The Stogie Guys

Truth be told, I’m not much of an art guy. Sure, I’ve spent an afternoon or two at the Art Institute of Chicago or the National Portrait Gallery, but those trips were mostly against my will. My idea of “culture” is a cold beer (or seven) and a hot dog (or three) at the ballpark.

So if I’m going to appreciate art, why shouldn’t it be related to one of my core interests? Like cigars, for instance.

I don’t know about you, but when I think about stogies, art generally does not come to mind. But with their decorative bands and aesthetically-pleasing boxes, maybe it should. Here are a couple examples of art that every Stogie Guy can appreciate.

Casanova Cigar Carvings

Brad Casanova of Casanova Cigar Carvings wrote us awhile back drawing our attention to his beautiful work. A master woodworker, Brad wanted his first personal carving to be both attractive and meaningful – so he chose to recreate the highly-detailed Fuente Opus X cigar label (seen below).

Impressed? Yeah, we were too. I encourage you to check out Brad’s “continuously growing collection of cigar art” at his blog. His work includes a CAO carving that was signed by Cano himself.

The Museum of the Southwest

If you’ve never had a reason to journey to the vast wasteland that is western Texas, here’s your chance. The Museum of the Southwest in Midland is holding an auction on May 8 that will feature 70 cigar boxes by “prominent” artists like Jesus Moroles, Glenna Goodacre, and Woody Gwyn (no, I’ve never heard of any of these people either). The picture to the right depicts one of the boxes that will be auctioned.

The event – which celebrates the history of the cigar in the U.S. – will include a cocktail buffet and a cigar bar. Tickets are $75 apiece. Sadly, the chances of anyone from the Stogie Guys staff attending are slim to nil.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

Editors note: This is the first article in our new series on adult beverages to enjoy with your cigar. Each Stogie Spirits tip will examine a different cocktail or beverage. For an overview of drinks to enjoy with your cigar, read our Choose Your Booze tip.

May first means not only has spring arrived, but warmer weather is here to stay. And it also means that the Kentucky Derby is just around the corner.

The Derby is the opening race of the Triple Crown series, and an event with a drink all of its own: the Mint Julep.

The Mint Julep is made with 3 to 5 ounces of bourbon, 1 ounce mint-infused simple syrup (or simply some sugar), fresh mint leaves, and a generous amount of shaved or pulverized ice. According to Wall Street Journal cocktail columnist Eric Felton (now that’s a sweet gig!) the proper Julep is made in the following way:

“Muddle 1⁄2 oz of syrup with mint leaves in bottom of a Julep cup. Rub entire inside of cup with the syrupy leaves. Pack the cup to over the rim with ice. Pour the other half ounce of syrup over the ice, followed by the bourbon. Garnish with a leafy sprig of mint. Drink – slowly, that’s a lot of bourbon – through a straw.”

An alternative way of making the Julep was described by legendary singer Bob Dylan during his Theme Time Radio Hour show:

“First up, you take four mint sprigs, two and a half ounces of bourbon. I’d put three. A table spoon of powder sugar, and a table spoon of water. You put the mint leaves, powder sugar, and water in a Collins glass. You fill the glass with shaved, or crushed ice, and then add bourbon. Top that off with more ice. And…I’d like to garnish that with a mint sprig. Serve it with a straw. Two or three of those, and anything sounds good.”

No matter how you make this delightful beverage, with all its mint and sugar it might not seem like a perfect match for a cigar. Yet with a plentiful amount of bourbon, the Julep is a great change of pace from the traditional bourbon – straight up or on the rocks. If you order a Julep at a bar, it is likely to made with Jim Beam. Early Times is the official bourbon (technically it’s a Kentucky whiskey) of the Kentucky Derby, but I would suggest springing for something better like Evan Williams Vintage Single Barrel.

As for your stogie, pair the Julep with a mild- to medium-bodied smoke with just a little spice such as a Fuente Chateau Maduro, Romeo y Julieta Vintage III, or a Toraño Exodus.

For the perfect Mint Julep experience, one should be at the horse track with a sawbuck on your horse to win. There’s nothing better than returning to the betting window with a Julep in one hand and a cigar in your mouth to collect you winnings.

–Patrick S