Friday, November 4, 2011

Where do they go from Here?


What is the attraction of the cigar and tobacco events for the cigar or pipe smoker?

Once a cigar smoker becomes an aficionado and a pipe smoker a collector, the next step is to visit a cigar or pipe event, locally, which will usually be sponsored by a cigar or pipe (or tobacco) company at a local smoke shop or cigar (or) pipe club.


Smokers at the Big Smoke in Las Vegas


This will give the smoker the opportunity to deepen his or her knowledge of the hobby of choice.

- How are cigars made?

- How are pipes made?

- Are there other kinds of woods used in pipe making (other than briar)?

- What types of tobaccos are used in a cigar?

- How are pipe tobaccos grown?

- How are pipe tobaccos treated?

These are just some of the many questions these serious smokers make.

The next step up, are the national events or trade shows. In the cigar world the cigar smoker is not permitted in the inner sanctum. But there is one national event, which

happens once a year, one in each coast. The Big Smoke. Today a $250 ticket for one evening or $550 for the weekend. Marvin Shenken, publisher of Cigar Aficionado magazine could never imagine that this event would last so long… 20 years after the amazing “Big Boom” of the cigar industry. The Big Smoke is celebrated in Las Vegas and in New York. In one evening the cigar smoker can go home with at least 20-premium hand rolled cigars, samples of high-end spirits in miniatures or experience the sampling of fine wine and champagne at the liquor booths (different vineyards, vodka, scotch and brandy manufacturers) and the sampling of great food from the best local restaurants.

For the pipe smoker, it’s about the pipe makers and the tobacco blenders.

If the pipe smoker steps back and forth from Aromatics to English tobaccos or Non-aromatics, the smoker will then enjoy a nice variety of different blends. But if the smoker is an appreciator of English or non-Aromatics only, the smoker will tend to prefer one or two blends at the most. It’s the nature of a non-Aromatic smoker. Very true to his or her tobaccos!

Each hobby has its various collector’s objects and tobaccos, and as each person finds a personal pleasure in its use, the smoker will share it and find other ways, places and moments for its appreciation.


Raffle winner at Pipe Club Meeting James Schneider & Neerup

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