Chesapeake Smoke

Cigar smoking, as we all know, isn’t an addictive thing. We smoke for pleasure and relaxation, not because we need a quick hit of nicotine.

In my surfing of the Web, I came across an article, Tobacco and the Soul. It really resonated with me, and I hope you get something from it as well:

http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=3674

This should give you something to chew on during this crappy, rainy weekend.

Happy Smoking!

Well, class wrapped up yesterday morning. I finished my test, then caught lunch at a highly-rated Szechuan restaurant in mid-town. On the way back tp my accomodations, I spotted the Nat Sherman store and decided to drop in. I’m most familiar with them for their premium cigarette lines, but figured they couldn’t have a big awning proclaiming themselves to be “Tobacconists to the World” based on a line of cowboy-killers.

I walked in and was immediately overwhelmed … well, almost. But the shop is huge; it’s on three levels, with a cigar lounge in the basement. I counted as many as six tobacconists working there, all in blue blazers and ties. Ahh, the differences between a little shop in the ‘burbs and a store in the heart of mid-town New York. I strolled around the shop for a few minutes, checking out their offerings: lots of cigars … mostly their own brand, but a few others thrown in. Pipes and pipe tobacco are up front, right where you walk in , on the left side. Nice and traditional feel, with big bulk jars and an antique counterweight scale for weighing out the tobacco. And plenty of accessories, everything ranging from humidors and carrying cases and hip flasks to cutters and, that hallmark of a premium shop, S. T Dupont lighters.

After browsing for a bit, I was approached by Mike, one of their tobacconists, and I introduced myself as a fellow tobacconist. What followed was a most impressive and geniune display of profesional courtesy and reciprocity. A tour through all the offerings in the humidor. A walk-through of the entire shop. And, cigar in hand, an invitation to smoke that cigar in their members-only lounge in the basement. The cigar, labelled TDG-287, was from a very limited production line, a very nice maduro torpedo with mostly DR filler and a Sumatran wrapper leaf. A very nice blend. I enjoyed it so much that I picked up some more on my way out, along with a couple samples of their pipe tobacco blends, one of which has some Perique in the blend. Never smoked anything with Perique, but I’ve been wanting to try it, and couldn’t resist when the opportunity presented itself.

I’d like to thank Mike and Lorenzo for your exquisite courtey and professionalism, and for truly making me feel like a regular in your store.

So here I am in New York. I finagled my employer to send me to a week-long school up here, and I’m living in the lap of luxury in a room at the New York Yacht Club (my wife is a member, and membership benefits accrue to spouses).

I took a stroll downtown for dinner after knocking back a shot of Oban, neat. But there’s nowhere to sit indoors and relax with a stogie. So I brought a stick along — Avo 787 figurado — and lit up after dinner. I took a leisurely stroll back uptown along 5th Avenue, puffing away, loving life. New York is my hometown, and I miss its vitality and energy. I mourn the waves of political correctness, typified by the anti-smoking nazis and the indoor smoking bans, that have beset this city.

But I wasn’t going to let that disrupt my 45 minutes of smoking pleasure. I walked along, taking in the sights and smells, and when no one was watching, I allowed my eyes to linger on stern shots of some of the lovely women who inhabit New York. Or maybe they were just tourists … no matter, they provided what we Navy men used to call “eyeball liberty.” Life is good. I paused to sit in a rickety chair outside the splendid New York City public library at 42nd Street and watch the world go by. A cute little honey with an Australian accent stopped to ask me directions … I guess I looked like the safe, fatherly type. I told her how to get to her destination, down near NYU, and watched her fade off into the seething masses. Then I turned my full attention back to that Avo, and in my mind’s eye I puffed along like an old steam locomotive until I got back to the club, by which time the stogie was nearly spent. A few more puffs, then pitched it and headed up to the room.

Can you believe I actually have to study for this class?

Yeah, I know, it’s been a while. That work thing has been keeping me busy and out of the blog loop.

But here I am at Titan, the weather is easing up as Hurricane Hanna screams on past, and I’m enjoying a stick or two as I sit here.

Before I move to tonight’s selections, I need to talk about our Winston Churchill event (22 August). Andrea came out to roll out this delicious cigar, available in four sizes. Blended by Heinrich Kellner, they’re made in the Davidoff factory in the DR. Kellner sought out tobacco grown in regions that most closely replicated the full spectrum of growing conditions in Cuba’s Vuelta Abajo region, and I think he succeeded. Medium to full body, a little bit of spicy finish from the Ecuadorian wrapper, and they smoke smooth, very tasty. Also featured at the event were the Avo 787 line and some Zinos … but the Winston Churchill was clearly the star of the show.

I started off the night with a Peublo Domenicano from Mike’s humidor. That young feller has turned me on to several good smokes now … I’m impressed with his knowledge, and his palate. I’m working on a Don Pepin JJ Maduro, another nice smoke. Thanks for the referral, Mike!