Random questions frequently asked by novice smokers and aspiring cigar connoisseurs
What is your most memorable cigar moment?
OK - you asked for a moment, but I have to give you 3...
My wife's 40th birthday, Excellence Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, December 2007 - I took my wife for a surprise trip to Punta Cana to celebrate a "milestone" birthday. After enjoying a day at the spa, we had dinner, followed by drinks on the beach. I ordered her a Bailey's on the rocks and presented her first cigar, an Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Natural (Dominican Republic). Interestingly, I don't even remember what I smoked that night, and it really didn't matter. After all of my years of cigar smoking, this was the very first time that my wife was willing to indulge with me, and she enjoyed it immensely. The way her face lit up, witnessing her sink into pure bliss and relaxation with her first cigar paired with Bailey's, while enjoying the ocean breeze, and the sounds of some good merengue - we STILL talk about that night!
My son's high school graduation, The Hun School of Princeton, Princeton, NJ, June 2016 - It is an unwritten, historic boarding prep school tradition for the graduates (particularly the boys) to light a cigar immediately after the commencement exercises. It's the one and only day that a school is NOT a smoke-free zone! I had a Montecristo Petit No. 2 (Cuba) that had been resting in one of my humidors for about 9 months, and I made a promise that it was his cigar for graduation. I took huge pride in pulling out my torch in the middle of the quad lawn and help him light his first cigar, with all of his friends, their parents, and even some teachers observing (many of them know about Smokeasy, so it was funny to watch them watching us - they all wanted to know what my boy was going to smoke. Then 5 of his best friends lined up to ask me to help them all cut and light THEIR first cigars thereafter. Me, my boy, and my other 5 "sons" putting some smoke in the air - and I was the ONLY parent smoking that day!!! Proud moment - and again, I don't remember what I smoked that day.
Smokeasy mobile lounge en route to JFK International Airport, New York, September 2016 - Another memorable cigar moment with my son... We were en route to the airport, heading to Manchester, UK, taking the boy to get him settled to study international business management and play soccer abroad with an international academy showcase team! Since my wife was a basket case preparing him for college life abroad, we thought it would be prudent that I take him. Since we had at least a 1:30 ride to the airport, I surprised the boy with another cigar, a Diamond Crown No. 3 (Dominican Republic). He knows that I smoke regularly in my truck, so I knew he would enjoy indulging with me as we embarked on the first leg of our journey. The look on his face - priceless...
Strange as it may be, I really have no idea what cigars I actually smoked during my most memorable cigar moments; however, it's evident that the moments were REALLY about the loved ones who shared the moments with me.
Questions? Hit me up via e-mail at malik@smokeasy.net, on Twitter (@smokeasyblog), or on my Facebook page (Smokeasy).