A Good Stiff Cigar - Like my Uncle Used to Smoke

Last week I finally made it out to Downtown Waukesha, to Nice Ash bar, a cigar spot to which my online contacts pointed me. I made the drive out from Milwaukee, on a cold, crisp, and sunny Sunday afternoon. Not bad for February. The pub was spacious on the inside, with a large four-sided bar in the center, and a digital jukebox and several casino-like arcade games surrounding it, with tables off to the sides. A young lady was bartender, alone, and although my go-to drink while smoking is usually a whiskey of some kind, the vibe called for a shot and a beer.

I cannot explain it, but I ran with it and ordered a shot of Jim Beam and a bottle of Pabst. I entered the humidor while the bartender served up the drinks, and since she was working alone, and there were other patrons keeping her busy, there was no one in the humidor to offer any advice. So just I allowed the vibe to guide me to a Macanudo Gordo 1968. I had no idea what to expect. 

(Side note: I mean no complaint here, but I have read about this by reviewers as a weakness to Nice Ash, the lack of a cigar attendant. But I really do not feel that this detracted from the experience. I enjoy advice AND/OR fending for myself. So this day I fended for myself). 

Macanudo Gordo 1968

When I got back to my seat, the Jim Beam and Pabst were waiting for me and I lit up the Macanudo 1968 and wow! I was not expecting it because in my cigar smoking career I was used to all sorts of sweet, nutty and spicy flavors. But this 1968 was ordinary tobacco and STRONG! I don't mean to say it was bad, but it was unexpected! However, downing the shot and sipping the Pabst was a perfect pairing for this strong-man's cigar. And after a few puffs and taking in the rest of the pub, it started to work for me. Patrons continued to sprinkle in, and Nice Ash had a lot of couples there, and the women were smoking too. They were older women like me, in their fifties and sixties, whereas in my observations in other places the female cigar smokers were a bit younger. So the next thing I knew I was loving this strong tobacco-flavored cigar!

Jim Beam and a Pabst - a great pairing!

I engaged in some small talk with the bartender and few other patrons, and that is when it hit me. My uncle! When I was a little kid, my parents would visit my aunt and uncle in Muskego, and my uncle worked for the railroad, second shift, and he would get home close to midnight. My parents would take my sister and me with them for late visits out there, and I remember my uncle drinking Pabst and smoking strong cigars. And I don't know what kind of cigars he actually smoked, but I do remember they were strong. Therefore, I silently dedicated this cigar stop to my late uncle, the hardworking railroad man!

Nice Ash is a great cigar stop! I will be back there again, for sure, to sample what else they have. The atmosphere was warm and friendly and the bartender was very personable and genuine. And while I drank a Pabst, the patrons were enjoying a lot of really tasty looking beers and ales. As for the Macanudo Gordo 1968? I would definitely smoke it again, but I am not sure I would recommend it to my smoking buddies just yet. They tend to gravitate to the sweeter and nuttier smokes like I do. Maybe in due time? 

Nice Ash Cigar Bare

Stranded on a Sunday

 Well I was not really stranded. 

My husband and I were trying to drive my son's 2006 Saturn Ion to the mechanic. My husband was driving the Saturn and I was following him in my car. (I really wanted to make my son follow him, but he is a college student and he does homework on Sundays. So I volunteered to do this for him.) Anyway, the Saturn was running with barely any power, due to a dying alternator. We had already jumped it a couple times, but after a third stall the jumper cables were too hot to jump it again. So my husband heroically volunteered to sit alone in Brown Deer with the car to wait for the next available-on-a-Sunday tow truck.

I was tempted to leave him there and pick up some cigars and smoke on my porch. However, I remembered that there was an Otto's Liquor Store nearby, so instead of ditching hubby I drove to Otto's and bought an Ashton Cordial and a fruity craft beer for me, a Freedom of Peach lager. I also bought a lemonade for my husband.

Ashton cordial

So there we sat waiting for the tow truck. We talked and bonded, as sometimes couples struggle to find that time together with work and life. I sat on a nearby utility box and hubby took a photo of me with my cordial and peach lager. By the way it was October 30th, the day before Halloween, so I was wearing black and heavier makeup than usual.

The mild body of the Asthon cordial's cedar and nutty flavor actually offered a contrast for my palette with the Freedom of Peach beer. It was a tad chilly but this was a fun way to enjoy a smoke and a beer. I guess it was a welcomed change from the usual cigar bar. I generally don't get to smoke with my husband around. (I have mentioned on my blog before, that hubby does not like cigars and does not want to join me at cigar bars.) 

I really should have a spare smoke, a lighter, and a beverage for such emergencies!
  

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!