How Can Two of the Same Cigars be So Different?
Last night I smoked a Partagas Black. It was just plain awful and I know that it can be such a great cigar since I gave the Partagas Black Label Piramide 93 points. So, how can this happen?
Different Size
Maybe the difference in size had something to do with it. The one I gave a 93 to was a pyramid and the one I smoked last night was a toro. The pyramid has a larger ring gauge and, maybe since it’s more difficult to roll, it might have had a better roller.
Normal Variation
Cigar making isn’t a science, it’s an art. There are going to be differences between cigars even if they are from the same line and are the same size. Different rollers, maybe a slightly different blend, a longer or shorter amount of time in the humidor, or maybe the flavors of the other cigars in my humidor could have rubbed off on the Partagas the wrong way. Cigar making isn’t a six sigma process, after all.
Wrong Drinks
Normally, I have Wild Turkey and a Cherry Coke with my cigars. For my cigar last night I had Maker’s Mark and a glass bottle of Coke. While I don’t think this accounts for the major difference between the two cigars, it might have had a negative affect on the cigar last night.
Temperature
I have to smoke outside and sometimes that is a pain because it can get quite cold, even in Southern California. Last night it was especially cold. And when it gets cold I don’t enjoy myself as much. But again, I don’t think that can account for the major difference between the two cigars.
Are there any other reasons why two of the same cigars could be so different? And, if you are curious, I will have the review for the bad Partagas up tomorrow.
Don’t Smoke a Great Cigar if…
Never smoke a great cigar with someone who hates cigars. They are going to be uncomfortable and that is going to drag the mood of the whole place down. So your smuggled Cuban cigar will no longer taste like a 94 pointer but will taste like a 90. And when that cigar probably cost you $20 or more that really hurts.
Another no-no is smoking outside while it is chillingly cold and the wind is blowing. It is next to impossible to truly enjoy any cigar, even great ones, when the weather has fouled up. The wind is going to cause havoc with the burn and you are going to be cold and in no mood to enjoy anything. Furthermore, when it is cold everything goes numb. You won’t even be able to taste the great flavors from the cigar. Avoid the cold!
If you have just smoked a crappy cigar, especially one with horrible flavors, don’t smoke that cigar you’ve been waiting a year to smoke. Bad cigars seem to always have an aftertaste to them that lasts for hours. When you try to smoke any cigar after that you can immediately just knock five points off that cigar’s score. We don’t want that.
Smoking a cigar in the car is usually a good idea but it is more difficult (Disclaimer: Never smoke a cigar while driving. If you do and get in an accident you can’t blame me, I just warned you.). And there is no way anyone can claim that smoking in the car is more enjoyable than smoking in a lounge chair or on the sofa. It’s just not. Zipping in and out of traffic while puffing away is a nice skill but doesn’t lead to enjoying a cigar.
When I started out smoking cigars I started off on the wrong foot. Actually, fairly horribly so. The first cigar I smoked was a maduro Arturo Fuente and it was much too strong for my skill level. It was a great cigar but when you are having to suppress vomit for a few hours after the fact it kind of destroys the whole experience. So learn a little bit about yourself and the cigars you can handle. If you cannot handle a great, strong cigar, no matter how enticing it may seem, just leave it alone until you have built up your strength.
The last major thing to avoid when trying to find the right time to smoke a fine cigar is, well, most places in America (and, as our international cigar brethren are finding out, you cannot smoke anywhere in the world anymore). Lighting up an Opus X in a restaurant might have made sense a few years ago. But now? You are going to get bounced out of the restaurant or bar before you have finished your steak or drank your Bordeaux.
I’m sure there are many other times when you should avoid smoking a great cigar (or any cigar for that matter). All the previous examples have come from my own personal experience. Smoking a cigar when one or more of these things happens will completely destroy any enjoyment you would have derived from smoking a great cigar. Pick the right time to smoke a great cigar and do it then.
When to Smoke a Fine Cigar
Not all of us can be Winston Churchill. The great English statesman smoked over a dozen of the finest cigars available every day. For Sir Winston, the right time to smoke a great cigar was every hour! Unfortunately, the rest of us do not have deep enough pockets to be able to smoke great cigars all the time.
When you get the chance to smoke a great cigar, you need to cherish it. A great cigar can really be a memorable experience and you need to do your best to enrich that experience.
First off, you need to be around people who enjoy cigars as much as you do. Having the right company around you (family, friends, cigar buddies, etc.) will make all the difference. There won’t be anyone around to nag you about the foul odor emanating from your robusto. With the right people you can actually talk about the cigar and just enjoy yourselves for a while.
If you can’t scrounge up some cigar smokers you should smoke a great cigar by yourself. Now, I’m not talking about hiding from others who don’t smoke all the time. In fact, for the vast majority of cigars, if the people you are around don’t mind the smell then smoke in their presence. Cigar smoking is a social thing. But not when it comes to one of the best cigars you have ever smoked.
Even though those around you don’t mind you smoking a $30 Montecristo they don’t understand it either. These people, bless their hearts, just won’t be able to talk with you about your Montecristo. They aren’t trying to ruin your great experience but they cannot add anything to it either. Just find a time when you have a couple hours to yourself and smoke your stogie.
Another good tip about when to smoke a fine cigar is to try to do it when the weather is nice and it’s a special day. For example, this last Fourth of July I smoked an absolutely wonderful God of Fire robusto by Don Carlos (made by the Fuentes). It was an amazing experience smoking such a spicy bombshell of a cigar and watching the bombs bursting in air. On top of all that the weather was perfect. It was 10pm and the temperature was still warm.
The time of day also plays a big role for me. Personally speaking, I like to smoke cigars at night. The stresses of the day have passed and everything is calmer. And, since I live in Southern California, the temperature outside is usually fine (like many of you, I cannot smoke inside the house). Even though I like smoking at night many in Latin America will smoke during the afternoon. Others like to have a nice cigar to start their day off. Figure out which time is best for you and stick to that when smoking a great cigar.
My last bit of general advice is to smoke a truly great cigar only when you are happy. If the boss ripped you a new one earlier today or the wife is still nagging you about the yard it doesn’t make sense to smoke a great cigar. Being in the wrong frame of mind will take even the best cigar and make it ordinary.
There are the basics according to me. Just remember this one thing: A great cigar needs proper respect. Show it some respect and it will reward you.
