Stogie Commentary: Everyone Deserves a Good Smoke

Chances are you probably didn’t catch this article in Sunday’s Contra Costa Times about an Oakley, California man who hated his first cigar, but grew up to own two stogie stores (including his own brand).

But as a fastidious reader of every piece of news concerning the world of cigars, I wasn’t about to let this one fall through the cracks. “Why,” you’re probably asking, “is this esoteric tale worth relaying to all of us Stogie Guys?” Well, as it turns out, it provides the perfect opportunity for me to make two very important points.

First – and most obviously – if you don’t like your first cigar that certainly doesn’t mean you will never like any cigars. You owe it to yourself to at least try another. As in many cases in life, persistence pays off.

Now on to my second point: The man in the article, Tony Hemenes, was quoted as saying that “you are not going to find lower income people who like cigars.” Bullshit.

Regardless of the fallacy society developed that cigars are only for the rich and elite, stogies are for Jane Doe and John Everyman just as much as they are for Fidel Castro and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Many wonderful cigars cost less than the price of a Miller Lite at your local pub, and they’re sure to last much longer. Case in point: StogieGuys.com has already provided you with reviews of two very respectable cigars (see here and here) that cost less than $3 a smoke – and there are many more to come.

While I have a lot of respect for Mr. Hemenes as a successful entrepreneur in a commendable industry, I can’t agree with his assertion that stogies do not transcend class structures. A good smoke is for anyone – rich or poor, man or woman – who deserves a bit of flavorful relaxation.

-Patrick A