By Ben Torres
People approach smoking cigars in a variety of different ways. Some embrace the different flavors as a
way to enhance their overall palate, others view it as a way to de-stress and use the time to blow off
some inevitable stress from life, and some also enjoy the status symbol that it tends to provide (cue Don
Draper’s entrance).
For many, it tends to be a combination of all of the above. As we dive in to pursuing the finer things in
life on this platform, it goes without saying that the luxury we have of being able to smoke such a
delicately produced product is something we should never take for granted. Just as it is with the finest of
champagne, a handmade cigar goes through an enormous amount of detail before it is considered
complete and ready to retail.
Though the Cuban market was certainly where it all became “popular” as they say, Latin American
countries as a whole have embraced cigar production and consumption as a way of life – and enjoy
sharing their work with as many as they can. On average, over a hundred pairs of hands assist in the
formation of what you’re wanting to smoke today from start to finish. The cultivation of the tobacco is a
precise craft, and several farmers have abandoned other crops in pursuit of this exquisite and often
high-value leaf that they can turn around and sell to manufacturers.
This is only one part of the thought process and conversation that can occur while smoking your favorite
vitola (fancy word for the size of the stick you’ve chosen for today), since you typically have about an
hour to reflect while letting the flame slowly work its way through the binder, filler, and wrapper. There
are people who have dedicated their entire lives to the product you are casually able to enjoy on the
patio with a nice pour of something from the bar (with most spirits also taking the same elevated
amount of craftmanship/resources), and we should honor their efforts as much as we can.
A principle to follow is simple – take your time (or rather, set aside the necessary amount of time to
properly enjoy). Use a pure method of lighting (a cedar stave is ideal, or a match after letting the wax
melt away from the initial strike) to allow for a slow toasting of the foot, observing how the flame takes
to each component of the vitola. By taking a couple of puffs every minute or two, you are able to enjoy
one of the Earth’s finest creations for us to consume by letting the fire run its course through the body
and opening up more flavors for you to take note of as you progress.
With the chaos of society today, the act of sitting down and taking the time necessary to enjoy a cigar
from start to finish is a rare feat to accomplish – but an extremely worthwhile endeavor. It enables you
time that could be spent journaling / reflecting if alone, or to slowly work your way through a difficult
conversation topic with a friend rather than the usual overly-caffeinated jumping to conclusions our
generation tends to do. The next time a brother or sister of the leaf (layman term = smoking buddy)
offers you something from their personal humidor, disregard any preconceived notions you may have
about this form of smoking and let them guide you through an elegant way to socialize with your
friends.
