Joy of Cigars Archives - Page 12 of 13

Are Real Cohiba Cuban Cigars Worth the Hype?

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Staff

Ask a handful of new cigar smokers what the ‘best’ cigar is, and you’ll likely hear the word “Cuban” come up. As with anything that’s outlawed,’ Real Cuban cigars have had a certain mystique surrounding them. It’s an air that other cigars don’t have. But – are they worth the mystique and the money? Anyone who’s tried to buy Cuban cigars overseas – the real ones, not the Cohiba knockoffs! – knows that they’re costly.

So, is it worth forking up the dollars for the authentic Montecristo, Cohiba, or H. Upmann from Cuba?

What Makes Real Cohiba Cuban Cigars Special

First, Cuban tobacco has a distinctive flavor. It’s the only thing that makes a real ‘Cuban’ cigar taste as it does. Then, there’s the ‘I can’t do what I want’ mentality floating around for almost 60 years. That gives a Cuban cigar a sense of ‘coolness.’ Cuban cigars carry a uniqueness all their own. When tobacco is grown, it takes on the flavor of the soil it’s grown in – so yes, Cubans are unique. The climate in Cuba – being smack in the middle of the Caribbean – makes for some fantastic tobacco.

A typical Cuban has a bold flavor profile that’s rich and complex. For those who have smoked them – you know what I mean. Some Cuban brands have milder varieties. But, the well-known Cuban cigars lie more towards the “fuller” side – so if you’re new to cigars, ease in. Some reputable brands are Cohiba, Montecristo, H. Upmann, and Romeo y Julieta. You can’t go wrong with any of them.

Where Do I Find Them?

Now, you want to buy some good Cuban cigars, but where? Since 1962, there’s been an embargo on cigars from Cuba – one of their top exports. Recently, the U.S. has loosened laws around bringing Cubans back to the United States. It’s still tough to find them in the lower 48 states because they can’t be resold here. Plan on an international trip, but be aware if you travel overseas and are in the market for a Cuban. Watch out for counterfeits – they run rampant.

If you’re sitting on the beach, enjoying a nice umbrella drink, and a vendor asks if you’d like to buy a three-pack of Cohibas for $10 – run away! Real Cubans are expensive – expect to pay some decent dollars for a cigar – usually around $15 or more per stick.

Duty-free shops in airports are great spots to buy authentic Cuban. Although, they may need a couple of months in your humidor when you get home. Also, if you’re staying at a reputable hotel, and we’re assuming you are, ask the front desk where you can find some ‘real’ Cubans. Many tourist towns have a shop or two that sells the real deal, and you can go there to pick up a few to bring home with you.

Is It Worth It?

Yes! Take this with a grain of salt. There are some fantastic cigars from plenty of manufacturers throughout the Caribbean (think Nicaragua, Honduras, etc.). But, if you’ve never had a Cuban, it’s almost a rite of passage – you must try one.

So, seek a real Cuban cigar next time you plan a vacation and want to incorporate some cigars into the mix. Try one for yourself, and let us know what you think!

Photo credit: Pixabay | Rom4in

Cigar Etiquette for the Casual Cigar Smoker

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Staff

New to cigars, or just a casual smoker looking for a few cigar etiquette tips? It can be an intimidating world especially if you find yourself in a swanky cigar lounge surrounded by a bunch of experienced cigar enthusiasts. Here are a few guidelines to help you navigate the world of cigar smoking.

1. Don’t inhale

Okay, this may seem obvious, but I cannot tell you how many times I’ve witnessed the “casual” smoker make this mistake. Cigars are not designed to be inhaled like cigarettes (or e-cigarettes, for that matter), they’re meant to be tasted and enjoyed. Once you light your cigar, you should take short puffs – smell the aroma (it should be pleasant, or you’ve done something wrong), and taste the tobacco.

2. Take your time

The act (or art) of cigar smoking is designed to be a relaxing experience – it’s not a race. Beating your buddy to the bottom of the stick doesn’t win any brownie points, and you can ruin a once fine cigar in the process. You want the cigar to remain cool, and not burn too hot – a hot cigar can be uncharacteristically strong and unpleasant. It’s said that a puff every 30 seconds to one minute is about the right speed; your cigar will stay lit but stay cool enough to thoroughly enjoy.

3. Don’t light someone else’s cigar

Yes, it may seem like you’re offering a helping hand. But no, don’t do it. Trust me, we appreciate the gesture, but we like to light our own cigars. Why? Everyone lights a cigar a little differently, and we each have our preferences. Plus, the lighting of a cigar is fundamental to how it will smoke – the most important part! If you need cigar etiquette tips on how to properly light a cigar, click here.

4. Don’t take your band off until it’s time (or at all)

Outside of style and preference, there are actually some reasons why your band should stay on. First, the band of your cigar is glued together – don’t try to slide it off your cigar, or you could end up with a cracked wrapper – bad news. Wait until you light your cigar, and if you really want to take that band off, the cigar will have heated up the glue, and you can peel it right off the cigar. Once the cigar is lit and the band is safe to remove, the choice to keep it on or not is yours; it really is an individual stylistic choice. If you want to keep that band on, it’s perfectly fine – plus, if it’s a great cigar, you have something to remember it by.

5. Let your cigar go out with dignity

Number five is probably the most important cigar etiquette on this list – don’t stub out your cigar. Some cigar smokers will smoke their cigar down until they have about a third of it left (if they’re enjoying it, that is) – the last third can sometimes be a bit strong, and you wouldn’t want to ruin the experience. Of course, others will smoke it until they can no longer safely hold the cigar, enjoying every last puff. In either case, when you’re finished with your cigar, just let it go out. It will go out on its own, and you’ll enjoy the last of its pleasant smell. Just don’t mash it into the ashtray – it smells bad and really is unnecessary.

6. If you’re headed to a cigar lounge, don’t ‘BYOC’

Cigar lounges are fantastic spots to enjoy cigars and talk with fellow cigar enthusiasts. You shouldn’t, however, bring your own cigars – unless you’re planning on replacing them with purchases from the lounge. If you’re at a cigar lounge that sells cigars, plan on buying a few, and ask for suggestions – you may find something you haven’t tried before, and it may become your new favorite.

7. Assess the room

If you’re smoking in a public place, take a look at the environment you’re in, and smoke as such. In a swanky, downtown cigar lounge that’s dark and quiet inside? Enjoy your cigar in peace and use the time to relax while the rest of the lounge does the same. At a family barbecue with corn hole games running rampant? Well, then some good chatter may be appropriate. Bottom line is, know your audience. Some people want to enjoy their cigar in relative peace and quiet. Avoid those controversial subjects that may spark some heavy conversation (politics and religion come to mind…) and keep the subjects on the lighter side. Most importantly, enjoy your cigar! Healthy conversations around cigars are usually a welcome topic with groups of cigar aficionados.

photo credit: Pixabay

Top Travel Destinations for Cigar Lovers

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Staff

Vacations wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a fine cigar somewhere in the mix. Finding a place to enjoy a good cigar is a vacation “must” that you can do anywhere. But, if you’re looking for some cigar-centric activities, you’ll want to check out one of these top travel destinations for cigar lovers.

Tampa, Florida

Florida is one of the top vacation spots in the States. It’s easy to get to and loaded with beaches, palm trees, and umbrella drinks. Of all the destinations in Florida, Tampa often flies under the radar. Not for cigar enthusiasts, though. Tampa – once coined the Cigar Capital of the World – was a transplant city for some of the most famous cigar rollers in Cuba. Ybor City, a neighborhood within Tampa city limits, is a hot spot for Floridian cigar making. And, it has a rich story to tell.

Take one of their guided walking tours. Then, stop at Centennial Park for some art and fresh hand-rolled cigars. If you time it right, you can attend the Cigar Heritage Festival. The festival features premium cigars, rolling demonstrations, and some of the finest cigar makers in the world. It’s also a great place if you’re looking to learn about cigar history in America. So, enjoy some great Florida weather and place Tampa on your list.

Dominican Republic

This one shouldn’t be a surprise to the readers out there. Most of us cigar lovers have a handful of Dominicans in our humidors, even if we don’t realize it. The Dominican Republic is known as a top travel destination for its phenomenal beaches, sunshine, and Caribbean vibe. It’s a top vacation spot and cruise destination. But, for cigar lovers, the Dominican Republic also features cigar factories producing some of the top premium brands. These factories will host tours for cigar-loving vacationers such as yourself.

Stop at the Davidoff cigar factory in Santiago for a tour and learn how they make these premium sticks. Or, visit the TDG cigar factory where Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, and other top brands are rolled. After you’ve learned how some of the top cigars are made, grab a few for the road. Then, sit back and relax with your new cigar and a fine cocktail to relax and enjoy the Caribbean sun. For information on tours, click here.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas – the entertainment capital of the world, is another top destination that made our list. Now, Vegas may not have the heat, sun, and Caribbean allure of the previous spots, but it’s a cigar lover’s dream in its own right. Filled with casinos and nightlife, Vegas is one of the last spots in the U.S. where you can smoke a cigar almost anywhere. Plus, there are a wide variety of high-quality cigars at your fingertips.

If you’re an avid cigar smoker and have the means, check out Cigar Aficionado’s The Big Smoke held every year. This event is brimming with cigar lovers from all over the world. It draws some of the finest manufacturers to attend, like Arturo Fuente, A.J. Fernandez, and others. If that’s not a testament to Vegas being a cigar city, then I don’t know what is.

photo credit: Pixabay

New Cigar Smoker Tips: Choosing a Good Cigar

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Staff

If you’re new to cigar smoking, then walking into a giant humidor filled with cigars of all shapes and sizes at your local lounge can be intimidating. Maybe, you’re out with a group of experienced cigar smokers. You need to make a solid choice of stogie for a drink with friends, but as a new cigar smoker, you don’t know where to start. For beginner and experienced cigar enthusiasts, the choices are endless. Learning what makes a good cigar is the first place to start.

We’re not talking about a cigar being “good” on flavor or strength, here. That’s a personal preference learned with time and your best bet is to ask your long-time buddy for a recommendation. We’re talking about quality. Below are a few tips to help the new cigar smoker choose a well-constructed stogie.

Visually Inspect Your Cigar

This is the first, and easiest, step in selecting a solid cigar. When you’re trying to determine a constructed cigar, you first need to look at its wrapper. The wrapper of the cigar is the outside tobacco leaf that holds all the tobacco inside together. It should be free of blemishes like spots, or mold, and have a slightly oily texture to it. Choose a good cigar that’s maintained in a controlled, humidified setting. A controlled setting maintains the cigar’s intended character. It also prevents cracking from being too dry or mold from excessive humidity.

Feel the Cigar

Once you’ve taken a good look at the cigar, make sure you feel it. Roll it between your fingers, and you’ll be able to tell a lot about how it will smoke. A well-made cigar will be firm, without feeling brittle. A brittle cigar is a telltale sign of a dried-out stick or one that’s been through too many changes in humidity. It will smoke fast and feel airy on the draw. The cigar shouldn’t feel “spongy,” either. A squishy cigar is one that’s absorbed too much humidity. It will be tough to draw and give you a hard time staying lit. As a reference, a well-kept cigar should be about the same firmness as a finger – firm, with a little give.

Smoke the Cigar

Okay, at this point, if the cigar looks and feels good, it’s time to commit. Light your cigar. (If you need tips on proper cigar lighting, check out this article). Then, start smoking it. A good cigar should burn evenly throughout the duration of the smoke. The different tobaccos mixed within will produce the great taste quality cigars are known for. If the cigar starts to burn uneven, the flavor will distort and might turn harsh. Finally, the cigar should have a pleasant aroma to it – you seasoned cigar smokers know what I’m talking about.

Still not interested in picking up a random cigar at your local shop? Need to do some research on the best cigars out there? There are many resources out there, but one of our favorites is Cigar Aficionado’s Ratings & Reviews. Every year, they rate the top new cigars out on the market and communicate their results to the people. With a 90+ rating cigar pick, you can’t go wrong.

Photo credit: Pixabay

7 Awesome Reasons Why Cigar Life is for You

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Staff

The history of Cigar Life

The love of cigars has a long history, and no one is certain of when it began or with whom. What we do know is that the tradition of cigar life and smoking is extensive. Cigar’s history dates back at least a thousand years. Although, it may have been even longer. The earliest cigars differed from what brothers and sisters of leaf smoke today. Cigars were little more than tightly rolled tobacco leaves bundled together. They were thought to have originated with the Mayans back in the tenth century. That’s because a clay jar depicting a man smoking a cigar was found dating to the period. Yet, no one knows for certain who conceptualized rolling up some tobacco leaves and smoking them. But, we’re glad they did.

Fast-forward to today. Cigar smoking is common, available, and enjoyed by all members of modern society. In fact, cigar smoking has grown so popular that cigar life has developed across the globe and online. So, we’ve put together a list of seven awesome ways that prove cigar smoking is for you to enjoy whenever you want. We’ll begin with the wild, wild world of social media.

1. From Social Smoker to Social Media

Cigars and social media are not exactly what comes to mind while puffing on a stick and letting that rich, thick smoke tickle your tongue before you release it. Yet, cigar aficionados have stormed social media. On Facebook alone, there are over 100 different cigar groups. That means there’s a group out there for everyone … and if you can’t find a good fit, it’s easy enough to create your own. Yet, social media isn’t the only way to enjoy cigar life. There are gobs of cigar events nationwide and worldwide.

2. National Cigar Events

National cigar events across the U.S. never stop to amaze us. Every year, you can count your sticks and head over to the nearest event. Or, plan a stop during your vacation and check out cigar events in your area. If you’ve never been to a cigar event, you should try one. Live music, smokes, and excellent camaraderie? You bet! Large events often include premium cigar samples among other things for participants to enjoy. You don’t need to stay local or national to find some great events, though. If you’re thinking of traveling abroad, be sure to check out cigar events in the area you’re traveling to as well. You’ll never know what gems you’ll find until you look.

3. Cigar Events Across the Globe

Finding international cigar events that appeal to you is easier than you think with a good internet connection. Cigar Journal has a list of international cigar events posted on their website. Yet, if you know where your traveling and are looking for something in the area, a simple web search may produce some good results. So, maximize your vacation or travel plans to take one down to the nub.

4. Smoking’ in the Cigar lounge

If you haven’t had a chance to check out a local or not-so-local cigar lounge yet. We encourage you to try them. They are a fantastic way to socialize with good smoke. As a bonus, you’ll find cigar lounges dotted across the U.S. as well as the globe. The trend of cigar lounges is likely to continue to rise if the industry has anything to reflect on it. According to Statista, a market research company, the cigar industry is speaking loud and clear. Cigar consumption is rising across the globe, and the U.S. is at the top of the list with over $9 billion in revenue generated in the U.S. alone for 2019.

5. Cigar History Museums

Cigar lounges are a great place to kick back, relax, nub a stick and enjoy the camaraderie that follows. Yet, cigars have a rich history that spans the globe. Cigar history in the U.S. involves when Cuban cigar makers planted themselves in Florida to see their cigar-making dreams come to fruition. Today, cigar aficionados, or any history buff, can stroll down to Key West, Tampa, or Ybor City to appreciate the Cuban cigar heritage. Ybor City offers cigar enthusiasts a permanent exhibit in the city’s cigar history museum – Ybor City Museum.

Of course, not everyone has time to travel these days. Life is busy. With that in mind, the online Cigar History Museum was founded by central California cigar aficionado, Tony Hyman. Hyman displays images and grand, historical detail on the museum’s website for public viewing. No cost. No travel – just sheer, rich cigar history.

6. Women and Cigars

There is a long history of women smoking cigars. Tobacco smoking was first used for rituals and spiritual purposes. Today, cigar smoking has made its way into leisure life and enjoyed by all – men and women. In fact, there are even several social networking groups designed with women and cigars in mind. Women’s International Cigar Club is one of them. It is a Facebook group with a following of 765 people. Another networking group is Stixx and Stilettos, which aims to connect professional women with cigars. Stixx and Stilettos host networking events for ladies of the leaf and for those with an interest in cigars. That’s one more reason that cigar smoking offers something for everyone.

We’ve covered six great reasons to smoke cigars and enjoy the camaraderie and culture that follows. Now, what about age? Cigar smokers were first associated with older, affluent men. So, is there an average age for people to enjoy a stick in a lounge, at an event, or pretty much anywhere? The answer, of course, is “No” and this brings us to our final reason why cigar smoking is for you.

7. Millennial Cigar Smokers

Millennials are the up-and-coming cigar aficionados now and they are taking to cigar lifestyle by storm. According to a blog by Zach Riley on Stogie Press, millennials like himself enjoy a good stick for relaxation and socialization. They prefer social events to stogies at home. They also believe in documenting their lives, including cigar life, via social media – any social media.

So, there you have it, cigar life truly is for everyone. Cigar life has much to offer. There is so much more to cigars than nubbing a good stick. Of course, that’s always good too.

photo credit: Pixabay

Summer Drinks and Cigars: Beat the Heat

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Staff

When the mercury spikes, what’s a better way to beat the heat than enjoying summer drinks and nice cigars under a piece of shade? Honestly, not much – except for an ice-cold beverage to pair with your favorite cigar. There are a few requirements to summer cocktails – they have to be refreshing, easy to make, and pair well with a variety of your best summer cigars.

Summer is a time for backyard barbecues, beach trips, and plenty of hot evenings on the back deck. Here are a few classic summer drinks for you and your friends to pair with your favorite cigars and help you enjoy your next summer evening. After a hot day, there’s nothing better.

The Classic Mojito

When it’s hot outside, this one can’t be beaten. The Mojito recipe is simple, refreshing, and can be modified to fit your cigar choice. Plus, it originates from one of the most famous destinations in the cigar world – Cuba. Easily concocted with soda water, sugar, mint, and light rum, there are a variety of different combinations to suit your cigar preferences.

Into the milder cigar varieties? Connecticut wrappers? Make it the traditional way, with light rum. Have a darker cigar that you’re looking to try? Say, an oily Maduro? Swap out the light rum for dark rum for a bolder experience. Next time you’re enjoying a summer evening with a box of hand-rolled Belicosos and some friends, make up a batch of Mojitos, get out the matches, and imagine you’re sitting on a beach in the Caribbean.

The Whiskey Rebellion

You may not have heard of this one before, but to all of you bourbon drinkers out there – this one’s for you. A refreshing cocktail with a hint of bourbon, the Whiskey Rebellion is a combination of your favorite bourbon, Pimm’s, simple syrup, lemon, and ice. This pairs nicely with medium-bodied cigars – like a classic Romeo Y Julieta 1875 – but feel free to give a mild cigar a shot as well. The sugar in the simple syrup cuts the strong citrus vibe, but be careful – don’t add too much lemon, or it can compete with the cigar’s flavor.

Whiskey and cigars go together like peanut butter and jelly. To some whiskey lovers out there, it feels like a sacrilege to pair a fine cigar with anything but whiskey neat. To all of you skeptics out there, gather your bourbon-loving friends, pass out a few fine cigars, and give this one a try.

The Gin and Tonic

Yes, gin and cigars DO go together, even if the pairing isn’t as popular as with some of the other liquors out there. Since we’ve hit some of the popular ‘cigar’ liquors- rum, whiskey – it felt appropriate to add this one to the mix. Gin is having a craft resurgence, and since it’s one of the new ‘hot’ liquors – it needed to be included – particularly because it’s so versatile, and pairs with a wide variety of our favorite smokes.

The Gin and Tonic consist of tonic, gin, lime juice, and ice – that’s it. Since gin now comes in so many different flavor profiles, from sweet to dry, you can pair most cigars with it – anything from mild to wild. The plus side? There’s some great gin at modest prices, so you can reallocate that money to cigar-buying!

If you’re still not sold on one of these choices, visit your local cigar and cocktail lounge where the summer drinks and cigar pairings are endless!

photo credit: Pixabay

Choose Joy in Your Life Like You Choose a Cigar

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Staff

Take a second and list the things in your life that bring you a moment of joy without complication. A relationship with even the ‘perfect’ woman is still far from perfect. Children grow up and so grow their personalities. Usually, outside of your perceived bounds of logic and reason, they figure things out. Jobs pay the bills and a vacation or two, but they also pay for a doctor’s bill or three. Then, there’s a fine cigar – a breath of something more than fresh air when you need it most. For cigar smokers, a taste of cigar lifestyle at the exact moment you need it puts everything into crystal clear focus. It’s the moment you actively choose joy for a moment of peace and relaxation. With the right Corona Gorda and the right company, the heaviness of everyday responsibility lifts. That’s when an easy, unforced smile crosses our lips

It’s Not How You Relax. It’s That You Relax.

A group of 100 people was polled recently about their relaxation habits. The findings were baffling to the true cigar connoisseur. Forty percent of those polled said they never purposefully take time to step back and relax. Forty-five percent of the group stated they have a difficult time finding any single way to relax at all. That’s almost half! It’s hard not to feel sorry for such an uptight mode of approaching life. Cigar smokers have built a culture around themselves and their passions predicated on putting relaxation at the forefront. It’s intrinsic in the methodical. It’s zen-like in the way we peruse a smoke shop searching for the right fine cigars for the right mood, and the right get-together. It’s in the way we smoke our Lonsdales and Churchills, never hurrying to huff our way out of good taste and a good time.

A Little Mindfulness Goes A Long Way

A regular cigarette usually takes only a few minutes to smoke. The right fine cigar will last from 30 minutes to two hours if smoked with care. The cigar lounge is the perfect place to practice balancing needed mindfulness with the uncomplicated pleasure we are often denied through the rigors of daily life. In fact, such regular attention to mindfulness – to the joy of being in a damn good moment – lessens the strain to a powerful degree. It allows us the ability to focus sharper and make better decisions when life gets stressful.

Choose Joy for Value Greater Than a Good Time

Making room for joy sounds simple. Yet, it is the true divide between those who are happy and those who feel something missing even in the best moments. And if you choose joy – letting the rising smoke of your favorite cigar take you on a regular vacation from your ‘normal’ senses – you’ll create more joy in those around you. A recent study reported that a close friend’s happiness increases the likelihood you’ll feel happier by a full 15%. Hell, just being near acquaintances or friends of friends who are happy bumps your joy quotient by 6%. Cigar lovers, take heart. What some call your ‘guilty pleasure’ is actually the right pleasure for you. And that pleasure, that embrace of the joyful, will go a long way in taking the sting out of tough days for you and those around you.

photo credit: Pixabay

Five Great Responses to “Why Smoke Cigars”

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Staff

If you’ve heard it once you’ve heard it ten thousand times from non-smokers asking us the same question – why smoke cigars? Well, here are five great replies you can use the next time you hear that tiring, old question.

We Enjoy the Taste.

We enjoy the warm and pure taste of tobacco that one can only fully experience through a premium cigar. By swishing the smoke or chewing on the side of a premium cigar, we love the natural, yet strong taste and smell of tobacco leaves. In that light, do you walk into or open a humidor to take in the incredible scent of cigars? There is no better smell in the world. Yet, while the taste and smell of cigars are amazing, they are simply two of the many reasons why we smoke.

Cigars Clear Our Minds.

Most premium cigars take between 45 minutes and an hour and 15 minutes to finish. Cigars create an hour of uninterrupted thought, whether it be alone or in the company of others. We often have our most clear and coherent thoughts while smoking cigars because a premium ‘stogie’ releases the stress of modern life, bringing us to a simpler environment. A premium cigar relaxes us, which in turn, allows us to reflect and think. While smoking, we feel able and ready to answer life’s most serious questions.

Smoking Helps Us Connect With Others.

The act of smoking a cigar with others brings us closer to those around us. As stated, a cigar provides you with an hour block of time. During this time, you feel fully present with those around you; you embrace the conversation and friendship. For that hour, friendship and cigars are everything; there are no distractions. We can talk about and share our lives, families, and views while hearing about that of others.

We find peace in the ritual of smoking cigars.

Beginning with its preparation, we appreciate the consistency and patience of smoking a cigar. After opening a humidor and choosing the perfect cigar, you ritualistically cut the stogie the very same way before calmly sparking a match. You light the cigar in a similar if not the exact same way every time. As a result, we enjoy the ceremonial process of smoking a premium cigar. Life disrupts plans with surprising turns and changes. Yet, the process of smoking a cigar stays the same and follows the same tradition – too many, it is a form of meditation.

We smoke cigars to celebrate.

Like champagne or aged-scotch, cigars represent celebration. Whether graduation or wedding, cigars mark life’s largest moments and events. Individuals throughout the world gift and enjoy cigars in moments of joy. Cigars lift spirits and show enjoyment. There is nothing quite like smoking a cigar with those you love while wearing your nicest suit or dress on a sunny, happy day.

So, Why Smoke Cigars?

We smoke because cigars taste great. They allow us to think during stressful times. They help us connect and have serious talks with others. They provide us with peace, and they put an exclamation point on life’s most important moments.

photo credit: Pixabay

How to Light a Cigar the Right Way

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Staff

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

A Matter of Distance: Lighting a Cigar Like a Pro

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

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

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

Toast, Don’t Scorch

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

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

Rotate & Puff, Using the Band as a Gauge

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

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

Cigars Are Works of Art: Summing It All Up

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

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

Photo credit: Pixabay

Curing Digital Headaches With a Good Cigar

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Staff

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

Turn Off The Phone and Light a Cigar

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

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

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

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

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

We’re not downloadable.

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

photo credit: Pixabay