Five Reasons to Smoke a Cigar

Why do you smoke cigars? For us, cigars and the enjoyment of them part of a lifestyle that makes sense. Cigars are an asset, a tool. We own our cigars; they’re not a compulsion or addiction that owns us. Premium, handmade Dominican or Nicaraguan cigars are not bigger, fatter, better-tasting cigarettes. Here are five reasons to smoke cigars and how they help us achieve the purpose. We smoke cigars to: Relax The daily grind is wearying at times, even on good days on which we’ve succeeded at work, accomplished the things around the house that needed doing and made a positive difference in the lives of others. Eustress is still stress. A favorite cigar allows us to slow down – forces us to slow down – and become focused on something very simple and quite enjoyable. It is a definite de-stressor. The Hall of Fame baseball great Lou Gehrig said, “The enjoyment of a cigar after a hard week gives me a feeling of well-being and relaxation that a Valium could not match. While there may be a more ideal form of stress reduction, I haven't yet discovered anything else as effective and easy.” Don’t you agree? Celebrate Take a few moments at the end of the day or week to celebrate your achievements. They might be simple such as another week of bringing home the bacon, a sale that netted you a tidy commission, getting a project accomplished or being a good dad to the kids. Take it from the beautiful Demi Moore who said, “There's something about smoking a cigar that feels like a celebration. It's like a fine wine. There's a quality, workmanship, a passion that goes into the smoking of a fine cigar." Contemplate Do you have some issues you need to think through? Light up a mellow cigar like the CAO Gold or Macanudo Café. The very physical act of drawing in the smoke, considering its flavor and texture and then slowly letting it out is contemplative. The nineteenth-century French novelist Jules Sandeau said it well: "Do not ask me to describe the charms of reverie, or the contemplative ecstasy into which the smoke of our cigar plunges us." Socialize Rituals shared together to become more meaningful and enjoyable. While there a time to smoke alone, there is also a time to smoke in community with others, as the Teacher of Ecclesiastes and Byrds lyrics might have said. French poet Alfred de Musset put it this way: “Any cigar smoker is a friend because I know how he feels.” When those other smokers are already friends with whom you share life experiences and not just a love of the leaf, the times together are that much better. Get Revenge Our title is “Five Reasons to Smoke a Cigar.” We didn’t say they were all commendable reasons. This one is just for fun. Some of us will admit to at least wanting to light up an aromatic cigar just to get a rise out of someone who is annoying us. Maybe the gal at the table next to you feels she must regale the entire alfresco patio with her dull stories and not just the poor folks she’s eating with. Perhaps a neighbor’s dog won’t quit yapping, and you’d like to send a big plume of smoke the guy’s way as he sits on his porch oblivious to the sound. We couldn’t find any good French literary quotes for this one, but you might hear a bit of “French” come your way if you light up around those you know won’t appreciate it. Should you do it anyway? Only you can make that call! Why do you smoke cigars? Share your reasons with the community by adding your two cents to our conversation.