My entry into this world of smokes began with a college friend who runs a popular cigar review page on Instagram. He is Jim of @great-cigars. MY first smoke was supplied by him at our alma mater. If I remember correctly, it was a coffee flavored something or other.
My first cigar that I chose to smoke was the Churchill sized Romeo y Julieta. When I read the The Last Lion by William Manchester, he mentioned that the brand was one of Winston's favorites. So naturally, being an admirer of him, that was what I smoked.
Romeo y Julieta has a mild flavor and is a standard cigar. I am not very good at describing the notes and subtleties yet.
The next kind I tried was a recommendation by the salesman at the cigar shop. He gave me an Undercrown to try. It had a slightly more intense flavor than the Romeo's, but still rather mild.
Tuesday night, I tried my third distinguishable brand. I smoked a Metropolitan Connecticut by Nat Sherman. It wasn't a bad smoke but it definitely was the mildest of the three. I don't think I'll get this one again.
If I had to recommend one of these three, I'd go with the Romeo y Julieta. It falls right between the two others in flavor and strength, and I also get to feel connected to a great Briton.
Whether you smoke them occasionally, are a regular at the cigar lounge, or are smoking in bed and then attending Parliament, cigars are a classic accessory that adds to the aesthetic of a gentleman.
I'll leave you with my theory on why smoking has been treated aesthetically throughout history. A cigar demonstrates one's ability to casually control fire, so casually in fact, that it is added to the sartorial aesthetic. Also, one is taking chaotic fire, controlling it, and using it to relax, much like a sailor captures a strong wind and uses it to propel him around the globe.
*Disclaimer: Theoretically healthier than cigarettes because you are not inhaling into the lungs.
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