The Stogie Guys

Wouldn’t it be nice to have one large humidor in your home, preferably a walk-in, with all the cigars easily accessible, sorted by name, and labeled with received dates? It would make aging simpler, humidification easier to monitor, and your whole stash more organized.

Sometimes I think those of us who regularly visit the online cigar community, or those of us who write for it, automatically assume every reader has one elaborate cigar storage setup that costs thousands of dollars. I’m sure some do. But I don’t. And chances are you don’t, either. That said, I want to be clear that I’m not complaining. As I’ve written before, I’m fortunate to have a wonderful cigar den that allows ample room for my humidors, as well as nice space for indoor smoking during those cold Chicago winters. While I may not have a walk-in teeming with the world’s rarest and most expensive smokes, I’m certainly happy and thankful for what I have.

All this isn’t to say that my setup doesn’t present some challenges. It does, and I think many of the challenges apply to the average cigar consumer. So I figured I’d outline my top two challenges—and the solutions I’ve concocted to confront them—so the information can help others (or with hopes that you have comments and suggestions about how I might improve my own setup).

First, let me say that at any given time I have anywhere from five to seven humidors. The variance is explained by the fact that, depending on inventory, I sometimes outfit two large Tupperware containers with humidification beads and Spanish cedar to store spillover smokes. In a perfect world I would only have one very large humidor to worry about, not a handful of medium- to small-sized humidors. But because the five traditional wooden humidors all carry sentimental value (i.e., the one I got for my wedding that’s engraved with the wedding date) I can’t bring myself to consolidate. Plus, given the space I have in our condo in Chicago, one very large humidor would be a lot tougher to make space for.

One challenge with this setup is monitoring the humidification levels of each individual humidor. Each humidor seems to hold onto humidity differently, and that can make proper maintenance difficult. My solution? Once every so often (more often in the winter, when the natural air humidity is lower) I examine and rotate the cigars in each humidor. I also check to see if the humidification device in each humidor needs to be “recharged.”

The second challenge—especially with all the rotation—is keeping track of which cigars are stored where. I combat this by keeping brands together (i.e., Tatuaje with Tatuaje, PDR with PDR, etc.) and then noting in a spreadsheet which brands are in which humidor. This isn’t perfect because it requires me to reference a document if I’m looking for something in particular. But I’ve found it helpful. I’m considering doing something similar but, instead of organizing the cigars by brand, organizing them by type (i.e., cigars that need to be reviewed, golf course smokes, special cigars for special occasions, etc.).

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on how to improve my setup. Or, if you have a completely different setup/strategy, please feel free to share in the comments below as well.

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Memorial Day. Veterans Day. Independence Day. Christmas. Thanksgiving. These are the days of the year when many Americans focus their thoughts and generosity on the men and women who are bravely serving in the armed forces overseas.

No matter what your opinion of U.S. foreign policy, one thing that shouldn’t be divisive is supporting our troops. And you needn’t wait for a holiday to do your part. Year round, men and women who are serving in dangerous conditions would appreciate any spare cigars you can send their way.

Last summer, the StogieGuys.com team took inventory of our personal humidors and sent some cigars to the Kandahar Koughers, a group that has gotten much well-deserved publicity for its efforts. The Koughers, according to their Facebook page, smoke donated cigars “under adverse conditions” to increase morale, relieve stress, and build camaraderie. Feel free to send cigars of your own to the Koughers at the following address:

MAJ David Luttrell/Randy Sauers
c/o Kandahar Koughers
KAF RCC, BLDG 232
APO AE 09355

The Koughers are worthy recipients of your generosity, but they aren’t the only cigar club made up of overseas military personnel. Another is the Tali-banned Cigar Aficionado Club (TCAC), a group of U.S. and coalition soldiers that provides fellowship and complimentary cigars to members. Today the StogieGuys.com team is sending a nice package of cigars to the club’s chapter in Kabul. We encourage you to do the same at the following address:

Chris Mino
NTMA/CSTC-A
Attn: MTAG
APO AE 09356

If you haven’t done it before, mailing cigars to troops really couldn’t be simpler. Just use a free USPS flat rate Priority Mail box and fill out a brief customs form. The postage is the same to an APO box as it is for domestic shipping. Delivery will take a bit longer, though, so be sure to provide adequate humidification to keep the sticks from drying out.

But whether you send cigars to the Koughers, TCAC, another group, or an individual, I urge you to make a contribution. In addition to those sticks you’ll never miss, toss in a few special cigars. As my colleague George recently wrote, “I bet you’ll get more from donating them than you would from lighting them up.”

-Patrick A

photo credit: TCAC

Ask a cigar smoker why a cigar tastes the way it does and you’ll surely hear about the tobacco used and the proportions in which they are blended. Maybe they’ll mention the time of day the cigar is smoked or what drink, if any, they accompany the cigar with. But largely forgotten is one of the most important variables: time.

Tobacco is organic matter, which means that chemically it will change with time. During a cigar’s life, the tobacco changes, and that impacts the flavor. Today I’m breaking down aging into three basic categories:

Factory Aging

Some change, like curing and fermenting in tobacco barns or at the cigar factory, takes place relatively quickly. Other critical aging time, like time spent aging tobacco before it is rolled, or the time the rolled cigars are spent in an aging room before being boxed and shipped, can take place over weeks, months, or years. If you’ve ever smoked a cigar fresh off a rolling table you’ll remember how different that cigar would taste from the finished product, even though the difference may only be 15 of 60 days before the cigars go in the box. Obviously, unless you make your own cigars, you have no control over the factory aging process.

Short-Term Aging

Most critically (and often over-looked) is short-term aging or resting. Most people do this without even realizing it. The most obvious way is letting the cigars settle from shipping, often for a week or two, particularly when it’s extremely hot or cold out, and if your cigars may have been sitting a hot delivery truck for a few days.

Another common form of short-term aging is to let cigars get past what is often called the “sick period,” where the cigar emits ammonia and can be downright unpleasant to smoke. Cubans are known to get “sick” far more than non-Cubans, so often a six-month or more resting period is needed.

Long-Term Aging

The most discussed type of aging is long-term aging, where cigars can be aged for years or even decades. A few non-Cuban cigar makers put dates on their boxes, and all Cuban cigars have box dates, making it easier to precisely age your cigars.

Cuban cigars are notorious for benefiting from (some would say needing) time to age, often a year or more. And while most of the focus with long-term aging is on Cuban cigars, non-Cubans will also change, sometimes for the better, with months or years. Just remember that aging a bad cigar will only leave you with an old bad cigar.

Prime candidates for cigars to age are ones with full flavors that need some smoothing around the edges. Like fine wine, cigars tend to smooth out and add complexity and balance over time, trading fuller body for subtleties, though eventually cigars (like wine) lose too much flavor. So be sure to try your cigars every so often to make sure that time is making them better, not worse.

-Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

We know it gets harder all the time to find spots where you can enjoy a cigar outside a shop or your personal smoking space. But that doesn’t mean it is impossible.

I’m starting a campaign to share venues that are cigar-cordial and likely not on the typical list of such places. Hopefully it can be a resource for everyone, from those traveling to an unfamiliar location to folks seeking a new experience right around home. I’ll kick it off with two places in my general area (Tampa Bay) where I’ve enjoyed cigars in a friendly atmosphere.

Skipper’s Smokehouse. This amazing restaurant and concert venue is a Tampa institution, presenting music ranging from Americana to Zydeco. The stage is outside—fans in the summer, heaters in the winter—with chairs, picnic tables, and benches around the dance “floor.” The only comments I’ve had when smoking were inquiries about whether you could buy a cigar there. Alas, no, but it‘s also only a few miles from two large shops, Tampa Humidor and Cigar Castle. So you can stock up on stogies before hitting Skipper’s for a dinner and a show.

Miss Vicki’s. A quintessential Florida burger joint, Miss Vicki’s consists of a covered bar, open-air tables, and a small stage that often features local musicians. But the star of the show is the restaurant’s extraordinary waterside location where the Anclote River enters the Gulf. You’re only yards from the water and facing west for beautiful sunsets. Who could resist lighting up in a setting like this in a place called Holiday? One caution and one hint: Seating is limited and it’s often packed; try the Key Lime pie.

Now it’s your turn. Add your suggestions. Let’s keep this going and create a resource that will make cigar smoking even more enjoyable.

-George E

photo credit: Flickr

Last month, we provided some suggestions for finding new cigars. New cigar smokers might get the most out of those tips, but they are lessons even cigar veterans can benefit from.

Similarly, though these five suggestions are aimed primarily at those who’ve recently taken up cigars, I sometimes feel we’re all new smokers at some time or other. I still get a rush walking into a large, well-stocked humidor and a feeling of anticipation lighting up a cigar I’ve not tried before or wondering what experience I’ll find from different tobaccos.

With that in mind, here are five ways to make sure that you get the most out of every cigar experience:

1. Keep your mouth wet. Your taste buds won’t work as well when they’ve dried out. If you’re looking for something that won’t affect the cigar’s flavors try water or club soda.

2. Take time to make sure you have an even light on the cigar’s foot. Keep an eye on the burn as it progresses. If it gets uneven, you won’t experience the cigar the way it was intended.

3. If you find yourself in the proverbial smoke-filled room (and you’re not handing out highway contracts), step out periodically for some fresh air. Too much smoke can overload your senses and dull the experience of your cigar.

4. Try a V-cut or punch when smoking short- or mixed-filler cigars. This can limit the bits of tobacco that end up on your tongue.

5. Enjoy yourself. This might sound silly. But remember that cigar smoking is a hobby of pleasure, not accomplishment. The number of hot new releases you acquire, the size of your humidor, the money you spend or save…all this and more is meaningless unless you find enjoyment in the cigars you smoke.

-George E

photo credit: Flickr

With only 13 shopping days left before Christmas, consumers across the country are traipsing through crowded malls to find the perfect gifts. Many have cigar enthusiasts on their lists but find shopping for cigars either intimidating or confusing.

Never fear. Cigar smokers need not be a difficult crowd for which to buy presents. Their dedication and passion for the hobby of cigars makes it easy to narrow down gift choices. This holiday season, you can be virtually assured of gift-giving success if you follow some simple rules of thumb.

Only give a box if you’re sure. Some cigar enthusiasts are completely loyal to one brand or one specific blend. If this is the case, you can’t do wrong by buying a box he or she is sure to love. Maybe this isn’t the most original idea—and maybe the box won’t be much of a surprise—but any cigar smoker will tell you that you can never have enough of your favorite smokes.

Samplers offer variety. Many cigar enthusiasts don’t have just one favorite cigar. For these folks, I can’t recommend buying a whole box. Instead, samplers can be terrific presents. When you give a sampler of ten different cigars, it’s like giving ten different gifts. The recipient might not love all ten, but chances are he or she will really enjoy at least a few, and you might even be responsible for turning someone on to his or her new favorite smoke.

Consider cigar accessories. Every cigar enthusiast needs a great table lighter, a travel lighter, a nice cutter, a good ashtray, etc. Instead of buying cigars, think about giving the gift of a cigar accessory. Many accessories can be personalized and, unlike cigars themselves, are likely to last for years to come. My wife gave me a wonderful alligator skin cigar case years ago and I’ve cherished it ever since.

Cigar knowledge is power. Aside from the tremendous knowledge offered by the online cigar community, many books have been written on the subject, and most of these would make an excellent gift. My favorite has to be The Gourmet Guide to Cigars by Paul Garmirian, a solid work that was published in 1990 and is now considered a classic. Other interesting reads include Playboy: The Book of Cigars, The Cigar Lover’s Compendium, and The Cigar Maker (by our very own Mark M).

Don’t forget cigar rights. Most cigar smokers have a fervent passion for defending cigar rights and opposing tobacco taxes and smoking bans. For these folks, a membership to Cigar Rights of America is an excellent gift. Benefits of membership include supporting professional lobbyists who fight for cigar freedoms, discounts at cigar shops, free cigars, and more.

I hope these tips are helpful as you shop for that cigar smoker on your list. Feel free to leave a comment if you have a tip of your own that you’d like to share. And happy holidays.

-Patrick A

photo credit: Flickr

Now that we’re in the middle of the Christmas shopping season, many consumers will surely be looking for a good stocking stuffer for that cigar enthusiast on their list. They might want to consider the Ergonomic Torch Lighter from Butane Lighters Wholesale.

Butane Lighters Wholesale is a California distributor of torch lighters, cigar cutter lighters, pipe lighters, table lighters, and other products to meet your flame-related needs. The owner of the outfit, Aaron Torng, was nice enough to send me the Ergonomic Torch Lighter for this review, and I’ve been testing it out for over a month now.

First, the specs on the product. It stands four and a half inches tall with a weight of four ounces. Its unique frame, aside from looking pretty cool, fits well in the hand, and the black rubber grips make the sleek steel surface easy to grasp. Other notable attributes include an adjustable flame (screwdriver required) and a refillable butane tank.

The 45-degree angled head makes toasting the foot of a cigar a little less awkward, but I’m unconvinced it makes much of a difference. What does make a difference is the easily operated thumb slide and the reliable flame. When set to its highest level, you can light a cigar from about three inches away.

Over the past four weeks I’ve used the Ergonomic Torch Lighter extensively. I can say that the flame doesn’t disappoint, and the value is outstanding. At $19.99, this product is superior to many lighters that I’ve owned in terms of performance, and far less expensive. And each butane fill-up seems to last for a respectable time period.

While its larger size and lack of a safety mechanism makes this lighter less than ideal in terms of mobility, I’ve really enjoyed having it on my desk or out on the patio when company is over. I may even pack one of these in my golf bag when the summer rolls around, though I think it was designed to be a table lighter.

Whatever the case, the Ergonomic Torch Lighter is a solid buy for under $20.

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys