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Archive for the ‘Cigars’ Category

Normally I really dislike tinned cigars simply because I find them too small to comfortably hold and the lack of flavor. Lady HotchKiss and I hosted a small get together a few weeks back and had purchased a small selection of tinned cigars for the curious to sample. Correctly surmising the seasoned aficionado would bring their own sticks of choice.

After the party I noticed no one had indulged in our small cigars which I returned to the humidor and promptly forgot. Until recently that is, as the weather had been playing havoc of my cigar enjoyment the promise of a dry work day induced me to grab one of the small cigars on my way to work.

I happened to chose a Romeo & Juliet Reserve Real which I decided to light up mid morning. The size fits perfectly for a short break during the work week allowing me a pleasant twenty minutes or so away from my desk. I was very surprised that the Reserve Real actually produced an enjoyable peppery taste which had a nice long finish. Although for the first third of this little stick I was rather disappointed by the flat tasteless smoke. once the pepper began to kick in the Reserve Real became very flavorful.

For an aficionado looking for a small satisfying cigar that can be enjoyed in a short amount of time, I would recommend the Romeo & Juliet Reserve Real. Coincidently the current issue of Cigar  has a very comprehensive review of several tinned cigars.

As its been raining here in Atlanta for what seem likes weeks, as I had to attend a meeting Saturday afternoon, I took a chance a grabbed a cigar; a Montecristo Platinum Vintage 1999 Toro (50 x 6 inches). Although I had never smoked this particular stick before, I was very familar with the Monecristo line and consider them a “go to” favorite brand.

This Monte didn’t disappoint, with its flawless construction and medium body flavor. Producing a beautiful firm light grey ash and a large volume of smoke. After not being able to enjoy a cigar for several days I was really itching to enjoy a first rate smoke. 

Removing the cello wrapper and punching the end, I took a pre-light draw and was rewarded with both an easy draw and a very rich tobacco flavor. This Monte had a lovely tan wrapper almost vein free. Upon placing flame to foot, the Monte was easy to light, and never required a relight; burning straight and true for the entire smoke.

Although the Platinum Vintage didn’t produce a wide variety of flavors it did have a nice touch a pepper throughout the entire cigar. Causing me to enjoy this stick past the point I normally stop.

I would enthusiastically recommend a Monetcristo Platinum the next time you’re looking for a very pleasant straight forward cigar. Although it’s $9.00 price point may preclude some smokers to enjoy the particular stick very often.

Looking around cyber space this weekend I noticed a blurb on another cigar website I read from time to time reporting on the new anti smoking proposal being considered in New York City. I mention this for two reasons, (1) living in Atlanta there are an abundance of nice public parks and green spaces that offer a pleasant retreat and a chance to enjoy a fine cigar. I’d hate to see the proposed ban not only effect the parks and green spaces of NYC, but if successful other cities may began targeting their parks for similar bans; (2) If the liberal NY Times opines the ban may have gone too far, to me that speaks volumes on how over broad and fraught with problems this proposal must be.

Consider policing just central park, its 843 acres would require a small army to enforce a no smoking policy within its boundaries. Not to mention the countless other parks and green spaces located throughout the five boroughs. This is exactly the type of poorly planned and impossible to enforce law that comes from the knee jerk reaction of any zealots. Currently non-smokers seem hell bent on banning the use of tobacco anywhere by anyone. Regardless of the costs or difficulties in enforcement. 

Tobacco use is a personal choice that when made after an individual has given careful consideration of all the facts and has weighed all the pros and cons and made a decision for themselves. Should not have to be relegated to quasi criminal status for their choice to use and enjoy a completely legal product. The anti smoking zealots need to remember that historically legislation designed to police and individuals morality hasn’t fared very well in America.

I was looking forward to enjoying a cigar with Lady HotchKiss Sunday night, since I was smoking a brand that I hadn’t enjoyed for several years; but had always loved in the past, Partagus. In particular Partagus’ Spanish Rosado was on the agenda for Sunday evening.

This particular stick is named for the locale where its tobacco is grown, the San Agustin valley in Honduras.Having enjoyed both this brand as well as this particular cigar before I was very disappointed that not only did the cap split apart while punching but that this stick also suffered from an extremely tight draw. Making it very difficult to smoke.

Having enjoyed cigars long enough to know not to judge either a entire brand or even a particular size within a brand on one cigar. It was still hard not to feel disapointed, especially as Lady HotchKiss was having a grand time enjoying a Cuesta Rey Centenario which She proclaimed was nearly perfect.

Hopefully the next time I reach for a Spanish Rosado I’ll be rewarded by an experience that is more satisfying and in keeping with the quality one expects from any Partagus.

Recently, NPR ran a story on-line that R.J. Reynolds is challenging the Constitutionality of specific provisions of the new anti-smoking legislation on First Amendment grounds relating to advertising.

As a practicing attorney I find it disheartening that democratic lawmakers wrote a provision into this new legislation that is potentially open to attack on a Constitutional level, especially in light of a strong precedent seeming to favor the tobacco companies position (See Lorillard Tobacco Co v. Reilly).

I understand the government has an strong social interest in keeping children from being exposed to tobacco advertising geared towards enticing them to try tobacco products, I further understand the governments interest in vigorously sharing the risks of tobacco use and doing what it can to encourage individuals to either stop using tobacco products or to never begin. But in the case I believe this is a classic case of “big government” overstepping and forging ahead with legislation which stands a very good chance having certain provisions eviscerated as being overly broad in a Constitutional sense. This simply wastes time and money when far more complex and far reaching problems need to be addressed.

I would prefer to see the government spend my tax dollars smarter by trying to address the myriad of problems currently facing our county. But then those problems will require hard work and compromise possibly requiring a great deal of both personal and governmental sacrifice which will likely be met with resistance and anger. Which makes a soft target like “evil tobacco” irresistible to a government desperate for a legislative win.