The Simple Life

I love the early mornings.  Morning is a simple time when the world is quiet, and I can quietly enjoy the first cigar of the day.  There is something more fundamental about mornings as compared to the rest of the day; perhaps that is why I enjoy mornings.  On this particular morning it occurs to me that smoking a cigar is also simple. Smoking a stogie is a pure act of pleasure with no strings attached, no pressure to perform and rich rewards.

So why do we make it so complicated?

Perhaps, being complex creatures ourselves, we seek to inject complexity into everything we do.  I am also a fly fisher - have been for more than 30 years.  Fly fishing is also a simple pursuit; you tie a fly on a string and throw it at the fish and yet somehow, the fly fishing industry and its ardent purists have injected technology and complication into a simple sport of pure enjoyment.  While it is true that some of these technological changes have enhanced our ability to fish, most do nothing to actually enhance our ability to enjoy the act of fishing.

The same is true of cigars.  Over the last several years technology and complexity have been injected into one of the purest and most pleasurable pursuits known to mankind.  We have added expensive high-tech lighters, electronic humidification and complex tasting and rating systems to the simple act of cutting, lighting and experiencing a good cigar.

Cigars are still produced much the same as they were one hundred years ago.  Tobacco is grown, cured and fermented as it has been for generations.  The rolling process is still done by hand on the best cigars and if you visit a modern cigar factory you will see very little mechanization or technology involved in the actual creation of the cigar.  Conversely the business of cigars has become more technology driven, but that is the way of accountants and MBA’s.

Torcedors, vagueros and blenders remain simple artisans with only one goal, to produce the best cigar possible.  So why do we, as consumers, fog up the pleasure of a good cigar with tasting wheels and all too subjective rating systems?  Perhaps it is to imbue ourselves with a sense of accomplishment and superiority? Or perhaps it is to reassure ourselves that we are somehow superior to those that do not yet partake of such a wonderful experience.  Whatever our motivations, the result is to create a barrier to those that are not yet members of our cigar smoking fraternity and that barrier serves no one.  As cigar enthusiasts we should extol the virtues and rewards of premium cigars so as to attract new participants, for the good of the hobby and our own survival.  Cigars are the epitome of simple things done extraordinarily well.  

And so, I pledge to you, my cigar smoking brethren, to advocate for the simplification of cigar smoking.  It is, after all, one of the greatest pleasures known to mankind.

Comments

[Don Hubbell]

Well stated Bob,

Mornings are also my private time, I treasure the golden "me time" in the morning before the kid gets up, and the mad rush of routine begins.

I've been listening to the Dogwatch pod casts for about three years now and I like it when you say "I just like this cigar". Sure there are times to pick out the spice, leather, straw or citrus flavors of a cigar but it still comes back to one simple question- Do I like this cigar or not? I have been smoking a variety of cigars just to find my taste range and preference. I am finding out that like you almost every cigar named "La Flor" is for me "La Bleh" with one exception so far which has been the La Flor Dominicana double Ligero chiselito, I liked the one I smoked and I ordered more.

By the way don't pick on Dale too much for his flavor wheel, I would love to get one if he ever finishes his design, especially if it has a built in cutter, punch, or torch lighter.

Cheers from Brazil,

Don Hubbell

[Pat Staunton]

Very good article. I used to spend a lot of time rating and writing a journal about the cigars I have smoked. No more. I just smoke them to enjoy them.

Nice to see you post an article here again.

Pat Staunton

[Robert McDuffee]

Thanks for the comments gentlemen, I appreciate someone reading my ramblings. However, be careful what you wish for as I hope to post more often.