Well, it has been a while since I posted. For that I am profoundly sorry. "Life gets in the way." a very wise woman once said (Mom).
When I began writing this blog, I did so out of my passion for good food, cooking, and eating. Since its incarnation, I have expanded to tasting and talking about good, reasonably priced wine as well. Soon to come this will probably encompass other spirits I enjoy such as scotch and whiskey, bourbon, vodka (the key ingredient to pie crust, to be explained later), etc. I began this blog also with the intention of speaking to what some may deem "The Good Life" stuff. With that said, I would like to segawy into a new discussion on one of those "good life" creature comforts I am passionate about: good cigars.
**I hope that those of you who do not partake in such things will not be lost on me (More great food items to come).
Cigars are an acquired taste. Cigars have been regarded as a symbol of leisure, relaxation, social stature, and even power. I find a good cigar adds to the mood, the ambiance, and the relaxation of mind, body and spirit. They have been associated with such figures as Fidel Castro (Whom the Cohiba brand was originally produced as a private stock for), Winston Churchill (Who preferred the original Cuban "Romeo and Julieta" and "La Aroma De Cubana" brands), to Demi Moore, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Jim Belushi. Cigars have a culture all their own. It's been said "Give a man a handshake, and he'll claim he has met you. Give a man a cigar, and he'll call you friend for the rest of his life."
With such an illustrious following and history, I am content to my gradually expanding collection of fine cigars, and the few opportunities to enjoy them on the back patio (Until I am able to create my English Gentleman's lounge in a permanent home).
So, you may ask: "What sort of cigars would someone so young and new to this have in his humidor?' Well, my Uncle Brian and I have been dabbling with cigars now for close to two years or so and keep track of what we like by using our own personal rating systems. They are a little hard to describe to a non-connoisseur, but here is what I prefer in a cigar:
I began with cigars liking a more smooth and mild experience at first. In my true inexperience, I had a "Honey Sweet" flavored cigar that I really liked (If Paul or Brian read this, control your laughter). After my tastes and pallet began to really develop (and I stopped with that potpourri), my tastes grew to the darker, strong maduro wrapped cigars (Maduro being a cigar with a dark oily wrapper, the opposite of which is a natural).
Cigars are catagorized by size (Length and Ring Gauge), shape (Torpedo, Toro, Perfecto, Churchill, etc.), their construction (Maduro leaf, Connecticut broad leaf, etc.), and country of tobacco origin. So you see what I mean by cigars having their own culture. These days I prefer a robust and full body flavor (After a big meal), general put off by the maduros, while someone like my "soon to be father in law", Bob, prefers something lighter and milder.
let me show you what is in my humidor along with some of my ratings (Still in testing phase):
10-Montecristo #2 (Torpedo 6"x50) One of two cigars in my humidor that are actually Cuban
10- Diesel "Unholy Cocktail (Torpedo 5"x50)
9-Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 (Robusto 5.5"x50)
9-H. Upmann vintage cedar aged camaroon (Toro 5"x50)
Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 (Robusto 5"x50)
Rocky Patel Edge Maduro (Toro 6"x52)
Flor De Oliva Natural (Robusto 5"x50
Flor De Oliva Maduro (Toro 6"x50)
Bolivar (Torpedo 5"'50) The other Cuban bad boy
So far my collection is looking pretty good. I do have my rated list of already tried cigars, as well as a running list of cigars I hope to acquire.
The other night I had the opportunity to sit out back with my amigo, Ryan, sip on some fine single barrel 10 year old bourbon, and light up the Montecristo #2. Let me tell you, I tasted things I never knew to be present in a cigar. Toasted marshmallow, sweet, spice. At one point it was as though I was back in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, drinking that perfect cup of deep, rich espresso.
Well, I certainly hope those of you who like this writing with post some of your favorites or leisure enjoyments for discussion. And those of you who do not partake in cigars, please stay with me. We have a lot more cooking and dining to do.
Thanks for reading, my friends!
-Chris
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