Written By Lisa Breslin
Selecting a cigar is like selecting a fine wine; you wouldn’t want to make the purchase without advice from someone who knows the characteristics that distinguish one from the other.
Cigars have a variety of origins, flavors, aromas, burning qualities, and wrappers. Cigar connoisseurs like Kenny Kandell, owner of Westminster Cigar Company, contend that there is a perfect cigar for every occasion.
Whether you are sealing a business deal or just relaxing on the front porch, golfing or celebrating a birth, there is a cigar to mark the occasion.
Forget about finding a favorite. “That’s like asking a guy who has been married half a dozen times, ÔWhich wife was your favorite ?’” said Kandell. “The answer: I like the one I’m with.”
To ensure that you savor the cigar you’re with – and as a tribute to cigar-loving dads who secretly hope that Father’s Day yields more than a new tie, we’ve put together a buyer’s guide. After all, contrary to what Freudian folklore suggests, sometimes a cigar isn’t just a cigar.
Activity: Lawn Mowing Cigar: “Z” A mild cigar that is not too expensive. Smooth, creamy, mild. The toro size is great for any Carroll County yard – front and back – unless you own 300 acres. Price: $4 – $6
Activity: Golfing Cigar: Maduro – “The Edge” Golfing takes about four hours, so a long cigar like a Maduro is appropriate. It has a tough wrapper, and that’s important because during the golf game that cigar goes from mouth to grass several times. Sometimes it gets tossed; sometimes it gets thrown. You don’t want a delicate wrapper. This cigar has a tough, oily wrapper. Price: $5 – $6
Activity: Fishing Cigar: Double Corona Fuente The Fuente offers pleasures that are similar to those of the golfing cigar. Size matters. You want a cigar’s size to match the length of time you are doing something. Wine is never the same once you open the bottle. Cigars are never the same once you put them down. Price: $5 – $6
Activity: Sealing a deal Cigar: Diamond Crown The Diamond Crown is the top cigar produced in the U.S.; the smoothest, most flavorful, medium-bodied cigar made. What makes the taste of these cigars so unique, according to Cigarprice.com, is their double-fermented, five-year aged, Connecticut wrappers, which account for their unique light brown color and their sweet, rich flavor. Price Range: $15 – $20
Activity: Sealing the ultimate deal Cigar: Pinar 3000 (P3000) From the famous pinar region of Cuba, this pre-embargo cigar comes with a certificate of provenance, or chain of possession-ownership. For a huge celebration, savor a cigar that you can’t buy anywhere else. Price Range: $14 – $40
Activity: Wine Festival Cigar: Don Lino Kick back and enjoy the Don Lino. It has a tantalizing, smooth flavor and a sweet aroma. “Our Cuban rollers were making these like madmen,” Kandell said. “You couldn’t find a smoker, or even many nonsmokers, who weren’t enjoying a Don Lino at the wine festival.” Price: $5 – $8
Activity: Personal Reward Cigar: Padron Anniversary Series 1926 The New York Times dubbed the Series 1926 “one of the three best cigars in the world – the other two are illegal,” Kandell noted. Price: $10 – $15
Activity: Camping Cigar: Bad Boy The Bad Boy cheroot is a Westminster Cigar exclusive. It’s a rough looking cigar with one end trimmed and the other left rough. Soaked in “Kenny’s Secret Sauce,” it is aromatic, sweet and smooth. It also emits a rich purple smoke. Price: 99 cents
Activity: Births Cigar: Romeo and Julieta Founded in 1873, Romeo and Julieta once produced more than 2,000 cigar brands. The “Romeos” are one of the most well-known and popular of all of the Havana brands. Price: $5 – $7
Activity: Sharing with Your Spouse Cigar: Vanilla Oliveros The Olveros vanilla-flavored cigar is pleasantly aromatic. It has a mild, sweet and smooth taste. Price Range: $4 – $6
