Introduction To Cigars

Rush Limbaugh: It used to be a guy thing!

Hello out there fellow Hogs!

It used to be cigar smoking was strictly a guy thing. Of course, cigarette smoking used to be the same way, but alas along came Virginia Slims, and smoking became fashionable for women as well.

But even though women smoked cigarettes, cigars were always another story. Most women wouldn't even touch a cigar, let alone smoke one.

Nowadays, the emphasis is on health, and smoking is definitely considered a social taboo all of a sudden (try smoking in an airport!).

But what is surprising is that cigar smoking has been on the rise since the early 1990s. It first became a symbol of status. Then of course the status imitators jumped on board, and before you knew it, it was a national (no, world) craze.

We all thought that this was a fad, and cigar smoking would once again be left for those who enjoy it. Funny thing is, despite sudden media attention (a lot of it negative), cigar smoking is more popular now than ever. And yes, even women who wouldn't touch a cigarette, are smoking cigars!

Smoking is definitely considered a social taboo

And, now thanks to EX President Clinton's sexual exploits being made public, cigars once again are on the nation's consciousness.

The bottom line is cigars are a fad that's going to stay for awhile. In fact, since cigar smoking and enjoyment is such a complex thing, it may become a true lifestyle choice for many.

There are many restaurants in some of the larger cities that cater to cigar smokers. They also sponsor many "smoker nights" where smokers can come and compare notes and sample new brands. There are also seminars held on how cigars are made, how to properly light a cigar and how to care for and store cigars.

Now, the Hogs are not what you call "experts" when it comes to cigars. We have enjoyed smoking cigars for about 15 years now. It was first reserved for special events like weddings, bachelor parties, the first day of a vacation etc., but slowly it became part of our social circle, and it is not uncommon to stumble upon a group of Hogs all enjoying good conversation and a good smoke.

The bottom line is cigars are a fad that's going to stay for awhile.

A good smoke! That is something that is getting harder and harder to come by now a days. Our all time favorite cigar used to be the Belinda Prime Minister. Not only was this a fabulous smoke, but it was very inexpensive as well. Now with the cigar smoking boom in full bloom, it had become harder and harder to find these cigars. Finally, last year, we were able to get our hands on a box of 25. We were sorely disappointed in the young tobacco that was used. It was obvious that these cigars were rushed to market to take advantage of the cigar buying public. We also found other brands stooping to this practice, or launching "new" brands with inferior product so that their good names would not be sullied.

It is painfully obvious that cigar manufacturers were either caught off guard, or are stuck with inferior manufacturing capabilities to meet the demand, since we find it harder and harder to find the cigars we truly enjoy.

We would like you to particpate in this process by letting us know what YOUR favorite smoke is and why you enjoy it. It is also important to let people know when you bought your cigar, because as we found out, there isn't all that much in the way of quality control at some companies. Also, cigars like wine vary in quality from year to year depending heavily on the weather, and in many cases what tobaccos are used to blend the cigar (especially larger sizes).

We think this is the only way to share our cigar smoking experiences. Simply fill out our form, send it to us, and we'll post your comments on our "reader's choice" page.

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