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If you're getting married or are a member of a wedding party,
chances are your future involves some significant opportunities for
cigar smoking. At the bachelor party when you hand them out as
groomsmen gifts, on the wedding day to celebrate, at the hospital a few
weeks later when the baby is born... hey, it happens.
Anyway, the point is, most men in the modern ages' cigar smoking
experience is restricted to a few adolescent puffs with a buddy, trying
not to inhale and feeling slightly queasy afterward. Well, you boys
just don't know what you are missing.
Cigars meet all the criteria of a man's definition of one of the
finer things in life, making them perfect for groomsmen gifts. Cigars
come in great variety, they invite oral indulgence, and they're
interesting. Best of all, cigar smoking is something you can do while
doing your other favorite things in life: watching TV, playing poker,
sitting out on the front porch with a buddy... Cigars, when properly
appreciated, offer the same satisfaction opportunities as a good steak
or a fine whisky. They too are a delicious delicacy to be studied and
savored.
At any rate, even if you never plan to become a full-blown cigar
aficionado, for weddings and any other special occasion involving
women, and especially when it's time to give your groomsmen gifts, a
little cigar knowledge is a must-have for the man's man in all of us.
Cigars have a hallowed and fascinating history in America, fine
distinctions of flavor and provenance, but for our purposes let's dumb
the cigar down to a few basic 'cocktail party cigar facts' to go with
your groomsmen gifts. These bits of cigar trivia will help you look
knowledgeable in front of your fellow groomsmen and impress any single
bridesmaids present at the wedding. First, and foremost, don't inhale!
Now for some finer nuances of judging a cigar:
How it's made: This is the defining factor in a good cigar. The
construction of the cigar determines its taste and smell. The biggest
flaw to be found in a cigar is too much tobacco. Overfilled cigars get
plugged and are difficult to puff, which leads to less smoke, flavor,
and scent. If a cigar is not filled enough however, the smoker will
draw too much smoke and get a harsh puff and burnt hands.
By its fire: The lit part of the cigar contains its own art form. It
should burn evenly all way down. Uneven burning suggests poor rolling,
a bad sign to any cigar aficionado. Also, the ash should be firm to the
touch and extend in length with ease.
How it feels: The cigar should feel solid and substantial in your
mouth. It should feel smooth to the touch and have some resilience. You
should be able to squeeze the cigar without denting it and it should
spring back into shape when you let go. The cigar shouldn't feel too
soft or too hard in your hand. Too much firmness in the assemblage
shows it might have been rolled too tightly.
The wrapper: This is a big one. The wrapper is what gives the cigar
its smoking and flavor qualities. The wrapper shouldn't have too many
flaws and should not be dry or peeling. Generally, cigars with lighter
colored wrappers are milder in flavor and have less of a smoky
aftertaste. Darker wrappers are typically fuller in flavor.
How it smells: A good cigar sheds a scent even before it's lit that
hints at what it will smell like when it is being smoked. A good cigar
will have any number of scents -- musky, tropical, woodsy -- but it's
important that the scent permeate the entire experience.
Now you know a little about cigars. But if you're too lazy to
remember any of this, another easy route is to just get some cool cigar
accessories to make you look like an aficionado, even if you're not.
Cigar pharaphanelia also makes good wedding or groomsmen gifts. Cigar
or booze? Why choose? For two-in-one groomsmen gifts, how about a stainless steel cigar case flask combo?
This genius invention holds both a cigar and 1.5 oz of your favorite
liquor! Perfect for pre-funking or staying loose in long bar lines,
this multi-tasker is compact enough to fit in your pocket to be enjoyed
spontaneously throughout the wedding (reception, that is) and beyond
when you give them as groomsmen gifts.
For more personal groomsmen gifts, try a cigar keepsake box.
Originally filled with five premium cigars, the idea is that, after
commemorating your milestone moment- such as a wedding or bachelor
party- with a group smoke, the groom will have a memento of the
occasion with the remaining cigar keepsake box. This is cool for
groomsmen gifts because guys aren't openly sentimental enough to have
photo boxes or albums like girls do, and a keepsake box is a
testosterone-appropriate way for a groom or groomsmen to cherish a
manly memory or two.
A final, more creative idea is to buy the groom or groomsmen gifts
of a cigar journal. This cool gift could become a fun new hobby for you
and fellow groomsmen. Cigar smoking is a hobby best appreciated with a
fellow smoker, and a cigar journal is a classy way to share your
thoughts about favorite smokes or best cigar smoking experiences. This
is what gentlemen used to do in the old days, recording different
flavors tried and different regions sampled. Get in touch with your
old-fashioned gentleman by reviving this tradition with a couple pals.
A good journal to buy is the No 9 Leather Journal,
for yourself and as groomsmen gifts. This leather-bound tome made from
American steer hide has the sturdy, intellectual appearance perfect for
inspiring profound reflection. Best of all, for your particularly lofty
observations, the paper inserts can be removed and filed away for
posterity or sent out to friends. Who knows where your findings might
show up?
Fellas, I hope this has been an educational article on how to
properly honor two of man's greatest joys with your groomsmen gifts: a
good cigar and a good friend. Happy smoking!
Cigar tips taken from http://www.altadisusa.com
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