Author: DrinkSmokeGolf

Tips from cigar experts on how to select, light, and enjoy a stogie with the person who determines your salary. BY STILLMAN BROWN / PHOTOS BY ANDREW SNAVELY Imagine you’re at an out of town conference, or an after-work event and your boss invites you to hang out afterwards – a great opportunity to do some one-on-one or small group bonding and cement your personal connection to The Big Guy (or Gal). Your boss is into cigars and suggests one of his favorite tobacconists for drinks and cigars. There’s just one problem: You don’t smoke. And because you’re not a 1920s bootlegger or Fidel Castro,…

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Some of the world’s most famous chefs indulge in the pleasures of a fine, handmade cigar They are names any food lover will instantly recognize: José Andrés of Jaleo in Washington, D.C. Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin in New York City. Emeril Lagasse of Emeril’s in New Orleans. Thomas Keller of The French Laundry in Yountville, California. Charlie Palmer of Aureole in Manhattan. Marc Vetri of Vetri Ristorante in Philadelphia. Michael Cimarusti of Providence in Los Angeles. Geoffrey Zakarian of The Lambs Club in New York. Each of these star chefs shares more than the acclaim of critics, fame and success in…

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A GUIDE ON HOW TO AVOID BEING “THAT GUY” AT YOUR LOCAL CIGAR LOUNGE The cigar lounge is a place for relaxation, a place for savoring a fine cigar with a dram of whiskey and a place to meet new people, make connections and enjoy some pleasant conversation. The cigar lounge is also a place that comes with its own set of rules, by which all present should abide. Here’s our guide to proper cigar lounge etiquette. Read more…

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THE 5 BEST CIGAR BARS IN THE WORLD Etihad Airways’ new First Class Lounge & Spa in Abu Dhabi features a cigar lounge furnished with world-class smokes personally selected by the airline’s cigar consultant, Jasim Ahmed. Here are his recommendations for his top five cigar bars across the world. You’re welcome. Read more…

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A good article here if you happen to just be getting into cigars… Everything you need to know to buy and smoke a high-quality cigar like a pro By Raisa Bruner Once a mark of status akin to the shoes you wore or the watch on your wrist, cigars today are — for most of us — more a hobby than a lifestyle. You’ve probably smoked one at special events or celebratory occasions, but do you know how to smoke one properly? And can you tell the good stuff from lower quality? Read more…

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You’d expect exclusive access, velvet curtains and leather couches at a cigar bar, NYC. After stocking up on cigars from your neighborhood smoke shop, head out these lounges that aren’t lame. You’ll find yourself brushing leather-patched elbows with stock brokers and even the occasional notable New Yorker. Read more…

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The Nicaraguan Chamber of Tobacco (formerly known as the Nicaraguan Tobacco Association) put on its fifth cigar festival last week in the capital city of Managua and in the cigar city of Estelí. Dubbed Puro Sabor Festival del Tabaco, the event was a celebration of Nicaragua’s rapidly growing cigar industry and tobacco culture. Puro Sabor’s main objective is to raise international awareness about Nicaragua and its commitment to growing high-quality tobacco and producing world-class cigars. It’s also a rare opportunity to meet the people behind the brands, as most, if not all the members of Puro Sabor open up their…

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Well, it’s that time of year once again! I didn’t smoke as much as I would have liked over the past 12 months, but here are the 5 best of the year. #5. El Rey Del Mundo – Petit Compania – 90 points – Review is here This cigar presents an excellent, sweet profile in the early stages. Great size & beautiful construction. Very smooth & enjoyable! #4. Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Exclusivo Maduro – 91 points – Review is here These cigars offer a delicious raisin profile & are immaculately constructed. A must have in your humidor!…

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On the Cigar Trail in Cuba Prompted by thawing relations, an American cigar lover goes to Cuba to find one of the best. By RON STODGHILLNOV. 20, 2015 Walking along the gritty, darkening streets of Havana, I felt a sense of foreboding wash over me. A few paces ahead was a stranger. Jorge, he called himself, a young street hustler I had just met at a taxi stand outside the Hotel Capri. Jorge was dressed decidedly urban: an oversize San Diego Padres jersey, baggy denim shorts and Adidas shell-toe sneakers. Jorge was also charming, and through broken English he had…

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Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, Freud said, but then again he probably never paired one with Scotch. The two were practically made to go together, and increasingly they actually are: The smokes in C&C’s four-edition Dram line, for example, are each designed to pair with specified whiskey profiles. As the spread of craft cocktails has given rise to more and better spirits, cigar enthusiasts find themselves awash in options when it comes to enhancing their puffery. It’s not as simple, though, as blindly picking something off the shelf or menu – too strong a spirit or cocktail and…

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