A good smoker, like a good lover, always takes his time with a cigar.

(Guillermo Cabrera Infante)

The world of cigars has a niche but well-structured fame. The media portrays cigar smokers as old, rich, and powerful men. The Wall Street banker, the industrial magnate, and the Latin American dictator all pose indulging in expensive smokes. The bottles of scotch, of French cognac, of Caribbean rum, and of brandy from wherever brandy may be, all make it seem that cigars are meant to be enjoyed by people who “made it.” A quick visit to a cigar lounge would disprove that.

After visiting cigar lounges all around the world, I can assure you there is no defining trait for the cigar smoker. Walk into a lounge and you will see old people spending hours just talking, the blue-collar employees still in uniform stocking up for the weekend, the Instagram-looking couple creating content, the classy gentlemen buying a box because they are attending a wedding, and, with luck, someone like me. The cigar lounge is a rainbow of faces and people from all walks of life who appreciate the pleasure of smoking. For the world of cigars, you’re either in the know or you're not. Granted, of course, you're above 18 years old.

Why does a young person smoke cigars? I'm often asked that as my age does not fit the archetype of a cigar smoker. In simple terms, because they taste good. I answer that question with the analogy of coffee. Anyone who likes coffee will enjoy the taste of cigars because the aftertaste of most cigars is nearly identical to that of coffee. From there, it is easier to choose multiple cigars and through trial and error figure out which ones are more enjoyable. It is a subjective matter of course, but that general guideline works. Not for nothing almost all cigar lounges are stocked with beautiful espresso makers.

Another thing I must mention is the need for time. Cigar smoking is not meant for people with TikTok attention spans. A minimum of one hour must be budgeted to burn through a cigar. Therefore, when solo, I find the cigar to be the perfect companion for reading or watching a game on TV. Never to write, for I need both hands to type. I don't smoke to relax, like those pathetic potheads; I smoke when I'm relaxed and can fully enjoy it. When enjoying someone’s company, it is the perfect complement for a conversation. Please put down your phone.

A factor taken for granted is that of affordability. Cigars are an affordable luxury. A good one can be $8.50 easily and anything above $12 is considered in the premium range. Smoking once a week is easily $50. Could this be a sustainable hobby? Can’t really say but yes, we cigar smokers are burning money. No, we don't care.

My first cigar came in college almost two years ago. I like to joke that it was the best decision I made in my four years of college. However, I have been an admirer of cigars since childhood. My father smokes them and would smoke them around the house. The aroma still fills me with nostalgia. I often told myself I wanted to become a cigar smoker and I simply had to do more research on the subject before committing (yeah, no impulsive behaviors here). Despite everything, as my mom was quitting cigarettes my father cut down on his cigars so he never offered me one. The first one had to wait until college when two friends—a Brazilian and a Honduran—invited me to partake in their good taste.

After that first one, I've had memorable cigars in Buenos Aires’ Florida Street, Madrid’s Club Pasión Habanos, all over Miami, and even in Kinshasa, proving to be the only escape from that impossible city. I have also had them in my hometown of Cartagena, in Casablanca, and in Santo Domingo. A memorable scene unfolded there. I had the chance to interview the CEO of Arturo Fuente cigars, Ciro Cascella. He offered me a cigar and of course, I accepted. It was practically receiving communion from the pope.

Speaking of saintly things, it must be mentioned that cigar smoking contains a sacred element. Selecting, cutting, and lighting a cigar is a ritual of divine proportions. Look over the different hues of the leaves. Analyze the thin or wide diameters, the pointed or straight tips. Now choose one, no wait, that one is too long and you want to go to bed early. Yes, the Corona size will do. It has a faster burn than a Robusto but, come the weekend, dedicate your time to a Toro and ignore the problems of the week ahead. Roger Scruton taught us that beauty matters and cigars are all about appreciating the finer things and celebrating life.

The refined aesthetics of cigar smoking increase their allure: classy lounges, elegant cedar boxes, sleek lighters, and cutters. A cigar means hearing Arturo Sandoval’s trumpet in the background playing “A Night in Tunisia”. A cigar means wearing a crisp white shirt with a pastel-toned linen blazer in the Caribbean. A cigar means spending hours cultivating camaraderie and making pretty girls laugh.

To finish this reflection with some form of message, I would like to invite you all to the world of cigars. Many great stories and friendships have started in cigar lounges. The community is welcoming and present everywhere. Ask around, and you will be surprised to learn how many keep it to themselves as a kind of secret club. As I said before, only those in the know, know how great it is.