How many of your mates enjoy cigars?

[JasonInChiTown]

Just two, and they live 700 miles away in NYC. So, anyone is Chicago that's looking for a smoking buddy, let me know

[bolivr]

I was with Mike in Melbourne at our recent FOH drinks/dinner who was telling me how difficult it was to get together and have a cigar with friends as none of his friends enjoy a cigar.

Here, I take it for granted mates smoke cigars but he raised an interesting point.

Question to the members. Of the mates you hang around with regularly......how many enjoy a cigar?, how often do you have a cigar with them? and where do you get together?

Great thread Rob, it is interesting we have the full spectrum here from almost exclusive smokers' groups to the solitary which is quite common. Nice to know I am not the only one and I should add a qualification - I have one very good mate who likes a cigar, but lives in Hobart and so has no access to a B&M for a single here or there and hasn't taken the plunge on starting a collection. Now and then I post him a few to keep him going. I plan to visit more often as there really is something special about sitting down for a drink and fine CC and talking **** for a couple of hours.

Which brings me to once again how good the FoH evening was here. Since then I have caught up with Mika for a coffee and have plans to get together for a smoke sometime soon. More of the Melbourne guys want to meet up too. I should get up to Melbourne in the next week or so.

Mike

[soltino]

Only one buddy here who smokes really, although the missus will occasionally partake. I tend to smoke alone, but I also quite like that as it gives me a way to relax away from everything and everyone. It's nice to go out on a herf now and again though

[MrGlass]

I have a few, but they are all linked with the shop I get my singles from.

None of my other friends are interested.

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

Half-a-dozen of us used to meet in a cigar lounge on most Saturday afternoons sharing great cigars and companionship. The politicians banned smoking at indoor venues a few years ago, so the place was closed down. Soon afterwards, two of my amigos died, and then a third. Now the survivors seldom meet, and I usually have my cigars alone at home. It's not the same...

[winelover]

Only one of my friends is a serious cigar smoker. A few people I know are casuals who I am slowly introducing to cubans.

Otherwise My wife enjoys trying to smoke the same cigar that I'm smoking and at times won't give it back!

BTW Rob, does Mrs A. smoke?

[Puros Y Vino]

One of my best friends got me into cigars, Habanos especially and we see/saw back and forth from our places as spots to enjoy a cigar. Once a while we'll hit trendy rooftop patios in Toronto's ritzy Yorkville neighbourhood.

I have several friends that indulge once in a while. And on a road trip to Montreal for a hockey game two winters ago, my brother surprised me telling me that he smokes cigars a few times a year. We stopped off at cigar lounge there and he walked into the humidor and asked me what I recommended. I expected him to drink while the rest of us smoked. And just recently, to celebrate his birthday I had him over for a stogie. A nice Monty 4. He dropped a casual hint to my wife that for next year's birthday gift he'd like a small humidor with some cigars. (This year I bought him a case of wine, so it works budget wise and it gives me one more person to enjoy cigars with.)

My wife is an ex cigarette smoker, who quit 10 years before we met through hypnotism. So I've tried to keep this hobby out of her face for fears of re-igniting her old habit. Much to my relief, her willpower to resists cigarettes is strong. However, once is a while she partakes in a RyJ Purito. So I keep those in stock for her.

A couple of good friends of mine smoke when we go to the cottage for a week. I supply the stogies and they gladly pay their way. I'll toss in a few Fonseca Delicias or Por Larranaga Panetellas for free but for bigger gauge cigars, they pony up the $'s

or supply some top shelf Port, Cognac or Scotch. One of them used to live in Miami and he speaks fondly of the cigar culture there.

As big a city as Toronto is, cigar lovers are really spread thin. Anti-smoking laws make it impossible to setup lounges, which due to our climate shortens the smoking season. There is no way I will ever step outside in the winter to rush through a cigar. I'd rather wait until spring when I can really enjoy it. Though this January we did have some uncommon balmy weather. About 12C, so I opened the garage door, setup a few chairs and enjoyed one then with my friend while a warm misty rain fell.

[CanuckSARTech]

None.

Was at a wedding recently and watched a mate pull out a R&J tubos, cut it in half and give one half to another mate. They smoked these things hard and I could only imagine how they tasted as they were passed around to all and sundry.

I prefer to smoke alone

Things like that almost make you WANT to smoke alone. Oh, the travesty!!!

[CanuckSARTech]

I only have a few buddies who enjoy cigars, but only once in a while.

Out of a 1/2 dozen close friends (my "best buds"), two others smoke cigars - but only really when we all get together. For them, it's something to do, to sit back and enjoy the time when we're all together, either out golfing, or playing cards on the back deck, or sitting back and enjoying a BBQ in the back yard. They all generally rely on my suggestions, and/or will "buy" some cigars off of me, from my boxes/humidor.

Out of the 15 guys or so in my wife's family (cousins, uncles, brothers, etc.), there's 3 of them that will have a cigar with me for the same reason, and with me generally supplying.

Out of the 70 or so folks on my search and rescue unit (healthy mix of guys and gals), there's 4 guys that enjoy a good cigar for similar reasons, but 2 other guys and 1 gal that enjoy them privately as well. These are the only other folks that I really know of, besides myself, that have a desktop humidor (I know this, because I supplied them with them!)

I'm really the only person that I know (of my various "friends") that will sit out on the back deck, on a weekday night, and light up a good cigar to enjoy, "just because". I don't need a "reason" to smoke a good Cuban cigar - the cigar IS the reason - and I think that's what sets me out from my buds in this pleasure.

But, at the same time, it makes me uniquely positioned to guide anyone's hand in this pleasure as the need arises, which I have done when it arises (as is the case with the couple of SAR members).

My wife doesn't smoke cigars, has never smoked at all. And, even with her being a nurse, and us both aware and understanding of all of the issues with smoking, she doesn't mind at all. We both acknowledge it's more of a flavour/taste thing, of enjoying the craftsmanship of a Cuban cigar - it's not meant to be a "nicotine-delivery-device" to feed an addiction, like cigarettes are.

And, she loves the smell of most of my cigars. They're all smoked outside - as a former cigarette smoker years ago, I don't want a house smelling like stale smoke either. But, when she's sitting around, she enjoys the aromas, and the various flavour/scent profiles, and is good at picking up some subtle nuances, like cedar, leather, and dark chocolate (surprise, surprise!)

Pros and cons, I guess.

[cigcars]

*Well, being a woman, I'm a little reluctant to be seen out places with a big fat juicy, wonderful cigar in my mouth. When I was on the job w/my male buddies I'd delight in seeing the frozen gaze on their face when I showed them my "stash" of forbidden delights. Now that I'm back in my home state I really don't have much opportunity to smoke out places. Mainly with my brother-in-law at his home - outside...'cuz the wife (my sister) won't let us smoke indoors!!!

[CanuckSARTech]

One of my best friends got me into cigars, Habanos especially and we see/saw back and forth from our places as spots to enjoy a cigar. Once a while we'll hit trendy rooftop patios in Toronto's ritzy Yorkville neighbourhood.

I have several friends that indulge once in a while. And on a road trip to Montreal for a hockey game two winters ago, my brother surprised me telling me that he smokes cigars a few times a year. We stopped off at cigar lounge there and he walked into the humidor and asked me what I recommended. I expected him to drink while the rest of us smoked. And just recently, to celebrate his birthday I had him over for a stogie. A nice Monty 4. He dropped a casual hint to my wife that for next year's birthday gift he'd like a small humidor with some cigars. (This year I bought him a case of wine, so it works budget wise and it gives me one more person to enjoy cigars with.)

My wife is an ex cigarette smoker, who quit 10 years before we met through hypnotism. So I've tried to keep this hobby out of her face for fears of re-igniting her old habit. Much to my relief, her willpower to resists cigarettes is strong. However, once is a while she partakes in a RyJ Purito. So I keep those in stock for her.

A couple of good friends of mine smoke when we go to the cottage for a week. I supply the stogies and they gladly pay their way. I'll toss in a few Fonseca Delicias or Por Larranaga Panetellas for free but for bigger gauge cigars, they pony up the $'s

or supply some top shelf Port, Cognac or Scotch. One of them used to live in Miami and he speaks fondly of the cigar culture there.

As big a city as Toronto is, cigar lovers are really spread thin. Anti-smoking laws make it impossible to setup lounges, which due to our climate shortens the smoking season. There is no way I will ever step outside in the winter to rush through a cigar. I'd rather wait until spring when I can really enjoy it. Though this January we did have some uncommon balmy weather. About 12C, so I opened the garage door, setup a few chairs and enjoyed one then with my friend while a warm misty rain fell.

Yup, I completely understand this - sometimes, our Canadian / Ontario anti-smoking laws take the enjoyment out of being a cigar smoker, rather than just focusing on cigarette smokers in workplaces.

There is a wonderful cigar bar (the only one that I know of anymore) at the Hilton Hotel at Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec. I was there a few years back for a week for a big search & rescue conference. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there - great little spot.

Kind of gives me an idea - at some point, it would be great to organize a Canadian get-together, similar to what I've seen others saying about the Melbourne, Australia FOH get-together from a while ago. It would be nice - have Canadian FOH members meet up for a weekend of stogies. Might be something to look into / bring up, and/or start a thread on, somewhere down the line...

[Puros Y Vino]

Yup, I completely understand this - sometimes, our Canadian / Ontario anti-smoking laws take the enjoyment out of being a cigar smoker, rather than just focusing on cigarette smokers in workplaces.

There is a wonderful cigar bar (the only one that I know of anymore) at the Hilton Hotel at Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec. I was there a few years back for a week for a big search & rescue conference. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there - great little spot.

Kind of gives me an idea - at some point, it would be great to organize a Canadian get-together, similar to what I've seen others saying about the Melbourne, Australia FOH get-together from a while ago. It would be nice - have Canadian FOH members meet up for a weekend of stogies. Might be something to look into / bring up, and/or start a thread on, somewhere down the line...

Sort of a FOHCC (Friends Of Habanos Canadian Contingent) ?

I'd be up for something like that. There are a few places in Toronto I can recommend that have nice patios and encourage cigar smoking. There are a few other Ontarians on this board too. Maybe we should start a thread, see who is interested?

[tdlfoto]

Sort of a FOHCC (Friends Of Habanos Canadian Contingent) ?

I'd be up for something like that. There are a few places in Toronto I can recommend that have nice patios and encourage cigar smoking. There are a few other Ontarians on this board too. Maybe we should start a thread, see who is interested?

i'd certainly be interested, particularly in a meetup in toronto

[matthew261]

I have several great friends with whom I enjoy cigars when we're able, but we don't live in close enough proximity to do it on a regular basis. Unfortunately, none of my local mates enjoy such pleasures. On the other hand, I've learned to appreciate the quiet contemplation of a solo herf while looking forward to those rare moments with fellow BOTL.