Cigars for Women... Really? Yes, Really.

by CigarManDan

                                                                                         

Volume 3 – 9/30/13

Well, I cannot say that I have been truly surprised by the growing popularity of Cigar smoking.  I have watched it flourish since about the time that we all breathed that collective sigh of relief at 12:01am on January 1^st 2000, when the world didn't just stop.  No, the banks didn't shut down, the stock market didn't crash, and the streets remained fairly pandemonium free.  Man, what a bust that was.  I have become increasingly involved with Cigars since that time, and have been watching how the industry and popularity of Cigar smoking has grown in the last 13 years. 

I had the privilege of working in New York City for almost a decade.   I visited many of the great Cigar shops of the City in my time there.  From Del la Conch, a beauty of a shop on 6^th near Central Park, to the wonderfully stocked Midtown Cigar on 5^th Avenue, to the Velvet Cigar Lounge downtown  in the East Village.  I have been to the Davidoff shop on Columbus Circle and to virtually every major bus & train station Cigar store in NY and NJ.  I have also seen Cigar Bars become the bastion of resurrection for this timeless tradition. 

        

In leaving civilization, finding the center of the Cigar world in Tampa & Central Florida has been a wonderful surprise.  Now I know how Magellan must have felt when he finally got off that boat, located a plush resort, and discovered “the swim-up bar”.  Further, my experiences with really great organizations like Corona and JC Newman have made the Sunshine State home for me now.  I have seen the gamut of Cigar smokers too, including college newbies, middle aged journeymen, to your fully domesticated, silver-topped Cigar Masters.  All unified in their total enjoyment of these wonderful little companions of relaxation and pleasure.  While it is a testament to the growth and exposure of the industry, it was not totally unexpected.  I mean, Cigar smoking has increased exponentially over time.

 

However, what has surprised me is the overwhelming growth of Cigar smoking among women.  Where I would never, ever see a woman enjoying a fine cigar in a shop or smoking club before, I cannot visit a Cigar bar now without usually seeing one, and sometimes several women puffing away and enjoying nice rich Cigars. 

This is refreshing, exhilarating, and downright tantalizing to the adult male mind, all at the same time!  Why the surge in Cigars among women?  What do they like about it?  And what do men love about them loving Cigars?  Alas, I will try to unravel these ageless mysteries and provide some occasionally insightful, and often unfunny commentary.

Why the Surge?  Cigars were historically a symbol of male power.  Maybe true once, but it is clearly not the case anymore.  I believe it’s rooted in the legacy of the post-feminist movement.   Feminism was born in the 70s, developed through the 80s, and reached maturity in the 90’s.  The problem was that feminism needed somewhere to go in the first decade of the new millennium.  And man did it face tough issues.  Taking on the complex topics of equal pay, glass ceilings, child rearing, healthcare, and political representation, feminism needed a place to kick back and rest its tired, aching, feet.  Hell, it’s 40 something years old now.  What better way to do that than enjoying a smooth rich cigar with a nice relaxing drink, right?         

The statistical facts say that the unprecedented growth of the industry and the tremendous number of people purchasing and smoking Cigars, simply had to also snare a large number of women along the way.  I guess that’s probably right too.  I personally will lean toward the feminist theory myself, as it is something that I think women would probably agree with, and one that makes me sound far smarter than I really am.

What do they love about it?   That’s easy.  What women primarily love about Cigars are the big, bold, and complex flavors.  The deep smooth textures, sizes, varieties, and tastes that Cigars provide for them are unparalleled.  From the smooth & creamy blends with vanilla, cinnamons  and cocoa flavors, to the earthier, nuttier, and darker varieties, they are all now available to women without restriction.  In comparing Cigars to how women were introduced to Cigarettes in the beginning of the previous century, a move made primarily to increase the sales and profitability of an addicting habit, Cigar smoking is completely voluntary.  It offers a variety of different experiences to women, which they now use as a collective “bitch-slap” response to the chauvinistic social restrictions historically imposed on them.

Of course, Cigar manufacturers are no dummies.  They have moved quickly to grow, process, package, and market lines to a new feminine demographic.  I mean heck, money is money.  The real beauty of it is that it hasn't been really necessary.  Women are moving to Cigars, and enjoying all the pleasure that they have to offer, based simply on the merits of the product.  In speaking to one Cigar store sales guy recently, there are clear favorites among the ladies in their purchase selections.  Their choices tend to be based primarily on size and length (some things never change).  The really wonderful thing about cigars is that identical leaf types are often produced in varying sizes, thicknesses, and styles.  Although the smoking experience is different in these varieties, it gives women a tremendous amount of flexibility in how they choose to mature their relationship with Cigars.

One other interesting difference from men is that women tend to smoke Cigars in direct proportion to their social calendars.  Unlike yours truly, who will smoke a Cigar whenever time and space permits, women tend to smoke Cigars in social settings.  Huddled around a fire pit with a group of girlfriends while enjoying a nice frozen cocktail, or down at the local Cigar bar, chatting it up with fellow patrons, these are all common environments for our Cigar smoking heroine.  So while the chance of seeing a lady smoking a Cigar while out mowing the lawn, or puffing away as she gives her engine a tune-up is still pretty slim, enjoying Cigars in social settings is an approach that is all her own. 

Why Do Men Love it So Much?   After many, many, hours of deep analysis of the male psyche, my answer would be complex, cerebral, and Freudian in nature.  That would of course be if I had one.  I don’t.  But what I do know is that it parallels how a man feels when he sees his babe in one of his business shirts, or when we see a really hot girl welding on one of those Car Shows on the Speed channel.  It’s the "Cross-Over Connection".  There is something that really gets a guy going when he sees an attractive lady doing what has typically been known as a “man’s job”.   Does it border on George Costanza’s pondering on why men love watching lesbians together?  I dunno, maybe.  But this is all well above my brain’s gigabyte capacity, so suffice to say that it is just damn hot to see.  We love it.  Women seem to love us enjoying it too. 

So there you have it.  Women are migrating to Cigar smoking in record numbers.  They are doing it because of the fantastic flavors, it works well in social settings, and simply because they can.  The baseless taboos of the past have been lifted, and women are enjoying all of the pleasure and enjoyment that Cigars have to offer.  We men are lovin’ the company and find it all so very stimulating.   So ladies please just keep enjoying your Cigars, and we guys will be sure to keep watching and supporting your new found pleasure.  All the way to the humidor.

Your Personal 5-Step Purchase Guide for Cigar Store Shopping - 
for Newbies & Those too Embarrassed to Ask for Help!.

On recent visits to Cigar stores, I have observed a trend that seems to affect many shoppers. They appear a bit overwhelmed at the number of selections and are unsure of where to start.  They have little idea on how to pick a few cigars to match their budget, tastes, and appropriate Cigar size & style to match their level of experience.

OK, so shopping in a Cigar store can feel a little like a coffee shop novice holding up the line on a busy workday morning because they don't know how to interpret the exotic flavor names and cool coffee lingo that the Java Insiders do.  What the heck is a Venti anyway right?  Like the blends, complexities, and sizes of coffee, so too are the rules of Cigar shopping.  Many novices, and non-novices alike simply don't have a set of rules to help them navigate the tremendous Cigar selections available to them.  Let's face it, many of these Cigar superstores can present a fairly daunting, and sometimes scary proposition:

Eeeek!!  Don't let the seemingly endless rows and shelves panic you just yet.  There are a few very basic rules that you can apply to your shopping experience that will definitely help you. They may even give you a fun, interesting, and satisfying Cigar experience (you can clear that image of Bill Clinton from your mind right about now).

Well, here are my 5 very basic rules to Cigar store shopping:

1.  Figure out your Price Point:

Generally, there are no rules for how much cigars can cost.  They can run anywhere from $2 to $100 each. 

So, it really falls to you to figure out how much you would like to spend.  Try to establish your overall budget for the purchase, and know about how many Cigars you would like to leave the store with.  The rest becomes a basic exercise in mathematical division. Remember the general rule; great tasting and enjoyable Cigars don't necessarily have to be expensive. There are many different values, bundles, promotional, and clearance items available to accommodate all budget ranges.  My personal quest in life is the pursuit of the perfect sub $5 Cigar.  I love a good bargain, and if you ever met my Mom this would make a lot more sense.  I digress, but the point is to make sure you set your price goals first.

2.  Know your tastes:

If you really are a Cigar Newbie, let me say Welcome!  This is a fantastic hobby on which you are about to embark, so sit back and enjoy the ride.  If you have any experience with Cigars, think about those enjoyable experiences, and what was really good about them.  Also consider those experiences that were not so good, or maybe even downright suckish.  That really helps in the navigation process by eliminating many, many, stock items cramming the rows and shelves. For you Newbies, let's review the elaborate and rather confusing Cigar style and sizing guidelines. 

3.  Picking Size & Style to match Experience Level and Tastes

When it comes to Cigar sizes,  its more of an Art than a Science.  This means that these sizing rules don't apply to all sizes, growers, blenders, or manufacturers.  If that wasn't confusing enough, there are two different methods for establishing and communicating the size of a Cigar.  

Sizing Option 1:  Ring Size & Length

Ring Size is the width of your cigar. You can get an idea of how thick your cigar is by taking     the ring size and dividing it by 64. This will give you the width in inches. A cigar with a ring   size of 64 would be one inch in diameter. A cigar with a ring size of 32 would be a half of an     
inch (32/64). From that, you can determine the basic nominal size of any Ring size.  The Ring Size will usually appear either on the Cigar's band (label), on the box, or on the store shelf itself.

The length of the cigar is often referred to in inches, so easy enough.  They range from shorties as small at 3-5 inches.  The general majority range from 5-8 inches long.

Sizing Option 2:  Exotic and Dorky Sounding Size Names

Lets face it, "Ring Size" and "Length" really doesn't pay the appropriate homage due such an elegant and stylish tradition, nor does it have a very sexy Marketing methodology.  So growers & manufacturers use an elaborate list of unique and confusing names for Cigar sizes. As mentioned earlier, and as that bad guy in Pirates of the Caribbean said, "its more of a set of guideline than rules".

Again, the names don't always directly match up to the exact sizes, and they are not 100% standard among each manufacturer.  But they do loosely correlate to the following:

• Newbies want to start on top with the Rothschild, down to about the Corona Gorda
• Intermediates, can safely go down to the Lonsdale or so without a risk of overload 
• Experienced smokers, can handle pretty much anything listed that appeals to them

Again, no hard, fast rules here, but this will give you a general idea of where you fall on the list.

4.  Pick something that catches your eye

Using the first 3 Rules above, browse with your eyes, feel with your fingers, and smell with your nose (this works best as you may look a bit silly feeling with your nose).  Pick up different cigars that appeal to you visually.  Smell for aroma, and feel for firmness and dryness.  Generally, the more moisture a Cigar loses, the harder and drier they become. This is usually a good indication of overall age and freshness.  There are countless numbers of cool sizes, shapes, colors, and smells that you will encounter in your shopping experience.  Find some Cigars that look really good to you, or represent something that you may want to try.  

I generally split my shopping experience in half.  One half is represented by those smokes that look interesting, those that I had seen or heard about and wanted to try, or based on my general likes/dislikes might be something that I want to give a go.   The other half are those "old loose fitting jeans" types, safe old standards on which I can rely for that smooth and enjoyable Cigar smoking experience.

5.  Rely on your fellow shoppers and store staff

I generally put a good deal of stock into how my fellow shoppers answer questions that I ask them.  They usually provide excellent, first-hand feedback, which can be helpful in making your purchase choices.  First off, Cigar smokers are generally friendly, content people.  They love Cigar smoking, are generally very approachable, and happy to share their experience & knowledge with you.  It's a bit of a "pass it on mentality" I believe.  We experienced Cigar folk extract a great deal of satisfaction in seeing Cigars becoming more and more popular. This helps us all with cost, selections, sales, and promotions.  One other cool thing that I really, really LOVE is that there are so many more women smoking Cigars these days.  I especially love to share any knowledge with women who smoke Cigars themselves. I'm sure guys understand that and agree!  Anyway, I have met many great people shopping and received some great suggestions and knowledge from them, so please don't be afraid to ask for their insights!

Cigar store staff can be very helpful as well.  However, there are a couple of things that you need to be careful of.  Generally store staff want to make as much money for the store, and thereby themselves.  Stands to reason right?  So they may direct you to some Cigars outside of your desired purchase price.  They also need to rotate stock as quickly as possible, so keep that in the back of your mind.  The reality is that the product does have a limited shelf life, so they are only doing their job by guiding you to what is best for both the store and livelihood. Often, if you decline on a suggestion that falls outside of your 4-Rules presented above, they will gladly help guide you to something that will work better on the second try.  So be sure to keep a smile, use their advice when it fits, or simply tell them that it may not be right for you and ask for alternate suggestions that will work better for you.  They have awesome knowledge, so be sure not to miss out on it!

OK, well there you have it.  CigarManDan's 5-Step Guidelines for Cigar store purchases. Please put it to the test, and provide me some good feedback on your experiences in Cigar store shopping. Online ordering does have it's place, but nothing beats and awesome Cigar store for the selection, bargains, knowledge, and awesome people that you meet.  Enjoy your purchasing, and until next week, keep em Long and Lit. 

Lessons on Bourbon by CigarManDan

                                   
A Humble Cigar Man's Lesson in Bourbon:

Talk about just plain weird.  I drained my defacto standard Makers Mark stock and stopped by the local liquor peddler out by New Smyrna Beach earlier today and picked the Venti Jim Beam Black Aged 8 years. 

This evening in position Poolside Humidor 1, I am listening to the Cigar Dave weekly show. He is reviewing Kentucky Bourbon in honor of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival taking place there next week and he chooses the Jim Beam Black 8 to review of 3 different types. Coinkydink?  I say Yes.  

But it gets odder yet, more later.  

Here are some interesting facts about Bourbon I learned.  

1. By a 1964 Act of Congress:

•   Its America's only native Spirit
•   Has to be primarily corn
•   Has to be distilled at no more than 125 proof
•   Has to be stored in a new oak barrel
•   Has 2 be stored for a minimum of 2 years in Kentucky
•   There are several more...

2. Here is a general rule on KY Bourbon:

        The darker the hue, the more complex the flavor

3. How to drink Bourbon:

•     Review the color, swirl in glass
•     Smell with lips open to absorb less alcohol Pre-taste
•     Sip past lips, let flow to rear of palate 
•     Do the Kentucky Chew, roll around your mouth and swallow
•     Gauge the burn factor as it makes its way to the breadbasket
•      Note any aftertaste and evaluate for flavor and overall experience

Ok, now where it gets really odd.  

Cigar Dave aka. "The General" (and a Cigar Hero of mine) pairs this fine aged bourbon with a Villa Dominicana Cigar.  These cigars generally have a mild textured blend using medium quality Dominican & Nicaraguan filler.  Mine had a Mexican Sumatra binder in an Equadorian wrapper.  A is a very pedestrian cigar at best, often bundled at a very affordable price.  So to compare the cigar I had lit, to the one that The General had picked as a match to this bourbon, I look down at the label because I don't remember what I had pulled from my Humidor, and I could believe I had grabbed the exact same cigar!!   Of all the cigar types in the world, I pick the same one.  Well, great minds The General and I, hehe..  Plain weird right?

Oh well, enjoy this fine combination of Bourbon and Cigar if you get a chance.  It's a nice match.  Till next week, keep em long and lit.