Joy of Cigars Archives - Page 10 of 12

Tobacco Plus Expo 2020: Our Thoughts

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Staff

Had a chance to visit Tobacco Plus Expo 2020 in Las Vegas last week. It was a great time! I spent the better part of three days smoking cigars, sharing the Cigar Life Guy brand story, and learning about other businesses in the cigar space. I’ll keep this focused on some high-level thoughts and keep it from delving into a bunch of product reviews.

Thank You!

First, a big thank you to all the brands, reps, shop owners, and cigar smokers I spoke to or enjoyed a smoke with last week! The response to the core Cigar Life Guy concept has been incredibly positive and humbling. Cigar Life Guy is a media brand that engages cigar smokers. It’s also a life insurance brokerage that offers cigar smokers life insurance at non-smoker rates. I’m very grateful and appreciate the support.

Tobacco Plus Expo: Show Mix, Attendees, and Exhibitors

The cigar participation in Tobacco Plus Expo was way up this year. Spoke to many brands – big and small – where this was their first time at the expo. Perdomo was here for the first time. Many of the small folks I spoke to seemed pleased with their results. On Thursday morning, (the start of the second day), they said they were at a positive ROI based on day 1 alone. How, exactly, they measure ROI will vary, but that’s their phrase, not mine. I also heard manufacturers and reps talking about taking the focus beyond cigars. It was an idea to attract different buyers by exposing them to new opportunities.

For perspective, cigars or cigar-related items filled about 20-25% of the floor space in the exhibit hall. The balance was other tobacco, CBD, cannabis, vape, and alternatives. The big tent approach wasn’t a hit with everyone, though. One well-respected, long-time tobacconist said, “This just wasn’t my crowd.” Then, he mentioned that he wouldn’t be back.

Educational Workshops at the Tobacco Plus Expo

My schedule allowed me to catch two educational sessions. Both were very high quality.

Sisters of the Leaf: Selling, Marketing, and Promoting

There were a couple of key takeaways, here. Make women feel welcome. Don’t make assumptions about experiences or preferences based on gender. It’s worth noting that about two-thirds of the audience were men. It’s encouraging for a male-dominated industry to see the importance of female consumers. Special events and social media engagement are important. Again, make people feel welcome.

Fun fact: Women perform 60% of cigar production (e.g. rollers).

Here’s my take on the whole thing. It was great stuff and very well done. It was right to highlight female consumers, but most of the strategies presented were good marketing and retailing … period. These are tactics that can be more broadly applied. Cigar shops that have a woman problem likely also have a male problem or a new smoker problem. Make everyone feel welcome! Make everyone feel comfortable! I can’t tell you the number of shops in the Atlanta area I visited in the last year that didn’t make me feel welcome or valued. But, I left never to return. Good retailing is good retailing.

Jumpstart and Rejuvenate Your Retail Operation

There are a few key takeaways for this. You are only as good as your people. There was a huge emphasis on getting the right employees in the door and constant training. Engaging in events outside your retail space (e.g. golf outings, wine festivals, charity events) offers huge marketing opportunities to entice high-value customers. You need to view this as a marketing investment, not sales opportunities at the event. Focusing promotions on price (buy three get one free, etc.) lessens the value of your brand/experience. It’s also disrespectful to the brands you sell. Retire swag giveaways (buy this or that and get a lighter/cutter/shirt, etc. free). Focus on bigger, higher impact promotions. Manufacturers are open to partnering on larger promotions.

This is great stuff with a successful panel and great knowledge dropped. That said, it was almost too successful of a panel. Two were guys in the business for 30+ years. One was an employee of a billion+ dollar conglomerate. The other had the backing of a country music superstar. I would have liked to hear about how someone with a more limited marketing budget is winning in the marketplace. Most of the shops I visit don’t have their resources. It’s not that some of the stuff they shared doesn’t have applicability, though. But, I’ll suggest their reality is very different than the marketing reality of most in the room. I would have loved to hear from someone who’s been in the business as an owner for less than five years with severely limited resources but has won in the marketplace. Food for thought for next year.

Check out the complete list of the educational sessions and participants of Tobacco Plus Expo 2020.

The Final Thought

It was a great show for me. I am blessed to make some new friends and see some old ones….until next time!

Note: written by Dave Arlinghaus on 2/2/2020, the photo is with Karl Malone

photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Cigars and Music: The Cigar Lifestyle of Jay-Z

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Staff

Shawn Corey Carter is one of the most influential billionaires you have probably never heard of. But, his professional moniker, Jay-Z, invokes much more than being a man with a lot of cash, cigars, and music. Since his 1996 hip-hop debut, Jay-Z has navigated an atmospheric rise through the music charts. But, he also found a multi-million dollar clothing brand, a popular sports bar chain, and a burgeoning media empire with its sight on global domination.

Shawn Carter has managed all this in less than 25 years. And he has done so in a way that is characteristic of the rapper’s dynasty-minded persona. He did it with a straight face and a good cigar.

Billionaires, cigars, and music go hand in hand. So despite strict Manhattan smoking bans, it’s not unusual to see an image of Jay-Z behind a veil of thick cigar smoke.

Considering how he likes to get things done, it was only a matter of time until he decided to try his hand at the cigar business.

Cigars and Music: The Cohiba Comador

In 2014, Jay-Z partnered with the massive, Virginia-based General Cigar Company. The partnership aimed to release a new cigar beneath the pre-existing Cohiba brand. The result was the Cohiba Comador. The Cohiba Comador is a large but mild-smoking cigar made primarily of Connecticut-grown wrapper and aged, constructed, and packaged in the Dominican Republic.

It was known for its significant price point and the fancy cedar-lined humidor. The Comador was woody and spicy. Yet, neither of those are words that the American Gangster himself would use to describe it. Dan Carr, president of General Cigar when the Comador was released, offered a few words to Forbes about Jay-Z’s love for his cigars.

“He’s not a guy that tells you it’s got hints of chocolate … That’s not him. … He told us, straight up, he knows what he likes, and he knows it when he sees it.”

The Cohiba Comador was discontinued only a short time after its release. But the wannabe music mogul can likely find one at an online retailer somewhere. The truth is, if you really want to smoke like Jay-Z, you’d be better off going with a Cuban Montecristo. After all, it is reportedly the most common stick in his repertoire.

Jay-Z: Cigars are “A Gift You Give Yourself”

When you’re worth over a billion dollars and your spot on Billboard’s Top 100 Musicians Of All Time is secure, you can give yourself a gift whenever you please. This might explain the high-dollar nature of Jay-Z’s various brands.

Still, there is something about maintaining a proper mindset that makes smoking and enjoying cigars and music that much more special.

“I don’t know the lingo—like ‘It’s got an oaky flavor,’ stuff like that. It’s just based on what I like. No one schooled me in cigars like no one schooled me in how to buy art or drink wine… A cigar is like a gift you give yourself. I smoke at times when I’m relaxing or celebrating.”

— Jay-Z, in an interview with Cigar Aficionado regarding fine cigar mindset

No surprise here, but we imagine he must do a lot of both.

Photo Credit: “Jay-Z Backstage at Barack Obama Staff Party,” by d2sf, Wikimedia Commons license CC BY-SA 3.0

Lone Wolf Cigars and Chuck Norris

Posted on January 11, 2020 by Staff

Chuck Norris and Lone Wolf Cigars go hand in hand. It’s not hard to figure out why when considering the man behind the brand. They say Chuck Norris could make an onion cry. Some believe he can unscramble an egg simply by looking at it. Others believe that beneath his beard is not a chin but a clenched fist. The Legend of Carlos “Chuck” Norris seems deeply woven into our national identity. As a martial artist, action star, and anti-drug activist, Norris has been a multi-generational role model for many.

With such a reputation, it shouldn’t surprise any of us that Chuck is a bit of a cigar lifestyle enthusiast. It is not difficult to imagine him with a lit stogie between his lips as the sun sets on his expansive Texas ranch after a hard day of pretending crime-fighting. What is surprising is that the Texas Ranger himself once decided to take his smoking passion to the next level by starting his very own cigar brand.

Lone Wolf Cigars: Quick History

Born in 1996, Lone Wolf Cigars was a passion project and business opportunity for Norris. The brand appeared as Norris was reaching new levels of popularity on the small screen. First, he teamed up with his Hollywood buddy Jim Belushi (and a few high-dollar investors). From there, Norris established the brand to create capital for his burgeoning “Kick Drugs Out of America” organization.

Norris explained how Lone Wolf Cigars was born. Apparently, they were named after his 1983 action hero of the same name.

“We all went down to the Dominican Republic, and they asked us what kind of cigars we wanted. I said that I wanted a very mellow cigar. I didn’t want a cigar that was going to burn my throat. Jim said he wanted a cigar that would, in effect, blow his head off. So we have different blends of our cigars that go from mellow to strong.” — Chuck Norris in a 1998 interview with Cigar Aficionado.

Norris and Belushi may have disagreed about what exactly makes a fine cigar. Yet, they agreed on one thing: Lone Wolf Cigars would be for everyone instead of only for the super-rich. From the get-go, the more affordable price point made these sticks famous for everyday smokers.

Smoking a Lone Wolf Cigar

While Norris and Belushi sold their company share in 2001, Lone Wolf Cigar Company is still alive and well. The brand has a Los Angeles-based cigar lounge. A few branded Dominican-made stogies are still available on the mass market.

There’s the Wolfpack Churchill. There’s also the Wolfpack Torpedo, a sizable seven-inch stogie with a mellow-to-medium-bodied smoke that packs a bit more punch. Both sticks are wrapped in Colorado Maduro leaf for the perfect amount of sweetness. But, some limited Sun Grown-wrapped varieties are released every now and then. The mild flavor and quick-smoking fill make these versatile sticks for any occasion. But, the most considerable appeal of Lone Wolf Cigars is the price. They come in around two bucks a stick when ordered by the bundle.

So what kind of cigars does Chuck Norris Smoke these days? If we had to speculate, we would say whatever kind he wants.

Photo credit: “Chuck Norris, The Delta Force 1986,” by Yoni S.Hamenahem, Wikimedia Commons license under CC BY-SA 3.0

Michael Jordan and Cigar Lifestyle

Posted on December 22, 2019 by Staff

Michael Jordan is more than an athlete. He is one of the most successful men of the modern world, period. Jordan has managed to dominate more than just the basketball court. He is the winner of six NBA championships. He’s also the owner of the Charlotte Hornets. And, he’s the driving force behind the world’s most popular shoe brand and operator of a chain of high-end steakhouses.

As a man of both wealth and taste, it is no surprise that the G.O.A.T. has developed a taste for Cuban cigars. In fact, Jordan is one of our era’s foremost cigar connoisseurs. It’s rumored that he smokes up to 6 sticks a day (most of them on the golf course).

But, when you’re worth $1.9 Billion, you’re kind of expected to be larger than life.

Chicago Stadium and Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona

According to interviews, Jordan began smoking cigars in 1991. That was the same year he and Scottie Pippen put up a combined 62 points to defeat the Lakers during game five of the NBA championship. Jordan says that he wasn’t a daily smoker until a few years later. That’s evidenced by the iconic photo of him with a cigar in his mouth after his 4th championship in 1996.

The stick in question? It was the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona 93’, a classic Habano considered by many as one of the best smokes in the world, even today. With a good draw and moderate aromas, this was a long but easy cigar Jordan could smoke on his way to Chicago Stadium. It was a habit that became a lasting cigar ritual emulated by younger athletes.

Michael Jordan’s Cigar Lifestyle

Today, his Airness spends more time on the golf course than the basketball court, playing 36 holes almost every-day. It’s a habit that fits nicely with his taste for good tobacco. In fact, almost every recent picture of Michael Jordan shows him on a golf course with a stogie hanging from his lips.

Recent interviews have revealed that he is a man that appreciates variety, including his taste in cigars. Jordan’s primary go-to smoke is now the Partagás Lusitania. It’s a Habano double corona that is actually not too removed from the Hoyo de Monterrey. It’s a beast of a Cuban, and the size and stature of it seem fitting for a man like Jordan.

So, how many double coronas does Jordan go through these days? If a report from TMZ is any indicator, the number is high enough that his estate features a walk-in humidor. His estate also has a massive home theater fitted with an air purification system to remove “massive amounts of cigar smoke”.

Seeing pictures of a young Michael Jordan, a Cuban cigar in one hand and a championship trophy in the other is enough to make any man a little emotional. What looked like the highlight of a lifetime was only the beginning of the story. But, it’s a story we don’t mind hearing repeated, and a story that goes great with a cigar.

Photo credit: <a title=”photo taken by flickr user shgmom56, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons” href=”https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MJ_golf_course.jpg”><img width=”512″ alt=”MJ golf course” src=”https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/MJ_golf_course.jpg/512px-MJ_golf_course.jpg”></a>

The Cigar Habits of J.P. Morgan

Posted on December 8, 2019 by Staff

When it comes to cigar habits of the most famous cigar aficionados in American history, John Pierpont Morgan is among the best. Known as the ‘Zeus of Wall Street’ due to his considerable wealth and power, J.P. Morgan also had a rabid appetite for cigars. More specifically, it was the 8” Maduro Meridiana Kohinoor that most often hung from his lips. The Meridiana Kohinoor was a brooding bat of a cigar. It was also likely the basis for the ‘cigar-smoking billionaire’ trope in popular culture.

A millionaire from birth, it was no doubt Morgan’s considerable wealth stoked his love for tobacco leaf. As a young man in Germany, Morgan spent countless hours at the beer halls. It was also no secret that dancing, smoking, and drinking were becoming his favorite activities.

The Zeus of Wall Street’s Silver Humidors

If being born rich wasn’t enough, Morgan went on to increase his wealth exponentially. He founded General Electric. Then, he purchased the New York Times. After that, he bailed out the U.S. treasury — all without breaking a sweat. Not surprisingly, this was the same guy who had custom humidors built for every one of his many yachts. Some now grace the offices of America’s most influential businessmen.

He was a man who traded and banked largely in silver. So, that same metal became his material of choice for his seaworthy humidors. Each yacht was reportedly fitted with a massive silver-encased humidor capable of holding hundreds of his favorite sticks.

Since Morgan’s cigar habits included taking down 20 and 30 cigars per day. That was about enough to cover a long weekend in the Bahamas. Turns out, when you’re making as much money as the original J.P. Morgan, every cigar is a victory cigar.

A Thoughtful Man and A Thoughtful Smoker

The image of a hard-lined businessman puffing on a thick cigar is one fixed into our imaginations. That’s particularly true if your calling card is the ‘Zeus of Wall Street.’ But that same image is not quite accurate for J.P. Morgan. Despite his wealth, Morgan enjoyed cigars far more than being at the center of the world’s finances.

His thoughtful and religious nature took him by sea to distant lands. it’s easy to imagine his commanding figure standing at the ship’s helm, cigar in hand, and thick smoke curling into the salty air. According to his closest associates, it was during these quiet times that Morgan contemplated leaving the business world altogether.

Today, Morgan’s personal cutters and humidors fetch a high price on the ultra-rich auction circuit. For him, they were just comforting in an otherwise taxing life.

Morgan’s Favorite Sticks

The Meridiana Kohinoor shared part of its name with the world’s largest diamond. It was an absolute beast of a Cuban cigar. Most smokers today would have a hard time putting it back, much less smoking anywhere near as many as ‘Zeus of Wall Street’ himself. Morgan’s associates called them ‘Hercules sticks’. But, Morgan was less intimidated by their stature. At $1.25 each, Morgan would order them in batches of 9,000. The cost comparison of $1.25 in 1890 would be about $35 today.

Like any cigar smoker worth his wrapper, Morgan had a few other brands he liked to alternate with. The Regalia de Morgans was a five-inch Havana-made substitute for when he was in a hurry. The Meridiana Selectos was an easy-smoking mid-sized cigar when a bit more leisure in his cigar habits was in order.

Unfortunately, none of the cigars that Morgan enjoyed are still available today. That is unless you happen to have a few hundred grand to spend at a gold-encrusted auction house. Even the 8” stogies are harder to come by. But, if you really want one, you are most likely going to find it on a yacht, attached to the lips of a man pretending to be the most powerful banker in the world.

Photo credit: The Library of Congress on VisualHunt.com / No known copyright restrictions

Tough Conversations Over Holiday Cigars

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Staff

This holiday season will be full of lots of cigars and for most of us also a great deal of family time. Unless you’re related to cousin Eddie, family time is usually a positive thing. It means quality time with loved ones. It’s a great time to finally have those tough conversations you’ve been putting off for years and start implementing new plans. When people are around their loved ones, it also causes them to be reflective. So, there’s no better environment to start a difficult conversation than over a great stick!

Don’t miss my completely free holiday gift to you at the bottom of this article!

Tough Conversations and Holiday Cigars

Estate or end-of-life planning starts with internalizing that we all die. It’s unpleasant to think about and natural to put off. Some families are in great shape. They have had conversations about what happens if Mom, Dad, their spouse, or etc. were to pass unexpectedly. They’ve also implemented a plan to carry out final wishes. If that’s you, great! Cut another piece of pumpkin pie, pour a good beverage, and light an Opus X.

Have a Plan or Starting Thinking About One

If the unexpected happened to you, would your family be taken care of, financially and otherwise? If you have minor children, have you formalized how you’d like them cared for? Do your loved ones know what your final arrangement preferences are for burial, cremation, service or etc? They should include instructions beyond the vague, “something appropriate.”

On a basic level do you have a plan to pay for your funeral? Do your loved ones know about your financial affairs? Who should they talk to (lawyer, financial professional, insurance agent, accountant) to settle your affairs?

Each of these questions could be an article or two to address. Depending on their complexity, they might require professional advice. I’m not trying to solve all your issues here, just to encourage you to start the conversation.

Three Tough Conversations to Consider

So you’re all set. You’ve got a will and executor lined up. You clarified your wishes for final arrangements. You’ve had some tough conversations with your spouse or adult children. They have a decent idea of what to expect with your finances. And, you’ve given some thought to estate planning issues if your assets are enough to warrant it. That’s great! Now, here are three things that you might have overlooked.

Digital Footprint or Assets

Years ago you didn’t have to worry about digital assets. Now, we all have them, even if they aren’t valuable to anyone else. Have you written down all your major online accounts (email, social media, banking, or financial) and instructions on how to access them? Do you own websites or domain names? Someone should be able to access them.

Medical Power of Attorney or Living Will

Have you addressed how you’d like to have medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so for yourself? Have you codified this in writing? Would you like heroic measures taken to try to save you even if you’re facing no hope of recovery? If you haven’t codified your wishes, someone else might make a decision for you that is contrary to what you want.

Long-term Care

It isn’t just death that causes us problems. According to the 2019 Genworth Cost of Care Study, 70% of adults will need long-term care in their lifetime. I know! That is a frigging crazy stat…and also very sobering. The median cost for a semi-private room in a nursing home is over $90,000 per year.

Long-term care insurance is an option for addressing some of those costs. It’s important to consider how you’d like to deal with the possibility of being unable to care for yourself. Having a plan is important even if you decide not to use long-term care insurance to help offset these expenses.

My Holiday Gift to You (No, It’s Not a Box of Cigars)

My friends at Tarkenton Financial have put together a great 24-page “Family Guidebook.” It’s great for dealing with some of these estate issues and starting conversations.

Written by a respected estate planning attorney, it also includes a workbook you can use to organize your important information (names, contact info, accounts, logins, instructions, etc.). I’d be happy to email you a complimentary copy as my holiday gift to you. Send an email to dave@cigarlifeguy.com or message me on social media @cigarlifeguy with your email address and a note that says “send me the family guide.”

Of course, if life insurance or long-term care insurance would help with your plans, Cigar Life Guy gets you non-smoker rates regardless of how many cigars you smoke so #PSSITA!

Photo credit https://www.flickr.com/photos/gylo/5277766947

John F Kennedy and the H. Upmann Petit

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Staff

The Strange Legacy of JFK’s Favorite Cigar

John F Kennedy had a love for cigars, but not just any cigar. For him, the H. Upmann cigar was the cigar to have. If you have spent any amount of time perusing the shelves at your local tobacconist, then you have likely crossed paths with an H. Upmann cigar. It is one of the oldest cigar brands in existence (outdated only by Punch and Por Larranaga). It also managed to survive the decades-long embargo by producing a non-Cuban counterpart under the same name.

This longevity is hardly the reason why people still talk about H. Upmann today. The H. Upmann cigar has managed to remain popular among collectors and newcomers alike.

“It’s the cigar that JFK smoked!” is what you will likely hear from the over-enthusiastic guy behind the counter of your local smoke shop. For any warm-blooded American, this is more than enough reason to light up a stick of this signature brand.

Of course, it isn’t technically true. John F. Kennedy’s favorite stick was the original Petite Upmann. It was a machine-rolled Cuban with mild smoke and dense ash that was since discontinued. But the mystique around this famous cigar is only bolstered by one of the most interesting stories in cigar history.

JFK’s Washington D.C. Cigar Sweep

The year was 1962, less than a year after the disastrously-executed Bay of Pigs Invasion. A freshly-elected John F. Kennedy had the unfortunate task of enacting a congressionally-approved Cuban trade embargo. The embargo would forbid the sale of Cuban products (i.e., cigars) on American soil.

Kennedy, a man who knew the value of a well-enjoyed cigar, had to act fast. The next morning, he would have to sign the order. From that moment on, he would no longer be able to find his favorite cigar.

Enter Pierre Salinger, John F. Kennedy’s rookie Secretary of State. According to Salinger’s own account, Kennedy called him into the Oval Office in the early evening. He had a hell of a favor to ask.

“I need some help,” Kennedy said plainly. “ … about 1,000 Petit Upmanns.”

Salinger jumped into action. An avid fan of Cuban cigars himself, he set out to visit every tobacconist in the D.C. area. In all, he was able to buy 1,200 Petite Upmann cigars mere hours before Kennedy signed the embargo into law. According to Salinger, Kennedy signed the document right after hearing about the impressive haul.

The failure of the Bay of Pigs necessitated their stockpiling. So, these were nothing if not victory cigars, at least in the political sense.

The H. Upmann Petite: Gone for Good?

Today, the Cuban-made H. Upmann and the Dominican-made H. Upmann operate inside a peaceful coexistence. Although, the recent loosening of restrictions has allowed a handful of people to partake in the Cuban versions. While the Upmann Petite was long since discontinued, there were some efforts to recreate the flavor and aroma of JFK’s favorite smoke.

The H. Upmann Original Petite Corona is an impressive attempt at this endeavor. This resurrected blend of Dominican and Brazilian tobaccos offers the same level of warm and nutty smoothness that Kennedy and Salinger scrambled to preserve. For about 7 bucks, it is certainly worth a try if you come by one.

Anyone who still holds a grudge against John F Kennedy for the whole Cuban embargo thing, it’s time to do what any lover of good cigars should do. Move on, light up, and enjoy whatever you’re smoking.

Photo credit: <a title=”National Archives and Records Administration
, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons” href=”https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hyannisport_Weekend._President_Kennedy_with_cigar_and_New_York_Times._Hyannisport,_MA,_aboard_the_%22Honey_Fitz%22._-_NARA_-_194268.jpg”><img width=”256″ alt=”Hyannisport Weekend. President Kennedy with cigar and New York Times. Hyannisport, MA, aboard the "Honey Fitz". – NARA – 194268″ src=”https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Hyannisport_Weekend._President_Kennedy_with_cigar_and_New_York_Times._Hyannisport%2C_MA%2C_aboard_the_%22Honey_Fitz%22._-_NARA_-_194268.jpg/256px-Hyannisport_Weekend._President_Kennedy_with_cigar_and_New_York_Times._Hyannisport%2C_MA%2C_aboard_the_%22Honey_Fitz%22._-_NARA_-_194268.jpg”></a>

The Top Four Cigar Rituals and Traditions

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Staff

There are many good reasons to fire up a stogie in the yard. Yet, folks like me would argue that a real enthusiast doesn’t need a reason at all. Why can’t the cigar be the reason? Still, there are some occasions that demand a good smoke. Take cigar rituals and traditions, for example. They have carried good cigars through the years and given plenty of aficionados even more reasons to smoke. Think new babies, young newlyweds, that big business deal you’ve been working on for months and more.

There is a delightful nostalgia to the notion that some cigars can be more than momentary pleasures. When enjoyed under specific circumstances, cigars grow into a tradition or ritual. So, here are the top four cigar rituals to give you even more reasons to kick back with a good smoke.

The Victory Cigar

The origin of tobacco smoking is attributed to the Native peoples of North and South America. But, it was the Spanish who brought the plant back to Europe. From there, it developed a following among upper-class merchants and statesmen.

Back in the Americas, Spanish conquistadors adopted the Native practice of enjoying rolled tobacco on the battlegrounds, immediately after the victory. Rumor states that the curling smoke would lead the souls of the fallen to the afterlife while cleansing survivors of the stench of blood and war.

Today, I’ll have a victory cigar just for making through to Friday. It might be a different field of battle, but hey, a victory is a victory, and a warrior is a warrior.

The Status Cigar

When tobacco first arrived in Europe in the 15th century, it was in short supply. But, in the Americas, cigar-smoking was commonplace for sailors, soldiers, and fieldworkers. Europeans had to pay a hefty premium for the dried leaves. As a result, the only people who could afford cigars were royal and wealthy.

Over the next few centuries, cigar-smoking became known as something only the well-to-do could afford. This changed after tobacco was commercial-grown and harvested. Yet, you can still find a few celebrities and businessmen who keep an unlit cigar dangling from their mouths. The reason is for none other than to flex their social standing.

Philosophically, I tend to side more with the Northern English noblemen of the late twentieth century. It was then that some gentleman cigar smokers took to the habit of removing the band from their cigar. For them, it was the act of flourishing the brand (and the price) into something of a social faux-pas.

The New Baby Cigar

The image of a sweating, nervous father-to-be pacing the hospital waiting room with a pocketful of stogies is something that you only see in the movies. In fact, bringing a lit cigar anywhere near a delivery room today will likely have you removed from the building.

Still, this cigar tradition celebrates the birth of a child and has managed to survive through the centuries. Most historians agree this tradition likely came from native tribes in North America. The tribes held a “Potlatch” ceremony to exchange gifts with one another to commemorate births and weddings. Primitive cigars were among the gifts often given and were highly prized.

The Thoughtful Cigar

The connection between tobacco smoke and the spirit world is strong in Native American spiritual tradition. Many tribes consider smoke to be a ‘collecting’ agent. In other words, it can lift spirits, ideas, and prayers to the ancestors above. For tribal leaders and medicine men, the thoughtful smoking of sacred tobacco is a pathway to a clearer understanding.

Anyone who enjoys a cigar in the peaceful quiet of a mid-summer dusk might agree that there is something contemplative about a slowly-smoke. Likewise, there is something in the shared experience of tobacco that brings us together in conversation.

I’m not anticipating a kid, planning to defeat an opposing army or feel the need to become a wealthy shipping merchant. So, I’m going to go ahead and call the thoughtful cigar my personal favorite of all four of the top cigar rituals.

Photo credit: Elvert Barnes on VisualHunt/CC BY-SA

Cigar Lounge Etiquette: 5 Pointers For Newbies

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Staff

If you’re like me, then you are more likely to enjoy that fine cigar sitting outside or perched atop a lawnmower than in the plush leather chairs in an upscale smoking lounge. But even the most introverted smokers enjoy occasional socialization. More so, when it involves gathering around a shared passion for a well-crafted cigar and long conversation. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the sofa of your local tobacconist or bellied-up against the bar of your favorite cigar club. Tobacco lounges are bringing more aficionados together than ever before.

Here’s the rub: your local cigar bar is not your neighbor’s garage. Treating it as such is a good way to earn the ire of your fellow smokers, so it doesn’t hurt to go in armed with a few pointers. What follows is a crash course in cigar lounge etiquette. It’s etiquette designed to elevate the cigar experience for everyone involved.

Get Your Cigar From the Cigar Lounge

Bringing your own cigar is actually prohibited at many lounges and smoke shops. But, there is a better reason than leaving your stash in your personal humidor and picking one up from the tobacconist. Buying in-house is a good way to support the industry and culture of cigar smoking. It also boosts the local economy in which they operate.

Beyond that, lounges and smoke shops likely have a much bigger selection than you do at home. This allows you to branch out and try some new brands and styles.

Cut Before Tasting

Tasting the cigar before it is lit is like listening to the overture of a play. You get to preview all the notes and themes of the upcoming experience. Some smokers prefer to roll the unlit cigar between their lips. Others will draw their tongue across the length of the cigar.

Whatever your tasting method, do the rest of us a favor. Save it for after you cut the cigar. Using a borrowed cutter on a cigar that is already coated in your saliva is hardly a gentlemanly thing to do.

Hold Your Calls

Even in a social setting, the atmosphere is everything for a good cigar. Blabbing on your cell phone is disrespectful to smokers around you. It’s also getting in the way of your own experience. Do the whole lounge a favor. Set your phone to vibrate and take important calls outside.

Watch Your Ash

Falling ash is a quick way to smudge furniture and clothing. The real danger, though, is ruining someone else’s drink because you weren’t paying attention to how big the ash was getting. Be sure to use the provided trays to keep your ash to a manageable level. Don’t ash on the floor … that’s just bad manners.

Don’t Smash Your Cigar

This is one that I see all the time, and it makes long-time cigar smokers cringe. We’ve told you how to light your cigar, and now it’s time to learn how to put it out with dignity.

When you finish with your cigar, place it on the ashtray and leave it be. Don’t smash it into the ashtray like you’re trying to put out a cigarette. The high moisture content of cigars is enough to ensure that the cigar will go out on its own. Besides, being destructive in such ways is beneath the art of cigar smoking. It can also lead to some harsh, unwanted aromas wafting throughout the room.

Remember: no one goes to the cigar lounge to have a bad time. Relax, be courteous, and don’t talk too loud. Before you know it you will be enveloped with the sweet comfort of a well-curated cigar lounge. A lounge where it’s possible to pursue that delicate, centuries-old art of enjoying a cigar amidst the company and conversation of strangers.

Photo credit: Ross Dunn - Thanks for the more than 13 million views on VisualHunt/CC BY-SA

The Victory Cigars of NBA Coach Red Auerbach

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Staff

Arnold “Red” Auerbach was well-known as the coach and later the general manager of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His teams, featuring the likes of Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and several more hands full of Hall of Famers, were the most dominant of his era, the 1950s and 1960s, winning nine NBA championships as a coach and later another seven as an executive. Phil Jackson has surpassed his coaching records, but there is no doubt he was the iconic coach of his era. The NBA’s Coach of the Year award gets its name from him. More than fifty years later, we best remember Red Auerbach for his trademark “Victory Cigars.”

Red Auerbach’s Victory Cigars Ritual

When the Celtics were up late in the game, Red lit a cigar on the bench. It would signal that the game was effectively over.

“It all boils down to this. I used to hate these college coaches or any coach that was 25 points ahead with three minutes left to go, and they’re up there yellin’ and coachin’ because they’re on TV, and they want their picture on, and they get recognition. To me, the game was over. The day’s work is done. Worry about the next game. This game is over. So I would light a cigar, sit on the bench, and watch it. The game was over, for all intents and purposes. I didn’t want to rub anything in or show anybody what a great coach I was when I was 25 points ahead. Why? I gotta win by 30? What the hell difference does it make?” — Red Auerbach (as reported by Cigar Aficionado, Summer 1994)

Was it Obnoxious, and Did it Piss Off the Opposition?

Well, of course, it was obnoxious. Opposing players hated it. One, Paul Seymour of the Syracuse Nationals, is said to have remarked that his ambition in life was not to win an NBA Championship but to come back and beat Red and his Celtics after lighting the cigar.

The Cincinnati Royals had a promotion that gave 5000 fans a complimentary cigar as they entered the arena one evening in hopes that they’d be able to light them up and celebrate a Royals win over the Celtics. It didn’t work out, and the fans left with unlit cigars in hand. (Dan Shaughnessy, Evergreen, 1990)

Some of his players didn’t care for it, either. Bob Cousy, his Hall of Fame guard, was on record as not being a fan. It fired up the other team. They also didn’t care for them in the locker room. The ventilation system could have been better. Everybody had a Red story about him firing up a stick here or there (including in a car) with no regard for the people around him. (Yeah, he was a lout)

Let’s face it, though. The guy was a winner. When you win, you get to make your own rules.

What Kind of Victory Cigars did Red Auerbach Smoke?

“A little bit of everything,” according to Red. In this way, he was much like many of us. But, he acknowledged early in his life, he was a pipe smoker primarily because it was more economical than a premium cigar.

At one point, he had an endorsement deal with King Edwards, a cigar manufacturer of the era. He also acknowledged receiving many cigars as gifts from his many Celtics fans. Of course, he smoked those too. If there is one cigar he is linked to by brand as being a favorite, it is probably the Hoyo de Monterrey.

Will There Ever Be Another Red Auerbach?

Probably not. Things change. Heck, you can’t even smoke inside anymore. Today’s victory celebrations involve some dance or posts on social media. Let’s face it; the world is different now. But as a cigar enthusiast, even if you don’t like the Celtics, you must have some respect for a guy whose statue holds a cigar in his hand. That same statue sits outside his former workplace, the building formally known as the Boston Garden. Now, his statue gets its name from some tech company or bank as part of a naming rights deal. Things were simpler in Red’s day.

Win something, light one up, and enjoy a victory cigar of your own!

Photo credit: “Bill Russell and Red Auerbach 1966 Champions,” by Fred Keenan, Wikimedia Commons license Public Domain CC0 1.0