Cigars from Her to Him

“Cigars and the city,” I thought as I walked my dog, Sterling, after a night of dinner and the opera. I still wore my evening dress, wrap and stilettos because, as Sterling dictates, so go the walks. I noticed a gentleman in a tuxedo smoking a cigar outside a brownstone party half a block away. The street was shining from an earlier rain shower.

Suddenly, Sterling spotted a cat at the same time a cab was rounding the corner. Sterling broke loose and bolted straight for the cab. The brownstone gentleman leaped onto the street, stopped the cab, and saved little Sterling’s life.

He gave me his card. I sent him a thank-you note and a box of Churchill cigars.

That was six months ago. Tomorrow we announce our engagement.

Cigar Myth Expelled

Some people think that the darker the wrapper or outer leaf of a cigar, the stronger the cigar is. This is not true. The potency of a cigar depends on the filler leaves that compose the middle of the cigar. There are many different shades of tobacco that are used to wrap an individual cigar. That decision is placed in the competent hands of the tobacconist who designs the cigar.

One thing that is true is that the dark leaves on the outside of a cigar leave heavier deposits of oils and tar on the lips as it is being smoked. Those oils give the taste of a stronger cigar.

For great premium cigars worth researching, try online retailers and order an Ashton Sampler. You can decide what shade of wrapper suits you.

The First Cigar Bands

Queen Catherine the Great of Russia loved to smoke fine cigars. In order to avoid soiling her fingertips, she invented a version of the first cigar band. In her case, the bands were made of silk and imprinted with the royal crest.

Still, other sources suggest that a European named Gustave Bock popularized the cigar band in the early 19th century due to the emergence of a trade in counterfeit Havana cigars, where cheaper, German-made cigars were being passed off as Cuban cigars. This was the reason for the advent of uniquely styled cigar bands, each type and style registered with the Cuban government. This practice assured the authenticity of Cuban cigars to buyers.

Fine cigars with beautiful bands may be obtained online. Try a La Aurora Preferidos Cameroon Platinum cigar for excellent band and body.

Types of Cigar Cutters

The "Guillotine" or "Traditional" Cutter – Takes a perpendicular slice across the cigar’s cap line and makes the best cut to create a well-ventilated draw. Be aware that residue and tar from the burning tobacco may come into contact with the smoker’s mouth. An Eloi Cutter is a good example of this kind of cutter.

The "Bullet" or "Punch" Cutter – Pierces a small hole into the cigar cap. Depending on the diameter of the hole, air ventilation may be restricted and the tar and residue from the smoke may accumulate around the opening.

The "V" Cutter – Creates a wedge pierce in the cigar cap, allowing proper ventilation. Tar and residue then surface on the sides of the wedge and the bitter taste stays away from the smoker’s mouth. It may be difficult to keep V cutters sharp because of their shape.

How to Judge a Cigar (The 3 C’s)

Construction – How well is the cigar made? How does it feel to the touch? With a firm, but soft
grip, feel it from end to end. A cigar that is too hard, too soft or inconsistent will not draw
properly.

Condition – Cigars should be well-conditioned. Cigars should be aged several months to several
years at the proper humidity (70% RH) and temperature (70°F). Dry or damp cigars do not burn
properly.

Causality (flavor) – How does it taste? Does it build in taste, flavor and complexity as it burns?
Or is it the same all the way through? Do you feel relaxed and calm after finishing it?

Try an Avo No. 3 Tubos for a first journey into judging a good cigar.

The Right Occasion for Cigar Enjoyment

Light up a Vegas de Fonseca #10 Perfecto cigar after any of the following experiences:

• You just learned that the corporate executive running your company took your retirement funds when they removed their golden parachute money.
• You just learned that the corporate executives running your company were caught with illegal bank accounts offshore.
• The former corporate executives who used to run your company are being sentenced today.
• The former corporate executives who used to run your company are being escorted to prison. The retirement funds they stole from employees have been discovered offshore and are being redistributed back to the employees.

Finding a Great Cigar

A great cigar is a sign of adventure, and finding a great cigar is like landing a job that takes you to places from which you will return with a life lesson and a story to tell. It brings to mind the places to which we would all like to escape. Take, for instance, the La Aurora Preferidos Corojo Gold cigar. It has a unique flavor blend from the Leon Jimenes factory, with tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. I ponder these things as I read the paper, or run the numbers from the stock market, or plan my vacation.

Yes, finding a great cigar makes you know that there will always be adventure. So jump in--the adventure is waiting for you.

Cigar Measurements

Cigars come in many different sizes and shapes. Some are straight-sided cigars (parejos), but there are also several unusually shaped cigars (figurados), including Pyramids and Torpedoes.

Cigar size is measured in terms of diameter and length. Diameter is designated in "ring gauge," a measurement divided into a 64th of an inch (or centimeters). A cigar with a ring gauge of 42, for example, has a diameter of 42/64ths of an inch. Length is measured in inches.

One of the things you will notice is that there is no correspondence between the size of a cigar and its flavor and strength. A Churchill made by different producers will taste completely different. A small cigar can be strong and a big cigar can be mild. Choose according to the occasion and the temperament of the smoker.

What Makes a Great Cigar?

The components of a great cigar are fine tobacco, fine craftsmanship and fine handling by the purveyor. What makes a great cigar connoisseur is an appreciation for the all of the above.

The Churchill Blenheim (Item # 11566), named for Blenheim Palace, the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill, is a cigar designed in the format favored by the world's most famous cigar connoisseur. Whether on his diplomatic tours to keep the world safe, or traveling through London under the threat of the blitz, Sir Winston always had a fine cigar in tow.

You can enjoy this tribute to Churchill by shopping DavidoffMadison.com. The ring gauge and 7-inch length enable this premium cigar's smoke to remain cool, while allowing the flavors of seven exquisite tobaccos to develop from start to finish.

Five Ways to Say Happy Holidays

There are so many ways to experience the joy of giving during the holidays. Here's what I do:I make sure that the gifts I give can be consumed, so that the experience of celebration becomes part of the fun. Here are five suggestions:

1. Give movie tickets.
2. Give gourmet candies for celebrating now and later.
3. Give a floral arrangement-of-the-month membership.
4. Give a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant.
5. Give a small tin of Davidoff Exquisitos (Item #027200) from DavidoffMadison.com.

All of these things will bring a smile to the face of the movie fan, flower lover, gourmet and cigar connoisseur. Plus, they make great stocking stuffers.