Where to Smoke?

As we well know, it has become increasingly harder to find a good place to smoke in comfort, aside from your local Tobacconist; you might try some of these cigar friendly joints around town:

Mike Ditka's 100 East Chestnut Street Tremont Hotel Chicago, Illinois (312) 587-8989 http://www.mikeditkaschicago.com/

Harry's Velvet Room 56 West Illinois St. Chicago, Illinois 60610 (312) 527-5600

Marshall McGearty Tobacco Artisans and Lounge 1553 North Milwaukee Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60622 (773) 772-8410 http://www.smokerswelcome.com/

SMOKING TIPS

• The First Cut: the Bite, the Punch or the Guillotine

Biting: For me cigar cutting brings to mind Hannibal biting off the end of a Churchill at the end of an A-Team episode when the plan came together. Such a method, though looking cool will lead to tobacco flakes being taken in on any given draw. Generally avoid this method unless you are left without any other means.

Punch: The punch is basically a circular knife. It is perfect for the relatively flat end of most cigars, though inadvisable for tapered cigars such as a torpedo. The cigar punch can often be found in keychain form, allowing for more opportune availability.

Guillotine: The guillotine is a cigar cutting classic. It is the best method for any tapered end or for interrogating a hostage. When looking into guillotine make sure to evaluate the ring size of your normal smoke to ensure that it will be able to fit around it.

• Lighting Matches or Lighters: For many cigar smokers matches are used religiously. I must admit that it is my method of choice, most of the time. All too often however I find myself needing something a bit more resilient in a strong wind, and for that my trusty Zippo has done the trick. Beyond the sheer mechanics of it the only possible difference between them is the occasional hint of lighter fluid flavor. This brief interloper has yet to be of any real consequence.

Method: Many well-kept cigars will automatically even out any poor lights, however a simple lighting technique should eliminate the problem altogether. With the cigar in one hand and the match in the other rotate the cigar while burning the tip; this will help provide an even start. Follow this up by a giving the cigar a few pulls letting the flame finish things up.

• Pace If you are smoking a cigar, then you should have the time to devote to it without relighting. I have seen any number of suggestions as to puffs per minute etc., but the basic trick of it is to puff often enough to keep the cigar lit, yet slow enough to not affect the taste. This is especially crucial in smaller cigars such as the cigarillos or the sweeter flavored cigars. Quite often too quick of a smoke will produce an unpleasant bitterness.

SMOKING MANNERS

• If you are in an establishment that allows smoking be sure and ask your server if cigars are allowed as well.
• Avoid smoking around children.
• In a dense crowd or a tight line use common sense before lighting up.
• If you are with a non-smoker use the wind to send the smoke away from them, not everyone is an avid second hand smoker.
• Use common sense.

BUYING TIPS

• Taste To bastardize an old phrase, you cannot judge a cigar by its wrapper. The wrapper is a mostly aesthetic element in the construction of the cigar and its flavor contribution is minimal at best. Usually however the color of the wrapper mimics the color of the filler. When it comes to the varying colors of filler they will offer basic hints at the strength of the cigar. The lighter tobaccos tend to have lighter flavors while the darker have a greater propensity to kick you in the teeth.

BASIC TERMS

Spicy: Much like a Belgian beer you will find many cigars such as a CAO Brazillia have a bit of a bite.

Woody: This smooth flavor is not without its own claws, but it usually denotes a fuller flavor experience.

Nutty: Smooth all the way. Usually this flavor is part of a larger mix.

Coffee/Espresso: Roasted and smooth just like its liquid counterpart.

Sweet: We are not talking about sugar cubes here, but rather that hint that will be found in most flavored cigars.

Fruity: Not just a flavored addition the fruity palate can be found in many of the sun grown sticks with a caramelized body.

• Length/Size There are numerous names for various sizes of cigars, yet no standardized method. Generally churchills are the big boss style thick and long cigars and the cigarillos are the cigarette sized twigs. Length and ring size is the real method of measurement. While it is hard to say which size is right I usually take into account a few factors:

Time: Length and thickness can change the amount of time you will need to devote to a particular cigar. Dryness will heavily factor into things if you have left it out of the humidor for a few days. The cigarillos are increasingly being made with the same quality tobacco of their larger counterparts making them a good alternative for a quick smoke.

Cost: Oddly enough you will find that the price of a cigar will not be the basis of its price. Without getting too deep into the issue it can be said that a torpedo will often be more pricy than a churchill and box pressed more than some others.

Draw: A densely packed cigar will take effort to smoke. Quite often the box press will be denser than most others.

Look: Lets face it, walking down the street with a churchill brings with it a certain air of authority that cannot be discounted.

COST, ETC.

Do not be fooled, there is not an appreciable correlation between the cost of a cigar and the quality. I have had a $3 Padron that I enjoyed more than a $30 Cuban, and not just because I could afford to eat afterwards. Cigar smoking can be somewhat costly so do not be afraid to pick up those less expensive sticks. The rule I try and follow is to keep the amount of time it takes you to smoke the cigar more than the time it takes you to earn that money.

Beyond all that I have said here, be sure to ask your tobacconist for their recommendation. These guys live cigars and have tried most if not all the cigars they have in stock. They do not expect you to have the depth of knowledge that they have and they have already done the dirty work for you.

Now get out there and enjoy yourself. Keep looking for my cigars reviews.

• “Accidental Smoker” appears monthly, exclusively in Lumino Magazine.

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