Ask any cigar aficionado about their favorite time of smoking cigar and you will find that their answers are more or less the same. Most of them prefer to smoke when they are starting their day with a mug of espresso or at night with their dinner or just before going to bed. There are also few smokers who like to enjoy their cigars in the afternoon, but just like those folks who like an evening drag, their numbers were quite less.
Let’s find out what makes the people preferring to smoke in the morning.
Having a cigar with coffee is like a daily routine for many, who with great conviction declare that cigars are a part of their lives with which they share an unshakeable bond. It’s like coffee would not taste the same if cigar is missing or even worse they will feel something is amiss all through the day. For some, it is their own way of announcing that yesterday has passed and a new day has come, so celebrate it. And without a favorite cigar to smoke, how can it be possible!
The morning cigar is often considered as the best smoke of the day and many cigar aficionados’ favorite as well. The sense of taste is fresh and early in the morning everything tastes differently. A cigar in the morning tastes stronger than it normally does with a special touch of harshness that every cigar smoker wishes for.
There are also some, who don’t wait for any time of the day to come, to smoke their favorite cigar. There are people who smoke cigars very occasionally or socially on some special occasions but then there are also some people who believe that smoking a cigar is an occasion in itself, the only occasion that is needed for them to completely appreciate it.
Posts Tagged ‘Cigars’
Best Time of Day to Smoke a Cigar
Monday, August 24th, 2009Alcohol and Cigar Smoking
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Some people consider smoking a cigar one of the most indulging pleasures one can afford in his or hers free time. Choosing the ideal cigar brand is an issue in itself, but matching it with the proper drink is a task worth considering. It should be noted, that there is no “right” answer on this matter but it is all down to personal choice. However, there are certain common sense rules.
The first important thing about choosing the right drink for a cigar is the time of the day. If it is 10 in the morning, you should smoke accompanied by a cup of coffee, rather than a scotch or rum. Respectively, in the evening, a type of alcohol should be considered. Second, the alcohol and the cigar should be in a balance with each other. For example, a full-bodied cigar will match an alcohol with a full flavor, like scotch or whiskey; a lighter cigar will go with a rose, white wine or champagne. This way you will find your cigar and drink of the same weight, creating the intended wonderful experience.
But, even though weight is a good technique to match your smoke with your drink, it does not let you explore the great bond that can be created between a cigar and an alcohol or non-alcohol drink. The truly incredible experience comes when the taste of the drink add up to the cigar’s taste, creating a complex synergy of the two flavors. And this feeling is different for everybody. Some people like single malt scotch with a strong flavored cigar. Others prefer a glass of rum, accompanying their smoke.
Eating & Cigar Smoking
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Pairing a cigar with food is not really that big deal or that mysterious thing as folks consider it to be. But as always, there are two factors which govern it: the ones who acknowledge it and the ones who do not. Free as you are, you can smoke whatever you want with whatever you like. The plain logic is, it’s a good pairing as long as you find the taste good. In reality, it isn’t any rocket science to pair a good cigar with good food. In fact, it’s quite simple and the experimentation is in itself such a fun.
The best part is that they both enrich each other, especially the meal which tastes far better with it compared to when taken separately. The aim here should be a synergy and equilibrium between cigar and the food. The cigar should not subdue the food and the food should not subdue the cigar. Consider the cigar as a sauce; it should enhance the overall taste of food. In other words, it should complement the food. However, the immediate effects of a cigar are intense, so one needs to carefully make a choice whether to eat during smoking the cigar. The dark smoky bouquet of a classy cigar will remain on your palate for a long time for you to enjoy your food, whatever you are eating.
But a thing to remember here or it can all be messy is that if paired improperly with the wrong food, the whole combination can be a real disaster. For instance, you wouldn’t want to smoke with beans soup. On the contrary, if it’s combined properly with the right kind of food, it will be such a delight to relish. Try smoking a cigar like sage risotto with Caesar salad rich with capers, garlic and anchovies and you will yourself know how desperately you had been missing a real good food combo like this. Also, quail scorched in rosemary chestnut crust with a vintage butera cigar is in itself such a treat. It’s a great pairing liked by most.
Cigars and Coffee
Monday, August 24th, 2009
There’s just one thing which can complement a great cigar in the likes of Cohiba, Punch, Macanudo or any classic Cuban, and that’s a mug of coffee. Ask any cigar aficionado and you’ll pat get the reply how it is to smoke a cigar, sipping coffee in between.
However, quite surprisingly most of the cigar lovers used to detest coffee initially as they found it to be quite a mismatch to enjoy a good smoke; instead tea was a favored option to enjoy with cigars. It was tough to maintain a point of equilibrium between the intensity of a cigar and the flavor of a coffee which many used to feel. While for some who preferred coffee, cigars were a strict no-no, leave apart having both in a combo.
So, as it can be seen, the idea of cigars and coffee together did not receive a supposed welcome and people did not give much thought of having it together. But then what was it that suddenly changed the clichéd opinion of the masses and smoking cigars with coffee turned into a big time phenomenon?
Well, the answer is - those who detested the combination never really wanted to like it, it was all very subjective at the first place but after few attempts to give it one more go upon getting to know about the feedbacks of few ardent supporters of cigars and coffee, it all began to change. Now, pair the best and favorite cigars with the best and favorite coffee of theirs and you’ll find the same folks who didn’t like the idea are the ones who are recommending this great combination to one and all recounting their journey of pairing cigars with coffee.
How to Match a Fine Cigar with the Proper Drink?
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Some people consider smoking a cigar one of the most indulging pleasures one can afford in his or hers free time. Choosing the ideal cigar brand is an issue in itself, but matching it with the proper drink is a task worth considering. It should be noted, that there is no “right” answer on this matter but it is all down to personal choice. However, there are certain common sense rules.
The first important thing about choosing the right drink for a cigar is the time of the day. If it is 10 in the morning, you should smoke accompanied by a cup of coffee, rather than a scotch or rum. Respectively, in the evening, a type of alcohol should be considered. Second, the alcohol and the cigar should be in a balance with each other. For example, a full-bodied cigar will match an alcohol with a full flavor, like scotch or whiskey; a lighter cigar will go with a rose, white wine or champagne. This way you will find your cigar and drink of the same weight, creating the intended wonderful experience.
But, even though weight is a good technique to match your smoke with your drink, it does not let you explore the great bond that can be created between a cigar and an alcohol or non-alcohol drink. The truly incredible experience comes when the taste of the drink add up to the cigar’s taste, creating a complex synergy of the two flavors. And this feeling is different for everybody. Some people like single malt scotch with a strong flavored cigar. Others prefer a glass of rum, accompanying their smoke.
The Best Cigars
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
Most people from around the world hold Cuban cigars as their favorites because of the rich taste and flavor which the cigars offer. They would go to any lengths just to get hold of these. Due to the contraband in existence, many people end up getting duped by fake dealers who are looking to make a quick buck. They sell fake Cuban cigars to customers which do not taste anything like the original. There are some ways in which a true cigar connoisseur can tell the fake ones from the originals. There are a lot of differences which may not be visible to the untrained eye but stand out like glaring neon signs to the connoisseur. Some tips to help you to recognize would be to pay close attention to the wrapping, the color of the cigars and the smell. If you get a iota of doubt in your mind, then in most cases, it is a fake because you can simply recognize the original from the fake. Make sure that you keep a close eye since you are paying a hefty sum for the same!
The Best of Montecristo Cigars
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
One of the finest cigar brands in the entire world is Montecristo cigars which are produced by Altadis, USA. They are one of the leading brands and are synonymous with producing high quality cigars which have a veritable rich taste. They began their company in the summer of 1918 when the time was perfect for its initiation. Through the last century, a lot of accusations and mergers took place in the company but it emerged strong and is one of the biggest brands of cigars in the world today. Altadis does not only produce Montecristo cigars but a number of other brands as well like the Romeo Y Julieta, Don Diego, Turrent, and Trinidad. But among all of the aforementioned brands, Montecristo is the most famous and is loved by people all over.
The original base of these cigars was in Cuba which explains its excellence in taste and richness. After some years, the production of this cigar was shifted to Dominican Republic. These cigars are medium and full flavored ones and are sweet to taste. One of the highest selling types of Montecristo cigars is the Montecristo Cigars Classic in which the Connecticut wrapper is used. Apart from this, some variations also use the Dominican wrapper along with special filler which is the primary reason for its masterly taste.
In addition to the above two types of Montecristo cigars, there are also the platinum series and the white cigars from the same stable. The platinum series blends the San Andres Cubano wrapper with a Nicaraguan binder which provides an exquisite look to the cigars. The fillers used in this cigar are a mixture of Dominican, Peruvian and Nicaraguan fillers. Finally, the White cigar produced by the brand has a Connecticut wrapper which is used to cover the Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The binder used in this cigar is the Nicaraguan binder. This cigar is sweet to taste and is easy flavored.
These cigars are available on a number of websites online. Of course, you can go to the Montecristo website and place your orders. There is also the option of myriad websites which sell these cigars for a lower and discounted price. The best thing is that you can check out the reviews of the cigars if you are a novice to this field. Most of the websites offer home delivery of the Montecristo cigars after you place the order.
The Magic of Dunhill Cigars Part 2
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
The main competitors of the Dunhill cigars when they entered the market were the Davidoff cigars which were already ruling the roost by then. These cigars were also of a high quality which made a tussle between the two very interesting. Later on, the Dunhill Company severed its ties with the Cubatobaco Company and came into the market single handedly. The business went on for a few years before Dunhill completely closed down its production of cigars. The reasons for this were unknown and speculations continue to thrive. During the last few years of its production, Dunhill used to make all the cigars over at the Dominican Republican Islands.
When news came to the world about the imminent closure of Dunhill cigars, there was a mad rush for buying them. Most people bought it to collect them as a vintage item rather than smoking it. There are still a few cigar aficionados who are selling the Dunhill cigars out of their private collections on the internet but the prices are anything but within reach of anyone but the filthy rich.
The Taste of Trilogy Cigars Part 1
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
There are many brands of cigars which are available in the market nowadays. A huge range of cigars are in contention for the top spot depending on the popularity which they enjoy among cigar aficionados. Over the years, the world has seen some great cigar brands which have produced the most exquisite of cigars. But there have been a few companies which have closed down for reasons unknown, like for instance, Dunhill cigars. But on the flipside, the overbearing mélange of cigar brands in the market tends to confuse the connoisseur who tends to be at a loss at deciding which to smoke.
One of the greatest brands of cigars is the Trilogy brand because of a single primary reason. They have managed to come out of the stereotype which threatened to engulf them until a few years back. Most cigar aficionados believe that all the great cigars are made in the Cuban region and all the great cigar companies originate from there but this is not true. Trilogy cigars managed to dispel this false notion ushering in a new world of cigars. They came up with new cigar filler which is in complete contrast to the Caribbean filler but tastes as good. The Trilogy cigar is the brainchild of the Alec Bradley Cigar Company which has brought in a whiff of fresh air which was under threat of being steamrolled by the Cuban cigar companies.
Which is more harmful – Cigars or Cigarettes?
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
If you are a smoker, you would be fairly familiar with the dangers of smoking cigars and cigarettes. Even if you do not smoke, then chances are high that you know the dangers of these vices. There are a huge number of warnings which are relayed to us through cigarette packs, television, radio and internet daily. But this does not deter the smoker from smoking and harming his body. There are a number of dangers which can be caused due to smoking, primary among which are lung cancer, oral cancer and throat cancer. There is also an increased risk to non-smokers who do inhale the cigar and cigarette smoke in a second-hand manner. But which is more harmful for you? This has been a debatable point for many years now, with loyalists of both parties staking their claims. But essentially, the answer is that both are harmful and should be avoided.
The risk of contracting all these problems goes up a notch when you smoke regularly. An occasional smoker is less likely to get cancer than a habitual smoker. Research has shown us that the risk of getting these diseases is directly determined by the frequency and the number of cigarettes or cigars you smoke. But most doctors are in compliance with the fact that cigars are much more deadly than cigarettes because of the increased number of carcinogens. Another obvious fact for the increased risk is the bigger size of cigars which are cardinal in risk. Both parties have their own arguments to present. While cigar lovers are let down by the aforementioned reports, they have their own arguments as to why cigarettes are more harmful. Since cigarette smoke is inhaled inside the lungs, there is a greater risk of falling prey to cancers while cigar smoke is not inhaled.
This is why smoking should be done with caution. Cigar smoke is hands down not as harmful as cigarettes, especially because you don’t smoke a pack a day. Everything in moderation.