Beverages Archives - Cigar Life Guy

Molon Labe’s Steve Bartell is “All-In”

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Staff

People called Steve Bartell crazy for getting into the cigar business. Still, when you have lived the cigar life since childhood, it’s anything but crazy. Bartell — owner and president of Molon Labe Cigars — is all in and has an “intent” to make his brand global. He talked with Cigar Life Guy about his start in the business and how he went from selling cigars on the Internet to building a line that has perfected the “trifecta” — pairing in-house coffee and whiskey exclusively to Molon Labe’s cigar portfolio.

First Premium Cigar Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience

Steve Bartell: It’s funny because I was telling this story to one of my customers. My grandfather was a cigar smoker and used to sit under grapes — he had a grape arbor in the back of his house — with a cigar and homemade wine. And I remember loving the smell as a little kid. He’d let me puff off his cigar as a kid, so I learned to love it.

Fast forward to when I was about 18 years old and in college, and I was fortunate enough that my first real cigar experience was smoking an authentic Cuban cigar, a Romeo and Julieta Vintage III. One cigar and I was hooked. From that moment on, I loved smoking excellent cigars. So, I started smoking cigars at a reasonably young age.

As I got older, I joined a cigar club. I lived in Phoenix, Arizona, in my twenties. I don’t know if you know Varton of Ambassador Cigar in Scottsdale, but I joined the VIP program and was the youngest guy by twenty-five years. He took me under his wing with all the old-timers in the backroom in the VIP lounge. So I got to smoke a lot of great cigars as a young man. I was introduced to some rare limited-edition cigars and started working through the premium brands in the humidor. That was the beginning for me.

Getting into the Cigar Business

Cigar Life Guy: You have been smoking cigars for a long time. How did you get into the cigar industry? What did you do before, and how does it help inform what you do now?

Steve Bartell: I was in the tech business for 35 years, so I never intended to get into the cigar business. I love cigars, and I got to smoke many great cigars with my customers while in tech and traveling worldwide. When I was fifty, I ran into a family that owned some land and was growing and making these fantastic cigars. I had been smoking the cigars for five years and loved them so much I went to the family and told them I’d like to make a brand out of it — a limited edition, reserve brand. So, it started as a pet project — a passion project for cigars.

That’s what got me into the business. That was Molon Labe. The Molon Labe brand started eight years ago but entered the market five years ago, and it was a limited reserve. We had five vitolos, all the same blend — a true puro.

Nowadays, that word is a bit bastardized. “Puro” to Cuban means it all comes from the same field, not the same country. So I found a true puro that all came from the same field. It was a fantastic cigar, and I built a brand around it. So now it’s Molon Labe. We only sold it over the Internet, and we only made 500 boxes of each Vitolo. Every year, we sold out. People loved the cigar. And that’s what got me into the next generation of where I am today.

What Sets Molon Labe Apart

Cigar Life Guy: You never intended to have your own brand. What makes Molon Labe different?

Steve Bartell: There’s a lot of things that make it different, so I’ll give the top five. One, it’s a puro. So, all of the binders and fillers of that cigar come from the same field. Second, the wrapper is anywhere between a twelve and fifteen-year Habano out of Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

What makes it unique is that it’s Habano and Connecticut because it’s grown in the U.S. The third thing is it’s one hundred percent organic. So there’s no pesticide in the leaves and no fertilizer in the ground. The fourth thing is the experience you get from smoking a cigar. It’s unlike any cigar in any humidor you walk into.

The last thing is that it’s a limited reserve. We only make 3,000 boxes yearly, and that’s it. It’s very old-school. It’s very artisanal. When you look at them, they’re not beautiful. They’re not perfect. They don’t replicate each other. They’re all unique.

Challenges and Regulation in the Cigar Industry

Cigar Life Guy: What is the biggest challenge facing the cigar industry?

Steve Bartell: The first thing is regulation. The industry is constantly under attack. It makes it harder and harder for retailers to survive. The other thing is that I don’t think people realize what goes into bringing a cigar to market. It isn’t easy. It’s not a matter of slapping your band on a cigar and having a box. That’s the easy part. The hard part is getting the cigar to the market and getting the market to respect it. That’s why we kept Molon Labe as our legacy. It really ties back to the Cuban legacy from which it was born.

It’s a complex industry. I always thought it was a huge industry, but it’s not. It’s small. Compared to most industries, it’s small. It’s global in nature, but it’s a small industry. It takes a lot to grow your business. It takes a lot of evangelizing, trial and error, and intestinal fortitude to overcome all the obstacles thrown at you when bringing a cigar to market. There’s production, boxes, pricing, marketing, and then just getting the cigar out there.

The Molon Labe Portfolio

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us a little about the Molon Labe Portfolio.

Steve Bartell: We sold out our Molon Labe Reserve over the Internet. We were an internet-only business for the first three years. Last year, in 2023, I acquired a company from a friend who owned a cigar business. He was a Cuban gentleman who lived in Miami.

My friend did something similar: He had a pet project that turned into a passion project that allowed him to sell cigars in about 80 to 85 stores in Miami, and he made a great cigar — two lines of cigars. Additionally, he had a factory in Nicaragua and a factory in the Dominican Republic. The brand was called Fuera de Serie — FDS is what we call it for short. It means “out of this world” in Cuban.

My friend grew the business about as far as he could. He did it all by hand-to-hand combat in probably the most challenging market in the United States. He became a very good friend of mine. I loved his cigars. I opened a lounge up here in New Hampshire and started carrying those cigars because you couldn’t find them North of Miami. They just took off. I couldn’t keep them in stock. Everybody loved them. Even today, two years later, it’s the number two-selling cigar in my lounge.

We have a Dominican line, and an Ecuadorian Connecticut with Dominican binder and filler that we grow in Tamboril on our farm. We have an Ecuadorian Habano with a Dominican binder and filler that we grow in the Dominican Republic. Then we have a San Andres Maduro that we also grow in the Dominican Republic. We released those in a toro and robusto. Then we created a mini figurado in a Habana and Maduro, unlike anything on the market. It’s very similar to the Short Story in looks, but we have it in a Maduro, which is unusual.

Then, for our Nicaraguan line, we buy tobacco. We have great relationships with our tobacco growers due to personal relationships between our master blender and his father — Ostvani and Luis Hernadez. Ostvani was one of the original farmers and overseers of Aganorsa Farms. So we procure our tobacco from Aganorsa Farms — EJ Fernadez and Placencia. We only use Grade A, pick the very best tobacco from those farms, and we hand-select everything that we buy.

Our Nicaraguan cigars only come in Toro. It is a USA Connecticut. It’s an Ecuadorian Habano and it’s a San Andres Maduro. We call the Nicaraguan Maduro “Chocolate Cake,” and we call the Dominican Maduro “Chocolate Brownies” because the Nicaraguan is light and airy.

The Dominican Maduro is very heavy — thick and chocolatey with a back note of pepper spice. We released our Nicaraguan Habano in January as a 60-guage Gordo. I would put that Gordo against any Habano on the market. It is absolutely fantastic.

We acquired the company in November of 2023. My partner was retiring from the business but didn’t want to just turn the company over to anybody. I offered him to buy the company, and he told me I was the only person he would sell to. So, I bought the company in November of 2023 to take the entire line global.

In January of 2024, we launched Molon Labe Cigars, including Molon Labe Reserve, our Dominican line, and our Nicaraguan line. We currently have 106 stores in six countries, and we are growing. I would say that we are the fastest-growing brand in America right now.

The cigars do very well, and I think that‘s because of several things. The quality of the tobacco is amazing, the construction is second to none, and the price point is fantastic. The retail price of the Dominican cigars is $10.50. The retail price of Nicaraguan is $11, the Gordo is $12, and the mini smokes is $7.50. I would put that up against any $15 or $20 cigar for the quality of the cigar you get.

Coffee, Cigars, and Spirits

Cigar Life Guy: Molon Labe also makes organic coffee. Why does coffee pair so well with cigars?

Steve Bartell: Part of my journey with Molon Labe was creating a cigar experience. I had the Reserve Cigar, and it was phenomenal, but I didn’t want to go out and sell a cigar on its merits. I think a cigar should stand on its own, but I didn’t want to generalize and say, “This cigar goes great with coffee.”

Coffee is like cigars — they’re not all good. So, I went on a journey to source coffee. I worked with 120 different coffees to get to five that explicitly paired with our cigars. Our website talks about perfect pairings, and those perfect pairings are our cigars with our coffee and our whiskey. We did the same thing with whiskey.

Our cigar company is New Hampshire-based and Miami-based. All of our coffees are roasted locally, and we select the top one percent of coffee beans and grow organically. We have the Soprano, which is a dark Italian roast. We have Death by Chocolate, a dark Italian roast with a back flavor of dark chocolate. The Sumatra is an Indonesian coffee-French roast with very low acid and goes excellent that cigar. We have a Nicaraguan blend, grown an hour from our factory. Then we have a Creme Brulee, which is a flavored coffee.

Toward the end of 2023, we went through a similar exercise to find a reasonably sourced distillery that could make five blended spirits that go specifically with our cigars. Not just a general — “This is Whistlepig or Woodford Reserve.”

All of the products that go in the bottle are organic and grown in New Hampshire. So all the corn, all the wheat, all the rye, everything that goes into that bottle is locally grown. We’re launching that spirit line officially at the end of this month. They’re amazing. They’re taking the market by storm. So when we do a cigar event, we bring the trifecta. We bring the cigars, coffee, whiskey, and rum. We start with the whiskey and rum, go to the cigars, and finish with the coffee. The response is overwhelming.

The ASH Cigar Lounge Difference

Cigar Life Guy: You also run the ASH cigar lounge. What sets it apart from other lounges?

Steve Bartell: A couple of things set us apart. One is service. We provide incredible service — whether at the bar or in the humidor — for pairing cigars with people’s palates and with the right drink. Additionally, we also serve my coffee. In fact, we have a full-service coffee bar in the lounge, and we pair a lot of coffees.

Looking Ahead with Steve Bartell and Molon Labe

Cigar Life Guy: Anything else you’d like the cigar world to know?

Steve Bartell: If you haven’t tried Molon Labe, you definitely need to try it. As I said, we are the fastest-growing brand in the U.S. We have reps up and down the East Coast. We’re in Florida, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and New England. Soon, we’ll also be in other major markets down the East Coast.

We come to market with something that nobody else in this business comes with. There are a lot of cigar companies that have a coffee or coffee “partner” or a whiskey “partner” or do a pairing with a particular whisky company. Nobody has done it with intention. In other words, nobody has it all together as a package and says, “Hey, try these things together to elevate your experience.”

For us, it’s about the experience. We put a lot of thought into manufacturing our products. Many cigar companies come out with whiskey, but it’s a whiskey that they’re putting their label on and calling it their own. These things are all ours. We control all of it. It’s done with intention, and that’s what sets us apart. I don’t think anybody in the cigar industry is doing that.

We help lounges sell cigars, whiskey, and coffee, promote it on our own site, promote it nationally, and promote with as many events as needed to help that lounge be successful. If you’re successful, we’re successful. And we support the communities that we serve.

We try to tie to local events and charitable organizations in our marketplaces. We raise money for drug addiction, hospitals, veterans, and underprivileged kids getting into business. That’s the thing I’m most proud of. People tell me I’m crazy for getting into this business at my age, but my goal is to build a company that gives back. My goal is to be successful enough to devote resources to the people most need it.

Follow Steve and Molon Labe Cigars on Instagram and check out the latest from Molon Labe Cigars here.

Greg Free of Fortaleza y Libre Cigars Interview

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Staff

From the first premium cigar he smoked in a Maryland swamp to blending his first Lancero, Greg Free, founder of Fuerte y Libre Cigars, has been living free, smoking strong, and enjoying cigar life. Free talks to Cigar Life Guy about his ever-growing cigar portfolio, the upcoming name change of his company, and his favorite part of the cigar industry camaraderie.

First Premium Smoke for Greg Free

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience.

Greg Free: In 1992, I purchased a new home next to a protected wetland in Frederick, Maryland. I thought it was a very fancy park, not the swamp that it turned out to be. So I never went outside. One of my neighbors who I became friends with, asked, “Why aren’t you ever going outside?” And I said, “There are mosquitos everywhere.” He suggested I try smoking a cigar. He handed me a Baccarat, and I smoked Baccarat for three years. At one point, he went on vacation, and I had to go out and cigar shop myself and pay for a cigar. I was just amazed by how many cigars were in that shop. My entire world exploded at that point.

Getting Started

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us how you got started in the cigar industry. What else did you do before, and how does it help inform what you do with your current business?

Greg Free: I live in Washington, D.C., and worked in government contracting for a couple of decades. I started in government contracting, doing recruiting and hiring to fill positions to support federal work. When I left, I was senior VP of the “people” side of government contractors, so program management, and recruiting. I was the facility security officer and was in charge of construction projects.

I left that two and a half years ago to do this full-time, but I started the company — really the foundation of it — in 2012. That’s when I started putting capital aside. In 2013, I started researching what I needed to do to become a tobacco importer from a federal perspective. 2019 was when we finally got cigars into the country, but I was working a full-time job during those six years.

On Smoking Strong and Living Free

Cigar Life Guy: Your motto is “Smoke Strong, Live Free.” Can you tell us more about what inspired it?

Greg Free: The company name inspired it. I wanted something that spoke to America, so I created the name in English first — “strong” and “free.” It seemed like a perfect statement for the country. Our strength is really how we get our freedom. And the flip side of that is my last name is Free, and I also smoked strong cigars, so it worked out. Then, I translated that to Fuerte y Libre to pay homage to Spanish culture. But ultimately, that’s why Carlito Fuente sued me for my trademark. The premise from their side was that Fuente and Fuerte sounded too similar and would create consumer confusion, which I don’t think is true, but it is what is. I wish they had trademarked the word because I would have never filed for the name. I don’t hold a grudge. It’s just business.

So, I’ll be changing my name. We just settled in May. I haven’t made an official announcement because part of the settlement was to get some time to change the name. It’s known within the cigar community. There will be a press release, but I’m waiting until the first cigar comes out with the new company name which will be Fortaleza y Libre. And that word also means “strength.” It’s used in the cigar industry to represent strength — the “Fortaleza” of a cigar. I wanted to keep that strong and free moniker to keep a hold of the company’s original premise.

The Greg Free Blending Process

Cigar Life Guy: You proudly grow your tobacco in the Tamboril region. Why is it essential even for the novice cigar smoker to understand all aspects that go into the construction of a premium cigar?

Greg Free: Speaking about regions, all of our core tobacco, the Dominican tobacco, grows on one 40-hectare farm. I grew up on a farm. I went to college for horticulture. So, it was important that my core tobacco remained consistent from season to season and cigar batch to cigar batch. In the Dominican Republic, if you don’t have a tie to a farm like most small factories, you wind up going to the warehouse where you get what’s left.

It’s still going to be great Dominican tobacco, but it’s not going to be grown on the same soil using the same farming techniques, crop rotation, and the addition of any chemicals or fertilizers. The area’s distinct microclimate also plays a role. So we’re particular about where the core tobacco comes from, and it keeps our blends consistent since inception. Tomorrow’s new batch of Bodacious will taste the same as the blend we created four years ago.

I don’t know that the novice needs to understand the construction process, but I think they need to learn what they like. How you do that is by understanding your three or four typical tobaccos. So if a Ligero is in there, you need to know what impact that has on a cigar. What impact does a Nicaraguan Ligero have versus a Dominican Ligero? What an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper has that differs from a Connecticut shade wrapper. You’re learning the differences for your own purposes.

As a consumer, you go into a store and you know: I don’t like Connecticut shade, but I do like Ecuadorian Connecticut. Or I love Ligero, but I‘m not a fan of Nicaraguan Ligero. It’s a little too strong for me, but I do like a nice Dominican Ligero. It’s the same with fillers, binders, and other wrappers. It’s a function. For example, you may love chicken but only in a particular Italian sauce (laughs). When you go into an Italian restaurant, you decide “This is what I want.” It’s a similar idea at a cigar store. You’re going in, looking at the menu, and picking what you know you like.

Cigar Portfolio Mentionables

Cigar Life Guy: You have created a variety of blends since Bodacious in 2018. Tell us a little more about your cigar portfolio.

Greg Free: The foundation of the name is strong and free. I was smoking really strong cigars when I started blending. It turns out there’s a lot more flavor in the medium range. So when we came out with our first couple of lines, we were in that medium range.

The core of the Bodacious and the Bushwacker is a delicious Dominican Pilato Cubana tobacco. There’s no Ligero in there. We’re not trying to amp them up. We’re just using the wrapper combinations for added variety. They’re both medium cigars. There are two different wrapper choices in the first two lines of both.

After we settled those, we got ourselves in some shops, and COVID hit. I wanted to come out with something full-bodied. So, I started working on a full-body blend, which became the first true blend I developed. I settled in the medium-full range because it tasted good, and I didn’t want to mess with it anymore. That was the Midnight Bender. The next line I wanted a Connecticut wrapper, but I didn’t want it to be a mild cigar. It had to be something I could enjoy.

The core of that is another blend I created. It has a double Dominican Ligero. It has a Mexican San Andres wrapper leaf blended into the filler. So it has a fuller body and a full-strength core surrounded by Dominican binder and Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. It looks like a mild cigar, smokes like a medium, but has the flavor of a full. It’s our best-selling blend, and it’s a really creative, complex blend that goes with anything. I smoke more of them than anything in my portfolio, not because it’s my favorite, but because I always have them with me. I never know what I’m going to be doing, and I always try to match my cigar with my activity, whether it’s drinking, walking, mowing the lawn, or whatever. The Sun Country covers a lot of bases for me.

After the Sun Country, I wanted to come out with an anniversary stick. We create all of our test blends in a 6 x 50 Toro, which is a little unique in the industry. Most people use Coronas for that, but that’s how I started. So I know how it works for me. When we started testing different vitolas, we got to a boxed press, and that blend spoke to me. The flavors really jumped when it went into a box-pressed. That was our first and only box-pressed the Segundo Viento (Second Wind).

Then we waited a couple of years because I wanted a true mild. Then it becomes about rounding out the line. The true mild took me two years until I finally came out with what I would call a three on a scale of 1-10 in strength and body. I couldn’t do a true mild because I just couldn’t smoke it, so it’s just Dominican filler and binder, an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. But that wrapper brings a little spice, so it’s more than a plain grassy Connecticut wrapper. It’s got a little something that keeps me interested. I’m not putting out anything, and I’m not smoking (laughs).

The final thing in the line is we needed a true full. We’ve got a true full. It’s been in the aging room since January. Now it’s a matter of just getting bands produced. So these are going to have some good age on them. The core of the blend is the first-generation Cuban seed planted on our farm three years ago. (The Intimidator)

I don’t intend to be one of those companies that crank out new blends every three months. It’s really just what makes sense for the line. I want to create legacy lines as opposed to short-run limited editions.

Cigar Pairing with Greg Free

Cigar Life Guy: Pairing cigars with spirits is an integral aspect of cigar life for many smokers, and you often highlight this with your cigar line. What are some of your favorite pairings?

Greg Free: It’s interesting. I never had a cigar with coffee until I was on my first factory visit in 2018. My interpreter — you would think with a Panamanian wife, I could speak enough Spanish to get along. I understand it, but not speak it. So, I had an interpreter, and he asked me what kind of cigar I had with my coffee. I told him I never had a cigar with coffee, and he told me I was crazy.

I drink my coffee with cream and it’s a great experience to have coffee and a cigar. Unfortunately, days don’t line up very often where it makes sense for me to get up and have a cigar with coffee, so I don’t do it often, but it’s probably my favorite.

On the spirits’ side, I’m a low-proof bourbon guy. Anything under 90-proof is in my wheelhouse. All of your classic stuff. My favorite is Eagle Rare; It’s a ten-year bourbon. I go for something smooth and low-proof because I’m drinking whiskey while smoking cigars, always in combination. And I genuinely want to experience the cigar more than the whiskey. Eagle Rare kind of sits in the background. It’s not so hot that it’s competing with the cigars, it’s just adding to it.

Favorite Part of the Cigar Industry

Cigar Life Guy: What is your favorite part of the cigar industry?

Greg Free: The camaraderie amongst other brands and brand owners. I’d estimate 90% of the people I’ve met in the industry will help you with anything. It’s a unique industry. In government contracting, everything is a secret. No one tells you anything. Then, you enter an industry where people tell you what they pay per pound for tobacco. How much they pay their rollers — who receive piece rates — the dollars and cents information and where they think the best tobacco comes from for their wrappers. They even share their specific recipes. It doesn’t happen in other industries … like the restaurant industry. And it certainly doesn’t happen in government contracting. I guarantee you that Hershey’s hasn’t released their chocolate recipe to Mars. The cigar industry is unique, and that’s my favorite part.

News and Upcoming Events

Cigar Life Guy: Have we missed anything? Please tell us anything else you’d like the cigar world to know.

Greg Free: I guess the only thing we haven’t referenced is my upcoming event. I am coming out with an event exclusive to Lonsdale. I’ve wanted to come out with a Lancero for a long time. It’s a tough cigar to roll and challenging to get the blending right, and it’s one I haven’t been able to accomplish until now. But I am coming out with a Lonsdale that’s going to be a unique blend to the lineup. We’re calling it the Tahonta. After all, famous rodeo bulls inspire all the cigar names.

Follow Greg on Instagram and check out the latest from Fortaleza y Libre here.

Photo credit: Greg Free

Diversity of Cigar Lounges: Here’s What You’ll Find

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Staff

So that cigar you smoked at your best friend’s wedding became a once-a-day experience. You’ve started collecting cigars and purchased an at-home humidor. You’re a regular brother of the leaf. Everyone who enjoys a premium cigar is part of an exclusive club. Most smokers eventually look for a place to share a smoke with friends. From the high-end cigar bar to the cozy storefront club, you’ll find a wide variety of venues when smoking outside the peacefulness of your home. If you live in a small town, you might not have as many options as you would in a larger city. However, there are loyal cigar enthusiasts everywhere, so what does the diversity of cigar lounges look like today? Here’s what you might find when heading out to smoke.

Diversity of Indoor Smoking and Laws

Smoking laws these days are as complex and varied as tobacco tax codes. Many states have ordinances that ban the sale of alcohol in establishments that also allow smoking. Getting a license for food and alcohol sales often depends on a certain percentage of revenue from tobacco products. Private clubs are typically not subject to these laws but allow members to bring alcohol and food.

Know the laws in the area. They will often dictate the type of lounges you’ll find. For example, smoking accommodations run the gamut from first-rate service to the shabby and everything in between.

The Diversity of Lounges

Free Front-of-the-House Smoking

Many cigar shops allow “front of the house” smoking at no charge. These technically don’t fall into the “lounge” category, but they are worth mentioning. All some guys need is a comfy chair right in the retail space of their local cigar shop. They smoke the merchandise and talk up the newbies about the latest blends.

Front-of-the-house smoking might not be the right fit for everyone, but it is cost-effective, and there is a genuine sense of belonging when you become a regular at your local shop. There are plenty of drawbacks, however. Most shops that allow smoking have limited seating. Depending on local laws, many lack the proper ventilation and won’t allow you to enjoy your favorite stick with your favorite spirit.

The Retail Store Lounge

Many lounges connect to small retail shops. They charge a yearly or per diem fee and have various amenities worth the money. Regarding cigar lounges and cigar bars, there are plenty of choices and a wide range of quality.

The size, decor, and ambiance of a lounge matter if you plan on spending time there. You’ll know what kind of place it is by evaluating the diversity of furniture and the interior design. For example, are there leather chairs with firm armrests or ratty chairs with broken springs and burn holes?

You’ll also want to know how many members belong. For example, if the lounge has ten chairs for 200 members, you might be out of luck during busy hours or cold weather.

The No-Frills Lounge

These establishments may seem dumpy, but some smokers feel at home in a fusty old room with a pool table and video poker.

Since small shops are typically in the business of selling cigars, many pay little attention to their lounge accommodations.

The no-frills clubs may charge you for a day pass, but they are usually inexpensive. Here you’ll find a few folding chairs and a table or two. The room may be small and poorly ventilated. You might not want to bring that bottle of 100-year-old scotch. Chances are you’ll be drinking it from a red Solo cup.

If you’re traveling for business or want a quick stick out of the elements, there’s nothing wrong with these establishments. They can be quaint with plenty of locals and friendly staff. However, don’t expect a diversity of amenities. While they may offer yearly memberships, these establishments devote little time or money to their lounge atmosphere.

The Traditional Private Lounge

For the classic lounge, there is a range of choices. These lounges become affiliated with a storefront but typically provide a more comfortable setting for frequent smokers — a simple elegance with a quiet calmer vibe.

Owners of these lounges spend a good deal of time and money designing rooms devoted to smoking cigars. So expect a first-rate ventilation system, decor, and atmosphere more akin to a charming Irish pub.

Most have televisions, comfortable seating, glassware, and soft drinks. Since paying members are the only smokers allowed, finding a seat isn’t a problem, nor is dealing with crowds and foot traffic from customers buying cigars.

They often provide merchandise discounts and host events like Super Bowl Parties, poker nights, and holiday gatherings for members. Since owners work closely with vendors, you can also count on special events hosted by cigar companies.

Since membership costs extra, most places don’t mind if you bring your cigars, but it’s always nice to support a local brick-and-mortar store by buying from the humidor.

BYOB Cigar Lounges

Small shops are typically in the business of selling cigars, so most lack a diversity of licenses like selling alcohol or food. However, membership has its advantages. Since they aren’t private clubs, lounges allow members to bring alcohol and food.

Conventional lounges also typically offer humidified storage lockers for an additional fee, but basic lounges are inexpensive and provide a home away from home. Besides yearly memberships, they welcome walk-ins and travelers.

However, not all lounges are the same. Some BYOBs and private clubs cater to wealthier clientele, others to a more blue-collar crowd. Nevertheless, there are plenty of classy lounges that appeal to everyone, no matter what your income. In the end, everyone is there to smoke. As long as you know cigar etiquette, most places welcome new members and walk-ins.

The Full-Service Lounge

Like the BYOB lounge, a full-service lounge typically offers large modern televisions with cable stations, streaming, and sports packages. The furniture is comfortable and plentiful, and members prevent crowds from getting too large.

The difference is a full-service bar and possibly appetizer and entrée menus. These full-service lounges keep the private club feel, but many attract a diversity in clientele. Non Smoking patrons with friends who smoke are often welcome, so the crowd may not be just cigar enthusiasts. However, the draw is the freedom to smoke. A membership might cost a bit more than a traditional lounge, but expect top-notch service and a business that appeals to the cigar smoker foremost.

The High-End Cigar Bar

Although many cities outlaw smoking and alcohol consumption or at the least make it difficult or costly to get licenses, larger businesses can afford it. Cigar companies like Ashton and Davidoff have elegant, spacious venues in big cities like New York and Las Vegas.

They provide a full-service experience that focuses on the accommodations and the satisfaction of their members and patrons. Expect a bar fully stocked with top-shelf liquors and expert advice on pairing cigars with spirits. Depending on the region, they provide indoor and outdoor seating. Perhaps it’s the novelty of lighting up a premium cigar in a sophisticated setting, but novices, enthusiasts, and everyone in between patronize genuine cigar bars.

Diversity in Cigar Lounges: The Right Place and Time

Cigar smoking is a bond no matter where you decide to smoke. Part of smoking cigars is being open-minded. You’ll meet people of various backgrounds in various lines of work. Remember to keep politics and religion out of the conversation. Nothing spoils the atmosphere like an untimely political barb. From construction workers to Wall Street traders, cigar smoking attracts people from all walks of life. It’s part of the camaraderie of the hobby.

Some venues attract a younger livelier crowd, others an older one. If you’re looking to relax and watch the news after work, a lounge that feels like a nightclub might not be for you. Alternatively, paying a day fee at BYOB is a good bet if you want to network or share a smoke with a few like-minded individuals. Ultimately, it’s about comfort and what you want when you light your next premium cigar. There’s always a place with the right atmosphere for the moment.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Infused Cigars: A Do It Yourself Guide

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Staff

Drew Estate introduced the Acid line 25 years ago. Since then, spirit-infused cigars like the Maker’s Mark Bourbon have become a staple in most cigar establishments. The debate over infused cigars persists. Are they “real” cigars? Whether you think so, infused cigars have carved their niche in the industry.

Infused cigars are not for everyone. Yet, if you’re considering dabbling, there is no need to shell out a ton of cash. Infusing cigars at home is easy.

It’s difficult to replicate the exotic blends created by Drew Estate. An easier alternative is to infuse your cigars with a classic spirit like bourbon or whiskey. Creating the best-infused sticks begins by choosing the right cigars for the process.

Choosing a Cigar

First, we don’t recommend using top-shelf cigars to create your own flavor infusions. Inexpensive house blends from your local cigar shop or classic lines will work fine. A Connecticut shade wrapper is best for absorbing flavor and aroma from spirits. Yet, any wrapper will work. You might also want to use a cigar with a familiar flavor profile. That way, you’ll be able to determine the difference in taste and strength after your infusion.

Choosing Flavor Profiles for Infused Cigars

Cigar purists consider the sweet flavors associated with many infused cigars a turnoff. Using your favorite bourbon, cognac or rum is as far as you need to go. If done right and given enough time, your cigar will absorb the essence of anything aromatic and flavorful. You can even experiment with coffee beans or pipe tobacco.

What You Need to Infuse Your Cigar

Infusing your cigars at home is simple. All you need are your favorite spirits, a shot glass, and an airtight container. Any food-grade container with a good seal works fine. If you want to experiment with using fewer cigars, you can use a resealable plastic bag.

Infused Cigars: The Process

Start by filling a two-ounce glass with a spirit of your choice. You only need to fill the glass about halfway. Place the glass inside your container. Then add your cigars to the container and seal the lid.

Store the container like you would store any cigars. Keep them away from direct sunlight in a room with a temperature of roughly 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Depending on the number of cigars, the process could take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks. Remember, the process takes longer for more cigars. A standard, medium-sized container with an ounce of liquid could infuse 4 to 8 cigars. Always double-check to ensure a tight seal.

Monitor them throughout the process. Try smoking one after a month to measure the taste. Remember, any extensive time may need some humidification, like Boveda pouches. Check that shot glass, too. It may need some topping off to achieve a richer infused flavor.

Do you want to streamline the process while minimizing the time investment? Try soaking part of a paper towel with the spirit of your choice. Wring out the excess and place it in a Ziploc bag with a cigar. However, be sure to keep the cigar separate from the towel. The goal is to infuse, not saturate. You’ll have an infused cigar in a couple of weeks.

Of course, you can use your humidor instead of a kitchen container to infuse your cigars, but we don’t recommend it. The aromas and essence will seep into the cedar of your humidor and any cigar you store. Cigar stores quarantine Kuba Kuba cigars in separate cases for good reason. Unless you want all your sticks to taste like spiced rum, use a container or a plastic bag to infuse them.

The Final Word

Cigar life is about finding what you like. Experiment. The infused cigar has earned its place in the industry, and they are worth a try.

Photo credit: Pixabay

Smoke on the Water: Cigars, Beaches and Campfires

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Staff

There is something primal about being in nature and relaxing with a nice cigar, much like the scenes of many James Bond movies. There is also nothing like a good smoke on the water whether you are on the water and enjoying a nice yacht show, are powering through a rough afternoon of fishing, hanging with the family at the beach, or taking in the country views. However, there may be some things to worry about that James Bond never seemed to consider such as mold and humidity, especially when traveling. If you’re looking for the ultimate guide for cigars when boating, sitting on the beach, or relaxing at a lakeside resort, then read on!

Smoke on the Water and Boating

If you’re ready to hop aboard, then we’re excited for you to join the crew! We have some great tips and tricks that’ll have you pulling anchor and joining James Bond on the water in no time. When you combine one passion with another, like smoking and boating, it’s a heavenly match.

Your cigars are a high maintenance pastime, so if you’re looking for the ultimate experience, keep these tips in mind:

Humidor

Travel-sized humidors and portable humidors are available to keep humidity out and flavor in. Pick one up before you bring your cigars on board to protect them from any fish flop or swampy winds.

Cigar Cutter

This is an essential tool for any cigar aficionado looking to enjoy a smoke on the water. Don’t leave home without one or two. They’re like guitar picks; you can’t have too many.

Windproof Lighter

If your stogies are stored properly, and you remembered your cigar cutter, then there’s one more tool you must have, a good, windproof lighter. There’s nothing like the disappointment you’d experience if the wind prevented you from lighting up. Stash a windproof lighter with you so you can always enjoy that cigar with gusto regardless of wind conditions.

Beachside Spirits and Cigar Pairings

James Bond didn’t just smoke his cigars on boats, he paired his cigars with sun-soaked Mojitos and classic Martinis. When you talk about things that pair well, like salty and sweet, or bacon and well… everything, then cigars and spirits are no exception. When you talk about pairing cigars with a specific spirit, there is a general rule. Cigars are categorized into full-bodied cigars, medium body cigars, and light body cigars. Likewise, spirits are categorized as full-bodied, medium-bodied, and light-bodied. A full-bodied cigar should be paired with its counterpart, a full-bodied spirit.

There are, of course some spirits that you will find at a beachside cabana that are probably not a part of your normal repertoire of drinks, such as spiced rum, tequila and vodka. So, what are you to choose? Start by considering the flavor profiles of each option.

Spiced Rum is at the full-bodied end of the spectrum. It offers nutty, leather, maple, and dried fruit flavors. Pairing a full-bodied cigar with spiced rum brings out the natural flavors in your drink.

Not all beach parties begin or end with rum, though. What if your beach party is serving up tequila? There’s an easy answer for that as well. Go for an aged agave tequila. It offers a slight wood influence, which can add a creamier vanilla flavor for you to enjoy. It also does a great job of complementing a light-bodied cigar.

Finally, what smoke on the water experience would be complete without a vodka pairing? We can’t think of any, nor can we think of any vodka drinking bad boy who doesn’t smoke a cigar. Yet, what kind of cigar should you choose? For starters, fruity vodka pairs well with a spicy cigar and potato vodka pairs better with a medium-bodied cigar. Then, you have your grain vodkas, which are more common in the U.S. Grain vodka is better for your cocktails, which are best paired with full-bodied cigars.

Smoke on the Water vs. Campfire Cigars

Although boats and beaches allow you to channel your inner James Bond, sometimes it’s better to gravitate more towards John Wayne or Clint Eastwood. Think of kicking back with a good cigar and a campfire to create your own stories. It’s hard to say whether it’s the smell of burning wood that enhances the cigar flavor or the cigar smoke that enhances the campfire, but these two activities build on each other’s strengths. Why or how is a question best left to the cosmos, but it’s likely that it’ll remain a mystery until the end of time. Instead, it’s better to just focus on your relaxation, the s’mores, scary bedtime stories, and the wonderful tastes and smells that go along with a great cigar.

Whether you’re on a boat, at the beach, or enjoying a lazy evening next to a campfire, a good travel humidor is your best friend. If you remember this, then you’re ready for a good smoke on the water anytime. We hope your next cigar and water adventure is more enjoyable than the last.

Photo credit: Pixabay

4 Reasons Your Next Cigar Encounter Won’t Be Your Best

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Staff

If you’ve been smoking cigars for a while, you’ve probably noticed that you can smoke identical cigars from the same box and have incredibly different experiences. Sometimes you hit that magical sweet spot of an incredible smoke — the tobacco equivalent of an orgasm. Other times the same stick might be less than extraordinary or ho-hum. Here are a few reasons that explain this variation in your cigar encounter.

You Got a Bad Stick

Sometimes it’s as simple as a bad stick. It happens! Think of getting a bad stick as being like finding a bad, or “skunked,” bottle of wine in a case of an amazing vintage. Even the best brands and labels will experience this rarely. Premium cigars are natural, handmade products and despite best efforts at quality control at the factory, invariably now and then you’ll get a bad one. It could be the draw, the construction of the cigar, the tobacco itself, or a variety of other reasons. Not much you can do about it. Just can suck it up and muscle through it or decide to just put it down and start a new one.

If you purchased it at your local store and experience a bad stick while in the store, most reputable tobacconists will replace the bad one for you, assuming you point it out early in the smoke. If you’ve left the store, returns or exchanges are less likely to be honored as the reason for the bad stick could have to do with how you store it (e.g., it’s out of the store’s control).

Your Environment Affects Your Cigar Encounter

Are you outside? In the wind? On the golf course? Inside but walking around or standing? Driving in the car? You can enjoy a cigar while on the move or in the elements, and a cigar might make an otherwise monotonous activity (like rush hour traffic) seem doable. That said, nothing will replace your favorite spot, maybe a relaxing, comfortable chair in a climate-controlled environment.

Your Palate Needs Cleansing

What you’ve had to eat, drink, or smoke just prior to smoking or lighting up your cigar can have a huge impact on your smoking experience. Much has been written about different pairings and what can optimize your smoke. Similarly, what you’ve had to smoke just prior can affect your enjoyment of your cigar. It is difficult to appreciate a lighter cigar just after smoking a heavier, fuller-flavored cigar. You’re still smoking, but you can’t taste or appreciate what you’re smoking. If you want to cleanse your palate, consider gargling a mix of hydrogen peroxide and water (1 part each).

Multi-tasking Changes Your Cigar Encounter

Do you ever find it hard to concentrate on a stick while you are multitasking? Maybe you’re trying to knock out some work while smoking or you’re trying to finish some yard work? Perhaps you’re at a cigar event and much of your time is spent talking with others and not concentrating on your smoke? If your mindset is off, you’ll be less focused on appreciating your cigar and too focused on whatever is stressing you out. Anything that keeps you from paying attention to your smoke can sub-optimize your enjoyment of your cigar.

Optimize Your Cigar Encounter

You’re never going to eliminate getting a bad stick. Patronizing high quality brands and retailers that properly store their cigars will minimize your bad ones. Yet there are other variables you can control to optimize your cigar encounter and improve your smoking enjoyment. Find an appropriate physical environment, minimize your distractions or other activities, and start with a clean palate!

On final note: just because it’s going to be a suboptimal experience doesn’t mean you shouldn’t smoke a cigar! A mediocre cigar experience beats the heck out of no cigar experience! Just one example, but a long car ride is often made better with a cigar. Just consider not smoking your best stuff when your experience will not be optimal and saving your trophy cigars for those times when you know you’ll really be able to enjoy them!

Photo credit: Unsplash

Maduro Cigars: Deep, Dark, and Delicious

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Staff

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

The Maduro Fermentation Process

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

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

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

Maduro Cigars Leaf Growing Regions

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

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

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

Top Myths for Maduro Cigars

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

Pairings and Conclusion

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

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

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

How to Cleanse Your Palate Before Smoking Cigars

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Staff

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

The Science About Taste and Smell

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

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

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

Taste, Smell and Smoking Cigars

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

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

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

Cleanse Your Palate and Taste Buds

Water

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

Sparkling Water

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

Coffee

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

Tea

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

Citrus

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

Ginger

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

Sparkling Coffee

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

Cleanse Your Palate and Olfactory Senses

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

Cleanse Your Palate with Fresh air

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

Cleanse Your Palate with Your Own Skin

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

Cleansing Your Palate When All Else Fails…

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

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

Photo credit: Unsplash

Six Things Your Cigar Bartenders Wish You Knew

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Staff

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

Cigar Bartenders Work for Tips

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

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

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

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

Cigar Bartenders Don’t Want to Date You

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

Bartenders and Servers Talk About You

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

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

Don’t Be a Seat Hopper

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

Cigar Bartenders Not an Expert on Cigars

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

Know What Time It Is When We Interact

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

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

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

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

The Final Word

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

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

Photo credit: Unsplash

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