For some years now the cigar culture has always interested me. It started with Rush Limbaughs fascination with cigars. The more I became a ditto head the more I wanted to try cigars. Before I started to work cigars into my life style I did ask my Dentist, “Doc, if I smoke one or two cigars a week what effect will it have on my health. He said “Minimal”. Then I talked to my primary care doctor. He is also a Trad Catholic like myself. I ran into him in the church parking lot and asked, “Doc, If I smoke one or two a week how will it effect my health?” He smiled and said there are surveys out that show men who smoke cigars actually live longer. He said it was the additives they put in cigarettes that cause cancer. He said think about the cigar smokers we know of and its true they do live longer lives.
I know what your all thinking. But, but, Rush died of lung cancer. The thing is before Rush started cigars he smoked cigarettes for years. He also vaped for a while, I remember hearing about his vap restaurant stories. I have to think the cigars were just a red herring. For the most part all of my hero’s or mentors were cigar smokers and yes the majority did live long lives for the times they lived in. There was Ulysses Grant, Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, Peter Falk AKA Columbo, and last but not least George Burns who lived until 99 years old.
George Burns on his cigar smoking:
One thing George Burns never did for his health was give up smoking cigars. “Today I smoke about 10 cigars when I’m not working and 15 when I am working,” he revealed to Cigar Aficionado, while puffing away on a cigar, two years before his death. He explained that he was partial to the cheaper domestic cigars, which stayed lit longer than the pricier cigars from Cuba and therefore worked better as props while on stage. “If I’d taken my doctor’s advice and quit smoking when he advised me to, I wouldn’t have lived to go to his funeral,” the actor quipped.
Read More: https://www.thelist.com/1015674/george-burns-secret-to-a-long-and-happy-life/
The evening I asked my Doctor about cigar smoking he text me. “I just sent in to holy smokes for a tin of cigars and I think before the weather gets bad you come over to the office and we sit out front in lawn chairs and have a cigar while doing some people watching”. I text back, that sounds good, I’ll bring over a couple bottle of my home brew Our Lady of Mt. Carmel brown ale and we can chew the fat. That was the most relaxed time I have experienced in years. Puffing on our stogies we discussed Catholicism and conservative politics while watching the folks driving by, watching the two old coots in front of a doctors office smoking a cigar and drinking a beer. I can see why cigar smokers live long lives. Great stress reliever. Its also one of the few male enjoyable past times left.
Its not only the smoking of the cigar, its the whole ritual. I have a redwood humidor that I keep about 80% humidity. It has a glass top so the cigars are all on display. It makes for great male artwork. I also bought and old fashion zippo lighter which is part of the ritual as well. The heating of the cigar end, the lighting, the first drag. Remember no inhaling, its all about taste and mouth appeal.
You see cigar smoking is really a culture. You experiment with different varieties and discuss it with other guys looking for that favorite smoke. So far I have discovered the Macanudo, the black and green inspirado’s are my favorites. However they are a bit pricey, best for special occasions. My common “go to” cigars are the Chilin Moose and one I just discovered tonight HC white cigars. Both mild to mellow and a cigar you can smoke to the nub.
So here I am happy and stuck in my time warp, I go to a mass and follow a religion the Marxists within the Vatican wants to eliminate. I have recently become involved with a cigar culture that is probably now referred to as toxic masculinity but you know what. I am loving every moment and I think I am finally finding a fulfilling and rewarding life style. No going back now.
Now for anyone curious my favorite on line cigar store is Cigars International Great prices and free shipping on all orders no minimum. My second favorite online store is Thompson Cigars. Great selection, good price, but free shipping only on $125 purchase. If you develop an expensive taste in cigars $125 can be reached very easily.
So there you have it my latest venture into toxic masculinity, and I am loving every minute. So what’s next you might ask? Alcohol pairings. So far the brown ale works will with what I am currently smoking but I’d like to venture out to brandy, and whiskeys.