We’ve always been a big believer in the idea that cigars are for everyone, at least everyone of the proper age. That includes the paragon of virtue who miraculously delivers our presents every year, Santa Claus. But you may be asking the same question that struck us, does Santa Clause enjoy some fine tobacco? Have we been leaving out milk and cookies for decades, when all he really wanted was some Montecristos to while away the hours? Let’s look at the evidence.
If we go way way back, there’s proof that Santa at least enjoys tobacco. The original poem that helped put Saint Nick into the minds of billions, Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore, includes the line “The stump of a pipe being held tight in his teeth. And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.” This is one of the first real instances of Santa Claus in worldwide popular culture, and the author went out of their way to say Santa smokes a pipe! It makes sense, he only works one very busy night a year and the stress must be unimaginable. Smoking some exquisite tobacco might be the only thing keeping Santa sane!
We move ahead in time, and the fact that Santa smokes seems inescapable. Every depiction imaginable over the century includes a pipe! No matter what country, people see Santa enjoying some quality tobacco! It’s in their art, their magazines, their ads! In fact it’s only recently Santa has lost his trademark pipe. Before now it was simply set in stone, Santa Claus loves his tobacco!
But how certain are we that Santa Claus smokes tobacco? There are a lot of other things Santa could be putting in that pipe, and we’re not making any accusations. We don’t want any elf lawyers showing up accusing us of defamation! But considering Santa has apparently been around for a few centuries, and the most common item smoked in a pipe was tobacco at that time, it’s a safe assumption that’s what he enjoys.
Whether you prefer a pipe or great cigar, tobacco has always been enjoyed by adults for ages. Need a gift this holiday? Our gift guide this year is approved by Santa himself!
If Santa smokes cigars, what brands do you think he enjoys? Why? Let us know in the comments!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
When you’re the greatest of all time, nothing else will do when celebrating! Andrew D. Bernstein | Credit: NBAE via Getty Images
Give that man a cigar!
Cigars mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. For some us it brings back fond memories of our relatives, smoking away on special occasions and even offering us our first taste of a real stogie. For some a cigar is about relaxing, taking the time to just sit back and let our minds finally settle down after a chaotic day. Others only see cigars in tandem with the finer things, enjoying it with a fine glass of whiskey or scotch, while reclining on a leather armchair. But for some reason, regardless of how you view cigars, everyone seems to agree on one thing. Cigars mean victory. Doesn’t matter what it is, sports, award shows, even wars, winning is always celebrated with a cigar.
But why? For something so culturally ingrained, no one has a straight answer. It’s one of those things that just isn’t questioned. For good reason, victory and cigars feel completely natural together. Peanut butter and jelly, Spaghetti and meatballs, cigars and winning. It just fits! Now peanut butter and jelly works because it tastes great, and while you can certainly taste a great cigar, you can’t taste victory; although I’m willing to bet you it’d taste just like a great cigar! We need to look back if we’re going to unravel this mystery.
Great men smoke alike!
The easiest answer is that it comes from one of the all time greatest cigar smokers, Winston Churchill. Churchill was famous for his love of stogies, smoking as many as ten per day; his favorite’s being from the Romeo y Julieta brand. Churchill even went so far as to have a specialized humidor built into his home, large enough to house four thousand cigars! For the association with winning, Churchill’s foresight, steady guidance, and resilience in the face of the Nazi war machine was key to the Allied triumph in WWII. Churchill is often credited with the now famous V for victory gesture. Mix that with the fact that there’s rarely a picture of Churchill without a cigar, and it’s only natural the two would become associated.
Never surrender, and never stop smoking! Credit: PA:Press Association
That covers why the two are linked in British culture, but what about American culture? Tobacco is uniquely a product of the Americas, there’s no denying that. It follows it would have a special place in the American zeitgeist. The earliest connection cigars and victory have in our culture would have to be The Great Bambino himself, Babe Ruth. The Babe was almost constantly smoking, only stopping to eat a hot dog or drink a beer. Ruth would even smoke during games between swings at the bat. He actually endorsed White Owl cigars, but said he personally preferred any brand that made their cigars long and fat. If you thought smoking cigars during a game would hinder him, you’d be dead wrong. Babe Ruth’s illustrious twenty two years in baseball saw seven hundred home runs and nine World Series titles, all while chomping on a prime stogie.
The Babe himself doing the two things he was best known for. Creator: Bettmann | Credit: Bettmann Archive
But the figure to most put cigars and achievement together has to be legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach, and his trademark celebrations with a Hoyo de Monterrey Cuban cigar. Auerbach was known to light up right from the bench as a signal that the game was effectively over. He must have had a lot of opportunities to light up, with nine NBA championships under his belt between 1957 and 1966. A confident Auerbach, boldly smoking on the sidelines with his team up twenty points, instantly became iconic in the world of sports. When someone dominates their field that much, and always seems to have a cigar in hand, why wouldn’t you see the two as inherently connected?
The face of a man who knows victory is assured. Creator: Dick Raphael | Credit: NBAE via Getty Images
Whatever the origin, to this day cigars still mean that you have done something worth celebrating. Even if it’s just the choice to smoke a cigar, you deserve a cigar for your great decision making! Make a great decision today and celebrate with some tobacco from our vast selection.
What does a cigar mean to you? What’s the best cigar to celebrate a win? Let us know in the comments!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
As we enter the most wonderful time of the year, we all can’t help but dread one thing. Gift shopping. We know how stressful it can be to find the right gift for each and every loved one. That’s why we went all out this year to make your holiday one to remember! All our gifts have been specially selected to make sure whoever receives it will cherish it for years to come!
No gift of cigars is complete without an ashtray. But it takes something special to truly make it a gift. With four slots, the Arturo Fuente ashtray lets you smoke with ones you love and celebrate the holiday season together.
A must have for anyone in your life who wants to get serious about cigars. More than just a humidor, the My Father Le Bijou is a genuine work of art in form and function. It’s sleek white finish is embolden with the stunning My Father logo, and speaks to craftsmanship that goes into every My Father cigar.
Take no chances and give the gift that has everything they could ever want. In addition to a polished, modern designed humidor and a pristine built-in ashtray, they’ll get four Cohiba Silencio cigars. The Silencio was made for exclusive events, so you now have the chance to give that special someone a rare beauty of the cigar world.
The best way to get that authentic Cohiba experience, this combination ashtray feels like the old world come to life. Coming with an impressive five Cohiba robustos, this gift compliments any aficionado’s collection.
When nothing but the best will do, give a gift of the cigars that have stood the test of time. The iconic brand sampler will be familiar to anyone who knows their tobacco, and bring a nostalgic smile to the seasoned smoker. Each cigar is a wonder of complex flavors, giving an experience that isn’t soon forgotten.
Gift set includes:
Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real Toro Natural 6 x 54
Romeo Y Julieta 1875 Exhibition No. 3 Natural 6 x 50
Regal and distinguished, the Montecristo White Toro Collection gives off an unmistakable aura of quality. An easy gift for anyone curious about cigars, this Domincan and Nicaraguan blend will introduce them to the Montecristo brand in style.
Have someone who’s a bit picky on your gift list? The Oliva Serie V sampler lets them find the right cigar for them. Featuring some of the most balanced and smooth cigars on the market, in every size imaginable, this gift will please even the most choosy of friends.
A gift for those who want to make a statement with their cigar choices. This sophisticated traveling case has room for up to twenty toro sized cigars. With a fine leather casing emblazoned with the Rocky Patel signature, this is a bold gift made for a bold breed.
For the seasoned cigar smoker on your gift list, the Taste of Nicaragua Assortment by AJ Fernandez offers a selection of some of the finest tobacco the country has to offer. For anyone that believes variety is the spice of life, this sampler is perfect for those who want to experience the full spectrum of rich, flavorful Nicaraguan cigars.
Gift set includes:
H Upmann Nicaragua Toro 6 x 54
Cohiba Nicaragua Toro 5 1/2 x 54
Trinidad Espiritu Toro 6 x 54
Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Toro 6 x 54
Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Torpedo 6 x 52
Onyx Bold Nicaragua Toro 6 x 54
Unsure what to get? Our samplers page has an abundance of deals on every cigar. These samplers can come with fifty cigars, and at two hundred dollars for the set, you’re getting premium level cigars for only four dollars. It’s a can’t miss for anyone shopping on a budget, with enough cigars for family, friends, and even a little treat for yourself!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
Are we the only ones who compare our cigars to certain movie stars/famous characters in pop-culture?
I mean, whether it’s Ben Stiller, who might be classified as a short robusto, or Guy Fieri whom we can’t help but giggle as we think of him being a nice double gordo!
The fact is, people are going to have certain classifications for their cigars that they like, and no two opinions are going to be exactly the same. That’s why we came up with that little chart above to start you off with your classifications!
Let us know if you agree, and then tell us YOUR classifications!
The Romeo Y Julieta 1875 cigar brand is named after the popular play written by the one and only, the Bard, Sir William Shakespeare. The workers in the factories loved having it read to them while they rolled cigars. A story of love, being told as they were performing a labor of love. The brand was founded in Cuba in 1875 by Inocencio Alvarez and Mannin Garcia.
Taste
With a medium body taste, this cigar is just perfect for any occasion! After a meal, relaxing by the fire or on the porch, the cigar has nuances of toasty flavors, of aged cedar, nuts, along with a sweet spice creating a well-balanced smoke from start to finish.
Tobacco
Country: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic, Brazil
Wrapper: EMS
Binder: Dominican Republic
Strength: MEDIUM
Bringing the past to present and maintaining the same price is quite a feat with this exceptional cigar. Romeo 1875 is a cigar you’re gonna want to always have stocked in your humidor!
Thanks for checking out Mike’s Cigar of the Week! Check back soon for our next selection!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
Some of the best quotes/philosophies come from anonymous sources.
They make us ask the big questions at night and keep us up thinking.
Some philosophies are simple: “Man does not eat by bread alone”…well, we know where that came from, but who exactly said it, is unknown.Some philosophies are clear: “Leave your message at the sound of the tone”. Genius.
Some quotes/philosophies take a lifetime, some take minute.
Fact is, we have no idea who this came from but this is the real deal
Today, our team of cigar connoisseurs is reviewing the Alec Bradley Post Embargo Cigar
The Alec Bradley Post Embargo celebrates the end of the Cuban embargo but really is a rallying cry for the cigar maker. Cuban cigars, long to be considered the best in the world, have been hard to obtain for the past 60 years. Bradley built the Post Embargo to say: our cigars can stand up to any around the world. The end of the Cuban embargo will help cigar makers prove theirs are just as good – if not better – than some of the long-sought after Cuban brands unavailable to most smokers.
The Alec Bradley Post Embargo is a beautifully Honduran-wrapped medium-full bodied cigar with both Nicaraguan and Honduran binder and filler. Articulately rolled at the Raices Cubana factory in Honduras, the attention to detail and the beauty of the cigar is clear when you pick it up. Always a fan of great bands, the Post Embargo boasts one of the nicest we’ve seen in a while. With it’s representation of the two women – one Cuban, one American – it catches your eye and really is the first statement you get from this power-packed stick.
The Alec Bradley Post Embargo was unveiled at IPCPR 2015, but didn’t hit the market until the middle of November 2015. There was a bit of a delay because the line took on a new look.
The cigar band almost reminds me a bit of the military is matte in finish with no embossing or use of foil. The red, beige, charcoal, and black is busy but clean. The words, “Taste The Past • Bridge The Gap • Enjoy The Future” sit below the AB logo in a circle rather than the badge we’ve come to know. The cigar itself almost feels soft pressed but this is more from the bundle shipment sent to the rep for sampling. The mocha colored wrapper has some oils visible and is heavy and firm to the touch.
Nice looking cigar. Smooth as silk in the hand. A milk chocolate colored wrapper. Nearly invisible seams. Almost no veins. Very close to being a crisp box press. A flawless, seamless triple cap. And the two flags: American and Cuban. Beautiful cigar band.
Alec Bradley had come up with some nice bands over the last few years. The band on the Post Embargo follows suit. As I mentioned above, the branding for this cigar was changed before it was released and I think it was the right call. The original look was a little “clunky” for my taste.
The cigar itself had a real nice look and feel to it. the construction was spot on. The wrapper gave off some floral notes along with notes of cinnamon, hay and barnyard. The cold draw was a bit tight (it loosened throughout the first third) and offered up notes of raisins, sweet cream and a cinnamon spice.
The Notes:
The cold draw of the Alec Bradley Post Embargo is sweet with notes of caramel, raisin and a touch of hay, while the aroma of the foot is more along the lines of cocoa powder from inside a Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate packet with a touch of pepper and cedar.
From the shaft, I smell sweet honeysuckle, dried fruit, chocolate, coffee, licorice, red pepper, and cedar. From the clipped cap and the foot, I smell a green vegetal note, chocolate, coffee, strong red pepper, sweetness, golden raisins, cedar, and malt. The cold draw presents flavors of chocolate, raisins, sweetness, spiciness, coffee, cedar, and cream.
Once the cigar is properly toasted and lit the initial notes of the cigar are nuts and cedar with some pepper through the nose and some added nuts. As we continue into the first third the cigar serves up some mocha/cocoa notes with a touch of licorice and wisp of cinnamon developing through the nose.
Lighting the Toro cigar, you immediately get the full-bodied experience I and many of the Las Vegas Cigar Guys enjoy. The wrapper wasn’t over oily and the cigar packed nice and tight. Lighting it was a breeze and it started a very consistent burn throughout. Earthy spice and a nutty note was noticed as soon as we lit up.
Right off the bat, my palate is assaulted by a boat load of flavor: Milk chocolate, red pepper, caramel, creaminess, coffee, black licorice, cinnamon, and cedar.
I really dislike box pressed cigars. They are such a pain to light correctly and almost impossible not to have minor runs. Gotta keep an eye on them at the start or they head for the hills. (As it turned out, this must be the first box press that I had zero issues with. Now that’s some great rolling.)
Did you know that CI requires most of their manufacturers to make a 5 x 55 box press for them exclusively? The 55 ring gauge may vary a bit but you get the idea. Just a foot note and actually has nothing to do with this cigar.
Smoke pours from the foot like a house afire. Within just a couple of minutes, the Alec Bradley Post Embargo finds its complexity.
The malts are a big part of the flavor profile. The usual suspects you’ve read described in prior reviews.
This stick has that same kind of panache that the best Ezra Zion cigars have. In fact, it reminds me of the Blessed Leaf Doxology and the All My Ex’s. Very creamy and malty with the right touch of spice.
The Post Embargo started off with a rich profile with some sweet and spicy accents. Notes of leather, cedar and sweet cream were balanced out by cinnamon and baking spice on the retrohale. The flavors were strong right off the bat and held fast through the first third. There was a little harshness on the retrohale early on, but it smoothed out after the first inch.
In the second third of the cigar the primary note becomes licorice that reaches its peak around the half way mark. The notes of licorice are complimented by some cinnamon through the nose. The finish of the cigar is short with some earth and nuts present as well.
The burn was beautiful and consistent in the second third as it was when we first lit the cigar. A few of the guys noticed some cocoa notes in this third, but for me I just really had a nice and well-balanced tobacco taste here. Others picked up some licorice and creamy notes too. This is where the cigar really hit its stride.
Damn complex. Nice balance. Lovely long finish.
I believe I prefer the Alec Bradley Post Embargo to the Doxology. One reason is that the Doxology loses its spiciness quickly. The Post Embargo doesn’t and gets stronger the more you smoke.
I’m getting a tasty salty pretzel element now. Flavors are perfectly balanced. Strength hits full body. The creaminess and the malts are a match made in heaven. The chocolate and coffee are a perfect conglomeration. The black licorice is a nice quirky flavor.
The caramel and honeysuckle work like a team. I reach the halfway point. Smoke time is 40 minutes. For some reason, it slowed down. The packing of the filler may be a little off kilter. That’s OK Alec Bradley Post Embargo…you slow down all you want.
The profile took on a pretty drastic change in the middle third. The leather note remained and was joined by a smokey molasses flavor that reminded me of barbecue. The spice on the retro transitioned from cinnamon/baking to a black pepper. The strength even took a step forward into the medium-plus range. This was a complete 180 from where the cigar started and I found it kind of enjoyable.
The last third of the Post Embargo from Alec Bradley the pepper notes are visible on the palate as well as through the nose. There is some slight sweetness that borders on caramel, with a clean finish.
The end of the experience brought forth more earth and pepper as we finished out this cigar. Despite the spice, the cigar kept its creamy notes as it did in the second third. The burn was, again, amazingly consistent with a nice ash and not much flaking. The cigar remained lit from start to nub. Of the four guys I sat with to smoke the Post Embargo, all loved it and all were quick to buy another. Heck, we bought a box immediately for our LVCG locker at En Fuego Cigars & Lounge.
Flavors don’t let up. The complexity becomes more intense with each puff. The finish lasts forever. It coats my teeth like toothpaste. I fully realize I am going to be lambasted for my opinion. But I don’t care. If you snag some, smoke your first one the day after you receive them. And then try to stop smoking one after another. I noticed that Andrew of SBC took down the announcement for this special on all their A/B blends. I contacted him and he got right back to me. The promo code is still good.
The “tale of two thirds” came to an end in an interesting way. The “smokey” notes subsided and allowed the rich leathery profile to return. There was very little sweetness to be found and the black pepper spice hung on until the end. So some notes from the first third returned while some form the second third hung on. This left rich and leathery notes on the tongue and a nice black pepper spice on the retrohale. The final third of the Post Embargo had a traditional Nicaraguan feel to it.
Conclusion
As I said from the get-go, we really liked the Post Embargo. The smoking experience, consistency, and savory notes made it one of our most enjoyable smokes of 2015. From the band to the taste, it’s flat-out winner. Let’s hope new relations with Cuba are as sweet and savory as the cigar.
The Alec Bradley Post Embargo doesn’t stop climbing the complexity tree. Like a squirrel, it just climbs and climbs. Strength is muy full bodied. I love this cigar. You will too.
The Alec Bradley Post Embargo finishes clean, no heat, no bitterness, and firm to the touch.
Final smoke time is one hour 20 minutes.
The Post Embargo was like three different cigars rolled into one. It started off with a rich profile that I loved, transitioned into an earthy and smokey profile, and finally combined elements of the two in the final third. There was a lot going on and it was a fun ride, but after the first third I found myself wanting those rich and sweet notes to return.
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
Near the Oliva Cigar Co. factories, in Estelí, Nicaragua, there is a school that offers a great education for children, but at a price that’s too high for the company’s factory workers to afford, until now.
As part of a long-term commitment, Oliva Cigars, which is owned by Belgium-based J. Cortès, is donating part of its profits directly to the Catholic primary school (now called Escuela Oliva) so that children of factory workers can attend.
According to a press release, Oliva is providing financial support for the school’s teachers, and is handling the cost of one meal a day for the students.
“It’s giving this young generation hope and a good education,” said Wilmer Jeronimo Lagos, the English teacher at Escuela Oliva.
“Not only did we make significant improvements to working conditions, we also invested in the school so that the children of our colleagues are now able to attend classes there,” said J. Cortès CEO Frederik Vandermarliere.
Tabacalera Oliva & Fabretto Children´s Foundation
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
Today, I’d like to introduce you to a little trick I like to call the “pre-hale.”
What is Pre-hale?
Pre-haling is a simple technique that anyone can use to enhance their cigar smoking experience. Even those who find retro-haling too intense an experience for their nose will find they can appreciate new sensations with this technique.
Each leaf contained in a cigars “blend” or “liga” brings something different to the table. Wrapper leaves, high in oils, contribute a great deal of the aromatic components to the cigar.
Binder leaves are also usually relatively high in oil content and contribute to the aroma of the cigar as well. Finally, the filler leaves, particularly the seco (or Volado), contribute a great deal to the overall mouth feel and taste one perceives.
As a cigar is lit the heat initiates subtle changes within the tobacco leaves at the foot of the cigar. The first to occur is the warming of the leaves, followed by browning and finally combustion of the tobacco at the foot of the cigar.
As the tobacco leaves brown in the heat, the volatile oils in the tobacco leaf warm and, when the leaves ignite (combust) and the heat within the cigar increases, these same oils become mixed with steam, becoming part of the vaporized components we know as smoke.
The key to the “pre-hale” is to stimulate the browning of the tobacco leaves without actually initiating combustion.
What’s the point?
The goal of pre-haling is to garner a preview of the aromatic qualities of the cigar by warming the essential oils in the tobacco leaves just to the point when they first become recognizable. We are not out to light the cigar, merely to warm the foot.
To pre-hale, begin with a cigar that has already been visually inspected and cut. Perform your pre-light inspection including smelling the wrapper leaf as well as the tobacco at the foot.
Be certain to inspect the bunching at the foot as the pattern can provide insight into how the cigar is constructed and hints at the various leaves contained in the blend.
Using your lighter very gently begin to pass the flame near the cigar’s foot. Hold the cigar at a 45 degree angle to the flame to minimize the chance of scorching the wrapper.
When the tobacco at the foot of the cigar begins to darken and the first wisps of smoke begin to form remove the flame and check the foot of the cigar.
If there are areas that have not begun to brown, return the flame, even more gently, until the entire foot shows signs of darkening. If combustion begins, remove the flame and allow the cigar a moment or two to stop burning.
The untoasted foot of a cigar
The partly toasted foot of a cigar
Well browned and ready for the “pre-hale”
When the entire foot of the cigar has been gently browned and produces slight tendrils of smoke, it’s time to “pre-hale.”
Raise the warmed foot of the cigar to your nose, holding it an inch or less away, and gently inhale the scent through your nose. You should be able to apprehend subtle aromas rising from the foot of the cigar. If not, re-warm the foot slightly and try again.
Conclusion
What you will find is that there are smells you haven’t noticed before. This is especially true if you are not one to retrohale.
When I use this technique on some cigars I pick up on spicy aromas that I later recognize in the smoke. However, I’ve also identified smells similar to warm toast and roast marshmallows in some blends which have not translated to the retro-haled aroma of the cigar when smoked.
My favorite pre-hale profile, currently at least, is the Partagas brand which features an African Cameroon wrapper, Mexican binder, and Dominican filler blend. In the Partagas I pick up a “baking spice” aroma with a subtle sweetness similar to caramelized sugar.
So, before you light up that cigar, take a moment to try this technique to gain a new perspective on your favorite premium blend.
