“If you don’t smoke the cigars, how do I know I can trust you?” (Unknown author).
Folks, I know that many of you know how to appreciate a good cigar. Nevertheless, I want to spend time giving you more information about that small piece of luxury in our lives. For those guys who still don’t enjoy a cigar, the information in this blog may change their perspective…
Since college times, I have enjoyed smoking the pipe, and, mostly socially, once in a while. However, one day, my Italian pipe was pushed out of my life for a long time. It’s been more than 15 years since that day, and I never looked back.
That day, we celebrated my friend’s birthday at his house. He had plenty of guests (known and unknown to me), so I had to look around the house until all the guests got in and gathered around the table.
I was sitting near the fireplace in the chair next to the coffee table. On the table, I found a few magazines and a small book titled “Cigars”. I picked up the book and was instantly hooked. The author has described the cigars with such love and passion that it was above any possible love for a girlfriend. Wow… how could I have missed it?
The central theme of the introduction in the book was the man’s need to enjoy life, a special time when all your worries go away, when nobody bothers you, and when you switch to an absolutely positive mood. It’s a leisure time for men, it’s a time to dream, it’s a time to enjoy conversation with the other folks who do the same: smoke the cigar, and it is even the time to combine the cigar with good port wine or bourbon for a better taste experience (more about it later).
Suddenly, I’ve recalled that I have one box of authentic Cuban cigars (Romeo y Julieta) lying on the shelf for more than 14 years. Where I got them is another story.
So, please continue reading about the correct way to choose and smoke cigars; I have included some helpful tips to assist you. The next day, I enjoyed my first cigar in my lifetime. Yes, I didn't keep it in a humidor, and yes, it was pretty dry, but how much I enjoy it, you can’t even imagine! That 4.5-inch stick was pure joy.
The cigar is not like a cigarette, which you can smoke for 2 minutes before the bus arrives, or 2-5 minutes during lunchtime. The cigar may require 1-1.5 hours of your free time. In addition, the main difference between them is the method of smoking: you do not inhale the smoke with a cigar – you enjoy the taste only and the flavor.
It is “healthier” (if you can use this term) than a cigarette since the smoke does not touch your lungs. Instead, it tickles your palate on the tongue.
A cigar requires dedication, a cigar involves time, and a cigar requires patience, and following several specific rules that allow you to really enjoy smoking the fantastic creation of people who worked with tobacco leaves for generations. Creating a good-tasting cigar is similar to crafting a fine wine. This lengthy and complicated process requires unique skills, a passion for what you are doing, hard work, and even some luck with favorable weather conditions. The parallel is remarkable! I'll talk about it in future posts.
“There is nothing more relaxing on the face of the earth after a long, hard day of work than pouring yourself a nice glass of port wine or firing up that premium stogie”.
Meanwhile, here is a shortlist of what I will cover in my future posts:
- History of cigars and their brand-name creators
- How the cigar is born
- Types of tobacco
- Construction, shapes & sizes of cigars
- How to choose a cigar and where to buy
- Storing and humidification methods
- Cigar accessories
- How to travel with cigars
- Restoring dry cigars and hundreds of other tips
- Complimenting drinks for cigars
- My own experience with cigars and my rating system, along with the rating collection that I can share with you (several pages long)
- Smartphone applications for cigar smokers
- Cigar lounges around the country
- Famous people and celebrities who loved smoking cigars
- ... and, of course, the best cigars!
So, man, if you are still smoking cigarettes, STOP it right now. Perhaps consider something better if you still like tobacco!
"The only way to break a bad habit was to replace it with a better habit." - Jack Nicholson (explaining why he switched from cigarettes to cigars)
Get ready for future articles!
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