Posts Tagged: ‘enjoy’

10 Tips for the Cigar Novice

June 9, 2010 Posted by admin

Starting up a new hobby can be intimidating. Going golfing for the first time with a bunch of guys who have been doing it for years can make a beginner feel self-conscious about his lack of prowess on the links. People just learning to play guitar will go for years refusing to play in front of others. Even someone learning to cook might be embarrassed to share a less than savory meal with his family.

Some people might not consider smoking cigars a hobby, but it certainly is a pastime and it has its own intricacies just like anything else. There are traditions and faux pas when it comes to smoking cigars that any old puffer at the country club will notice and call you out on in a heartbeat.

Good-natured as the ribbing may be, it can’t hurt to brush up on some cigar “do’s and don’ts” before you have a cigar among the aficionados. Included are some suggestions for classy cigars and accessories that will show off your sense of refinement and good taste.

1. It is not a race. Smoking a cigar should be a leisure activity. The best way to start is to smoke as if it is no big deal. Take your time and enjoy it.

The Ashton Magnum is a smooth and creamy cigar that is perfect for new smokers. The aroma and flavor is remarkably consistent so you won’t ever get a bad draw. Ashton Magnums are made from Dominican leaves and shade-grown Connecticut wrappers. It is truly a cigar to be savored.

2. Trim the end of your cigar with a cigar cutter. Don’t try to bite it off with your teeth. This may look cool in the movies but it will just leave you with an unsightly and decidedly uncouth mouthful of tobacco.

The Double Blade Stainless Round Cigar Cutter from Orleans is an inexpensive yet fully functional cigar cutter. In other words, it is perfect for beginners. It works with a dual-blade guillotine action, which ensures a shred-free cut. It is housed in a durable stainless steel case for a long lifespan.

3. Don’t grind out a cigar in an ashtray. Let it go out on its own. This is a handy technique for being able to re-light a cigar later on. It is also polite to not leave the smudged out remains of tobacco scattered around in an ashtray.

In your own home, it is also nice to have a relatively clean ashtray. The Flor De Gonzalez Ashtray is made of simple black porcelain with the company’s logo in the center. It is square with resting places for your cigar in all four corners.

4. If there is less than a quarter left, let it go out in an ashtray. When a cigar starts to get that short, it will begin to lose its flavor. Nothing gold can stay. When it gets to the ¼ mark, it is time to let it go.

Another practical and stylish ashtray is the Hexagon Crystal Cigar Ashtray from Orleans. It looks incredibly luxurious for its modest price. It has wide stirrups (that’s where the cigar rests) to accommodate bigger cigars and a deep bowl for plenty of ash.

5. Don’t show off. Nothing screams amateur more than someone who makes a big deal out of smoking a cigar. Cigar holders and fancy smoking techniques are the antithesis of the cool guy casually smoking a cigar. You are allowed to blow smoke rings though. That’s a cool trick that’s not overtly flashy.

The best way to look natural smoking a cigar is to find one that you enjoy. In the beginning, it is best to start with a milder cigar and work your way up to fuller flavors. The Montecristo #1 is a legendary Cuban-inspired cigar that is made in the Dominican Republic.

6. Don’t chew on it. You are not Peter Parker’s grizzled boss at the newspaper. You are not a grunt in World War II. Unless you are being shot at or trying to ruin Spider-Man’s good name, chewing on a cigar is just plain gross.

Fine cigars can be works of art and the Griffin’s Robusto Natural is not something that you chomp away at. It has a rich and mild taste that smokers of every level can enjoy.

7. Don’t ask for a light. Seriously, you are a cigar smoker now. You should be carrying your own lighter around. In the worst case scenario, ask the bartender for a pack of matches.

The refillable Xikar EX Windproof Flame Cigar Lighter is far more practical than it sounds. It looks good and is affordable without appearing cheap or flashy. It is a functional, fantastic lighter that gets your cigar lit. What else could you want?

8. Don’t be afraid to let it go out and re-light it later. If you have spent some money on a nice cigar, there is no need to smoke it all at once and no need to waste it. Just scrape the ash off and rotate it over a flame for a moment to catch it again.

The Davidoff Millienium Churchill is a full-bodied, hearty, Dominican cigar that you won’t want to let go to waste. These cigars are top-notch and have a complex blend of aromas and flavors. Don’t be afraid to let it go out and enjoy the rest later.

9. Take your time warming up the end before you light it. This prevents you from charring the tobacco.

The Vector Vulcan Triple Flame shoots out a powerful trident flame that will allow you to perfectly light your cigar without over-toasting it.

10.  Don’t smoke one after another. You are not chain smoking cigarettes here. Cigars are meant to be savored. Take your time and enjoy it. When it’s done, it’s done. Get on with your life for a while before having another.

If you find yourself enjoying your new pastime of smoking cigars, you are going to want to eventually invest in a humidor to keep them fresh. The Capri Humidor is a lovely, affordable way to keep your cigars tasting fresh for a long time.

Smoking cigars isn’t like smoking cigarettes. It is a hobby, not a habit. It is the difference between enjoying a fine glass of wine and slamming whiskey before noon. Take to heart these tips and smoke in moderation and you will be on your way in no time.

William Patterson is a freelance writer who writes about luxury items such Cigars

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Categories: cigars

Cigars And Music: A Natural Combination

June 9, 2010 Posted by admin

Perhaps it’s because there’s a close cultural connection between great music and smoky bars. Anyone who knows anything about jazz knows that its truly legendary improvisers – Coltrane, Bird, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie – cut their teeth playing in bars so smoky that it’s a good thing everybody was too busy improvising to need sheet music.


Or maybe it’s because both cigars and music are contemplative pleasures. A casual smoker can get a quick tobacco-fix from a cheap cigarette, just as a casual music listener can enjoy the background hum of pop songs on the car radio. But to really enjoy a great performance, or a good tobacco, sitting still and paying attention are necessary.


In any case, music and cigar smoking seem to belong together, and some of the most famous musicians are (or were) cigar devotees – just as, it turns out, one of the most famous of cigar devotees is also a musician. Avo Uvezian, the maker of Avo cigars, is also a respected classical and jazz pianist, a Julliard graduate, and even the one-time official pianist of the Shah of Iran. After a successful musical career based first in his native Middle East, and then in the contiguous United States, Uvezian moved in the 1980s to Puerto Rico, where he opened a restaurant and bar and dabbled in cigarmaking. After customers at his Puerto Rico restaurant told him how much they enjoyed some cigars he’d had rolled himself, from a blend of tobaccos he hand-picked, he opened his own Dominican Republic-based cigar factory, working with noted cigar maker Hendrik Kelner. Now his company makes three million cigars a year, and Uvezian himself still makes music – his first CD, Legacy, was released in 2004.


For another example, consider the great trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, who smokes, by his own estimation, four or five cigars a day. Music allowed the Cuban-born Sandoval to rise to fame in his native Cuba – and to defect from that country in 1990, during a long stint playing concerts in Europe (he now lives in Florida). Sandoval has played the horn for Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie, Gloria Estefan and Johnny Mathis, Michel Legrand and Frank Sinatra. His technically flawless playing has resulted in his being the kind of musician whose work is often known by people who couldn’t name him – he is brought in as a session musician by some of the world’s finest and best-known (see above), and he often scores movie soundtracks. As his work with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Leningrad Philharmonic prove, he’s even proved able to handle the rigors of classical music as well as jazz – sometimes doing both in the same concert.


The cigar-music connection is especially strong in Cuba, known as one of the world’s cigar capitals. Both cigars and music are staples of island life (the cigar remains one of the island’s most prominent exports), and the strength of both in Cuban culture depends partly on the nimble and intelligent blending of elements from everywhere – wrappers and fillers from different parts of Latin America, rhythms and melodies from the African coast, South America, US pop, Western European classical, etc. In other words, Cuban cigarmaking and Cuban music have both survived, and flourished, by mixing and melding.


For generations, cigar rollers were entertained by the sound of paid musicians or by music from the radio. (This tradition continues even now in the Dominican Republic, where workers at the Arturo Fuente factory, among other places, are treated to the work of performing musicians.) With this tradition in place, it’s no wonder that some of Cuba’s music legends got their start as cigar-factory entertainers; and since tobacco smoking has been a part of Latin American life far longer than it has in some other places – Columbus’s sailors noted it being smoked in what is now modern Cuba in the year 1493, so there’s many more centuries of lore to draw on its psychological and emotional associations are deeper and richer, providing better material for songwriters to mine. Thus famous Cuban songwriter Beny More, himself a former entertainer for the cigar-factory workers, touches on the song in a number of his classic compositions.

CigarFox provides you the opportunity to build your own sampler of the finest cigars that include cigar brands like Montecristo, Romeo & Julieta, H Upmann, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Gurkha and many more. Choose from more than 1200 different cigars! Other cigar products include cigar humidors, cigar boxes, and cigar accessories like Zippo Lighters.

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Categories: cigars

A Cigar Humidor -every Aficionado Needs One

June 6, 2010 Posted by admin

Owning a humidor is a true sign of a cigar aficionado. There is a common misconception that humidors are large and often expensive. Yes, you can buy large, even walk-in humidors that will cost you a year’s salary, but that it unnecessary unless you have enough cigars to fill a humidor that large!

The fact is that if you enjoy a cigar every now and then or even several times a day, you may want to consider purchasing a humidor. These handy containers keep every cigar at just the right temperature and humidity. This ensures that your entire stock stays fresh so that you can enjoy them when you are ready.

When you decide that you are ready to purchase your own humidor, you need to consider a few things. How many cigars would you ideally like to store? How many cigars do you think you will actually have on hand at any given time? The reason that this is important is because there should not be too much dead space in your humidor. This can throw off the humidity and temperature level.

Those walk-in humidors are most often seen in a cigar store or specialty bar, although some more wealthy people may have one as a status symbol. The majority of enthusiasts will choose to purchase a tabletop humidor. These generally hold up to three hundred cigars. In addition, you can purchase a travel humidor if you want to bring some with you.

As a cigar enthusiast, you want to get the best possible flavor every time you smoke. It is believed that aging in a humidor for up to ten years will heighten the flavor continually. While you may balk at the idea of waiting ten years to smoke a cigar, remember that it is entirely up to you whether you even choose to explore the aging process. Not everyone with a humidor chooses to age their cigars significantly, but the purpose of a humidor is to keep your stock as flavorful as possible.

If you do decide to endeavor into the aging process, then you should be aware of a few things. Not all are going to taste better with age. This is a personal preference and is not easily figured out without some experimentation. Cheaper cigars may not need to be aged at all, while some will greatly benefit from aging. Again, this is trial and error. A harshly flavored cigar will likely mellow in flavor the longer it is aged. If you don’t like the taste of a cigar, then aging it will not have any effect on your preference. As long as you understand that a humidor is not going to magically transform your cigars in a few simple months or years, you should be pleasantly surprised at your own findings.

A true cigar enthusiast will choose a humidor that meets his or her specific needs.

Otto Van Deven has been smoking cigars every since he raided his Grandfather’s humidor and snuck behind the barn at 16. Quite a few decades later he still thinks that was a great decision, although his grandfather disagreed, until Otto replaced his glass cigar jar with a fine humidor. You can get your own humidor at the Humidor Store, and see what Otto has to say at Humidor Ferret.

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Why Purchase a Dual Flame Lighter?

June 3, 2010 Posted by admin

In your quest for the perfect smoke, you’ve likely encountered the problem posed by many cigar lighters. Standard lighters, with just a traditional flame, might not offer enough coverage to ensure your cigar is fully lit. As you know, it is imperative that your cigar be fully lit (and lit in the correct manner), in order to avoid partial burns, runs, uneven burns and other problems. Therefore, you should understand the benefits offered by dual flame lighters.

What are these types of lighter? Dual flame models offer dual flame ports, but they come in more than one configuration. Of course, not every configuration is right for every smoker. It will take a bit of understanding to find the right option for your needs. What choices do you have on the market? Here’s a rundown on what is offered by the two types of dual flame lighter.

The most common type of dual flame lighter has two jet ports at the top of the lighter. These are ideal solutions for cigar smokers, as dual ports help to ensure that you enjoy an even light every time. No matter how large those stogies might be, dual jet ports can help provide a clean light, and help you avoid problems like uneven burns or runs caused by other types of lighters or improper lighting procedures.

However, those who do not prefer cigars will find that this type of dual flame lighter is not the right choice for them. Instead, you will find dual flame lighters that incorporate a single jet port with a traditional flame, as well. The traditional flame might be set on top of the lighter, but is often located on the side, at a 90-degree angle. The jet port is located on top of the lighter.

The type of dual flame lighter that is best for your needs will be determined by your preferred smoke. For instance, if you enjoy cigars, you will opt for a jet lighter, while pipe lovers and those who smoke a mix of tobacco products will find value with a dual flame lighter that features a traditional flame and a jet port. However, it is essential that you find a lighter that works with your needs. Taking your time and researching the various styles available will help ensure that you make the best possible purchase decision and will also help ensure that you can smoke when and where you want.

Dave Sabot is the owner of specialty butane lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including windproof lighters, Dave also authors a highly rated blog featuring lighter reviews.

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Ways to Prevent and Eliminate Cigar Breath

May 31, 2010 Posted by admin

Newton’s third law puts it this way: For every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. But the old ’70s soul song says it all much more colorfully: You always have to pay for the fun you’ve had.

No matter what your hobby or pet pastime, there’s always some undesirable aspect that has to be dealt with. If you’re an athlete, you may have to spend the occasional Monday morning icing a pulled muscle. Sports spectators have to deal with hard bleacher seats, cold weather, and possibly obnoxious bellowing from the guy in the next row-unless you catch the game on TV, where you just have to put up with odd camera angles. Or let’s say you like reading: Obsessive readers may end up with slight vision problems-in fact, graduate students in literature are often advised that they should expect (and be checked for) increased nearsightedness with each year of study. Too much TV can induce apathy and is positively correlated with depression and obesity (and with infomercials, a far worse fate). And most everybody enjoys video games, but if you enjoy them too much, you may-there are documented cases of this-incur a repetitive stress injury to your thumb. As for pet owners, well, let’s not even talk about all the poop-scooping that becomes part of your life.

And cigar smokers have their own result of fun to consider. Specifically, the aromatic scent of their favorite cigar may attach to unwelcome places such as clothes. In fact, back when cigar smoking was the universal habit of Victorian gentleman, many of these smokers would maintain a separate outfit to wear when smoking, which would absorb the fumes. (Thus the terms “smoking jacket” and “smoking cap,” which we still use.)

But it’s the effect of a cigar scent settling on breath that some cigar smokers may find troublesome. The considerate cigar smoker is aware of this and plans accordingly. Here are some suggestions to help you pay for the enjoyment you’ve had-without paying too much!

1) Choose good cigars. This may seem like an obvious point, but the better-made the cigar, the less chemical the odor. Buy well-made, hand-rolled, long-filler cigars from a quality cigar outlet or online store.

2) For while you’re smoking: Drink tea, or eat. (Mild-flavored teas are most recommended; as for foodstuffs, consider dark chocolates or other simple, strong-but-not-too-strong tastes.) “Cutting” your cigar with food or drink can help absorb both the aftertaste and the effects on breath.

3) Keep some fresh parsley on hand-or even a parsley plant in your kitchen or living room, or whatever room is nearest to the place where you smoke. This herb has traditionally come recommended for its odor-killing powers.

4) Chew gum. Mint-flavored gums are recommended, the stronger the better.

5) On that note, try chewing raw mint. As with parsley, you can keep it around in its herbal form and chew it undiluted after a cigar. You can also keep strong breath mints on hand.

6) Mouth sprays, as well as mouthwashes specifically intended for cigar smokers, are available commercially, and can be purchased from cigar stores or online cigar retailers. These are highly recommended. They’re made by people who understand. Some of the anti-cigar-breath mouthwashes have the side benefit of clearing away the tar that might otherwise stain your teeth. If these mouthwashes aren’t available, a typical mouthwash and a good tooth-brushing will be a lot better than nothing.

7) To avoid breath problems the next morning after a smoke: After a smoke, never go to bed without eating something. Even if it’s just a tiny, simple snack, it “cuts” the cigar and reduces breath problems while seeming to absorb and clear away the odors in your mouth.

So, to recap: enjoy good cigars. Drink tea or eat while you smoke, or after you smoke. Brush your teeth like Mom said, and use a good mouthwash-perhaps especially a mouthwash intended for cigar smokers. And mint and thyme help too, especially for those days when you have to rush from your smoke to a work meeting or a date.

CigarFox provides you the opportunity to build your own sampler of the finest cigars that include cigar brands like Montecristo, Romeo & Julieta, H Upmann, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Gurkha and many more. Choose from more than 1200 different cigars! Other cigar products include cigar humidors, cigar boxes, and cigar accessories like Zippo Lighters.

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Which Types of Cigars Go With Which Liquor?

May 28, 2010 Posted by admin

The cigar has long been seen as a luxury of the rich and famous.  Pictures of well-heeled men drawing on different types of cigars and nursing a glass of aged brandy have been well documented and immortalized in movies and TV.  If you are getting curious about cigars and want to loosen up with a stogie and an adult beverage after a hard day’s work, here are a few hints to get you going. 

Traditionally, cigars have been mated with a hard liquor.  Popular liquors include brandy, rum, and whiskey.  It has been debated that good cigars should always be matched with a potent drink that has a suggestion of sweetness.  Cigar smokers have long savored these popular unions.  For ages, the idea of pairing different types of cigars with beer has gone overlooked. 

But why overlook good old beer?  Recently, the trend has been to pair cigars with various varieties of beer as it seems that as cigars have entered the mainstream.  What better way to enjoy a puff of this newly popularized delicacy than to mate it with beer?  Pairing a better cigar with a satisfactory beer is not an easy feat, but when attained is well worth the effort.  Much of the pairing off has to do with your expertise.  If you are a beginner, you will in all likelihood need help in mating your particular cigar with the proper beer.  If you have a more knowledgeable taste, and you recognize what you like, you can probably make a connection between certain types of cigars and a great beer. 

As cigars are so strong and flavorsome, one of the challenges is to find a beer that complements the strength of many types of cigars.  For that reason, many types of cigars will match nicely with a good barley wine or a single malt scotch.  If your cigar can be distinguished as spicy, woody, with a hint of cedar, try matching it with a barley wine.  The fruity tinge of a barely wine ought to complement nicely with the pungent flavor of your cigar.  The combination of a savory cigar with a somewhat fruity beer can also create a taste that heightens the qualities in each significantly.

If you don’t have a clue as to which flavor combinations could work, try out different ones.  First, come up with the types of cigars that you like.  Then try to distinguish the characteristics that you enjoy about it.  Only then find a beer whose flavor you think might go well with the cigar.  Many unthinkable combinations have been arrived at this way.

For more information about types of cigars visit

http://www.typesofcigars.info

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Cigar Bars To The Rescue

May 25, 2010 Posted by admin

When, in the early 1990s, the premium cigar industry rebounded after years of stale sales figures and slackening consumer interest, it faced a new social climate. More and more municipalities and states had passed anti-smoking legislation throughout the eighties, and this trend only continued through the 1990s and beyond. All of which meant that many of those new smokers found themselves unable to enjoy their new hobby over a fancy restaurant meal, at the movies, at some bars, or sometimes (as in the case of the new, ultra-restrictive British smoking laws) anywhere outdoors at all.


Thankfully for smokers, cigar bars sprung up throughout the country as a way to offer smokers the chance to enjoy the rich taste of their smoke in the company of folks with similar interests. Many of the new anti-smoking laws make exceptions for establishments that cater directly to smokers – though, often, in these cases, the smoke-permitting establishments must also install air-filtration systems and various other gadgets that ensure maximum air purity (for those inside) and minimum leakage (for the non-smokers outside). Thus, cigar bars represent an important site for the new generation of smokers. Often, they’re the only place in town where a person’s love of stogies can be shared in a like-minded, social atmosphere. So it’s no wonder that cigar bars, like stogie specialty shops, clubs, and even, magazines, became an important part of the new cigar culture that blossomed during the 1990s.


The range of amenities offered varies with the bar. Some high-end bars offer for-rent humidor-lockers – such as Club Macanudo in New York – or books for sale, such as the two Bar and Books stores in New York City (at Hudson and at Lexington). At Azucar Cigar Lounge in Corona, California, you find plasma television sets and walk-in humidors. Many bars double as, in effect, high-end sports bars; they’re classy places in which to sit in leather furniture while watching the Knicks game.


Other cigar bars offer the same amenities and entertainment options as other kinds of bars. Burbank Bar and Grill in Burbank, California – the same “beautiful downtown Burbank” from which so many ’60s television shows broadcasted – has its own band, and another stogie bar in Glendale, California, has free appetizers. At Fumare (the Spanish word for “to smoke”) in Reno, Nevada, patrons play poker, browse books, and watch sports on the flat-screen TV. And Shelly’s Back Room, in Washington, D.C., with its location close to the heart of the nation’s governmental processes, offers a chance to eavesdrop on the corridors of power.


Other bars are actually cigar stores with substantial added-in lounges – similar to coffee-roasting foundries where coffee is also served, or breweries that offer excellent bars. For example, at The Tobacco Shop in Hartford, Connecticut, you find some hard-to-find smoke and pipe products. Signature Cigars in Rockville, Maryland, offers free coffee to smoking customers.


These establishments are traditionally male-dominated, according to stereotypes, but as with many once-well-established facts about cigar smoking, this one has been subject to some revision in the years since the mid-1990s cigar boom. Premium stogie makers noticed an uptick in the number of female cigar smokers during that period, and stars like Jennifer Garner and Demi Moore trumpeted their love of stogies on the cover of magazines such as Cigar Aficionado. In this new climate, it’s no surprise to find women frequenting cigar bars as well. Photographer Danuta Otfinowski offers, on her website, a photo essay devoted to the women who patronize New York City’s cigar bars. She writes, “Cigars have been a smoky symbol of male power for many years, but the post-feminist 90′s are witnessing the resurgence of the stogie among both men and women.”


With cigars continuing to enjoy steady growth in popularity, and those restrictive anti-smoking laws seemingly not about to go anywhere, the importance of cigar bars will likely continue to grow. But there’s nothing new about that – tobacco has had a social dimension for nearly as long as it’s been smoked. Smoking in ancient tribal societies was, after all, often a social, celebratory activity, and perhaps cigar bars recover some of that ancient camaraderie.

CigarFox provides you the opportunity to build your own sampler of the finest cigars that include cigar brands like Montecristo, Romeo & Julieta, H Upmann, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Gurkha and many more. Choose from more than 1200 different cigars! Other cigar products include cigar humidors, cigar boxes, and cigar accessories like Zippo Lighters.

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As Cigar Friendly Spots Fade ? One Website Fights Back

May 25, 2010 Posted by admin

As of May 1, 2010 it will be against the law to smoke in restaurants and bars.  This legislation, similar to the bans that are occurring in states across the country, not only impacts thousands of cigarette smokers, but also cigar aficionados.   In spite of the smoking bans, a simple maps-based website and its visitors are doing what they can to help cigar lovers continue to find places to enjoy a stogie.

The CigarPlaces.com concept is completely community-driven.  Cigar lovers from around the world log onto the site each day to add places that they know are cigar friendly so other enthusiasts can find and enjoy them.  Since the site’s creation over two years ago, close to 1,000 cigar bars and cigar-friendly restaurants have been added to the map.

Cigar shops, cigar brands, and cigar bars have also found it to be an ideal spot to bring awareness to business using the site’s cigar advertising options.  The site tends to be one of the last places that cigar smokers visit before they head out the door to enjoy a stogie, which provides perfect top-of-mind for cigar brands and businesses.

The impact of the smoking bans can also be clearly seen on the CigarPlaces.com map.  Users have recently been given the ability to log onto the site and flag locations as “no longer cigar friendly.”  Visitors to the website can see cigar-unfriendly locations listed as red markers on the map.

As the smoking bans continue to spread throughout the country, the site’s operators are counting on the social aspect of cigars to continue to fuel its growth.  “Smoking a cigar is a social act; it’s all about enjoying time with your friends.  If a cigar lover knows that he can help out his fellow aficionado by adding a cigar-friendly spot to the map, he’ll take the time to do it.”

Chris is the owner of CigarPlaces.com – an interactive map that allows cigar lovers to find a place to enjoy a cigar, and add cigar bars and cigar-friendly locations that they know of.? Visit the map and search for a city to find cigar-friendly locations near you.

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Men smoking cigars

May 19, 2010 Posted by admin

Enjoying a good cigar can be compared to tasting a good wine; that is why expert smokers actually ‘taste’ the smoke coming out of every cigar. Taste glands are the best mechanism the human body has to determine the quality of a good smoke. One breath that involves the complexity and the flavors combination of a pure cigar can be compared to the pleasure of tasting a great wine or an exquisite meal.
Cigar clubs and bars are growing in the main cities of the world, making London the Mecca due to its trade and consuming capacity. When smoking in public places was prohibited in the United States, a frenzy of cigar bars was unleashed. Cigar Aficionado is the most important publication in the cigar world consisting on a monthly printout of 750,000.00 magazines. Regardless of the place you visit, it will not be long before you can identify a cigar lover; he lives in camaraderie environments. Such environment is much nicer, more cultural and perfumed than the one from cigarette smokers.
Cigars are said to be a unique experience due to the following: Very few tobacco varieties are used to elaborate a good cigar, which is planted and aged with extreme caution

The fermentation process makes the tobacco leaves lose most of their nicotine Cigars designed to burn at very low temperatures, in other words, its tobacco should never be excessively heated so it dies not lose its softness. Smoke is not a secondary element, but the key to the pleasure, since the smoke contains the flavor and aroma that only a cigar can provide.

Cigar smoking tips

Once it is lighted, take the cigar to your lips and blow it prior to the first breath; this will dissipate any unwanted flavor consequence of the lighting. Once this is done, fill your mouth with cold smoke and keep it there without inhaling it; take the cigar out of your mouth, and slowly blow it out. Please hold an instant before the next puff. Do not rush, it is recommended that you take intervals of a minute or so, to prevent the cigar from blowing off. Remember, the faster you smoke, the least you will enjoy the experience, as the cigar will heat excessively and produce a bitter flavor. The head of the cigar should be kept as dry as possible, hence avoid keeping the cigar in your mouth for too long. A cigar with moisture starts to lose flavor when nicotine and tar start mixing with saliva, therefore, do not hold your cigar for more than three minutes on every smoke.
The first half of the cigar is different to the second, the smoke increases and the flavor intensifies as you smoke which is not always positive.  This happens after having smoked a third of the cigar (expert cigar smokers can tell when this moment has been reached, and proceed to light off the cigar, as it had already transpired its thru essence; not doing so will end up in an unpleasant sensation as the cigar turns bitterer by the minute).
Hold the cigar gently but firmly, try not to squeeze it, as it may impact the blow. Hold it between your thumb, index and middle fingers.
The ashtray should be the cigar’s rest place; let it burn off, so it will rapidly consume and generate less smell than pushing it against the ashtray.

Hope the paragraphs above had given you an introduction to Smoking Cigars. You can find more information at: http://www.mensmokingcigars.com/

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Categories: cigars

The Best Way to Enjoy a Fine Cigar is to Give One

May 19, 2010 Posted by admin

A fine cigar is one of life’s luxuries. Just open a fine mahogany humidor, select a fragrant private-stock cigar, and light up. The experience is one that is memorable and enduring. The reason for this is because our sense of smell is the sense that is closest related to memory in the human brain, and the aroma of a fine cigar will be just that.

In a time when we must reflect on what we can do with what we have and what we have to offer, it is a luxury that can be truly appreciated and enjoyed. There’s a reason behind the saying, “A fine cigar gets you through every major life event.”

Selecting cigars to give as gifts for the holiday season is also a way to show that you have every expectation that the future will be bright. There are many ways to buy cigars to give as holiday gifts:

1.Purchase from online companies that enjoy great reputations and will deliver at a discounted rate. Make sure you will be given notice as to the conditions of delivery, so that the cigars arrive fresh and are not dried out or damp.

2.Go to a local tobacconist. Enter their walk-in humidors and purchase some fine cigars that way. Reputable dealers will be happy to supply you with information regarding the type, size and style or cigar for your budget.

3.Going to a newspaper stand or a drugstore to purchase cigars is not a bad idea. There are some very reputable brands that are carried by such sellers; however, you must make sure that your purchase is fresh and offers a good quality cigar. These will not be the locations to find premium or super-premium cigars.

The persons who will appreciate such a gift are:

1.Professionals who have done a great job like your broker and your lawyer.

2.The postman, gardener, janitor or mailman in your building. You must make sure they smoke cigars, and if they do, they will treasure and appreciate the gift. Cigars will go much further than cookies or fruitcake in this regard.

3.The people in your life who matter and who might enjoy support. Enclose a note that says “Times are tough, but you’re tougher.”

4.Musician and artist friends who appreciate the challenges of unstable economic times. These types of people are often without funds to purchase fine cigars and will be appreciative of the luxury of a fine cigar.

Whatever the reason for giving cigars as a gift, your budget can include either one cigar or a box of 10 or 20 or more. The gift is consumable and biodegradable because cigar tobacco is the finest and most chemically pure of all tobaccos.

There is nothing like knowing that you are giving the best, and a fine cigar is an outstanding way to keep friends, clients or sponsors well appointed toward you and all your endeavors.

For access to the best Fine Cigars and Cigar accessories available check out the great deals available only on the authors website – http://www.davidoffmadison.com

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