First of all, I want to thank Ron at seriouscigars.com for putting on such a great event. All I can say is WOW. Amazing! I also want to thank Teresa Merchant of smokinghotcigarchick.com and Tim Black for carting me around and allowing me to do what I do best… shmooze with people about cigars! My trip started out wonderful, I was taken to an amazing BBQ joint in Houston recommended by Tim called Vergis BBQ. That was probably some of the best BBQ I have ever had, and I would expect nothing less from a trip to Texas. Next we had to stop at Target for a few things. I was persuaded into trying on some superman underwear for a picture opportunity (over my shorts of course), and then was posted all over the internet for cigar lover’s viewing pleasure… What I will do for a little publicity… Next we headed over to Ron’s shop. This is unlike any B & M I have ever been to. It is BY FAR the largest humidor, wrapping all the way around the store with the lounge in the middle. I pulled out some special smokes and shared them with friends for a little pre-event treat. While smoking, in walks Jonathan Drew and Dion Giolito. I got to talking with them and then in walks David. David is sporting a new tattoo of the Liga Privada logo from Drew Estate. Needless to say Jonathan Drew freaks out. Then the crowd gathered, and gathered, and gathered until it wrapped all the way around the building. The anticipation of the crowd was building and building, until finally they opened the gate. Immediately we were welcomed with a gift bag full of smokes, a full buffet of food and open bar. All the cigar makers were there (see below for a list). All the stars were aligned for a magical night, and a magical night it was. Amazing conversations, laughs, and cigars were had by all. The event was like a merging of a Big Smoke and the IPCPR conventions. Everyone was out to impress. The manufacturers were loose and wanting to talk to us. With out the pressure of filling orders, or selling their products, the manufacturers were much less stressed than a IPCPR, and because the event was limited to 500 people, I actually had a chance to have good conversations with all of them.

After the event ended, a few of us and most of the manufacturers went to a cigar bar called Downing Street. What an amazing place! It is a very rare thing to be able to drink, eat and smoke all in one place these days, and I felt privileged to have experienced that. I spent most of the rest of the night bull shitting with Pete Johnson. He is such an amazing guy, and one of the funniest people I have met. Of course, when you are in the company of a good cigar and a cream soda (Pete’s favorite alcoholic beverage), what could be better? Over all, I felt so welcomed by not only Teresa and Tim, but the whole cigar community as well. I can’t wait for next year, and I hope and pray there are many more events like the Texas Cigar Festival to come.

Please check out the newbiecigarblog on facebook for all the pictures from the event. And while you are there, leave me a comment and become a fan! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newbie-Cigar-Blog/276912613298?ref=ts

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I found out that I am going to the Texas Cigar Festival this year. It just so happend to work out with my schedule, as I don’t have to work over the weekend… So this is VERY exciting! The Texas Cigar Festival is put on by SeriousCigars.com.
Per their website, “SeriousCigars.com was a web based cigar retailer until the opening of our Brick and Mortar store in December of 2003. We specialize in the top tier of most popular brands as well as the cream of the crop from the boutique manufacturers. We do not carry every brand or every size. Our general rule is “If we like to smoke it, we carry it.”

The festival put on by Serious is an opportunity of a life time as a cigar consumer. “Our festival space is over 16,000 sq. ft., with all the trimmings. Each participant will receive a goodie bag with 20 premium cigars along with other related items. The cigars themselves are valued at $160. The event will be complete with a buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres and of course, cocktails,” says seriouscigars.com.

Check out all the people that will be there:
601 – Eddie Ortega
CAO – Tim Ozgener
Rocky Patel Cigars – Rocky & Nish Patel
Drew Estate – Jonathon Drew
Alec Bradley – Alan Rubin
Camacho – Christian Eiroa
Carlos Torano – Carlos Llaca
El Rey de los Habanos – Pepin, Jaime & Janny
EP Cariilo – Ernesto & Ernie Carillo
Nub/Cain – Sam Leccia
La Flor Dominicana – Litto Gomez
Perdomo – Arthur Kemper
Tatuaje – Pete Johnson
J Fuego – Jesus Fuego
Esteban Carreras – Craig Cunningham
Partagas -Benji Menendez
Xikar HC – Kurt Van Keppel
Oliva – Jeff Nolen & Dave Wagner
Padron – Orlando Padron Jr.
AshtonReyes Family Cigars

Other attendees
S.T. Dupont – Trunk Show
Cigar Rights of America
Humidipak
Sip, Smoke & Savor
Cigar Press Magazine
The Guayabera Lady

I will be bringing my camera and audio recording equipment, so stay tuned for interviews a pics!
If you can make it down to Houston TX this Saturday, COME! Would love to meet you and smoke a great cigar.

http://www.seriouscigars.com

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As cigar smokers, I believe we are more in tune with our mouth than most people. That is not saying that we talk more, or have more interesting things to say (trust me, I have met my fair share of cigar smokers who can’t talk, or are as boring as hell…), I am saying that we tend to pay more attention to how things taste and what they taste like. Smoking cigars, many different cigars, gives us a glimpse into two things. One, we get a volume of tastes coating each taste bud on our tongue, kissing each of our lips with a flavor profile unique only to what we are smoking. No other cigar is going to taste exactly alike. And two, we get to taste a piece of history. We are actually tasting what the earth had to offer during a certain period of time, during the tobacco plants life. Think about that. Just like any other food, we can taste not only the flavor of each thing we put in our mouth, but we are also getting a glimpse into time. Like wine, we can often taste the difference in a food or cigar from year to year, depending on what the climate was like. Take a cow for example, I bet you can taste an extraordinary difference between a cow that has been confined it’s whole life (cheap meat), or a cow that has spent it’s life in a pasture, having little to no stress and being fed well. Like food, cigars are a glimpse into life during the time period of the tobacco’s life. That is why it is so hard for a cigar manufacturer to produce the “same” cigar year after year. You might smoke a stick from brand “A” in 2007, and decided you really liked the smoke. Lets say you run across brand “A” again last week, pick up a stick and smoke it. After the smoke you think, “hmmmm, that is not the way I remember enjoying that smoke!” Have your tastes changed? Probably little to none. What has changed is the tobacco used in that smoke. Cigar manufacturers spend huge amounts of time and money to make cigars that are consistent year to year. In my opinion, it is a futile effort. No one is going to be able to capture the exact same taste year after year, because we have something called climate change. No one can control the climate and it is ever changing. Much of what we taste is yes, climate controlled. But what the major cigar bands might call their plight, it is the redeemer of the boutique cigar brands. The boutique cigar brands are not trying to produce the same cigar year after year. Once they have run out of a certain tobacco, they can blend a new cigar and release it, calling it a different name. This can be good and bad for cigar smokers. Unless you are able to put boxes away for later consumption, you may never be able to taste that cigar again. On the other hand with a boutique brand, chances are they will be releasing something new shortly that may recapture your interests. Over all, as a new cigar smoker, taste as many different cigars as you can. Once you have decided on what you like, purchase more. But how can you know if you like something, if you don’t try it first?

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Embarking on this cigar journey has been both a pleasure and a burden. I am not sure how many people actually read this blog, with any regularity, but I find myself constantly being an observer. Not only an observer of cigars, or people in the cigar shops, but in life as well. I just read an article in the Cigar Press magazine by my friend Teresa Merchant. She is the face, body and soul of a blog/company called the Smoking Hot Cigar Chick (catchy… right?). I have never met Teresa face to face, but I do know she is a young woman (at least younger than me by a few years), that has a passion for her pallet. Not only does she indulge in cigars, but food and drink as well. Like Teresa, I find myself constantly analysing what I am tasting. I cooked for 65 people last night, and had a night of tasting and tasting. I constantly found myself looking for what was missing. What am I missing? I am by no means a chef. Chefs create new flavors and textures that compliment each other beautifully. I am a student of life. Constantly searching out the best that life has to offer. What I should have been focusing on is not what I am missing, but what flavors are there that I can complimnet. In Teresa’s article, she expresses the art of tasting, and how we taste. We know what we like to taste, but do we know what we are tasting? For instance, take a simple vanilla ice cream. What do you taste? Inevitably you will say, “I taste vanilla ice cream.” But what you are tasting are combinations of flavors that when combined tell your mouth, nose and eyes, you are tasting vanilla ice cream.
Lets pull out some of those flavors. Obviously we taste vanilla, the dominant flavor. But what about the cows milk. Can you taste what the cow was eating? If you are in Europe, their cows are mostly grass fed. Their milk has more earthy, grassy and sweet flavors. Here in the states, we feed out cows grain, and their milk tends to have more of a bread cereal quality. What about the sugar in the ice cream? Can you tell where it came from? This may be more far fetched and easier to write about than actually taking to practice. But I am trying to illustrate a point that Teresa has been trying to make. Taste your cigar. No, I mean really TASTE your cigar. As a newbie in the cigar world, I challenge you to try and pull out at least three flavors in the smoke that coats your mouth. Woods, fruits, sweets, and textiles. There is no limit on the flavors you can taste. Take the time in your day to not only experience life, but to taste it as well. I think you will be surprised what you taste.

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Sometimes it sucks to live in Minnesota. The older I get (and I am still young), the more I wonder “why the heck do I live on this frozen tundra!?” Many people have the misconception that we as Minnesotans do little other than forage through the forest, hunting dear, ice fishing, or mushing a dog sled. That may be more of a reality for Alaskans, but here in Minnesota, we have a vibrant cultural area called the Twin Cities (also known as Minneapolis/St. Paul). You would be surprised at the amount of gourmet food and wine, music and ethnic food establishments there are here. The one thing this area lacks, are good cigar bars or lounges. Yes there are a couple, but on a snowy day, when your car is in the shop, where can you go smoke? A lounge of course!
Before the Super Bowl last Sunday, I ventured down to a south metro city named Burnsville. This area will become my home town, hopefully in April, as we are waiting to see if an offer was excepted my wife and I put in on a house there. There is a wonderful smoke shop and lounge called “BURN.” I walked in and I instantly received a warm welcome from the owner James. This was the complete opposite experience than my previous one at a different tobacco shop (read below “Can I Help You?”). James and I talked for quite a while about the CRA, the tobacco business and his cigars.
One of the cigars he was excited and proud about was a serialized jar of Viaje Exclusivos. I purchased a few, and lit one up right away. This cigar is meaty, and chocolaty, with hints of leather and a bit of sweetness reminiscent of french vanilla. The overall word I would use for this cigar is balanced. I very nice treat indeed! I will have to purchase a few more of these smokes and give them a proper review. James also told me that Viaje had held a drawing across the country to choose where a batch very limited production cigars called, “Double Edged Swords” were going to be carried. BURN won the drawing, along with four other shops across the country.
Overall, BURN gave me hope once again in the Brick and Mortar establishments. We are lucky to be able to smoke in these places, and it is owners like James that perpetuate the good name and nature of premium cigars.

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Like Christmas, New Years, and Easter, tomorrow is just as much of a holiday as the more traditional days. Tomorrow is the Super Bowl. In The USA, this is when hordes of people get together for hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers, chili, chips and dip, and maybe, if the ever watchful eye of a wife is upon us, a carrot or celery stick. We get together to watch the most
expensive television sporting event of the year. We laugh at 30 second commercials, that cost upwards of 15 million dollars to air. We drink horrible, cheap water we call beer. We talk about manly subjects, and poke fun at each team playing. This has become such a tradition, that it wouldn’t be right to sit at home alone, and watch the game in peace and quiet. Or would it…? This year, I will be traveling to my brother-in-law’s house to watch the big event. In addition to beer (I kick it up a notch from the bud light, and drink Sierra Nevada, or Summit Pale Ale), I will be bringing the traditional bratwursts and chili.
But, like every holiday, I will be bringing some great smokes as well. Every day we are alive, deserves a cigar at the end to celebrate our small victories in life. But, holidays deserve something a little better. This year I will be bringing some Tatuaje Black and Red Tubos by Pete Johnson and blended by Don Pepin Garcia. These cigars will be the perfect accompaniment to the excitement and flavors of tomorrow. Being an all Nicaraguan puro, it is sure to have that bold, full body and flavor of pepper and spice. This cigar should pair beautifully with the south-of-the-border spices in the chili, and the hopiness of the Sierra Nevada. This truly will be a special cigar to celebrate with. There is nothing like a great cigar to share with friends during a holiday like tomorrow. Like every holiday, the gathering of friends and family, the great conversations and food, should be accompanied by a wonderful cigar. What are you smoking tomorrow?

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Yesterday I took a little trip to my local “brick and mortar” cigar shop. I had to pick up a few humida-bags to ship some cigars in to a few friends. I also wanted to talk to one of the shop’s owners about possibly hosting a CRA event as both him and I are CRA ambassadors for Minnesota.
Now, let me preface this story with the fact that I wouldn’t call myself a “regular” customer of this particular shop, but I am there at least a couple times a month, and had just spent $150 on cigars and travel humidor last week.
I decided to light up a cigar on my way over to the shop, as I only have an hour for lunch, and I didn’t want to waste any time tucking into this cigar. I drove over to the shop, and walked in, took off my coat and grabbed a couple of humida-bags to get ready for purchase. About that time, the other owner of the shop came over to me and greeted my with the customary “Can I help you?” This wasn’t the warm, fuzzy, I am really glad you are here, how “Can I help you.” Instead this was the cold, annoyed, who the heck to you think you are coming into my shop, kind of “Can I help you.” I was slightly taken aback, as I had been there before, yet he was treating me like I was some sort of outsider. I politely told him that I didn’t need any help, that I was here to just pick up these humida-bags, and finish my cigar (which I had bought at the shop the week before). His next response sounds reasonable on paper, yet the way he came across would make a grown man blush. This shop’s owner cocked his head, looked at me from head to toe, and said “Well, we appreciate it if you would buy a cigar.”
I was blown away! I would understand if I was just some kid off the street, who walked into his shop smoking a swisher sweet, then yes, that comment would be warranted.  But, the fact that I was already going to spend money, AND I spent $150 with him the week before, AND I was smoking a cigar I had bought in HIS shop already, made my blood curdle! My timid response didn’t express the steam coming out of my ears, as I responded with a simple, “Of course.”
As I sat in the lounge, reflecting on what had just happened, I some how gathered up the courage to talk to this man again.
I went over and tried to strike up a conversation about the CRA and possibility of hosting an event. This attempt was futile and foolish as I was treated rudely once again. He was surfing the internet on his phone, not even once looking at me as I was talking. I told him my idea, and he completely shot it down. I wasn’t asking for money, I was asking for a place to host the event. He just wasn’t interested in me, and had already written me off.

I am a big supporter of the Brick and Mortar movement. I do believe that it is becoming harder and harder for these shops to compete with the online stores. These shops are having to put lounges in and other amenities to attract a business clientele, when laws are getting harder and stricter. I feel for the local shops as they were dealt a bad hand, and are forced to make the best of it. But, that doesn’t mean writing off people who walk in their shops. Even if I was a kid, smoking some swisher sweet, I believe the proper thing to do would be to nurcher this kid’s interest in cigars, and enlighten him in the ways of premiums. If a shop is open to the public, the owners and employees need to be open and warm to all customers that walk in their doors. Unless someone is obviously abusing the privilege of smoking in their shop, why be rude?
Who knows, maybe this guy was just having a bad day. But in the customer service industry, you need to hang it up at the door!

The cigar industry lives in delicate balance with the world, local shops don’t need anymore enemies than they already have. As for me, I will be frequenting a different shop from now on.

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Over the last few days, Teresa from “The Smoking Hot Cigar Chick” and I have been conversing on the similarities of wine, cigars and various other topics. Both can have wonderful pairings, as well as flavor notes that can be quite surprising and unique. Recently, Teresa brought up a really good topic on her web page: “What is your go to cigar?” This started to make me think. What would be my go to cigar? This is hard for me, particularly when most of what I enjoy about smoking cigars, is trying new brands I have never smoked before. Usually when I go to a cigar shop, I look for the new and up coming cigars. This provides me with the enjoyment of rating the cigar (in my own head), and dreaming up good food and drink parings. For some people though, this can be daunting. Just the thought of trying something new, makes the hairs on there back stand on end, and they break out in a cold sweat.
I encourage you as a new cigar smoker to get out there and try the new stuff. I am not telling you to try the full bodied smokes, if you only like the light bodied smokes. But, try different brands or vitolas within a brand, that can be described as light bodied (or whatever you like). This is the only way you are going to expand your palate and hone in on what exactly pleases your taste buds. We all need to grow, and nurture our passions. And unfortunately, we can’t do that, by sticking with one cigar!

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Most people have the misconception that only Jesus can walk on water. And, most people aren’t from Minnesota. Up here, for 3 months out of each year, we are able to reenact this great miracle. Some of us sit on a bucket outside on the ice, with a short pole, waiting for the fish to bite. Others of us, spend thousands of dollars to sit on the ice in the lap of luxury, watching satellite tv, sitting in leather recliners in our “spare living room” that often times is nicer than our homes. Though I don’t go to that extreme, I do enjoy ice fishing in a revamped pop up camper, with some good friends and good cigars. This year, we went back up north to the Crosslake area of MN. With fishing gear in tow and a nice La Gloria Cubana in mouth, I was set for a great manly weekend. It wasn’t until I was parked at the public landing, and a Gurkha Master Select #6 later, we went to get more bait. We pulled up to the landing, and looked at these black pieced of plastic lying by my car. Looking up, I realized someone had obviously hit my car and drove off. The nerve of some people! Luckily I was in the company of good friends and cigars to calm me down.
This brings me to my point of this article. Some people are blessed to be able to smoke indoors whenever they want. Some people are lucky enough that the weather is nice all year round and can enjoy their favorite stick on a nice patio. But, none of that matters as long as you have good company and good cigars. As I sat on the ice, pondering who the bastard was who hit my car, standing outside in -15 degree wind chill, I realized something. Life is too short to bitch about a stupid car, or how I have to smoke outside, even when it is cold. All that matters is that you are with the people you love, doing what you love. Life is not always about what you do, it is how you do it. As long as you have passion for everything you do, then life is worth it. Take a look at the cigar you are smoking. Up to 500 hands have touched that cigar, giving it all the love, care and passion that it deserves. Next time you have to smoke in a less than ideal place, just take a minute to reflect on your passion for life, and the passion that went into that roll of tobacco. Both you and the cigar deserve it.

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Last night, I dug to the eternal bowels of my humidor and pulled out a Partagas Black label pyramid 1845 series. I remember buying a a box of these back in 2004 or 2005, but must not have smoked all of them. Once I realized that this cigar had 5 years of age on it possibly, I got my self excited! Maybe too excited… Well, the whole experience proved to be disappointing. Not only was the cigar extremely plugged, and didn’t produce hardly any smoke; the cigar lost most of it’s flavor! This brings up a good point that I think some people don’t really think about. Like different wines, some cigars are meant to have the consumer age them, and some are not. The difficult thing is that, the manufacturer often times won’t tell you that it should or shouldn’t be aged. Which leads us to make a subjective opinion on the matter. AND like wine, a cigar will peak with age, and start a steady decline not only in flavor, but composition as well. Unlike Cuban cigars, most non-Cuban cigar’s tobacco is aged anywhere from 6 months – 10 years. Cuban manufacturers tend to ferment the tobacco for a much shorter period of time, hence why many people box age their Cuban cigars. I think this is more of a cultural thing than anything else. We here in the USA tend to like our products NOW. We as a culture don’t like to wait for things. Latinos and Europeans tend to be much more accommodating when it comes to waiting for the finer things in life. Let’s face it, the Europeans know how do it right!

In conclusion, I believe that 5 years was probably 4 years too many for this Partagas cigar. I need to get better at rotating my humidors!!

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