Daniel Whitmire

UWRT 1102-008
Professor Arnold
April 14, 2015
Final Reflective Essay
Cigars have been around for generations and have been associated a status symbol
for those that were able to afford them. Cigars also have consistently been a way to
celebrate special occasions. Like many past times, cigars have their own crowd of people
associated with them. Over the past months, I have immersed myself into the realm of
cigars, and have grown a part of the discourse community that loves the deep, rich,
savory, tobacco of cigars. After seeing the interactions between cigar enthusiasts at
events, smoke lounges, and documentaries, I have finally concluded that there is an over
arching theme that is reoccurring though a majority of the menu items Ive done. This
theme is that cigar smoking is a way to connect two people in a relaxing atmosphere
where otherwise there would be no other connection between these people.
To begin with, there is a story of mine that shows that cigars are a connection
builder between people. Over Spring break in 2014, I traveled to Italy with a group from
school and another rival school went to the same places in Italy. There was this schism
for half of the week where we kept our distance from them, and they did the same. Then
came a night we were we were staying the night in a hotel in Sorrento, which happened to
be on the beach. My room had the luxury of being the top room and instead of having a
small balcony; our balcony covered the entire top of the hotel. I invited everyone from
our group and from the other school up to the top to smoke cigars, and it turns out that

three guys from the other school also loved to smoke cigars. We spent hours on top
hanging out smoking and swapping stories between us all, and ended up becoming great
friends with them and we hung out with them for the rest of the trip and still get together
to this day to share experiences weve had a college. But of course, these get-togethers
wouldnt be complete without the accompaniment of a great cigar.
When research first began on the discourse community of the cigar world, there
were stereotypes, biases, and certainly assumptions that I already had about those that
smoke cigars. I had this vague idea I had created in my head about how those who smoke
cigars are all members of the upper class and more than likely own a large house and a
boat. This perception was due to the fact that cigars range anywhere between ten dollars
and forty dollars for just one stick. Another reason for stereotype, or assumption was
because of big name magazines that featured cigars such as, Cigar Aficionado, who
always had a celebrity on their front page, such as, Usher, Brad Paisley, Matthew
McConaughey, and Pierce Brosnan all with a cigar in their hand. We associate famous
people with money, so when a magazine seems to always feature a celebrity with a cigar;
we now associate smoking cigars with those of the rich and famous. This thought actually
contributed to helping me with learning more about cigars because I had the Cigar
Aficionado magazine, which contained not only information about new cigars coming
out, but also key words for me to search when looking for new menu items such as,
lectors, rolling, and cigar club. Though there wasnt much in the way of articles within
the magazine for me to use as sources of information, it certainly led me to key sources
that coincidentally all had the same notion that cigars are a connection builder between
people and bring them together within a relaxed atmosphere.

What would be a learning process without some difficulty along the way? When I
found out about the Rocky Patel event that Tinder Box was hosting was on a Wednesday
night, I knew that there would be some complications since I had a chemistry lab that
very night beginning at 7:30. Having class that ended at 4:45 earlier that day, I wasnt
able to leave until a little after five that afternoon and it turns out, five oclock traffic in
Charlotte is certainly, a nightmare in reality. Some friends and I had finally entered the
shop a few minutes before six oclock that evening. I didnt expect the cigars to be long
in length, or big in size since they were handing them out for free. It turned out that they
were giving away Churchill sized cigars (some of the longest cigars you can buy), which
certainly takes some time to smoke. Knowing that I had a chemistry lab at 7:30, I knew I
had to smoke faster than usual and gather information as quickly as I could, which was a
shame because it truly was a great tasting cigar. We left at seven with still about a fourth
of our cigars remaining, and headed back for campus. I ended up being late by about 5
minutes and wreaked of cigar smoke for the remaining two hours of the lab. Another
problem that I faced when going out into the field for research was when I went back to
Tinder Box to smoke in the lounge area and mingle around with others. After arriving and
picking out the cigars, we noticed that all the seats in the lounge area were full and there
was nowhere to stand in the room without feeling out of place and being in someones
way of them speaking to another. We waited out in the main area of the cigar shop for
what may have well been close to thirty minutes before people finished and left so that
there was room for us to be seated. An elderly gentleman assured us that this was out of
the ordinary for so many people to be there that all the seats were taken up. What truly
was a bummer though was that once we got seated, we got half way though our cigars

before it was time for the shop to close which meant that we would all had to go outside
and finish our smokes in the chilly nighttime air. Trough all this turmoil though, I was
able to see how in a relaxing atmosphere where everyone is smoking a cigar, everyone
can get along and make friends really easily.
I have learned over the semester that, when suggesting a first cigar to someone,
since now Im an aficionado, its best if you tread lightly. Over the many times that Ive
gone to cigar shops asking what I should smoke I have learned from managers and store
owners how to judge what someone would like to smoke. If its a lady, I would suggest
they start with an infused cigar. Flavor infused cigars are a milder smoke than noninfused sticks. I also recommend that they begin with a smaller vitola like petit corona. A
smaller cigar wont last too long, will transfer less smoke through the cigar as they smoke
it, and will still provide them the experience of what cigar smoking is all about. If its a
gentleman, I will usually start them off with a robusto-sized, Acid or Tabak Especial
by Drew Estate. Acid cigars are infused with herbs and are flavor infused and when you
smell the foot of the cigar you can easily determine if you like the aroma or not. Tabak
Especial cigars are infused with espresso and cocoa. The Dulce is a bit sweeter and
smells like graham crackers to me. Both the Acid and Tabak Especial are serious cigars,
made with long-filler tobaccos from places like Nicaragua, Indonesia, and other places
around the world. Finding a cigar you like is majorly important as well. Cigar smoking is
a hobby that can be relaxing and enjoyable, whether in a group or on your own. Its also a
hobby that can range in price depending on the cigars you choose to smoke. As I began as
a new cigar smoker, I progressed expediently and was ready to jump into a fuller bodied
smoke. When that day arrives for others, I suggest it is best not stray too far off the initial

path. A mild-to-medium smoke should provide a good transition from the sweeter cigars.
I myself made the mistake of jumping straight into a full-bodied cigar rather than a more
medium bodied, and the flavor was too much for me to handle. As you guide yourself or
a fellow smoker into the land of premium handmade cigars, I have learned its like taking
an international voyage. Tobaccos come from so many different countries and regions.
When starting out, you should sample as many different cigars as possible and take a
voyage to as many lands as you can. Experience the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua,
Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and others and enjoy your virtual voyage around the
world of cigars. Every enthusiast-in-training should realize that there are tobaccos that
they will enjoy and ones they may not like at all. The main goal on this journey is to find
what you like, including what cigars have a pleasing balance of flavor, strength and
aroma. The act of smoking a cigar should a pleasurable one, a form of relaxation that
requires patience and time. You dont want to hurry yourself through this journey, take
your time: stop and smell the stogies.
In conclusion, smoking cigars with someone is a bonding experience. You really
get to know people when you sit and smoke with them. I was able to discuss issues that I
never would have if I werent smoking a stogie. Cigar smokers of various levels of
experience can sit together and compare and share their perceptions of the smoke. You
can build friendships and share experiences of life. And when you add a great drink that
compliments the cigar, it takes the experience to yet another level. Sitting together,
smoking and sharing your cigar experiences in this way is known as a Herf. A herf is a
gathering of men and/or women that enjoy cigars, food, libations and good conversation.
There is no herf that is too small; it could just be 1 person or as big as it can get. The

camaraderie is especially good when you join in a herf with several cigar enthusiasts.
Attending herfs creates such memorable times and can also build friendships that will last
just as Im sure any discourse community with loyal followers will do.