Baccarat Cigars

Winston Churchill is one of the most well known figures in human history. As the leader of the United Kingdom during the Second World War, he played a huge role during the twentieth century. During his tenure as prime minister, he gave some of the most impressive, captivating, and encouraging speeches that the world will probably ever witness. They were a reflection of his stalwart and undaunted character in the face of tough, unrelenting opposition and the need to give his fellow Britons hope during dark and dreadful times. He characterizes holding fast and keeping hope in the face of a deadly storm along with the belief that those who fight the good fight will never surrender and eventually prevail.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise then that Churchill was an aficionado to the core. His love for good cigars was displayed at all times as he was an inveterate cigar smoker. Just about every image of Winston Churchill from the time of the war shows him with a cigar in hand or in the mouth. We can only imagine what treasures were held in the humidor of this great leader but his legacy lives on in the form of a cigar actually named after him. Cigars known as "Churchills" are long, large, Corona smokes with a 48 ring gauge that are similar in size to the smokes enjoyed by the man they are named after. Whether you enjoy Ashton Cigars, Baccarat Cigars, or other brands, don't forget to treat yourself to a Churchill now and then.

Find Churchills and all of your smoking needs at Thompson Cigars today.

Call me superficial, but there have been times (particularly when I first started to smoke cigars) when I made my choice of quality cigars based on ... whether or not I liked the cigar band.

Don't mock me!

There's a reason that cigar companies spend time and money to design a logo that will fit their cigar's image and catch the eye. Any little edge that will make a cigar smoker nod, stare or smile could lead to increased sales, and with many premium cigar it takes just that initial smoke to form a lifelong friendship.

That's how I found the Gurkha cigars, for example. I was at a cigar bar looking at the selection, and I saw one of these Gurkha Maduros. I was intrigued enough to give it a shot, and Gurkha remains one of my favorites to this day. I also love the Arturo Fuente Opus X bands, and the Baccarat cigars as well.

How about you? What are the cigar bands that catch your eye?

A lot of of times, we associate cigars with hearty meals like steak or roasts or other big slabs of protein cooked over an open flame. But if I ate like that every day, I'd be auditioning for "The Biggest Loser" on NBC because I would weigh about 750 pounds. Most of my meals are lighter, especially during the week when I don't have the time or desire to make something heavier.

Of course, I'd feel a lot more deprived after having a dinner consisting of soup and salad if I didn't think I could smoke a cigar afterwards. Fortunately, that is not the case. Instead, those are the times I break out my lighter cigars.

A medium to mild smoke feels better after a lighter meal, because I can get a great cigar without overwhelming my meal. A more robust cigar in those situations makes me feel like the entree never happened, because all I can taste is the smoke.

Instead, I go with something like one of the Baccarat cigars. They're light but flavorful, substantial without being heavy, and help me to finish the meal with a pleasurable cigar.

You might have other favorites, and really any quality cigar with that strength and flavor would work fine. The point is, don't think that a light and healthy meal for dinner means you have to skip the cigar for dessert. Better to go with a Baccarat than a Baskin Robbins ice cream, after all.

It's getting closer to Halloween, which means my children are spending every waking moment planning their costume selection and and mapping out their trick-or-treat route. While it's technically a holiday for children, Halloween is an underrated holiday for cigar smokers as well.

No, you probably won't have much luck if you go door-to-door with your humidor asking for cigars. But if you're invited to any holiday parties, this is a great chance to show off some of your cigar collection and enjoy a good smoke or three with company. That's because there are no shortage of costumes that allow for a cigar (assuming the setting is one where smoking isn't prohibited).

There are obvious historical figures that would only look authentic with a cigar, like Winston Churchill or FDR, but those are hard to pull off unless you're going to a party with history professors. No matter.

If you're looking to be topical at costume party, wear a suit and go as Gordon Gecko from the new Wall Street movie. After all, Greed is Good! And so are Arturo Fuente cigars! You can also make this work with a more generic costume, just by picking out one of your suits and pretending to be a banker or Wall Street executive.

But really, the joy of Halloween is that almost any costume gets better (and generally funnier) when a cigar is added. A vampire may be a boring choice, but a cigar-smoking vampire? Creative. Doesn't Frankenstein look more realistic puffing on a Baccarat cigar? Wouldn't you be doing that if you had just been chased by villagers with torches? After all, maybe they were just looking for the honor of lighting up your smoke?

There's no Halloween outfit that can't be improved with a good cigar. That makes this a holiday that's fun for adults as well as children.

It isn't the beverage that one traditionally associates with cigars, but for me a strong cup of coffee and a good smoke are the best way to spend some quality time sitting outside, watching the leaves change colors, and contemplating life and its mysteries or why my fantasy football team can't find the end zone with a map and compass.

A month ago, when the weather was so hot and humid that you could either fry or poach an egg on the sidewalk, I drank a lot of iced coffee. I really liked how the Baccarat Churchill Connecticut Sweet went with that -- that was a great summer cigar for me, blending well with the sweetness of the iced coffee.

Now that it's not so oppressively hot, I tend to drink my coffee with one of the Rocky Patel Cigars, or the CAO Mx2. I like my hot coffee to be as strong as humanly possible, and those cigars can both stand up to whatever my French press can brew while augmenting the spiciness of the drink with their own flavor. It's a great way to start off a weekend morning, with the drink I depend on and the cigars I so enjoy.

One of my favorite brands to have on-hand in one of my cigar humidors is a selection of Baccarat Cigars.

There are a number of different types of cigars in this line, which comes from the always-stellar Camacho factory. But the general premise is simple.  A baccarat cigar has a sweet tip and mild Honduran tobaccos that offer a mild flavor and a smooth finish. In short, it’s a great introductory cigar for anyone.

I especially love to break out a Baccarat cigar for people who I know don't smoke much, or who I think will appreciate a less-heavy cigar. The sweet tip takes away some of the harshness that other cigars may input for a non-smoker, and the mildness makes it unlikely to offend. It gives me that extra option to ensure that everyone will have something to enjoy on the deck or around the poker table, which helps keep the evening flowing smoothly.

If you are buying cigars for a wedding, you can go
in two different directions. You can be egalitarian
and purchase enough for everyone, or make it more of an
honorific and just take care of the wedding party.

If you plan on giving cigars as a wedding favor, go with something like a Baccarat cigar. These are mild enough that a casual smoker will approve, and cheap enough that you won't start to seethe when guests take a couple of puffs and then snuff them out.

On the other hand, if you're buying cigars for the groomsmen and honored guests only, you have to go with something more elite. How about the Padron Serie 1926-9 Natural Toro? It was named Cigar of the Year in 2007, and is truly one of the finest cigars available.

Also, make sure you have cigar cutters on-hand, as well as enough cigar lighters and ashtrays for everyone to use. That way, everyone will get to enjoy a great smoke to go with the rest of the celebration.

Introducing someone to the world of cigar smoking is a big job, one that carries a lot of responsibility. Among the key questions is: what kind of cigars are good for beginners to get a feel for the joys of cigar smoking without getting scared away by either the cost or the flavor of the smokes.

The first thing to remember when buying for a beginner is that you want them to enjoy the experience. Don't let them buy something super cheap from the local drug store. They aren't going to like it, and it will take them a long time to come back. Instead, steer them towards something a little nicer, with a mild natural flavor that is smooth and enjoyable.

I’m not as big of a fan of Flavored Cigars for beginners, though many would disagree.  I usually have some on-hand if they are requested, but I like to offer something more natural for their first cigar-smoking experience. After that, hopefully they’ll enjoy it enough to start leading the way.