Different Smokes for Different Folks | Puff Lifestyle | Content

To me, cigars are almost as important as food, beer, and sex. I’m not even sure myself what order I’d put that list in, but smoking cigars is definitely high on my list of life’s most essential things. Did I forget family? My bad.

Many people like a certain profile of cigar, but I unfortunately tend to like everything – from mild Connecticut wrappers to Triple maduro, kick ass Hondurans, and everything in between. Now a few years ago I would have mentioned a Cuban cigar as the second choice, but these days, there are several brands from other lands that are a hell of a lot stronger. And I said “unfortunately” because my cigar bill can get rather high with such a big universe to choose from. I know, what a horrible problem.

Today, there are more cigars choices than ever out on the market, one better than the next. Of course personal preference has everything to do with it, but the choices are vast and many. Several decades ago, men just smoked their one particular brand because that’s what they liked and that’s the way it was. Now walk into a shop and it’s a cornucopia of terrific brands to choose from - which is unlike the mid to late ‘90’s where sure, there were a ton of brands, but half of them were under aged, manufacturer’s thirds – total garbage that was put in a fancy gold foil box that came with a $12 a stick price tag. While the boom produced a lot of good things, fly-by-night cigars that tasted like horse droppings was not one of them.

As I said, people have their preferences. A lot of guys think milder, Connecticut shade smokes are just for beginners or novices, but that’s not true at all. First off, a lot of older guys have always liked a milder cigar, in fact some still like the green Candella wrappers from days gone by. A lot of old Italian guys I knew from Jersey smoked big fat mild cigars, but a lot of them smoked Te Amos back then too. Those old boys were creatures of habit and liked what they liked and that was it. But I also like a good light shade wrapper cigar, preferably earlier in the day of before a good meal. I’ve always enjoyed the flavor and aroma of a nice Dunhill, Don Diego, Montecristo, Ashton, or Avo. Okay, some of you think those are wuss cigars, but hey, to each his own, and like I said, I like everything. But sometimes I want an early in the day smoke to be easy and the brands I mentioned can be just that.

Many longtime smokers still love the old standby brands that have been around for many years: Punch. Partagas, Macanudo, the JR Brands. And all of those companies like Altadis and General still make great cigars. The Punch Grand Cru #2 has been a fave of mine for years as is their little dark maduro robustos, the always consistent and flavorful Rothschild. The JR Ultimates are always delicious, and the Mac Robust, Vintage lines and the new 1968 are terrific, and the Partagas number ten has forever been an old “go to” stick.

Back in the ‘90’s, Carlos and Carlito Fuente became the first real superstars of the business and their brand has been a mainstay for many a cigar lover. I’ve heard some put down Fuente, but I don’t know how the hell that is possible. They consistently make some of the best cigars in the world – pricey, yeah, but we’re talking quality, here. The Hemmingway and the Signature, the Don Carlos, the Cuban Belicoso and the King B are cigars I could never get tired of. The Fuente’s have successfully positioned the Opus X as an elite smoke, I’ve always felt the Opus was just a strong cigar without a lot of depth and not a regular choice of mine, but many swear by it. But I will say, age an Opus X for a few years and it’s a very different smoke, indeed. JC Newman, who has teamed with the Fuentes, make an interesting mix of old favorites like the Cuesta-Rey and La Unica, and also the upscale Diamond Crown and Maximum series.

Then of course we have the boutique brands who have taken the world by storm. Many of these cigar makers have put their face behind the name creating a sort of stardom within the cigar industry. The Ozgeners at CAO, Rocky Patel, Christian Eiroa at Camacho, ,

Gene Arganese, Carlos Torano, Litto Gomez at La Flor Dominica, and Don Pepin have given smokers new and excellent choices, and as I said, have taken branding within the industry to a whole new level. There has been a rise in the full-bodied market as a few of the players have created a real niche. I can attest that the La Flor Chisel and the Camacho Triple Maduro have grown hair in places I had none, and sent my brain to another galaxy while smoking. And now the Nub and other stubby half-pints are becoming quite popular.

Lastly, there are those who will still only smoke Cuban cigars. I have seen some of these people and they are indeed elitists and need to realize that many companies out there are making products that are a hell of a lot better than many Cubans I have tried in the past. During the cigar boom, the Cuban government couldn’t pump out enough cigars to meet demand and the product was oftentimes horrible. The stench of ammonia upon opening a box was nauseating, and I’ve had some, where the draw was like trying to suck air through a rock. Yes, they have done a better job over the past few years with their products, and yes I still think the Monte #2, Partagas Serie D, and Hoyo Double corona are terrific, but the mix of “expensive and illegal” have been a good enough deterrent for me.

Hey, sorry to ramble here, but I love cigars and could talk about my passion for hours on end. Different smokes for different folks – it’s why the industry exists. And DAMN, am I in the mood for a premium stick right about now! Smoke’ ‘em when you gottem, boys!

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