Cuban Aroma

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Hey, sit back and relax, my friend. Let me take you on a journey through the swirling haze of smoke, the rich aroma of Cuban cigars, and the comforting embrace of pipe tobacco. It’s a tale of how I fell in love with the art of smoking, thanks to the influences of my dear friend Gregory and the timeless wisdom of my grandpa.

It all began in Greg’s cigar shop, a cozy haven filled with the scent of aged tobacco and the chatter of fellow aficionados. Gregory, with his warm smile and endless knowledge of cigars, became my guide into this captivating world. He introduced me to the wonders of Cuban cigars, with their smooth draw and complex flavors that danced on my palate like a symphony of taste.

I still remember my first Cuban cigar, a Montecristo No. 2, carefully selected by Greg himself. As I lit it up and took that first puff, I was transported to a realm of pure bliss, where time seemed to stand still and all that mattered was the exquisite pleasure of smoke swirling around me. From that moment on, I was hooked.

 

 

Now I smoke Lusitanias and my favourite cigars might as well be the Fundadores. I would say I am becoming somewhat of an aficionado myself. Don’t get me wrong I still love my Quinteros on late night walks or Vegueros while golfing. But I came a long way for sure since I met Gregory.

At 2000 Cigars, Greg’s store, the atmosphere is always warm. Welcoming as always Tatiana, his wife, greets me as soon as I enter the store every Saturday with a hot cup of cuban coffee spiked with just the right amount of rum. As Gregory carefully selects a stick for me to challenge my palate, I grab one of his chairs and head out to find a “quite” spot for me to puff away, somewhere around his store in Vancouver’s busy business district.

After he picks something for us, he joins me for a smoke and…….let the stories begin!

Because that is what cigar smoking is all about. Since the creation of men, we figured out how to pluck these leaves, roll them, spark them up and puff on them. It’s an instinct. Something that God left in the back of our minds! Medicine! I would say. Just like when you have a bad tummy ache, and your brain is telling you to eat an apple. Same thing when you are in the middle of building a house in July, for example, and a storm hits, that floods the whole place up! And now your work is set back 4 weeks…that thing you are feeling all over your body…is your brain sending signals and asking for nicotine!

And there is no better way of getting that dose of nicotine than smoking, beautiful, rich, Tobacco. But not just in any way. But the best way of doing it. See, we have been around smoke forever, from generation to generation either it being a fire at home, to keep you warm, cooking, or getting rid of insects, we as humans, always need fire or smoke, they are important tools to us. And with all this, “healthy stuff” going on around in recent years, now we forget where we come from. Some of us, we need smoke to survive. To Distress. To be happy! Not only that, but let me tell you what cigar smoking is really about. It’s about stories. Sharing stories. Its about taking 2 hours out of your day, to be able to enjoy that cigar, and get some notes out of it, and write them down in your little notepad . 2 hours in which you should savour every slow puff, because you are burning around 60 to 80 bucks, which probably fed tens of families in the process of being manufactured, and then sold, and then eventually smoked by me. So when you smoke a cigar, take a moment and remember, that you are part of something much greater than just you puffing on a stick.

It is truly one of the best things ever.  In many of my best memories with some of the best people I ever met,  I can recall every single stick they were burning. A good cigar, at the right time, with the right people is magical.

“The word ‘ranting’ is kind of overused now. Literally, if you just talk about a subject for 30 seconds or more, even if you never raised your voice, if I just talk about it, it’s called a rant.”

Bill Burr

I met Bill Burr once because we were both looking for the same cigar, the same day, at the same shop. And after we started talking about other things we have in common, he invited me to get lunch. Then we continued our search for the cigar we couldn’t find, and at this point he invites me to his show that night at Rogers Arena, where I end up front row during the show and behind the stage right after, talking music with Bill and Nickelback, yes the whole band. We will talk more about that night another day, but my point is, cigars are MAGIC!

But Gregory wasn’t the only one who played a role in my journey into the world of tobacco. My grandpa, a wise old soul with a penchant for pipe smoking, also left an indelible mark on my smoking experience. Every day, like clockwork, he would pack his pipe with his favourite blend of tobacco and puff away, lost in thought or lost in the stories he shared with me.

There was something magical about watching grandpa smoke his pipe, the way he carefully tamped down the tobacco and lit it with a flick of his lighter. It was a ritual steeped in tradition and history, passed down through generations, and I couldn’t help but be captivated by it.

As I grew older, I found myself drawn to both cigars and pipe tobacco, each offering its own unique pleasures and nuances. With Greg’s guidance, I explored the world of Cuban cigars, discovering the wide variety of brands and blends that captivated my senses with every smoke-filled room.

At the same time, I delved deeper into the world of pipe tobacco, experimenting with different blends and learning the subtle art of packing and smoking a pipe just like grandpa taught me. There was a certain elegance to pipe smoking, a timeless charm that spoke to my soul and reminded me of simpler times.

Through it all, Greg was there, offering his expertise and friendship every step of the way. His cigar shop became my sanctuary, a place where I could escape the stresses of everyday life and immerse myself in the pleasures of smoking. And whenever I needed advice or guidance, Greg was always there with a smile and a cigar in hand.

But perhaps the greatest influence on my love for smoking cigars and pipe tobacco was my grandpa. His wisdom and passion for tobacco taught me to appreciate the finer things in life, to savour each moment and to cherish the memories we shared together.

Remember, smoking can be more than it seems at first glance, it is not just lighting up and getting sick, but a whole ritual, that might make your life considerably better.

So here’s to Gregory, to Grandpa, to all of my Brethren and to the countless moments of joy and camaraderie we’ve shared over a good smoke. May our pipes always be packed, our cigars always be lit, and our conversations always be filled with laughter and warmth. Cheers, my friend, to the journey of smoke and the memories it brings!

 



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