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"A good cigar is like tasting a good wine: you smell it, you taste it, you look at it, you feel it - you can even hear it. It satisfies all the senses." ~ Anonymous
Why smoke a cigar? The answers are as varied as the ones who smoke them.
Yet one thing is shared by all cigar aficianados: Cigar smoking is a pleasure that is as much relaxation as it is an occasion.
We have seen cigars lit up in movies, chomped on by "bad guys," and used as a cheap prop; but, have you seen the finer side? The dance of the preparation, the timelessness of the smoking, and the solidarity found
with those sitting beside you in the lounge; ahh, now we begin to see why one smokes a cigar!
"Maybe it's like becoming one with the cigar. You lose yourself in it; everything fades away: your worries, your problems, your thoughts. They fade into the smoke, and the cigar and you are at peace. ~ Raul Julia
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"The cigar is the perfect complement to an elegant lifestyle." George Sand
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The purpose and joy of cigar smoking is to enjoy the taste of tobacco in one's mouth. Drawing the flavors in, tasting the blends and nuances, then slowly - gently -
releasing the smoke as you contemplate both the cigar and the secrets it reveals.
Whether you are a beginner or an established afficianado, we invite you to travel with with us as we highlight some of Los Angeles' finer cigar establishments.
We have a feeling you're going to enjoy the journey.
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"It has been my experience that folks who have no vices,
have very few virtues." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Where do we go from here? The options are endless. We have more lounges to visit, more cigars to taste; and, most importantly, so much more to discover.
Let's experiment with pairing cigars as a dessert or as an accompaniment to an exquisite meal. We can take pleasure in matching a choice cigar with a smooth liqueur. And, making it even better,
you have an open invitation to come on back and listen in to our one-on-one interviews with the makers and shakers of the Cigar Industry.
But before you have to go, we will leave you with a must have: the Official Cigar Rating System. Read it, mull over it, and add your personal touch to it!
By the way, be sure to check out our Smoke Shop. Here we give you the head's up on the local smokeries in and around L.A.
Until next time.....
The Cigar Rating System: developed by Cigar Aficionado.
The 100 Point Cigar Ranking System.
There are four components used in the system developed by CIGAR AFICIONADO™ for assigning a rating number to a cigar:
Appearance and Construction.
(15 of the possible 100 points) Visually, a premium cigar should have a smooth, flawless wrapper and be consistent in color and shape.
When held, it should feel firm and give off a slightly oily moistness. Points are deducted if the wrapper has areas of large veins or if the cigar feels dry or firmer in some parts than others.
Flavor
(25 of the possible 100 points)
Although each premium cigar has a distinctive taste, all premium cigars should taste smooth and rich.
If a cigar leaves a bitter or harsh taste on your lips, tongue or mouth, points are deducted.
Smoking Characteristics
(25 of the possible 100 points)
A perfectly made and stored premium cigar should light and burn easily and evenly.
The draw should be comfortable and the same throughout the cigar. The smoke should be cool in your mouth.
Points are deducted if the cigar burns too quickly, if it burns faster on one side, and if you have to pull hard to get a mouthful of smoke or if that smoke is unpleasantly hot.
Overall Impression
(35 of the possible 100 points)
This is the most heavily weighted category because it is the most important. And, the most personal.
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