Is the Embargo on Cuba a Good Thing?

Cigar Aficionado doesn’t think so. In their latest issue, which hasn’t arrived at my house yet, they argue for lifting our embargo on Cuba. Here’s a little taste of what they have to say:

We believe it is time to end the trade embargo and open the doors of Cuba to Americans. We don’t gloss over the widespread and justified condemnation of some of Cuba’s domestic policies that have limited political freedoms and human rights. But after 50 years of isolating Cuba to try to achieve change there, we think it’s time to try something else, and we believe that opening up the island to American visitors, and thus our influence, will help produce the kind of changes we want much quicker than any other policy.

To tell you the truth, I am conflicted about this issue. Obviously, opening up Cuba would give me more access to what are suppose to be the world’s best cigars. That would be a plus.

On the other hand lifting the embargo could be construed as a tacit acceptance of a brutal communist dictatorship. That would be a negative.

Here’s my thoughts – right now – on lifting the embargo on Cuba:

Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 for 2008

Cigar Aficionado, the publication that set me on my road to cigardom, has come out with its annual Top 25 list. Their list is a very good list because they do multiple tastings with multiple people reviewing each cigar. The top cigar for 2008 was the Casa Magna, a cigar made by Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia.

The exciting thing about this cigar is that anyone can try it because it only costs $5.25 (MSRP). I would love to smoke this cigar myself.

Everyone have a happy Sunday and don’t forget to watch 24.

Don’t Judge a Cigar by the Way it Looks

I will occasionally take a peek at Cigar Aficionado’s site because it is a great resource. Today, I went on there and saw that they had a new cigar of the week featuring a Cuban cigar called Cuaba. It’s a pretty big perfecto that received a score of 92 points from the experts.

But Holy crap! The cigar is ugly!

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder but, in the end, all that matters is that the cigar functions well and tastes good.

Does Cigar Aficionado’s Big Smoke New York City Mark the end of an Era?

New York use to be the epicenter of illicit fun. When prohibition swept across the land speakeasies popped up all over New York. Didn’t the people from the great state of New York (and basically every other state in this country) that people like to enjoy their freedoms?

Guess not. Now, one of the only times you can smoke a cigar in a major city is when Cigar Aficionado throws an event. I can’t remember which city it was, I think it was Chicago, but in order for the city to allow cigar smokers their right to smoke a legal product Cigar Aficionado had to get special permission to have their party.

All of this is headed in a very scary direction. I guess that since we are in the minority our “leaders” feel safe enough squashing our rights for the “betterment” of a few whiners who hate the idea of adults enjoying cigars in their presence. My God.

Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines 2008

It’s that time of year when things get ranked. What were the best movies? What are the best cars? And what are the best wines of 2008?

Even though I am not a big wine drinker, I like bourbon myself, I appreciate the connection between cigars and wine. They are both things that demand connoisseurship. If you are not willing to put in the time to understand what it is you are drinking (or smoking) then you will never be able to fully appreciate those finer things in life.

So, for those of you cigar smokers who love a great glass of wine with your cigars, Wine Spectator, the sister publication of Cigar Aficionado, is coming out with a Top 100 list and will begin unveiling their list soon.

And if you don’t know the difference between tannins and terroir (I’m still a little fuzzy) this Top 100 list is a good place to start understanding what makes a wine great.