The Finer Fumes of Life

The experience of my first cigar, a Montecristo No. 3, was akin to how women generally describe losing their virginity, i.e. to say, it was a horrible, bitter experience that I simply endured as a matter of process. It was after all my twenty-second birthday, and in the spur of the moment, we bought two Number 3s, selecting them from the given list solely based on the price-tag with the mentality that the occasion merited something expensive.

In all honesty, I still dislike the number 3s though my journey en route to becoming a cigar afficionado is still very much in its early stages. The difference, however, is that I have begun to realize that any cigar, no matter how expensive or well known, can taste terrible if not properly kept, humidified and aged. Of course price will invariably be one of the factors that reflects quality, but it is hardly the yardstick absolut.

From that perspective, I’d like to suggest that instead my first meandering into a larger world began several months later when I had the privilege of trying a well-kept, Montecristo No. 4, aged 16 years. That revolutionized my entire perception of what a cigar ought to taste like. Each draw on that dignified beast induced images of palm trees by a Havana beach front, smoky barbecue in the distance, the ‘smell of colitas‘ caressing my face…hammock included. Many consider the No. 4 to be the standard Cuban cigar and to that effect, it is, and has for some time been, the best selling Cuban cigar in the world.

That, to me, is the real starting point of this journey and has inspired me to begin my own collection and appreciation of the various cigar Tabaks on this planet. As with all beginners, I have found it easier to stick to large, well-known, mainstream brands…but I suppose we all have to begin somewhere before we perch ourselves on an elitist branch of niche appreciation.

As my blog has always been a journal of my life, so will it serve as my log whilst aboard this mission, as I take my first tentative steps into the smoky fray. I hope you enjoy the journey with me and if nothing else, learn something new. As always, nothing beats a good cigar/beer than having it with old, trusted and well-loved, company.