Joy of Cigars Archives - Page 9 of 12

7 Reasons Why Cigars are Better Than Cigarettes

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Staff

There are many reasons why cigars are better than cigarettes, at least, in our opinion. Coming way out in front of pipes, cigar and cigarette smoking are the two most common ways that people “consume” tobacco. Cigarette smoking has declined dramatically over the past seven decades and today is at an all-time low. Cigar, smoking, on the other hand, remains quite popular. The reason being that most cigar smokers, something like 75%, smoke less than one cigar per day.

For the enthusiast, a cigar every day is not necessary; it can be reserved for special occasions or smoked only semi-regularly. Cigarettes, on the other, become a habit and, the longer someone smokes, the most likely they are to climb from one or two cigarettes per-day to over twenty or more.

But the nature of their use is not the only thing cigars have over cigarettes, here are some of the other reasons’ cigars are better than cigarettes.

Cigar Smoking is An Experience

A good cigar can smoke for an hour or more. You can light one up, sit alone on your balcony, and be alone with your thoughts as the smoke billows and whirs around you. Or you can smoke cigars socially. There are few things more closely associated with masculinity and bonding with your male friends than a bunch of cigars complimented by stiff drinks and a good time.

Cigarettes, on the other hand, come and go quickly. Rather than enjoying a cigarette, most long-time smokers seem to need them. These people need to take smoke breaks every hour to satisfy their cravings. It doesn’t matter to them if it is freezing cold out or if they are on a tight deadline. When cigarettes call, smokers answer. Cigars are a relaxing and enjoyable experience for most people, while cigarettes are a jittery habit.

Natural Cigars are Better Than Cigarettes

Just about every product under the sun these days wants to claim they are “natural.” Premium, hand-rolled cigars, though, truly are.

Cigars are, perhaps, the original “single-ingredient” product: Tabaco. Everything from what is inside the cigar to the leaf that keeps it all held together is tobacco. No chemicals, dyes, or flavorings are used in premium cigars. What this means is you get the benefit of truly tasting the subtle flavors and differences between cigars that are from different places.

When you smoke a real Cuban, you are not just tasting a Cuban “flavor,” what you are experiencing is tobacco that was grown on a Cuban farm, harvested by Cuban farmers, rolled by Cuban artisans, and sold by the Cuban government. You, in other words, have something completely natural and totally authentic. One of the only processes that premium tobacco undergoes is fermentation. Nothing is produced during tobacco fermentation, but it is said to improve the flavor.

Cigarettes are the opposite. They can load harmful chemicals, flavors, and other substances; they drive out the unique flavors of the tobacco and replaces it with something artificial.

Cigars are Artisanal

Some tobacco leaves are stronger than others, some have unique tastes, and some are simply of higher quality. A true cigar artisan who specializes in hand-rolled cigars knows all of this and more. Not only can he spot the best, most relevant leaves, but he can blend them together using the wisdom and hands only available to a select few. When you get a premium, hand-rolled cigar, you are getting something special.

The same can not be said of cigarettes, which are spat out of manufacturing plants like uniform widgets. Like at McDonald’s, the primary concern of cigarette manufacturers is consistency. Forget about the quality of natural ingredients; all that matters is turning out a uniform product time and time again.

The saying goes that every premium cigar you smoke has been touched by 200 hands. This number may be accurate, and it may even be higher. The point is that making premium cigars is not easy. It’s as much an art as it is a manufacturing process and requires skill and attention every step of the way—from the selection of the tobacco seeds to the rolling of the leaf.

Unique Cigars are Better Than Cigarettes

Cigars come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavor profiles. For those with discerning taste, cigars offer an experience far superior to that of smoking cigarettes. Why? Because cigarettes come only in one size and style. Yes, cigarettes can have different flavors, but, as mentioned, most if not all of that comes from artificial additives and not from the tobacco leaf itself.

Cigar Smoking is Not as Bad for You as Cigarettes

Because most smokers inhale cigarettes but do not inhale cigars, the results are that cigarette smoking often ends up being worse for you than smoking cigars. You don’t need to inhale cigars to make smoking them enjoyable—with cigarettes, you generally do.

Even insurance companies look at cigarette smoking as worse for you than cigar smoking, making it more difficult to get insured if you smoke cigarettes.

Aged Cigars Only Get Better

Like wine, cigars often get better with age. While their shelf-life depends, cigars are distinct from cigarettes in that their flavor profiles and overall quality can change and improve over time (assuming they are properly stored). Cigarettes, though, merely get stale. An “aged” cigarette is one that belongs in the garbage.

Smoking a Cigar Looks Cool

Describing what is and isn’t cool can be hard to put your finger on. One thing is for sure, though, and that is that smoking a cigar makes you look and feel cool. Whether you are smoking one to celebrate, to relax, or as you socialize with friends, a cigar is the ultimate status symbol, and it exudes cool.

On the contrary, cigarette smoking is something you do in back alleys and outside of the party as everyone else has fun without you. Cigar smoking is social and fun, while cigarette smoking is isolated and anxiety-inducing.

There you have it, some of the reasons that cigar smoking is superior to cigarette smoking. Now put that cigarette down and light up a cigar instead!

photo credit: Pixabay

Best Cigar Movie Scenes of All Time

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Staff

Cigars are on one side of the movie screen almost as often as popcorn is on the other. And why not? They are a useful dramatic tool for heroes and villains in countless great films. Here are some of the best cigar movie scenes of all time.

Best Cigar Movie Scenes

1. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

Sergio Leone’s spaghetti western masterpiece, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” features several cigar-smoking characters. The most famous is the “Man with no Name,” played by Clint Eastwood. Many people who’ve seen “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” assume that Eastwood’s character must have a name. They think, “I must have just missed it,” but on second viewing, they notice that he does not.

The decision not to give Eastwood’s iconic character a name was a conscious one by Director Leone. Instead, the director sought to make “the man with no name” represent a Western archetype: the stoic, laconic anti-hero. It was the perfect part for Eastwood. And it was perfect in the movie’s famous scene where the three main characters (the “good” guy, the “bad” guy, and the “ugly” guy) stare each other down. While the others may appear nervous, Eastwood merely chews on his skinny cigar. Then, he stares down at his opponents until … Draw!

Eastwood also smokes a cigar in another of Leone’s famous Westerns, “A Few Dollars More.” While that is a great movie, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” will forever remain our favorite, and that is why we chose it as one of the best cigar movie scenes.

2. “Scarface”

Al Pacino’s “Scarface” doesn’t have a single dramatic scene accentuating his cigar-smoking. Instead, throughout the film, he is chewing on a very large (presumably Cuban) cigar. Perhaps the most poignant scene featuring a cigar is when Tony Montana (Pacino’s character) is sitting in a gigantic, opulent bubble bath, chewing on a cigar while arguing with his wife, who, like him, is spiraling out of control.

Originally rated “X” and written by a young Oliver Stone, “Scarface” had to battle its way into theaters. In the end, the controversy over the film helped it. Audiences lined up to hear Al Pacino deliver yet another of his famous lines: “Say hello to my little friend!”

One little-known fact about “Scarface” is that Robert Di Nero first tapped the role. It’s unclear what happened, but the deal fell through, and the part went to Pacino. If anyone other than Pacino could have played Tony Montana, it would’ve been Di Nero. We can all be thankful that, in the end, it was Pacino who played the notorious part.

3. “Predator”

The 1987 movie Predator was a box office smash starring an A-team of cigar-smoking actors. Among them is the aficionado himself: Arnold Schwarzenegger. Few things are more remarkable than Arnold chomping on a cigar while wielding a giant machine gun and hunting an invisible alien sporting dreadlocks. Audiences agreed.

Aside from Arnold, former NFL player, and Apollo Creed actor Carl Weathers was on set. He joked that he would wait for other actors to leave before using the on-set gym to act like his physique was “all-natural.”

4. “Spiderman”

J.K. Simmons played newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson in the “Spiderman” movie starring Tobey Maguire. While history has not been kind to the Maguire, “Spiderman” remains unscathed. The cigar-munching actor, played by J.K. Simmons, was the perfect fast-talking editor. Simmons is the epitome of an old-fashion newsman who goes about his business with wit and aggression. Yet, in the end, he also proves he has the integrity to back it up. Moreover, he does all this without leaving the reach of one of his beloved cigars and a tumbler of whiskey.

5. “Wall Street.”

Not all sunshine and rainbows, and not every character on our list can be an excellent guy. Gordon Gekko is the god of the ‘Yuppies’ who first emerged in the 1987 movie “Wall Street.” Gekko, the antagonist in Charlie Sheen’s Bud Fox, delivered the famous line, “Greed is good.” That phrase encapsulated an entire generation of wealth seekers and status climbers.

Gekko has taste, connections, women, money, and more. In other words, he has everything the young Bud Fox desires. The movie centers on why Gekko, the “villain,” wants more. Sheen’s character, Fox, can’t understand why Gekko continues to make sleazy, cut-throat decisions. After all, Gekko already has more money than he knows what to do with. Fox doesn’t understand Gekko, and Gekko certainly does not understand Fox. It’s a cat-and-mouse tale with shoulder pads, dollar signs, and those gigantic 1980s cell phones.

6. “American Psycho.”

Our next cigar-loving villain is Christian Bale’s character, Patrick Bateman. Bateman, like Gekko, represented much of what some thought was wrong with the 1980s. Wealth-seeking was particularly potent on Wall Street and in other financial centers. The Bateman character exaggerates to insane extremes. Meanwhile, he goes on a murderous tear throughout the city while smiling, laughing, and enjoying an expensive cigar.

7. “Independence Day.”

Although “Independence Day” dishes up a nice helping of cheese, there’s no denying the movie is enjoyable and contains one of the best cigar movie scenes. It also features one of the best cigar moments in cinematic history.

Will Smith’s character and Jeff Goldblum are on a mission to destroy an alien ship. Smith’s cigar-loving character turns to Goldblum and shares a victory cigar saying they will smoke together after completing their task and landing safely back on Earth. However, during their mission, things worsen (gasp). The two characters end up lighting their cigars in space! In the history of cigars, that was certainly a first.

Photo credit: “Eli Wallach and Antonio Casale in ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,’” by Produzioni Europee Associate, Wikimedia Commons Public Doman CC0 1.0

How Churchill Cigars Became Churchills

Posted on February 16, 2020 by Staff

Churchills, or Churchill cigars, are almost as well-known as Cubans. Naturally, the Churchills are named after famed WW2 Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. But it wasn’t always this way. It used to be that old Winston smoked ‘Clemenceaus’. So, when did that change, and why?

What are the Churchill Cigars?

Churchills are large cigars measuring between 6.75 and 7 inches long and have a 48-50 ring gauge. Over the past few decades, some cigar makers have introduced short, wide, and petite varieties of the famed cigar. But, these are not true Churchills.

Winston Churchill’s Smoking

Winston Churchill visited Cuba for a few months in 1895, shortly after graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. While there, he fell in love with one of the country’s most popular products: cigars.

Sometimes, he smoked other brands. Yet, there were two, distinct Cuban brands that Churchill fancied. One was Romeo y Julieta. The other was the La Aroma de Cuba cigars. For the remainder of his life, Churchill received shipments of his prized Cuban cigars. Some came from his family while others came from his friends and associates. Many dealers from Havana also shipped him some of his prized smokes. This helped ensure Churchill was well-supplied with premium sticks at all times, even if those times included a crisis or war. This arrangement was especially appreciated during WW2 when they were very hard for him to come by.

It’s no secret that Churchill was a voracious cigar smoker. Rumor suggests that his average consumption was roughly 10 cigars daily. In fact, James J. Fox, the famed London cigar shop, has records of Churchill’s purchases, which tally hundreds of thousands of sticks. One record revealed Churchill bought over 1,300 cigars during a six-month period. That was back in 1964, the year before he died.

Fox, by the way, was not the only store selling him cigars. It goes without saying that Churchill spent an exceptional amount of money on cigars. One of his private secretaries once remarked that he got used to the idea that Churchill’s weekly cigar habit often amounted to more money than his monthly salary.

Churchill’s love of smoking soared to new heights when he requested the Royal Air force construct a special mask for him. The mask enabled him to smoke at 15,000 feet above the ground. He claimed that he couldn’t fly without it. The Royal Navy was happy to construct the device, which worked. And, Churchill used it on more than one occasion.

Although Churchill had his clear favorites, he often considered his budget, to a degree, before buying his cigars. He bought many brands at a time and stored them all in a storage room at his Kent estate. The room held up to 4,000 sticks, all meticulously labeled and categorized. In spite of this, he did not leave many of his beloved cigars behind when he died. He did, however, leave a silver ashtray, his favorite, in fact.

Churchill’s Image

During WW2, photographs of Churchill wearing a bowler hat with a cigar tucked between his lips began circulating. It didn’t take long for this photograph to reach the levels of fame. In fact, once the photographic image popularized Churchill’s signature appearance, it was hard to separate the man from the trademark image. This continued throughout the ebb and flow of his political career.

At one point during his career, Churchill was depicted in a political cartoon. The depiction showed him attacking his opponents with a Tommy gun. The British political cartoonist dubbed him as “Cigarface” after a Hollywood movie with a similar title. The people, however, loved the idea of Churchill as a rebel who stood up to Hitler. The reality of the fictitious idea wasn’t too far off, either.

Churchill was certainly hard-smoking and his drinking habits almost matched those of his smoking. Perhaps, the most remarkable thing about this was that he almost never appeared drunk. When asked how he managed to stay sober in spite of drinking enough alcohol to put other men on the floor, Churchill wry replied, “Practice.” Many world leaders of that time and afterward were able to get away with, and even benefited from, such public images. FDR was no exception. Neither was John F. Kennedy.

Churchill and his cigars remain indelibly connected today, more than 50 years after his death. Several companies manufacture and market these branded cigars and their accessories. In fact, Churchill memorabilia also offer profitable market opportunities. In fact, a collector in Palm Beach, Florida paid a whopping $12,000 in 2017 — for a partially smoked cigar that belonged to Winston Churchill.

When Churchill Cigars Became Churchills

But the question remains: When did Churchills become Churchills? The history here is somewhat murky. There are stories that Winston Churchill visited the Romeo y Julieta company while in Cuba, but little evidence for this exists. Odds are, Churchill actually had little to do with his favorite cigars taking on his namesake. Although, he would have been delighted by it.

What appears to have happened is this. Soon after, Churchill’s three businessmen: David Knight, John Croley, and Robert approached the Churchill family. They ask if they could use his name on a Romeo y Julieta cigar. When this took place is uncertain. But it was most likely while Churchill himself was still alive. This comes as a surprise to those who know Churchill. That’s because he was always protective over potential exploitation of his name for commercial reasons. When it came to his favorite cigars, though, he was willing to make an exception.

The Romeo y Julieta company soon renamed their Clemenceaus cigars as Churchills in honor of their favorite customer.

Why Churchill Smoked

Although renowned for his steadfast leadership, Churchill suffered periods of uncertainty throughout his life. This included severe depressions he called his black dog moods.

Churchill often turned to his cigars to ease the mounting pressure that weighed on his shoulders. In his book “Thoughts and Adventures,” Churchill recalled his parent’s early attempt to curb his smoking habit.

“How can I tell that the soothing influence of tobacco upon my nervous system may not have enabled me to comfort myself with calm and courtesy in some awkward personal encounter or negotiation, or carried me serenely through some critical hours of anxious waiting? How can I tell that my temper would have been as sweet or my companionship as agreeable if I had abjured from my youth the goddess nicotine?”

— Winston Churchill, on why he was unable or unwilling to quit smoking

It’s hard to argue with that logic. In the end, Churchill died in 1965 still relative, mentally sharp at the ripe old age of 90.

Photo credit: Romeo y Julieta Cigars

Celebrity Cigar Smoker: Denzel Washington

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Staff

Celebrity cigar smoker Denzel Washington is one of only a few names in Hollywood that command attention. Throughout his career, he has become one of the highest-grossing actors. That’s besides directing a few pictures of his own. He was known for being calm, courteous, and utterly unshakable during this time. These are all characteristics that no one should find surprising in an avid cigar smoker. He doesn’t consider himself an expert. Yet, in a 1998 interview with Cigar Aficionado, Washington made it clear that he has a firm grip on the spiritual core of cigar smoking.

“The other day, I was driving around in the heat. Going around and around. Running my errands. Everybody was beeping their horns and going nuts, so I decided to fire up a Cohiba. I cranked up the stereo, and within moments, man, I was so mellow. I was just gone. I was like, ‘I’m not in a hurry; I don’t know why these other 19 million people are in a hurry. I don’t know what’s wrong with them, but I’m fine.”

— Denzel Washington, in a 1998 interview with Cigar Aficionado

It comes as no surprise that Washington also enjoys a good stogie now and then. A good smoke always fits the bill when taking a break from shooting. But, a smaller cigar better suits the full schedule of the working father. He even mentioned that he is not the kind of man to ‘wave around a Churchill,’ primarily because of the required time commitment. But, with a net worth of over $200 million, he might be onto something.

Celebrity Cigar Smoker: Denzel’s Stogies on Screen

Washington has also portrayed many characters on the silver screen that shares his appreciation for a good cigar.

In the 2007 crime thriller, “American Gangster,” Washington worked under the direction of Ridley Scott to portray the famous 1960s drug trafficker Frank Lucas. The real Frank Lucas was working as an advisor on set. So, he could teach Denzel a thing or two about how he did something, right down to how he held his cigar.

More than a decade before that, Denzel shared the screen with Gene Hackman in “Crimson Tide” (1995). It was the story of a young first officer who incites mutiny aboard a nuclear missile sub. Early in their mission, two men light up what appears to be Montecristo #2s. Though it’s unconfirmed, Hackman’s Captain Ramsey remarks the cigars were “more expensive than drugs.” That suggests that they were likely Cuban-made as opposed to Dominican-made.

(Spoiler alert: they should have saved the victory cigars for after the victory).

Conclusion

Being a celebrity cigar smoker is about far more than the kind of smoke you can afford. It’s more than the brand imprinted on the front of your wrapper. The most refined cigar smokers are not interested in the branding or imagery associated with the cigar lifestyle. Instead, the commitment to the ritual of the cigar elevates the thoughtful smoker to higher planes of peace and relaxation.

He gets it:

“I like the fresh air. I love to smoke in the sea or by the water. I like the quiet that it’s about. I like to take a nice mile walk up and down the beach, take a nice, toasty, single malt with no ice, and a good cigar. … It’s odd because the first time I really smoked a cigar was back before you knew you were supposed to have a good time with them.”

— Denzel Washington

Photo credit: “Denzel Washington after a performance of the Broadway play Julius Caesar in New York City,” by Paul Rudman at https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecanonrattman/, Wikimedia Commons license CC BY-SA 3.0

The Cigar Smoking World Championship

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Staff

“The Cigar Smoking World Championship was born out of the true passion of cigars combined with the beauty of the moments spent sharing this passion with like-minded people from all over the World.”

— CSWCWorld.com

The cigar-smoking competition has been ongoing for nine years now and counting. You’ll find the best talent in the industry there. The goal? Smoke your cigar as slowly as possible, as this turns out; the slower, the better. Most recently, more than 250 of the world’s best cigar enthusiasts attended the event. Talk about a lot of smoke! You might think this event was going to be one where anger and competitiveness bring out the worst in people. The opposite is true.

The true gentleman and the camaraderie of the sport radiate from everyone. Win or lose, contenders and fellow cigar aficionados laugh and have a jolly ol’ time. The prizes consist of loser cigars, which are no losing matter, to the grand prize! A trophy and the title of Grand Champion serve as the awards. Also, the champion receives a custom Cueryo y Sobrinos Swiss watch. The winner also gets a 24-hour cruise aboard a mega yacht. By itself, the cruise value climbs over $80,000 per day. And there is much, much more.

How Smoking Competitions Work

The competition is like any sport but compared to the Olympics. People from across the world come together as one collective group with a passion for cigar smoking! The competition is real. It’s fierce. It’s truly a sport of competition. Despite the competition, it’s easy to root for one another, hoping people succeed (but not as much as you hope to win.) Training is standard as well. As fellow cigar smokers know, it’s challenging to make a cigar last and have the physical stamina to keep from letting the smoke get to us. The world record is 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 55 seconds for a single cigar. The community comes closer together by training together, traveling, and having a smoke with a friend.

The Passion for Cigar Smoking

As cigar smokers, we often overlook the passion behind what we do when we light up. We must share our love. Young people are smoking more cigars and need mentorship on the correct way to light up, which cigars to smoke, and smoking etiquette. Let’s pass our knowledge on to them so we can keep the tradition of cigar smoking going.

“The more I smoke cigars, the more experienced I become with the Leaf. The more I realize that cigar smoking is as much (and perhaps more) about the people with whom you experience these cigars than it is the flavors you connote.”

— Tony from Vice Lounge Online.

Let’s keep the camaraderie of smoking cigars going, but make sure to bring extra smokes to share with the ones we love!

Photo credit: Pixabay | Ben_Kerckx

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