Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Cigars—Smokin’ and Wearin’

I genuinely enjoyed cigars at one time and had a humidor full of good Cuban cigars when I moved out of my marital home. Interestingly, they never made it off of the moving van. Neither did my Jimmy Lile folding knife…The Gent model…but that’s another blog story. I'm about to light up a cheapie in the photo above. LFG's mom and I were out at a great bed and breakfast near Charlottesville...along with two of our favorite long weekend comrades back then. Hanky and Panky.
There was a time before the cigar fad became an absurd craze, when Cuban cigars really were better. And any regular smoker could discern and appreciate the Cuban experience. I used to smuggle Cuban cigars in from Europe like a mad man. I’ve long since given up cigars…from any source.
One of my non-Cuban favorites though; was Arturo Fuentes’s Short Story. These little babies were perfect for a quick smoke when LFG’s mom would put me out on the patio for my exiled ritual. I do kinda miss a good cigar.When the cigar craze was at the height of absurdity, the little Short Story cigars were hard to come by mainly for one reason. The shape of this little torpedo was such that only the most skilled hand rollers could turn them out with consistent morphological quality and skilled rollers were in short supply. 
Mavis Toussaint Cindarella Fuentes, pictured above, rolled mine specially and would always send me a little love note in my box. Nothing like a little love in your box.
I remember my first visit to 19 St. James’s Street…James J. Fox. Robert Lewis began selling cigars over two hundred years ago from 19 St. James’s and J.J. Fox merged their operation with Lewis in the early 1990’s. One’s first time for many things is epic…leastways for me. 
Fox still had the rather simple typewritten announcement inside the front door, announcing that the shop would be closed on Churchill’s funeral day, in honor of their most famous patron.
And you can go downstairs and sample a smoke the same way Churchill did…even sitting in his chair.
Of course there are other fellas in addition to Winnie with iconic cigar corollaries…
The other man in white…Mark Twain.
Kipling…I still need to write a ditty about the Beerbohm-Kipling squabble.
JFK…who if legend is accurate, ordered Pierre Salinger to procure one thousand little Cuban cigars before he signed the Cuban embargo executive order which is still in place today. Brilliant no? We export our entire manufacturing economy to another communist country yet God forbid we send a quart of milk or import one stalk of sugarcane from Cuba. Shut up.
And of course the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, was an ardent cigar and cigarette devotee. (And obviously a devotee of horizontal striped socks) He founded the Marlborough Club in Pall Mall as a result of not being allowed to smoke cigars in the reading room of White’s Club in St. James. 
A pissed off horizontal sock wearing Royal with social standing and enough bon vivant-ishness to desire his cigars whenever and wherever…and suddenly you have a new gentleman’s club…all because of a cigar.
I’m thinking that the Prince of Wales probably had Knollys send over to Robert Lewis’s for his supply of cigars. Some for home, some for the Marlborough Club and some for travel. Wonder if he kept any in his private dining room upstairs at Rules?
But then the Cuban cigar procurement process became complex. Twenty five years ago you could walk in and avoid Cuban confusion. One hundred percent of the Cuban inventory in most reputable European cigar shops was hand rolled.
Cuban grown from Cuban seed and Cuban wrappered Cuban tobacco…probably rolled by gals like these Cuban pieceworkers.
Kinda like buying Levis back then. There might have been three choices of Levis when I was a teenager. Not much to be confused about…501s for me. And to this day, I avoid denim doubting by simply focusing on my standing order of 501s. But it got silly…kinda like the whole cigar craze got silly. There are fifty versions of Levi's to confuse you upon demand. Cuban cigar quality in general declined probably for no other reason than supply not meeting demand. Cigars from other growing regions closed the quality/value gap significantly. Then the predatory marketing bullshit began. You needed a Cuban cigar doctorate to sort out the truth. “Made in Cuba with Dominican tobacco and a Cuban wrapper”…or vice versa…“Dominican grown from Cuban seed…machine rolled in Cuba.” It just became unworthy of the effort. And by the way, I always thought that Cohibas were overrated and rolled too tightly, even the ones I smoked in London over twenty years ago.
I’m a redneck from South Carolina. This has long since been established. So when I say that something is base and in poor form, you gotta consider the rather low floor of gentility from which I declare such things. 
But I’ve always thought that those guys weekend/golf outing and God forbid, the wedding photos in the back of Cigar Aficionado Magazine are absurd. Nobody looks good with a cigar hanging out of their mouth. Nobody.
These guys look like turd salesmen with samples in their mouths. When you torque it up with the alpha-testo-puffery manifest in those group shots of rental tuxedos and Meyer Wolfsheim cufflinks, you can include my ass out. The cigar craze got to the point where I’d look at people on the golf course or in the queue to buy the goods in my store here in Old Town and think there’s no way all of these people are smoking these things and really, genuinely enjoying them.
But there is a cigar that captivates me thoroughly. Cigar shell cordovan. I think anyone’s first go at a pair of shell cordovan shoes should be an Alden Color Number 8 move. Probably the classic tassel loafer to start. But after that, why not a cigar?
Really--after you’ve stabled a couple of shell cordovan thoroughbreds, you might want to consider a cigar colored shell contrivance. The boys at Horween report that the cigar shells are probably fewer in production than any other hue they contrive. I think it’s the most stunning.
So here’s the Alden full strap loafer. Fully manifesting it’s preening cigarness.
The lines on the full strap are clean and sleek. Kinda like me after my once weekly shower.
The ridges and crinkles that begin to show after a day or two of wearing are one of a kind, part and parcel manifestations of cordo-uniqueness. You never know how the fibrin striations are going to play out and henceforth, become an immutable patinated badge of your pair, and your pair only. You just don’t get that with cowhide.
And these babies don’t make your breath stink or cause irregular epithelial cell growth in your pie hole.
Coming in at about the same price as a box of twenty five hand rolled Cubans at J.J. Fox, I’d opt for pedal cigar adornment these days.
The full strap goes with everything. You can wear ‘em with a pair of shorts in the summer and then roll in to the Handlin’ on Sunday morning sporting the same shoddings, glossed with a thin coat of contrition. And not a bad choice to accompany The Brethren flannel jammies I say.
The cigar color is chocolaty enough to be different from Horween #8 while possessing the deep pool of cordovanessence that informs any gawker that this ain’t cowhide.
So let me shut this drivel down and go to the office. 2011 is unfolding in a maniacally blessed way and there’s consulting esoterica that little ADG must ply today in prep for another flurry of travel. Atlanta, San Antonio and some back to nature conference center in New England will see me within the next month.

Onward.
ADG II 

25 comments:

Summer is a Verb said...

Juuust when I was beginning to miss your feet...XXOO

Gretchen said...

ooooh, I've never been into cigars. Too much symbolism and in true XX gender fashion, I hate the smell of cigars AND ciggies. But those shoes! Oh!! I've meant for ages to see if I could get Aldens small enough to fit girls feet, but this is the kicker. I love that colour more than the regular cordovans. You are SUCH an enabler...

ADG said...

Gretchen...yes...enabling...that's what I love doing! I'm gonna do a post on shoes for girlies. Stay tuned.

AllieVon2011...my feet have been RIGHT HERE...all along. You and Mr. Dr. Baby have just been too busy to check in on the little peepus.

Turling said...

Agreed on the cigar pictures. Unless, of course, everyone in the back of Cigar Afficionado is trying to look like a douchebag. In which case, job well done.

Britt Sudduth said...

Cigar smoking was much cooler when everybody else was NOT doing it! In the early 90's when you could get a very fine box for under a C note. But alas I have quit the habit as well, save for a few a year when the weather is just right and Mrs. S is not in the kissing mood. I sure like the shoe analysis as well! I'm thinking a cigar color may have to get on my list of wants! Thanks ADG!

Sandra said...

Is it planned or magnificent stream of consciousness? xoxo

ADG said...

101Prepness...It's not planned. The idea gets plotted a bit but then it just comes from wherever. Honestly, I don't have time for thoroughly planned, edited, redrafted, iterated stories. I just don't. The only one I've ever given that kind of attention to was the story I wrote about my dad. I'm just wired this way.

Britt...I'm with you man. My sentiments to the 100th. I smoked one cigar in 2010. Enjoyed every pull on it but one is all I had.

Turler...I agree.

Richard said...

Great post, but I prefer good pipe tobacco anyday!

Gretchen said...

I'm definitely waiting for the chick shoe post. Make SURE you include where i can secure me some monkstraps, big guy...

Anonymous said...

Gretchen. Check out Silvia Fiorentina

http://www.berenshoes.com/Category.aspx?ss=&c=D_1001_5&sb=Born%20On%20Date&sd=DESC&pgnum=1&pgsize=all&filter=100000001095eq100000001130

and the luscious Gravati

http://www.berenshoes.com/Category.aspx?ss=&c=D_1001_5&sb=Born%20On%20Date&sd=DESC&pgnum=1&pgsize=all&filter=100000001095eq100000001112

yoga teacher said...

I was in Cuba, legally, in 2003 because I was on the board of a non-profit. I bought the few Cohibas we were told that we were allowed to bring back, only to see people with whole boxes full breezing through customs at Miami Int'l. My Wasband said the same thing you did: they weren't all they were cracked up to be.
He still smokes the occasional cigar, usually on my front porch. I make him leave the butt because I think it makes a good burglar deterrent.

Gerard said...

I got hooked on cigars in the late 80s when, on a whim in college, we insituted a weekly poker and cigar night. I used to smoke Licenciados Excellentes. You could get them for less than a dollar a cigar. Then the craze hit and they were over $3.00 per. It was time to stop. I miss them and wish I still smoked them. I have 4 pairs of cigar shell shoes--maybe I am engaging in a bit of freudian fixation. Great post, ADG.

SouthernProletariat said...

ADG, dear, I mean this in the kindest way possible but the amount of words that you can produce in a simple sentance sometimes makes my left-brained head spin. Safe travels...

Scale Worm said...

I have a few of the crispy leafy Latin American smoke makers in a humidor, but get maybe to 3 a year, between rain drops, in the yard with a fire and a dram or two of aged liquid tannin massaged malted barley groomed by S. cerevisiae.

It was a D'oh moment last summer when my 9 year old baby girl asked it the stogie I Was enjoying was poison, and if it would make me have cancer?
Sheesh, talk about a public education buzz kill. Oh well, it hurts to be educated... sometimes.
Great post (as always), and I LOVED "irregular epithelial cell growth in your pie hole."
Bea u tee full!! Thanks!

Anonymous Texan said...

Ditch the scarf, looks like Eurotrash or a J. Crew-Abercrombie Fitch Metrosexual Hybrid. Worked in Mexico & had a steady supply of burros from Cuba...hand rolled on a virgin's thigh.Too much trouble to crack the code on Alden's...own 3 pair & no gusta. Not drinkin their koolaid. Enuff said.

ADG said...

AnonTexan...done ditched it long ago. That photo was taken 17 years ago. I'm cool with the criticism my man. I don't have trouble with Alden's code if you mean the confusing plethora of lasts. I only buy the Aberdeen.It's proven ground with me. Never enuff said!

Scale...yep...tobacco use of any kind has, and for fair reasons I think, been vilified amongst our wee kids. Yet, caffeine is cool. LFG would have loved my paternal grandfather but she'd been appalled at his use of sometimes two tobacco products at a time. Dipping and smoking.

SouthernProle...I hear you. What I need is an editor. I can't help it though...I'm just one big ole verbose run on sentence. You should hear me talk. It's tiring. For all involved.

Gerard...thanks man. There are worse Freudian fixations I'd reckon.

Yogress...I never considered cigar butts as burgular deterrents but it makes sense. Coincedentally, my gal in the photo, Cindarella Fuentes, teaches yoga in Cuba three days a week.

Anon...thanks for the shoe tips for Gretchen.

Richard...I've never tried a pipe and my tobacco days are now over.

Gretchen said...

Anon, you're my hero (or heroine??)! ADG, any time you wanna talk editing, call me...as an editor and health policy analyst, I may be of some moderate use...

ADG said...

Gretchen...Don't let me be a hero yet till you actually get and enjoy a pair of shoes. Editing...I'd never subject my blog writing to editorial rigor...all of the life would be sucked out of this boondoggle. As for health policy...just explain to me what provider segment will be most poised to actually "be" an Accountable Care Organization. But don't do it in a comment here!

In The Littoral said...

I'm sure your momma said you should take that bath every Saturday night whether you needed it or not, right? Dave

Anonymous said...

Pretty adorable. You do look rather...refreshed...by your traveling companions.

Anonymous said...

This post just caused me to go out and buy those Cigar Chukkas. You, sir, are officially a Bad Influence.

Easy and Elegant Life said...

Congratulations on the shoes. The hue is magnificent. I'm jonesing for a pair of the straps myself now.

My preferred smoke was the Montecristo #4. A weekly ritual overlooking the Med with my Int'l Herlad Tribune in hand, Mrs. E. and a glass of bubble beside me. I have seen the promised land.

Gretchen said...

Okay, since I cant respond in comments, I'll find your email and go there on the ACO issue. As for shoes, erm, I own WAY too many but have struggled to find loafers for years, hence my thought I should explore men's shoes in teeny sizes. The only thing I have in common w Carrie Bradshaw is having blown my wad on shoes (and other embellishments) instead of solid investments. May be poor, but I look dang fine!

Susan R said...

I have to say that I enjoy the smell of pipe tobacco and cigars (yep, I said it, cigars too). There's something classic about it. Not so sure I would want to be kissing someone after they smoked a stogie though.
I still think there's a certain classic style about a man smoking a cigar or pipe. I suppose I don't move in the highest of society because I don't see it very often. There is, however, nothing classic or attrative about seeing a woman smoking a cigar. I have to assume when a woman is smoking a cigar that it is for humor purposes only and I'm sure it is promptly extinguished after some photo is taken.

CeceliaMc said...

Like most things, cigar culture was most appealing when it was a bit disreputable. A bit tainted, despite any esoterica or any aristocratic contrivances at its higher end.

It's sad that in our era we'll relate it as once being the equivalent of a bougie boy rite-of-passage. A sort of frat boy bra-burning.