Cigars: Welcome to the lifestyle

[Ercüment Çizer]

Cigar smoking is a lifestyle. What is meant by “it is a lifestyle?” Smoking a cigar is a gentleman’s/ladies’ recreation. A cigar lounge is one of the few places you will see a Congressman sitting next to a truck driver having a meaningful or frivolous conversation, but thoroughly enjoying each other’s company.



They can talk about any subject from politics to sports and still hold their composure and never offend the other. There is an old-world politeness within cigar smokers. They are the kind of people that still give up their seat to a woman on the train and say sir and ma’am to their elders. No wonder why so many people want to get into the cigar culture. Where do you meet this elite group of people? Go to your local cigar lounge get a cigar and enjoy.

Now you are at the lounge and standing in the humidor. What now? Find the tobacconist and let them guide you. Too often the beginner’s friend chooses a cigar which is too bold for their first-time. Therefore, they don’t enjoy their exposure to the lifestyle. Let a tobacconist guide you.

I am often asked how I personally pick a cigar to smoke. My answer is usually to look at the wrapper and question: is it dark or light; toothy or smooth; glossy or dull? It all depends on what I am in the mood to smoke. Where is the tobacco in the cigar from? Do I want Nicaraguan spiciness, Dominican earthiness, or any number of combinations and blends? Who makes the cigar? What have I thought of the flavor profile of their cigars in the past? What sizes do they have? I enjoy a robusto most of the time but maybe I have heard that their torpedo is outstanding. The response to this elaborate answer is usually, “Really?” I laugh and say no. Though I look at these things when I am smoking a cigar and make mental notes for later, I mostly look at the band and think whether I have smoked this one before and do I want to try something new or one that I know I like.

When helping the newcomer pick a cigar, I start by asking them whether they have smoked before. The answer will tell me where I am going to start them. If they have never smoked before, then I am going to want to move them toward a milder cigar with little to no pepper notes. There are several which have notes of toast with a creamy smoke. I might also give them a cigar option which has baking spice notes of nutmeg or cinnamon, but is still mild. I always want them to enjoy the experience. We relish helping people choose their first cigar as well as guiding them through the lifestyle.

If the new cigar smoker has smoked cigarettes previously, I will usually move them toward a medium strength cigar with a little more spice. A sun grown or Maduro is my normal starting point so they can begin to appreciate the feel and tastes of a cigar. I will also remind them not to inhale and don’t quickly blow out the smoke. A cigar’s smoke is to be drawn into the mouth and then allowed to slowly escape. I remind them to take it slowly; no more than one puff per minute. This is a time to relax and reflect on the life you have or the life you want to have. This is cigar time. Enjoy it to the fullest.

[The Lawspeaker]

Eventhough I'm a pipe smoker: a cigar has style. But it really depends on what you smoke and how you smoke it and what you drink you pair it with (if at all).

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

Nice thread about one of my favorite topics, tobacco. My preference is pipe smoking but I do enjoy a cigar from time to time.

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

Eventhough I'm a pipe smoker: a cigar has style. But it really depends on what you smoke and how you smoke it and what you drink you pair it with (if at all).

What have you been smoking?

[Joso]

Your lungs, i thnk i can hear your respiration from very close.

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

Your lungs, i thnk i can hear your respiration from very close.

There is no rule to it but I have never met a cigar\pipe smoker that inhales. The experience is all about savoring the flavors and aromas of your cigar\pipe tobacco.

[The Lawspeaker]

What have you been smoking?

My brand is Skandinavik (pipe tobacco) and usually vanilla flavoured but I have always smoked Stanwell and Hajenius. As for my pipe - I am using a Stanwell Black & White 405.

As for cigars: usually Flor de Filipinas or Inca but I like Balmoral as well.







I usually smoke cigars when I am in the Philippines because I don't risk taking my pipe there (it could be damaged in transit). I tend to pair mine with either Boracay or Tanduay rum (the latter when I am smoking unflavoured cigars) or lambanog (particularly good with some of the flavoured cigars) or, when I am in the Netherlands, whiskey. My favourite there being Aberlour 12.

Here is my nr. 1 combination in the Philippines:

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

Nice Stanwell, do you have the two stems as well to turn it into a small churchwarden? Nowadays they are not produced anymore in Denmark but in Italy.

I have tried a couple of Skandinavik blends, including the one you mentioned. I think in here it is labeled as Skandinavik Navy because our law does not allow anymore to label tobacco products with flavors such as vanilla, cherry, etc,. It is a nice aromatic but it tends to bite if you puff it too fast (like most aromatics and Virginia based blends).

[The Lawspeaker]

Nice Stanwell, do you have the two stems as well to turn it into a churchwarden? Nowadays they are not produced anymore in Denmark but in Italy.

I have tried a couple of Skandinavik blends, including the one you mentioned. I think in here it is labeled as Skandinavik Navy because our law does not allow anymore to label tobacco products with flavors such as vanilla, cherry, etc,. It is a nice aromatic but it tends to bite if you puff it too fast (like most aromatics and Virginia based blends).

As a matter of fact: I had two stems as a standard but mine is usually with the shorter one. Unless I am reading, then I go churchwarden. I have been very stable in my tastes, I guess: I usually smoke vanilla. It just makes for a very relaxed smoke but, indeed, you shouldn't smoke too fast. Just take your time.

[Sebastianus Rex]

We have enough members to open a cigar club.

A few irritating allergic problems this spring (along with the covid paranoia I must confess) have kept me away from my faithful companions, but it's time to open the humidor again, enough of this inhumane deprivation !

I never tried Filipinos. Habanos are what I know best, I was initiated to the pleasures of fine smoking with Dominican Davidoff corona tubes and then I moved on to the more substantial Cubans of several brands and calibers.
Altough I've increasingly experimented cigars from other countries such as Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil and even USA. Now I tend to buy individual tubes or packs of 3 or 5 instead of boxes of 25 for the sake of variety.

I don't recall ever trying an hand rolled Asian cigar, just those industrial Dutch sumatras.