by | February 23, 2011 · 7:43 pm

Take a Cigar for a Walk: A Short Story And A Note from Tommy

After a particularly difficult day which included more of the demon snow and various work related lunacy, I decided to dig deep into the humidor and pull out a lonely old Fuente Hemingway Short Story for my evening walk.  For many years this was a favorite of my wife’s, and every one I came across went her way.  This one has b

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een in my humidor for the better part of a decade just waiting for her to ask for it.  She informs me that that day will probably not come as she has gotten away from cigars, so I decided last night was the night to smoke it.  As I said, it’s been many moons since I enjoyed a Hemingway of any size, so I clipped it a lit it up.  It took a few minutes to burn past the tip and open up, but when it did I got that wonderful, although milder than I remembered, Cameroon goodness which I enjoy so much.  For a tiny cigar this one lasted for my entire 1+ mile walk and even had a little left for the all-important cool-down period on the front porch.  I haven’t priced these recently, but I remember when they were $103 a box, and $4 was a lot to pay for a little cigar, but this is a cigar that everyone who likes cigars should enjoy.  I’ve smoked most of the Hemingway line and the only one I never cared for was the Classic, which always had a metallic taste to me.  I bet I haven’t had a Signature in 10 years.  I may have a couple more floating around the humidor, I thin kI have a Work of Art in both Cameroon and Maduro wrappers, and there might be a Best Seller hidden someplace.  I’ll wait for warmer weather to smoke them as they are all well aged and I may have missed some of the subtleties of the Short Story smoking it in the cold as

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I did last night.

Here’s the latest from Tommy Berry:

This past week was a bit different for me! I spent some time outdoors, which with a desk job as an architectural designer is a nice chan

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ge every now and then. I spent two days doing some surveying for a current project. Now, I could have smoked me a cigar or two…or even three each day…but I failed to remember my traveldor. However, I spent a total of six hours walking…walking…climbing…and only getting to enjoy my Copenhagen Moist Snuss/Snuff. (A habit that I don’t wish on anyone…but I guess it’s a cowboy thing down here in Texas!) Anyway, I was able to get in a lot of constant walking…a lot! It was a blast to be outdoors, but I have to admit that from my recent walks…I am very sore! That though is a plus…as obviously I am exerting some energy during each walk. I hope to get out for some time with a cigar and the next walk tonight (Monday).

With all of this going on, I have failed to “weigh in”. I have a goal to use this challenge to not only get healthier…but to lose weight as well. Soon, I will begin to update you with my current weight…helping more with accountability…in regards to actually losing weight…which will require eating less and pr

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e often.

I would love to hear from some of you, if you are being challenged by this (in addition to those that have already commented on past posts) and what your thoughts and/or suggestions are.

Until next time…long “walking” ashes to ya!

Great to hear Tommy moving in a positive direction with his personal goals!  Let’s continue to support him thr

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ough comments here or wherever you might encounter Tommy, as well as by taking a cigar for a walk yourself.  My offer still stands to publish any other guest reviews you wish to submit.

I’m going to try to make it to The Wooden Indian Tobacco Shop in Havertown, PA Saturday as they are having a Drew Estate event.  They had sponsored a recent Cigar Safari Trip and I’m looking forward to hearing about their trip.  I’m sure it will be the subject of a future article.  They have one of two Liga Privada Lounges in the country and it’s very nice as well as an enormous walk-in humidor.

Tommy stole my “Until the next time” line, so Adios Amoebas!

CigarCraig

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by | February 16, 2011 · 10:23 pm

Take a Cigar For a Walk: Xikar HC, Murcialago, Tommy’s Guest Review No.2 – Sunday February 20, 2011

Well, we’ve been walking and smoking this week.  I started out taking a Xikar HC Criolllo Robusto for a walk and I was sorely disappointed with this cigar. I just didn’t dig the flavor of this one, and I felt especially let down given the $8.00 price tag. Criollo wrappers just don’t seem to do it for me, I can recall not liking the CAO Criollo line either, although I really wanted to.  I will have to make a conscious effort to avoid this wrapper in the future.  To be fair to the cigar, it was very well made and burned perfectly. I purchased this cigar at a Xikar event at a local shop last fall and was a little put off by the high prices of this line.  I rather expect to be “wowed” by a cigar in this price range.  I have a Connecticut ans a Habano still in the humidor, I enjoyed the Habano, although I don’t remember being particularly “wowed”, I hope the Connecticut is more to my liking.

Here’s another guest review by Tommy Berry Jr., he’s been taking a cigar for a walk and sending me his reports:

“Yea! I just got back in from a 60 minute walk. The night wasperfect…around 60 degrees, cool air and a bright moon. I watched an episode of an A&E show, Heavy…I have been watching the series since it started, but tonight it got me off my feet and on to the streets. I put my headphones on, played a couple of Gypsy Kings albums, selected my cigar…cut it and lit it as i began to walk. Tonight’s cigar of choice was a nice CAO Gold Maduro Robusto. I really enjoy the strength of this particular cigar and smoking maduros while walking…at least for now. I loved how this cigar kept its ash very well, stayed lit the entire walk and burned perfectly without any flaws. I thought I was smoking it rather slowly, but I finished it to the nub within about 55 minutes. This may be due to my swinging arms and the cool breeze that we had here tonight. Either way, I would recommend this cigar to anyone interested in a maduro.

Like I said earlier, the walk was great. I have a knee that has been bothering me from walking the last time in below freezing weather…but it did not hurt until the last few minutes. This was a Blessing for sure! Our neighborhood is very hilly, which is a great challenge for the walk. I walked about 80% of

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it at a rather quick pace…then started getting slower as time ran down. I was glad for that feeling as it made me feel as if I was doing something good with my body. I look forward to next walk…and the best part about it is thinking of which cigar will I smoke next!”

Keep up the good work, Tommy, and thank you for your continued contributions!!

I finished off the week with a Murcialago Robusto.  This jet black, San Andreas wrapped, box pressed beauty is not a cigar I would characterize as delicate, subtle, or even refined.  It grabs you by the lapels and says “hey, you’re smoking a cigar”!  It’s got a strong flavor, but isn’t really a strong cigar, if that makes sense.  It burned very well and was quite enjoyable.  I purchased this cigar at an event last summer that Eddie Ortega of EO Brands was the guest of honor.  While this isn’t a particularly complex cigar, it’s one I enjoy for it’s boldness. I wa

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s pretty bummed when this one was finished as I enjoyed it right down to about a half an inch.  It was a 60 degree February day in Pennsylvania, not something that often happens and a welcome change from the fairly harsh winter we’ve been having.

That’s all I have for now, it’s been terribly windy here today, which is one weather condition that I just can’t enjoy a cigar in, so I hope it dies down before long (and the trees near my house stay vertical!)

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

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by | · 5:00 am

Take A Cigar For A Walk: Guest Review by Tommy Berry Jr. – Wednesday February 16, 2011

Here’s the first in what I hope will be a long series of guest reviews in what I’d like to call “Take A Cigar For A Walk”.  I will be contributing to this as well as Tommy, and I’d like to encourage others to “Take A Cigar For A Walk” and I will happily include reader submissions as guest reviews.  Again, I don’t want to come off like some fitness zealot, because I’m not, but lets face it, walking is something we all do (barring unfortunate accidents or birth defects) and could probably all do more of.  Sure sitting and relaxing with a cigar is nice, but there’s something to be said for hoofing it around the block with a nice cigar too!  Without further ado, here’s Tommy Berry Jr.’s   “Take A Cigar For A Walk” review:

“I took the first walk this week, only one…but it was a start! I walked this past Tuesday night for sixty five minutes with a buddy of mine, Dr. Scotty Short. It was cold but we enjoyed a great walk, great conversation and a great smoke. We both had a full body Rocky Patel Maduro. I chose a full body smoke as I feel when it is cold, you get the most from a full body smoke…something strong. As the air is so cold, a lighter, Connecticut style cigar seems to lose it’s “punch” and aromatic qualities as your senses seem muted by the cold air. The Maduro has many great features, one being my favorite, “leather”. It also had many “woodsy” hints…something that went well with the cold air and burning wood in the air from area fireplaces. Anyw

ay, enough scientific mess…we both loved the “punch” that this cigar had. I seem to like any strength of cigar, but I really enjoyed this stick by Rocky. Like I said, we ended up walking a full 65 minutes. It wore my lazy rear out…but it was so worth it. I don’t really have any good excuses for not walking since…but I am not done. Who knows, maybe I will make the time to walk again very soon and enjoy another fine smoke during the hike. The weather is warming up here…so I won’t be able to use “its too cold” as an excuse anymore!

Oh, by the way…let me address this for some of you. As you may have read in my previous post with a bit of my bio…I am largely overweight. With that being said…and because of the fact that with smoking cigars, you don’t inhale…I never lost my breath. I had no problem walking a strait, hard 65 minutes, carrying on a great conversation…while smoke a full body cigar. So, if you are scared of such, take the chance and see that you too can do the same. I have to say, with the smoke…I really enjoyed the walk. I look forward to doing it again.”

I too took a cigar for a walk on Sunday. My wife and I had some errands to run around town so we decided to do it on foot.  We ended up walking about 3 miles as I enjoyed a CAO Black Bengal.  This cigar is one that is an OK cigar to me.  It’s not a bad cigar by any means, but it lacks any real “wow” factor.  For me it’s just kind of a generic cigar.  My wife got me three 5 packs of CAO cigars for Valentine’s Day last year and this it the last of these.  I will say that this was the best of the three.  All that being said, this was an enjoyable cigar for a long walk in the cold.  I chose this cigar for a couple of sentimental reasons, one of which being that it w

as a day shy of being a year old.  I still have a couple Brazilias and an Italia from that batch of cigars, the previous Italias have had terrible burns.  There were also some CAO VRs in maduro which I enjoyed quite a bit, as well as MX2s that were very good.

Anyway, that’s about it for now.  Thanks to those who have offered words of encouragement and to anyone who wants to join us in “Take A Cigar For A Walk” and contribute a review, feel free to send it to me at craig@cigarcraig.com.

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

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by | February 12, 2011 · 7:48 pm

Take A Cigar For A Walk – Saturday February 12, 2011

In my last post, and several times in the past, I’ve alluded to the fact that a couple years ago I incorporated cigars into my “fitness” program.  After quitting cigarettes and having a motorcycle accident, I put on about 25 extra pounds.  I’m often criticized for complaining about being 195 at 6′ tall, but I found I was snoring more and just didn’t feel good about the whole thing.  We had a weight loss challenge at work (which I almost won) which I lost 23 pounds over the 3 month period.  I couldn’t have done it without my wife managing my diet, but a large part of my exercise was “take a cigar for a walk”.  I’d go out about every other night, regardless of weather, and smoke a cigar as I walked around the block.  I told this to a YMCA fitness person who came to work for a health fair and got yelled at and told to get a dog and ditch the cigars.  I explained to her that if I took a dog for a walk in the snow it would be once around the block and in, but with a good cigar I’d go once around the block and still have a lot o

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f cigar left, so I’d go around again….still some cigar, so a third lap. In my mind cigars gave me 3 times more exercise than a dog…Anyway, I’ve put 10 or so of the pounds back on, and the vain aging guy in me would love to lose it again, but I don’t eat indiscriminately like I was (I would tear through a 6 pound bag of gummy bears in a weekend!).  I don’t want to sound preachy, especially for a “skinny” guy, but I tend to prefer sitting to exercise, I actually can’t stand the thought of going to a gym, but it’s possible to incorporate a fine cigar with a weight loss program!  I received an e-mail last week from Tommy, who has done a guest review here in the past, and he told me his story:

Like I said, I am over 125 lbs overweight. That may even be a bit conservative. I am only 5’-8”…and I think, should weigh around 170+/-. I am currently at 310 lbs! That’s right, 310 lbs! I am 34, have no energy, have three kids that I want to be able to play with, a beautiful wife that deserves much more (in the health scheme of things), and just overall out of shape. I have been 250+ lbs as long as I can remember. I grew up average in size, but became overweight through high school and have been increasing ever since. I did do a “program” a few years back (Body For Life, a 12 week fitness program) that helped me lose 50 lbs (from 300 to 250 in 12 weeks) by working out 6 days a week at the Y, and eating 5-6 meals a day, correctly. I worked hard for it…and it paid off. I was about to begin my second 12 week “tour” when my wife said to me, “honey, I really don’t like you losing any more weight as I like you just how you are…”. That (not her, or what she said…as she is not to blame) allowed me the excuse to stop the next 12 week program…and I have gained all of that back, plus 10+ lbs since. I have tried a lot of things, never really lasting more than a few days…as I get bored, tired…or I simply cave in to my addiction of food. I am strongly addicted to food, and I know it…as well as I know “addiction” as I ran an addiction program for a few years at my church. Anyway, I am simply stating that I understand “addiction”, addictions of any kind…but yet I choose to sit idle as I feed my body much more than it needs…in result, causing me to make the choice to do nothing about it, but sit at my desk at work.

I made a decision at the beginning of this year…a resolution…to begin a weight loss journey and to become fit. It’s now February…and I have not lost a pound! Why, because every day there is another excuse. It’s too cold, I will start tomorrow, I will start next Monday, I need to eat this last fast food binge purchase and then I will start. I f

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eel like crap after each goal is not met…until the next day and I am hungry again.

I know this is getting off subject some, as far as walking…but this is where my problems start with me.

Now, as far as food goes, because I have started SO MANY “programs” with only to quit quickly. We are “country folk”…meaning that we like good, fried, southern foods. She is not willing to change everyone’s diet just to see me fail again. and, she has every right to believe that as I have only succeeded once out of 100 attempts at getting fit and eating right. So, the food portion of any program will always be a challenge…but yet I use it as another excuse to not start anything…because I tell myself why start with no support…but you must understand what my wife has dealt with, in regards to my many attempts ending in failure. Also, she has tried to help by limiting my food intake to reasonable amounts…but that blows up in her face as I get upset with her…as another person telling me, an adult what I can and can’t have…all part of the “addiction”. In short, none of us eat healthy, but I don’t see that part ending any time soon…and I know that I built the wall there…and built it high.

Back to the movement, something besides sitting. I should walk, and should TODAY. but Craig, to be totally honest with you…I say that nearly every day…just to crawl in bed and watch TV for hours after the kids have been put down…with no exercise having been done…and even more chores adding up every day…left undone. This, is no way to live and I want to change it.

So, I will do this. I will commit to you, to walk tonight while smoking one cigar. I have tone of great smokes, so there is never an excuse there. I will walk by myself if need be, and will enjoy a fine smoke…tonight.

I have many other reasons as to why I should get fit. I will save those for another time…but maybe…you begin helping me (only if you have the time, and are willing) to post an edited version of this story above. If I see this in the “public eye”, then maybe I will be pushed even more to begin something, without excuse (and it will 20 degrees tonight here in Tyler…so I will come up with many excuses in my head) and begin this journey.

Who would have imagined that a simple stick of tobacco could possibly be the key to losing weight…or at the least, a jump start to a new lifestyle.

Again, I must be honest…I have said this to myself and others many times over…that I will do this…TODAY…only to fail and go a few days before I wake up and try the same “crap” again.

So, thank you for writing back…if only that’s the last I hear f

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rom you on this…it has, at the least…given me the opportunity to succeed in something that I know I am capable of doing. oh, I’ve done the dog thing too…you are right, it works for one block…I look at the little fellow and tell myself he must be so tired

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and needs a drink…drop him off at the house…while falling into my recliner a few minutes later.

Thank you.

Tommy

I felt good about inspiring Tommy in some small way, and I want to help him by encouraging him in his quest.  As much as I am a fan of sloth, I do happen to think that walking a couple hours a week with a cigar is a good thing, and do it as often as possible.  Tommy e-mailed me the other day and told me that he had returned from a 65 minute walk and I’m hoping to receive a review from him soon.  I’m hoping that I can feature more of Tommy’s “Take A Cigar For A Walk” reviews as well as any progress he makes in his quest here.  Please join me in encouraging Tommy, and, since walking is something everyone can benefit, take a cigar for a walk every now and then, regardless of your fitness level.  I don’t claim to be in any way fit, but I feel better for my evening walks!  As a matter of fact, I took a walk with a Chateau Real Small Club maduro (cut me some slack, it was 20F that night!) and it was good.  I may even dream up some kind of contest to go along with this.  Let’s be Tommy’s cheerleaders (without the skirts and sweaters….of course!), and hopefully this will become a recurring series here!

That’s it for now,

CigarCraig, not claiming to be a fitness guru in ANY way!


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by | February 5, 2011 · 9:07 am

This Weeks Cigars: Nub, Tabacos Baez, Punch, Partagas – Saturday February 5, 2011

I’m making every attempt to get into shape before going to Nicaragua, despite the terrible weather, which has been less than ideal for outdoor smoking.  I’ve kicked up the evening walk routine which I used two years ago to lose 23 pounds. Walking makes the cold bearable.  I need to build up my stamina so I can handle the physical rigors of travel as well as the anticipated non-stop cigar consumption.

I started the week with a Nub Cameroon 358.  I picked up a few of these at an event last year and felt like smoking one.  I enjoy these cigars quite a bit despite my initial feeling that they were gimmicky.  I like the Cameroon wrapper over the Habano, but have yet to try the Connecticut or Maduro.  These have that delicious Camerooniness that I enjoy, especially in the winter.  My only complaint is that these are too short, which I know is the point, but I’d like it to last a little longer. They are also tricky to finish while wearing gloves.

Next up was a Tabacos Baez Serie SF Robusto which I picked up in New Orleans.  This is a budget priced, mixed filler cigar that is purported to be 75% long filler and 25% short.  I’ve smoked a few of these and never noticed anything that would indicate it was different from a long filler cigar.  Tasty cigar, on the milder side of medium in strength and body, a very nice cigar for any time of day.

Wednesday brought freezing rain and ice, which canceled work for the day, and gave me an opportunity to take an early walk and enjoy an Upper Cut by Punch Robusto.  This cigar was in a sampler that I received last year from General Cigar.  This cigar features filler tobacco from Ometepe, Nicaragua as well as Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco.  In truth, I chose poorly when I selected this cigar, as it turned out to be a little colder and windier than I anticipated.  This would have been better saved for a warm spring evening on the front porch, but it was still an enjoyable cigar which burned well and had a pleasing flavor.  This has a foot band, and I hate those, but I’ll pick up a few more of these in the future anyway.

I wound up the week with an old favorite, the Havana Partagas Petit Coronas Especiales.  These are a perfect sized cigar for me at 5.2″ x 42 and a really nice, fairly priced Havana.  They have that little something that only Cuban cigars have and I really enjoy.  It burned well and was very satisfying on my evening walk.  I’ve had these for almost a year and they keep getting better. I hope I can hold on to the rest of the box for a few more years to see how they age.

That’s about it for the week, it’ll be interesting to see what the next week has in store.  There is talk of more winter weather in our future, I’ll be very happy when spring is here!

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

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