Catching on: it's not just about the smoking.

One of my first budget cigars, a Baccarat Repeater.

 This past summer I started sampling different cigars, and with my newfound love for this pastime, I have learned that whether you have a higher end pricey cigar, or a less expensive "budget" cigar, it is not just about smoking. While it is true that a good handrolled cigar has certain relaxing and meditative properties all by itself, this green-connoiseur, cigar-lady learned quickly that pairing is an integral part to the cigar smoking experience. Food and drink are essential partners to a good cigar.

It was still summer, and alluding to my first post, I was still shy about going alone into cigar bars. So on a warm, sunny Wisconsin day, I grabbed two cigars "to go," from Total Wine, a great stop in the Milwaukee area for cigars and drinks. My eyes were great big question marks, so I picked up what I remember was a pricier Camacho black cigar, and a more affordable Baccarat Repeater, aka Havanna Twist, according to the Total Wine guy. I also picked up some Maker's Mark bourbon and an Apothic Red bottle of wine.

I got home and got started a little after 2pm. My husband and sons were at work, and being a teacher I had off in the summer. So I lit my charcoal grill, poured myself some bourbon, and lit up the Camacho. (Don't quote me on the Camacho, because at the time I didn't know I was gonna blog about this stuff, so this is my best recollection. If you viewers recognize the cigar as something else let me know in the comments and I will follow up with a correction!) 

To my best memory this was a Camacho cigar. It paired well with bourbon.

While the charcoal fire slowly transformeed the briquettes in the grill from black to grey, I sipped on the bourbon and puffed on the black cigar. Both had very powerful flavors! And while I was no expert yet, all I could say and feel to myself was, "I'm home." So far so good. My conclusion in regard to strong full-bodied cigars with bourbon, before a meal?  A great big yes!

The grill was ready in about 40 minutes, right at the perfect time to be done with the bourbon and black cigar. So I threw on good steaks and played my usual role as barbecue queen. (My husband doesn't smoke cigars and he doesn't take charge of the grill either, so I am the cook both indoors and outdoors!) I served up a medium-rare steak for myself immediately, and quickly stored my sons' medium rares and husband's medium for them to warm up and eat later when they all got home from work.

Steaks go great with cigars!

I poured myself the Apothic Red wine and enjoyed my late afternoon feast in the peace and quiet of my front porch. On the heels of a good cigar and bourbon, filling my stomach with some delicious meat and wine took me to another phase of summer bliss. And then when I was done eating it was time for the Baccarat Repeater and a second glass of wine. (Yes it was a third drink, but by this time, well over an hour passed, and I was not going anywhere anyway). I have not seen the Repeater on social media or other cigar connoiseur programming, probably because it is not "high-end" enough. But I will say this, it really went well with my palette after the steak dinner, and with the red wine. By the time, I was done with this smoke and the second glass of red, it was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and just in time for a nap.

I was on vacation, afterall. And napping works on a cigar blog. It's not just about the smoking.

Pioneering Solo as a Female

Being a female and newcomer to smoking cigars can be a little bit intimidating. Here in the Milwaukee area there are a decent share of cigar bars and lounges to choose from, and I hope to feature each of them in this blog in the near future. The point to this post is that when you are a woman and you walk into one of these places, there are usually only men, and they are enjoying their male bonding with gusto. They are seated at the bar, around tables, or in comfy couches and chairs, inhaling and exhaling bluish clouds of smoke, as they enjoy cigars and sip on whiskeys and beers.

Enjoying an ACID Toast with a Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashion.

Actually, it is adorable. I have a husband and three young adult sons, and to me, there is nothing that makes its way into my heart more than when I see them enjoy food and drink. And this is the energy I see in these cigar places. However, even though I appreciate the pleasure these men are deriving from this experience, it still makes a solo chick a little anxious to enter into this territory alone. (As I said in this blog's introduction, my husband is not a cigar smoker and has no interest in exploring this with me). And the awkward feeling has nothing to do with how I am treated there. So far in the several visits I have made to these places, I have had the men who work there wait on me and kindly answer all my questions about the flavor, body, and strength of their cigar selections, and the mostly male patrons either leave me alone, or make kind comments, like, "It's nice to see a woman cigar smoker for a change." The very few women I have seen are always with their husbands or boyfriends, so I would still feel like an intruder.

Maybe the awkward feeling I have is comparable to the reason a lot of people don't go to movies in the theater alone. It's normal to want family or friends to come along, but I don't have any girlfriends that are interested in cigars, and while my sons are interested, they are a too young, (21, 18 and 18), and under federal law the twins cannot partake anyway. Therefore, I have gone alone so far, and usually bring a journal to record my experiences, but most of the time this past summer I bought cigars carry-out and smoked them on my porch at home.

But the weather is getting colder as we approach November. I will have to get used to smoking as the "lone female" in the cigar bars as winter comes.

Sooner or later, I am sure I will talk to whomever is there, male or female, and make friends. Especially as I said, when winter forces me to!