It is important for a man to have interests and hobbies. Something he enjoys doing. Something to look forward to for those times when he is stuck doing something he doesn't enjoy doing. And so it is with me and cigars...
Like many other enthusiasts, my passion for cigars has been a gradual courtship. My earliest memories of cigars date back to the 1960's, when I was just a kid, watching my father and his friends sitting in the yard of our suburban Detroit home on Saturday afternoons, smoking the aromatic, hand-rolled cigars popular of the time. [Sadly, my father passed away August 4th, 2010 at the age of 85. He will be missed.] They shared red wine that came in wicker-wrapped gallon jugs, and they drank their vino out of juice glasses (no long-stemmed wine glasses for these guys!) On a small table between them were assorted cheeses, meats and breads from the local immigrant delis. And fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from our garden. I never knew exactly what they were saying because they spoke French and Italian, but they sure seemed to be having a good time eating and drinking and smoking their cigars.
I first experimented with the flavored, plastic-tipped variety of cigars you find at the local gas station. Occasionally I'd smoke one of the gnarled cheroots Clint used to chew on in all those spaghetti Westerns. I subjected myself to these so-called "cigars" throughout my late teens and 20’s, oftentimes while playing softball or camping with the guys. Not only was I ignorant of what a real cigar was, but they were probably all I could afford at the time. Looking back now, I can't truthfully say I enjoyed the smoking experience, however I came to look forward to the camaraderie of the moment. (Or as it has come to be known by its current colloquialism: male bonding).
It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s selling real estate when my broker introduced me to premium cigars. This also happened to be around the time of the cigar craze of the mid-nineties. Cigar culture was all the rage. (Of course, looking back now that might not have been a good thing as quantity trumped quality, and if cigar manufacturers sold rolled-up pencil shavings - which I think some did! - people would've smoked it!) Smoke shops and martini-and-cigar bars were appearing everywhere; conveniently, we had a tobacconist walking-distance from our office. Not that I knew much of anything, but I loved the aroma of the walk-in humidor and the sight of all those cigars nestled in their boxes, waiting to be smoked. I recall being partial to the milder Dominican blends: Don Diego and Macanudo, to name two. We would typically treat ourselves to drinks and a fine cigar after a successful closing. I liked the ritual of the smoke; the ceremonial cutting and lighting, the rewarding oneself for a job well done (and of course the celebration of a commission check!) Still, it remained a rare indulgence. I was liable to smoke several cigars in a month and then go six months without. (What can I say? Real estate is a fickle business.) And quite frankly I still had no idea what I was doing. Other than concluding that a decent cigar was hand-rolled, came out of a humidor and needed to be "clipped", I remained clueless as to the various wrappers, fillers, binders and blends. I did not know a good cigar from bad, or strong from mild. Too often I made the mistake of buying a full-bodied cigar (because I liked the name or the band) only to find myself nauseous halfway through. Nor did I have any idea of how to properly cut, light, or for that matter smoke a hand-made cigar. And when it came to storage... well, let me just say that, sadly, many a good cigar went bad in my un-humidified, makeshift cigar box "humidor".
Into my 40’s -- by then the mid 2000’s -- there was an interval where I went several years without a cigar. Not by choice really, but as the combined result of getting married, becoming a homeowner, a sudden career change and the business of life in general I never seemed to find the time. Then in January of 2008, for no particular reason whatsoever other than maybe growing older and more reflective, and perhaps a downsizing of some of my other (more physical, time consuming, expensive…) hobbies, I decided to make a resolute effort to rediscover cigars. I acquiesced to a cigar-loving coworker who had been coaxing me for some time to join him for a smoke. We met one snowy Friday evening after work at a nearby American Legion Post of which he is a member, and over cheap, cold beers we smoked our cigars (actually, looking back, I think mine was stale. I didn't care), shared some work-related gossip, and basically enjoyed the moment of a nice relaxing reprieve from the week’s events. I was once again captivated by the siren song of a good cigar.
The seed planted, so to speak, I retrieved an old glass-top humidor I had been given, cleaned it up and seasoned it accordingly. I picked up a few of the "Cigars-for-Morons"-type books and familiarized myself with the nomenclature, paraphernalia, the various blends and brands of today's cigars. With the unlimited resources of the Internet I researched humidors and lighters and cutters... all the accouterments that go along with the ritual of buying, storing, and smoking a good cigar.
As I update this post it is spring 2011. [Note: Last May 1, 2010 the State of Michigan smoking ban went into effect. And while probably a good thing for franchise and family-style bars and restaurants, it has wreaked havoc on the neighborhood corner bars and shot-and-a-beer joints. Although never a cigarette smoker I find it unfortunate that recreational cigar smoking has become a casualty of the law. Other than a handful of cigar bars, about the only place left to smoke cigars is outdoors.] On average I smoke about one cigar a week in the winter, two a week in the spring and fall, and maybe three or four cigars a week in the summer. Several Christmases ago my wife surprised me with a beautiful desktop cabinet-style humidor which can accommodate 75+ cigars (although my modest supply usually hovers around fifty.) I also have several travel humidors, plus all the other accessories required. (Truth be told I'm a fanatic for quality, well-made products, and all the assorted "gear" which accompanies any hobby.)
I do not claim to be an expert on cigars -- and certainly cigar smoking is an acquired taste, hence much of the smoking experience is subjective -- but I have gradually come to appreciate the calming experience of a fine cigar and everything that goes along with it. I love the aroma of a well-stocked humidor. I'll gaze thoughtfully into my own humidor, trying to decide what to smoke for a particular occasion, or which cigars I might bring along on an upcoming road trip or vacation. I look forward to sitting in my backyard on warm summer evenings and crisp fall afternoons, savoring a two-hour Churchill over drinks with my cigar-smoking brethren and discussing whatever comes to mind. I like to say (or maybe I read somewhere) that some of [my] life’s most memorable moments have been highlighted by a good cigar.
In any event, I have for some time now been threatening to start a cigar blog or website of some sort; my ultimate goal being to do the occasional video review (once I figure out how!) Last year as a surprise Christmas gift to me my wife conspired with her computer-savvy brother, registered for me the Cigar Scholar domain name and set the initial Cigar Scholar website in motion; this blog being a natural extension. The name Cigar Scholar (my wife's idea) was chosen partly because -- much to my amazement and amusement -- I find myself displaced from my profession and back in college (again) at the ripe age of forty-something, working towards a second baccalaureate degree. Like many others I would imagine, I am trying to reinvent myself and embark on a new career. Consequently, I have plenty of opportunities to savor a cigar in quiet reflection, wondering what I am going to do with the rest of my life.
But I digress. With that basic -- if protracted -- introduction out of the way, I hope you will enjoy my thoughts, musings and ruminations on all things cigar-related.
Christopher/Cigar Scholar
April 2010 (updated April 2011)
April 2010 (updated April 2011)
