The Stogie Guys

Last year we published a list of 15 Halloween costumes that could incorporate smoking your favorite cigar.

This year we’ve expanded the list to 20, more than a few of which could be pulled together before you celebrate Halloween tonight:

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Whether you’re going as The Governator or one of his gun-toting movie characters, a big cigar won’t look out of place.

2. Michael Jordan. Now in retirement, the greatest basketball player ever never hits the links without a Macanudo.

3. Groucho Marx. Sure, it’s a little dated, but this American icon loved his stogies.

4. Ulysses S. Grant. Some historians say the super-sized prez smoked around 20 cigars a day.

5. Mark Twain. Speaking of the cigar smokers of yesteryear, how about America’s best known cigar-smoking author?

6. Kramer. Just try not to burn down Suzan’s log cabin, or use any racial slurs.

7. Scarface. He was Tony Montana. The world will remember him by another name…

8. Bill Clinton. The former President (and future possible first lady?) got into quite a bit of trouble with his cigars.

9. Monica Lewinsky. (See eight.)

10. Sigmund Freud. Do you think the cigar-smoking neurologist was into cigars because he was envious of his father’s you-know-what?

11. Jesse Ventura. I’d recommend going as his Blain character from Predator. (Note: Jesse is the second future governor from this cast. Did someone say Carl Weathers in 2006?)

12. Hot cigar girl. Enough said.

13. Winston Churchill. Leading (and smoking) England through World War II, this prime minister is by far the manliest British dude ever. By far.

14. Clint Eastwood. Step one: Grab a six-shooter, a cowboy hat, and a Backwoods cigar. Step two: Go kill some Indians.

15. A cigar store Indian. Watch out for Clint Eastwoods.

16. A cigar-chomping communist dictator. Any Pinko Commie like Fidel Castro, Kim Jong Il, or Che Guevara will do.

17. The Babe. Maybe the greatest slugger in baseball history, Babe Ruth was known for his love of food, drink, and cigars.

18. Tony Soprano. We may never know what happened after “Don’t Stop Believing” stopped playing, but we do know that this mafia boss smoked a cigar in almost every episode of The Sopranos.

19. Al Capone. If we’re talking mafia bosses, why not be the original? Capone was known for his enjoyment of cigars, booze, and women. Just don’t get syphilis.

20. A Cigar. Sure smoking a cigar while being dressed as a cigar may seem weirdly cannibalistic, but what better way to show your love for stogies?

Got any costume ideas that we missed? Don’t be shy about letting us know your stogie costume in the comments.

–The Stogie Guys

Last June, I published one of our first Stogie Tips: a short article on how to properly light a cigar. Aside from the ever-important “toasting the foot” strategy, the bulk of piece dealt with various means with which to light a stogie.

I came to the conclusion that “due to their resistance to wind and perfect flames, the best tools for igniting cigars are butane lighters.” This is a commonly held principle among seasoned cigar smokers, but I’m here to tell you that I was wrong.

I’m sure many out there – especially lighter manufacturers and retailers – will disagree, but, truth be told, I’ll take a handful of wooden matches over the best butane torch any day of the week.

“But wait,” you ask, “don’t matches take a lot longer to light a cigar than a torch?” I won’t disagree with that. If you light a cigar properly, it could take three to four wooden matches – and upwards of several minutes – to establish a good light.

But, as Mike Copperman of Bethesda Tobacco so graciously taught me, that’s all part of the cigar-smoking process. You see, taking time to properly light a fine stogie is a ritual that shouldn’t be rushed. Before the first puff, take in the aromas as the flame dances off the tobacco. Build the anticipation. After all, the cigar hobby is meant to be enjoyed in a relaxed, slow-paced environment.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen friends, acquaintances, and video bloggers butcher their cigars by flash-frying the foot. Where’s the ceremony or nostalgia in that? Besides, it’s hard to build anticipation in .02 seconds. Like I wrote before, please take time to smoke.

Another critique of wooden matches is that, once struck, they exude sulfur, an odorous element that can alter the taste and smell of a cigar. While it’s true that modern match heads contain antimony sulfide and potassium chlorate, their effect on tobacco taste is negligible. Besides, you can easily bypass this risk by waiting one to two seconds after the match is struck before touching it to the foot.

Finally, many butane torch fans cite their method’s excellent resistance to wind as the coup de grậs. I won’t oppose that point. I’m not going out on a limb when I say that lighters are much better in a stiff breeze. Most of the time, however, I find the wind is not a major factor. Save for those occasions when I’m on the golf course, I’ll still take my matches over a lighter.

Please note that I write this not to offend or irritate, but only to prod. Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I’m really turned off by all those fancy gadgets that have flooded the industry.

Besides, why spend $470 on a torch that you’re just going to loose between the couch cushions – especially when you can pick up a pack of wooden matches for free every time you hit up a bar or restaurant?

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

First of all, no, I’ve never been. As a U.S. citizen, trekking to Cuba is about as difficult these days as finding a cigar-friendly bar.

But as a stogie enthusiast, there aren’t many other places on God’s green Earth that I’d rather visit than Fidel’s crippled island nation. So I figured that you, like me, might be willing to go the extra mile – and perhaps bend a rule or two – to vacation in cigar paradise.

Now before we get into specifics, let’s get on the same page. Contrary to a common misconception, it is entirely legal for American citizens to travel to Cuba. Yep, that’s right. While the Kennedy Administration banned travel to Cuba in 1962, the Supreme Court found that law unconstitutional shortly thereafter.

It is, however, illegal for U.S. citizens to spend any money on the island (which is why most Americans fly to Cuba via Canada or Mexico). As the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control states on their website, “The basic goal of the sanctions is to isolate the Cuban government economically and deprive it of U.S. dollars. Criminal penalties for violating the sanctions range up to 10 years in prison, $1,000,000 in corporate fines, and $250,000 in individual fines.”

Considering all the other craptacular countries it’s entirely legal for Americans to trade with, this has got to be one of the most hypocritical policies in the federal government – and that’s saying a lot.

That said, there’s a ton of other convoluted ins and outs of Cuban-American relations related to travel, and – if you’re seriously considering a trip – I’d recommend reading up as much as possible.

But in the interest of space and time, here are five helpful hints to get you started, courtesy of CubaTravelUSA.com:

1) Use your passport only for entering and departing from Cuba. Ask the Cubans not to stamp your passport. Cuba has guaranteed they will not stamp any more American passports. It is now the law.

2) Use your birth certificate and drivers license or picture ID to enter Mexico, Nassau, Canada, or for re-entering the United States. Sometimes in Mexico you might have to offer a “tip” ($10 usually works) in order to not have your passport stamped.

3) Upon re-entry to the United States, there are a number of questions you are required to answer such as: What is your name, what is your address, what is your occupation, which countries have you been to, etc.? If you are asked more than these normal questions, the Center for Constitutional Rights advises you to state: “I have been advised by my counsel to not answer any further questions and to refrain from any additional comment. Any further inquiries should be directed to my counsel.”

4) Many Americans try to bring home items such as Havana cigars, Havana Club rum, T-shirts, and other Cuban-made items. Most get away with it, but if U.S. Customs finds them in your luggage, they will take them away from you. Remove all airline luggage tags from your suitcase and get rid of all tickets and claims checks before entering immigration.

5) Remember: There is no law restricting travel to or from Cuba, only a ban on spending money there. Try to avoid a paper trail by using cash instead of credit cards.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

Considering the many tips we’ve given, it isn’t like us to outsource our tips to others. Still, this article from Smartmoney.com does a pretty good job giving cigar novices a primer on selecting and purchasing cigars.

For the more experienced Stogie Guys, these tips may seem obvious (and some not even applicable). But for those with just one foot in the pool, these four tips on purchasing cigars are worthy of a reprint here:

Get hands on. A quality cigar will have a lustrous sheen and slightly oily texture, says McKee. It’ll feel firm between your fingers, and give off a strong aroma of tobacco. A cigar that’s been stored improperly, on the other hand, will be dull, with a dry, cracked wrapper. “It’ll crumble in your hand, just like a cracker,” she says. A bad cigar won’t have much of a scent.

Stick to specialists. You’ll find an excellent selection of individually priced cigars at tobacconists and cigar shops, says Bettridge. Look for a store with a walk-in humidor, which replicates the temperature and humidity of the cigars’ native country. Bonus: Because these stores sell only smokes, you’re more likely to find knowledgeable staff to make recommendations.

Avoid buying online. There’s no way to know in advance if cigars have been stored properly, says Bettridge, or if you’re getting the real deal (counterfeit cigars — cheap, poor-quality tobacco dressed up with a ring band similar to a legit brand — abound). And even the most reputable online retailers sell cigars primarily in boxes — a costly proposition if you’re trying new brands.

Go late. Unless you have a humidor, any cigar you buy as a gift (or to smoke yourself) should be smoked within a day or two of purchase. The exception: Cigars packaged in tubes. “They put them in the tubes when they’re freshly rolled,” Seise says, “so the moisture is locked in.” So long as you don’t open the tube, these cigars can be kept for a week or so.

Beginners would also benefit from reading the article’s tips on origin, brand, size, shape, vintage, age, and color.

However, please skip the final tip from the article on “Flavor,” where the article incorrectly claims that “there are no chocolate or red fruit notes here — cigars are usually described in basic tastes like sweet, smooth, heavy and rich.”

While it is true that in the beginning noticing more complex flavors is difficult, it’s far from true that the flavors aren’t there. I would challenge the author to try a Carlos Toraño Exodus Gold or an Alonso Menendez and say that there aren’t chocolate flavors in cigars.

For a better look at the often complex flavors in cigars, read this article on our Davidoff tasting.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

Many months ago we gave you some tips on selecting a spirit to pair with your cigar.

Now I like a stiff drink as much as the next guy, but there are many times when a bourbon, scotch, cognac, port, or rum (the more traditional cigar cocktail pairings) just aren’t appropriate or desirable.

On these occasions, might I suggest you reach for a cup of Joe? Coffee isn’t the most exotic drink – over half of all Americans consume it everyday, and the per capita consumption is 1.6 cups a day – but a fine cigar paired with a good brew can turn the average to the exotic.

Coffee and a cigar before noon, in the early afternoon, or after dinner (when a stronger spirit just isn’t possible, like when you need to drive home) can be delightful.

And the flavors in a good cup of coffee are highly complimentary to cigars. Vanilla, mocha, chocolate, and roasted notes, as well as nuttiness and earth, can all be found in both cigars and coffee. In fact, tasting wheels used for coffee tasting would help any cigar smoker identify flavors in his tasty tobacco treat.

But much like bad cigars, too often when people think of coffee they think of bad coffee, like that sludge they serve at your workplace. But doing so would be like thinking that all cigars are like Phillies. I fear that, despite the billions of cups of coffee Americans drink ever year, many people have never had a really good brew.

Personally, I make a pot every morning with my French press coffee maker using freshly ground beans from my manual burr grinder. Some people take it a step further, roasting their own beans from their initial green color to the deep brown we identify with coffee, while other have thousand-dollar fully automatic espresso machines. But such a set up isn’t necessary for good coffee.

Whatever machine you use, try coffee that you grind yourself at the supermarket or local coffee store, as opposed to pre-ground canned coffee. And buy it in small amounts so that it isn’t sitting around getting stale, which can massively change the flavor. (I bought my grinder after noting how much more I enjoyed coffee right after I bought it compared to after it sat in my kitchen cabinet for a week.)

Finally, try different types of coffee from different countries and companies. Not surprisingly, Cuban coffee pairs excellently with cigars, but so can a good cafe au lait, latte, or espresso.

Like cigars, you need to try a variety to find your favorite. And when you do, you may find that, from time to time, you’ll pass over the alcoholic beverages in favor of a good cup of Joe.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

I know it’s a cliché, but – let’s face it – there just aren’t enough hours in a day. Especially if you’re a cigar enthusiast.

Between work, commutes, showers, errands, friends and family, chores, three square meals, taxes, and all the other responsibilities us grown-ups shoulder, how exactly is a human supposed to set aside an hour (well, more reasonably, and hour and ½) to enjoy a stogie?

I don’t mean to disappoint, but – unfortunately – I really don’t have an easy answer to that question. I can’t be your personal time manager, and I certainly don’t have the blueprints for a make-time-stand-still machine.

What’s worse, with winter setting in and government-imposed, fascist smoking bans looming over many bars, restaurants, and other public places, these days finding a place to smoke is becoming as difficult as finding the time to do it.

But we must do it. We must smoke cigars. I don’t know about you, but if I don’t park my ass in a chair for awhile and devour some delicious tobacco every now and again, I lose it. Not because I’m addicted to the leaf (cigar smokers rarely are), but because I need to unwind.

And what better way to do that than with a stogie? With the exception of fishing, there’s no other hobby that requires its participant to sit patiently still for so long.

Granted you can always smoke and golf, walk, drive, and – heck – some people even run, but I’ve always found that the best way to get the most out of your cigar is to put the rest of the world on hold and just smoke.

Find the time. If need be, grab some booze and/or company, but just do it.

And while you’re at it, remember to smoke slowly. Cigar enjoyment is not a race, and there’s no prize for finishing first.

Besides, in order to “cook” the tobacco at the right temperature (494˚F at the foot), you should only be taking about one puff per minute. You see, when you puff you’re caramelizing the sugars in the tobacco to bring out the flavors. If you puff too often, the temperature will rise, the tobacco will cook too fast, and the smoke may get harsh.

But enough chemistry. Smoking isn’t a chore; it’s what you and I do to have fun and escape from the rest of the world.

Why? Because we deserve it.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

With Thanksgiving officially in the rear-view mirror, you probably know what season it is…shopping season.

And Stogie Guys know this season means giving the gift of cigars to our fellow BOTL’s (Brothers of the Leaf). But that task isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

Smokers’ tastes in cigars vary widely. Some are averse to specific brands based on bad past experiences, some only like very mild or very strong cigars, some are maduro smokers and Cuban snobs, and some are people (like us) that will try any handmade cigar once.

You see, unlike buying cigars for yourself, buying cigars for friends, relatives, acquaintances, and co-workers is an entirely different animal. So to help you out, here are three tips for good cigar gift-giving.

1. Avoid buying the box

Some people are easy to buy for because they have a specific favorite cigar and you know that buying them a box of those means they will be thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, most people aren’t that easy. That’s why we don’t suggest buying a whole box.

We always recommend trying few sticks before jumping in for an entire box, and that’s even more true for gifts. Tastes are quirky and even if you really think that the recipient will enjoy it, there’s a chance for reasons completely beyond your control that they won’t.

2. Samplers are the way to go

Samplers make great gifts and here’s why: Variety is the spice of life. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Sure they are tired old clichés, but they are also true. When you give a sampler of ten different cigars, it is like giving ten different gifts. They might not love all ten, but chances are they will really enjoy at least a few, and you might even be responsible for turning someone on to their new favorite smoke.

3. Get something special

Finally, we suggest getting someone something they wouldn’t buy themselves. Gifts are meant to be special, so buy some super premiums for that person who refuses to spend more than three bucks per stick for himself.

If gifts are meant to be special, then what is more special than giving that guy who smokes only value cigars a premium cigar that he would never purchase for himself?

[Note: This list of holiday shopping tips is far from exhaustive. Please add your own gift buying suggestions in the comments section of this post.]

–Patrick S