The “Puff” Edition

So by now you’ve heard us say it over and over again… Puff, Sip, Chat. 

Well the time has come for us to elaborate on what it means to puff. If you’re new here, don’t worry. You’re in good hands. 

Now let me break it down for you.

All cigar smokers know that you don’t really inhale a cigar like a cigarette smoker. That would just be awful. We are a bit more sophisticated. In certain circles, some may even call it bougie. I’ll let you decide. But over here in the land of StickMen, we simple puff.

There’s a few different elements to the puff game and I thought we should take this time to get you well acquainted.

 We are going to talk about:

• Popular cigar brands. Not all cigars are created equal. 
• Cigar Body Styles. Mild to Full Bodied – What does that even mean?
• Time and Place – When should I smoke what?
• StickMen’s Favorites – We’ll be updating this regularly because a true StickMan has a ‘go to’ cigar but is always discovering something new!

The Popular Sticks: 

Arturo Fuente – Around since 1912 (yes, over 100 years!), Arturo Fuente cigars are consistently rated among the best cigars in the world. Made in the Domincan Republic, they have an incredible reputation for unsurpassed quality, with both flavor and construction. If you’re new to smoking or a seasoned vet, you can’t go wrong with an AF Cigar. In the technology world, it’s often said that no one has ever been fired for hiring IBM. Well, in my opinion, no one has ever said that was a shitty smoke after puffing on an AF.

Ashton – Also made in the Dominican Republic in the legendary Tabacalera A. Fuente factory. Ashton has been a perennial “Top 3” brand in the U.S. for more than thirty years and is sold in over 60 countries. The Ashton taste is an iconic mild profile. You won’t be disappointed.

CAO – One of the most popular, family owned and operated lines in the cigar industry today. CAO is comprised of a diversified selection of blends for the cigar aficionado but well known for its CAO Nicaragua line that found its groove in what I would say is the sweet n’ juicy category. If you’re in the mood for something chill, CAO Nicaragua is on point. 

Cohiba – This is a full bodied cigar and was actually Fidel Castro’s favorite brand for the trivia buffs of the world! It’s considered an ultra-premium cigar made with a Cameroon wrapper. The Cohiba line of hand-made cigars are flavorful and smooth from the first draw to the last. The result is a cigar that defines the luxury smoking experience. Save it for one of your finest moments.

El Rey de Mundo – A tight blend of Honduran flavors, masterful construction, with a slow burn and draw. The enchantingly complex blend of the worlds finest tobaccos make this cigar line arguably one of the best made in the world today. Has lost some popularity due to strong competition in the full bodied space but its a “must try ” cigar for all cigar lovers!

H. Upmann – This cigar is among the oldest cigar brands in existence (since 1843) and has been enjoyed by cigar connoisseurs worldwide. This hand-crafted smooth, rich cigar has roots from La Romana, Dominican Republic. Its consistency and flawless construction combined with a distinct nutty flavor has been it’s trademark for many years.

Macanudo – Macanudo cigars are manufactured in the city of Santiago in the Dominican Republic. The Macanudo line of cigars use a mild Dominican filler blend, a unique binder originated from the Tuxtla Valley of Mexico, and a premium grade Connecticut shade wrapper. Macanudo always delivers a distinctively smooth and mellow taste that is consistent from cigar to cigar.

Montecristo – The meticulous handmade construction of the Montecristo cigar has made itself a legendary name in Cuba. Menendez y Garcia factory in the Dominican Republic has crafted a fine slow burning cigar loaded with rich, complex flavors. This flawless cigar is savored by the most discriminating cigar enthusiast.

Partagas – A pretty much perfect cigar in every way. Partagas is one of the finest crafted cigars available in the USA. The Piloto Cubano blend boasts flavors of wood and coffee and carries a medium body. Finished in an African Cameroon wrapper, the Partagas line of cigars has a distinct spicy note that is smooth and full of flavor.

Romeo y Julieta – An excellent smooth aromatic cigar with a medium-bodied blend. Slightly sweet with flavors of oak and coffee. If you haven’t smoked a Romeo y Julieta cigar recently, you should really make an effort to do so.

Remember, tastes are subjective so this list is not a contest. Just a quick snapshot of what’s popular and known for high quality standards.

While those may be the most well-known, there are many other established, unbelievable brands. Even more fascinating are the emergence of “Craft Cigars.” Meaning, the cigars that were developed and manufactured by many of the local StickMen and Women of the world. Many of whom have actually taken the time to educate themselves, make the pilgrimage to places like Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic etc. to establish the necessary relationships and then partner with cigar factories to come up with their own cigar line! In fact, a near future blog article is going to feature these up and coming brands. If you know of one or have one of your own, I want to know about it and will include it in my post and help you promote the heck out of it! Please email me at reggie@stickmen.blog and let’s chat!

Moving on. 

---

Cigar Body Styles: Mild to Full

When you walk in a humidor and need help choosing your stick of the moment the first question they’re probably gonna ask is what body do you prefer? Trust me, they are not referring to any of their employees. Mild to Full Bodied – What does that even mean? The body of a cigar refers to the impact it has on your palate and nasal mucosa as you smoke it. 

Now, I’m going to keep this really simple and in my own novice cigar terms. First and foremost…

“Smoke what you like, period!”

Beyond that, here’s is my super simple personal guide:

Mild Cigar

Just like anything else considered mild, great for newbies and great for when you want a smoke but not quite ready to turn-up. Contain easy flavors (woodsy, earthy tones with a hint of herbs) that go well with non-alcoholic drinks (but great with a beer). I smoke these when I’m writing.

When I prefer it?

• Morning and/or Mid-day – there’s nothing better than sitting outside on a cool spring/summer morning with coffee and a good stick
• Early Evening

Medium Cigar

The most popular cigar to smoke but you need to beware in this category. Just because it’s a medium bodied cigar, does not mean it’s a good medium bodied cigar. Palates and tastes vary and the medium cigar varies a bit more wildly than mild or Full Bodied. It’s hard to play the middle in anything in life, right? Cigars are no different. But when you find a good one, a seasoned smoker will often stick with it and smoke it exclusively. Smoke what you like!

When I prefer it?

• Mid-Day
• Early Evening
• Special Note – If you’re a cigar vet, you will eventually find a good medium cigar that you are willing to smoke anytime)

---

At the end of the day, you can have a mild cigar with a lot of flavor and a full-bodied cigar that’s a bit bland. As always, it comes down to the cigar itself, blend, and what YOU are looking for! So I will say it one last time but a little louder for those in the back… SMOKE WHAT YOU LIKE! 

Finally, if you’re interested in trying new cigars as any StickMan would, here’s a list of my current go-to’s!

Baccarat Churchill – Mild cigar with a sweet flavor and fantastic on a rare free, good weather morning for me with a hot coffee.

Insidious Asylum – Recently discovered and love it! Unlike the name would suggest, this is a mild cigar but the flavor is INSIDIOUS!

Perdomo Fresco Maduro – A medium cigar that can sometimes lean towards the full bodied category but I really like this and I really love the price. Good, solid evening cigar at a reasonable price (I can be cheap at times).

So many good cigars that I know my list may offend some but oh well, I can’t worry about that. But what I will do is invite you to expand my horizons. Tell the StickMen Blog what you like! Email me at reggie@stickmen.blog.

Thanks for reading the The Puff Edition! Next week, we’ll be back with The Sip Edition and yes, it will be time to get our drink on.

StickMan #1 OUT!