshly.

Toasting is all about gentle patience. By allowing the cigar to rest in the hot air above the flame, you give the tobacco a chance to warm gradually and even.

Rotate & Puff, Using the Band as a Gauge

The final step is ignition. Most cigar smokers are aware that ignition should happen on a rotation. Yet, few if any of them are paying attention to how the cigar is being rotated. By using the cigar band as a visual gauge, it’s possible to make exact, measured rotations with the cigar to ensure a great ignition.

Begin with the brand label facing upwards. Toast each side of the cigar for a few seconds, rotating by 90 degrees each time. When you’ve toasted the tip of the cigar, it will ignite with a little puffing. When a flame appears on the cigar, it is time to rotate, again by 90 degrees. Flame up, rotate. Flame up, rotate. This will lead to a very even amber line that you can check by blowing gently on the end of the cigar. If you did it correctly, this amber line will have a very small variance in one direction or the other. It’s the best indicator that you are lit and ready to smoke.

Cigars Are Works of Art: Summing It All Up

The premium cigar smoker will no doubt agree with my belief. A well-made cigar is no less a work of personal pride and artistic craftsmanship than other works of art, like paintings or wood carvings. The only difference is in the way that the art is being enjoyed. You wouldn’t hang a painting in poor light, so why let that premium tobacco burn improperly? With only a few extra seconds of patient ritual, you can eliminate user-caused burn issues and increase your enjoyment of cigars.

And if we have to mention it, it will also prevent you from looking like an absolute greenhorn at the lounge.

Photo credit: Pixabay

Curing Digital Headaches With a Good Cigar

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Staff

The cigar lifestyle is not a revolution. It’s not a call to stop the modern world from spinning itself sick. It isn’t about locking up cellphones in a giant humidor. You’re not forcing people to enjoy themselves without bleeps, bloops and incessant swiping. And you don’t need to force anything to blink your eyes in the dreamlike smoke of a double Robusto. Life is simpler when you clink a glass quarter-full of whiskey with your closest friends and let honest conversation fill the atmosphere. Our culture, the culture of cigar smokers, revels in its diversity and simplicity. All great men and women deserve a break from connectivity to connect with one another and a good cigar is the perfect cure to the digital headaches of our modern world.

Turn Off The Phone and Light a Cigar

Such a break from hyper-connectivity deserves a respite. It’s also crucial to preserving your mental health. Researchers have even linked heavy smartphone usage and exacerbated anxiety and depression. Everyday stressors compound the division and corrosion of your attention span and lead to more digital headaches. We live in an era that inundates us with digital communication. Yet, that same digital communication proves inferior to simple one-on-one conversation. The average human attention span has decreased by a staggering thirty-three percent over the past two decades. Meanwhile, smartphones have moved from the periphery to the essential. So, how does this relate to your smoke? We’re glad you asked.

When you embrace cigar lifestyle, you embrace relaxation and you say “No” to all those distractions and digital headaches of our distracted world. Your slow inhale is an overarching credo. It’s a rejection of the poisonous and perpetual distraction of the digital age. When you set your cellphone to silent, you take your life back. You take back aspects of what you sacrificed to the convenience of apps and social media feeds. You also rekindle sheer joy with the soft crackle and burn of a prized Churchill. But, these are all good things. You are rejecting a dangerous sense of isolation. Instead, you’re replacing it with a face-to-face, glass-to-glass community of like-minded cigar connoisseurs.

Talk Face-to-Face With Real People Over a Cigar

The long-term effects of limited direct social interaction are coming into focus. The results are disturbing. When you limit face-to-face conversation and interaction, you nearly double your risk of depression. In effect, you’re taking back our minds and our hearts in the glow of a butane torch. You’re lifting your emotional well-being into the rising smoke of your favorite Double Coronas.

Cigar smokers quilt a patchwork of amazing memories in cigar lounges and living rooms. It’s easy to do when you’re watching the slow burn of a savored Cuban or Dominican. It’s a lifestyle of leisure over letdown. It is a community of people over performance. It’s not a Luddite full of the rejection of cellphones and computers, smart TVs and tablets. That’s a silly mode of thinking in a world where technology’s proliferation comes with tangible benefit. It’s a cure to all those digital headaches that keep piling up amid the modern technology takeover. Yet, the cigar life functions as a vintage step back into a forward stepping world. It allows us to tend to our flames with pride, pushing the personal back into our lives. When we smoke, we taste and we smell and we talk and we simply live.

We’re not downloadable.

That is the most beautiful thing and worthy of lighting one up with the ones we love and laugh with.

photo credit: Pixabay

A Good Gentleman is Like a Fine Cigar

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Staff

There is a gentleman’s code that serves as the insulation of the best cigar lounges and smoke-filled cafes. Every door we hold open for a woman reflects that code without so much as passing anxiety about modern taboos. It’s present in the respectful hush between sentences when a compatriot takes a thoughtful drag off a prized Panetela, letting the next word of their story come at its own pace.

Vintage integrity and values don’t just have a place in the cigar lifestyle. They’re critical to what makes it so damn unique and refreshing in a modern world full of keyboard warriors trafficking in cheap wit and even cheaper disrespect. We’re not men (and women) of passing whims. Our tastes, our core beliefs, even our very diversity is ‘gentleman’ by its very nature.

An Honest Gentleman is the Only Gentleman

Cigar aficionados are honest about their passions. We’re not looking to put on a show for friends, relationship interests, or anyone in general. We don’t pretend to smoke Cubans because it’s a risque buzzword and makes us seem cool to someone. We’re not worried about being cool at all. We let our honesty guide us. We use it when selecting the right cigar at our local tobacconist. And, we use it in the tenor of our conversations on the golf course.

Being a gentleman is being honest with who you are and what you love. The dating app Zoosk combed over three million profiles. It found that men and women alike use the word honest the most in describing their ideal of the perfect mate. In a world where people hide their personalities behind computer screens, cigar smokers put the pretense aside. Not to be cool or attractive, mind you. It’s the gentleman thing to do.

Fine Cigars and Fine Gentlemen

In short, it all boils down to being genuine. We’re meticulous in choosing the right taste, the right heft and the right flavor of cigars. We genuinely want to relax and unwind. It’s not because we’re trying to play status games with a mobster’s Belicoso hung from our lips. Being genuine and true to oneself is crucial for a gentleman to enjoy the cigar lifestyle. It’s also huge for our health and self-confidence. Genuine self-compassion lowers our overall risk for developing depression and anxiety. It makes us more optimistic and more kind in our daily interactions.

A true gentleman never puts a damper on the party. He never drags his emotional baggage into the cigar lounge. We love ourselves enough to only buy the finest cigars and engage in the most rewarding of after-work conversations. We never put undue stress on ourselves or others. That’d be like helping an elderly lady across the street only to talk her ear off about how overwhelmed you are at work. A gentleman doesn’t need to whine when he’s comfortable with himself. He knows he has a relaxing treat waiting for him at home in his humidor.

The Code of Cigar Smokers Can’t Be Taught

Classic without trying. Relaxed without some sort of new-age technique or lame self-help jargon. The gentleman’s guide to the cigar lifestyle isn’t long and wordy. If you need a reminder to give her your coat when it’s cold outside, you don’t even know the language necessary to read it.

Are you all about appearances? Do smoke the “right” cigar brands because you want the “right” people to see you the “right” way? If so, then you’re not playing in the same ballpark. A gentleman is honest, genuine, and measured in his approach. We smoke cigars to enjoy ourselves and our free time. We live our lives the same way, preferring to take a drag instead of being one.

photo credit: Pixabay