Lifestyle: Step away from the cigar!

Disclaimer: U may disagree with what I'm about to say... if you're on the "wrong" side of things.

On a recent trip with friends to Azucar Cuban Restaurant in Jersey City, NJ. I began to notice differences amongst the crowd of its upstairs cigar lounge. These differences got me to thinking about what it is to be passionate about cigars vs. simply smoking them. I've concluded that there are many types of cigar smokers, but only one type of cigar aficionado. Which are you?

The Good, the Bad, The Ugly:

The Good = THE AFICIONADO

A cigar aficionado is one who savors ALL facets of cigar smoking; from the selection & cut, to the pre-light aroma and taste, to the lighting and smoking of the cigar. For them, the process is intellectual, a learning experience always... requiring a pre-knowledge gained from literature, other aficionados, or, most importantly, experience. Their primary concern is NOT the price of the smoke (whether high or low enough), but the relaxing pleasure to be gained from the taste and aroma of it... its Luxe.

For the aficionado a cigar is NEVER a prop. It is not smoked to denote stature... social, economic, or otherwise. An aficionado will never say "I only smoke [insert brand/appellation here]."

Finally, the cigar aficionado is NOT wholly defined by his relationship with cigars. He/she appreciates a good smoke and the finer points of tobacconalia, but NEVER needs a smoke. Addiction is CERTAINLY NOT a characteristic of the cigar aficionado.

The Bad = THE SMOKERS**** -

A cigar smoker, on the other hand, gains pleasure from the mere act of smoking. There is no delaying this pleasure, so he selects, cuts, lights, & even smokes with haste. He does not contemplate each puff, but simply chases one with another.

A mere cigar smoker will rarely, if ever, explore. This concerns other price ranges or types/producers. This type of smoker might never venture higher or lower than their usual price range, for them the expense defines the experience. Similarly, the "smoker" might only smoke one brand/type of cigar. (Wake up! Nothing happens in a vacuum!)

A social cigar smoker is one who wouldn't know his elbow from his knee, so to speak, when it came to cigars. For them, smoking a cigar is solely a social act done with disinterest for the cigar smoked; their concern is fitting-in and/or looking cool.

Then there are cigar dependants. For this type of smoker, cigars are an escape from some misery. Smoking passes time and numbs their minds... like watching a washing machine. (Hey, sometimes we all need to get away, but don't bring your misery to the cigar lounge... go fix it.)

****If any/all of these characterisations define your cigar lifestyle, STEP AWAY FROM THE CIGAR!!!

The Ugly =

From Left to Right: SeriousBok, Carlton, A.S.R - Undeniably Cigar Aficionados.

:)

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