Public House Intro   Aficionados, brothers and sisters of the leaf, cigar peeps, tobacco cat’s, newbies and old heads…hopefully you can get close to one of those handles.  Post the uncertain and ever-evolving moments recently experienced by all (Pandemic, claims of election fraud followed by a televised insurrection, and the full-on barely announced arrival of artificial intelligence) summer in the south right on schedule, is still hot as hell; don’t believe me, checkout the “Karen” filling shot glasses with boob sweat, or Earl on the porch with the chair sticking to his ass every ti ..read more

My heart is a blaze  with romance and admiration for this South Florida Jewel…if you consider yourself a lover of the Cuban cigar culture in America, visiting Calle Ocho in Little Havana Miami is a must.  Before I continue to wax poetically about the area and my escapades, as usual I feel it critical to provide you with some history: Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood is legendary. An extensive, rich history, vibrant, local art, delectable, authentic dishes, and lively, welcoming residents make this Cuban enclave a Caribbean dream. But how exactly did Little Havana become one of Miam ..read more

Soft and sultry nights, sleepy Spanish Moss and Florida reminiscent palm trees, cobblestone moments hunting established shrimp & grits chased with local oysters and a mint julep cocktail…quintessential southern vibes y’all ! Before we get into the intended focus of this post, let’s fix the back drop with a little bit of history: Referred to as “The Hostess City of the South,” Savannah is the oldest city in Georgia and has a long and colorful history that attracts millions of visitors each year. From cobblestone streets and public parks to some of the most unique Antebellum architecture of ..read more

What do we know, and what’s the big deal ?   Born in the 60’s means limited knowledge for a long period of time (pre-cable tv) about lot’s of things in your world…you only had a few channels to learn what you missed in school; but it was common place to see these Native American figures on a number of TV shows, and if you had a parent that enjoyed cigars or pipes, you might have even seen one in person, and if we’re truthful it was probably pretty damn scary.  I mean think about it, your exposure to Native Americans at that point was mostly fictional and only showed up in westerns…now your fac ..read more

A jewel in Georgia, by way of Ethiopia !   The name of the establishment is, “Got Cigars ?” and the owner’s name is Rukia, she along with this delightful establishment are the above mentioned jewels…nestled in beautiful downtown Decatur, is where you’ll find them.  Rukia, purchased the shop from a family member over 13 years ago and has never looked back…her humidor is rich with selection and taste, with offerings from flavored and mild for the occasional or beginner, and medium bold or full bodied smoke for the more seasoned aficionado. When you walk in the door you’re greeted with a friendly ..read more

  Winter is here and ready to suck all of the cigar codling humidity right out of your tougher than nails, fancy-ass humidor.  Can’t you just hear the greedy laughs from the lip balm boys, ready to make a killing off your crusty winter lips (filthy animals !), dry as a bone…”yeah baby, yeah!”  If you’re not careful, that steady 70% humidity reading you keep bragging about to all your friends will drop faster than your ample beer-belly.   You can really do some serious damage to your precious sticks by ignoring that box….dry cracked un-cooperative cigars will take over your humidor if you’re n ..read more

The almighty TSA, says Yes !   Hey  aficionados, the holiday travel season has unleashed it’s razor sharp talons and planted them right in our collective ass’s…like it does every year.  The time to decide which friends or relatives you plan on visiting during this festive period has arrived.  First class or coach, cashing-in the miles or whipping out the plastic; “Great Caesars Ghost!”, I can’t believe it’s actually here.   The wonderful time you’ll spend with loved ones, the delicious food and drink, cider and eggnog, gut-busting portions, ugly sweaters and toxic fruit cakes…oh what a time t ..read more

The reader As far back as the 1800s, and said to be in as many as 500 factory buildings, cigar factory workers were entertained and educated by “El Lector”, “The Reader”.  The lector, a man (or later, woman) who was charged with reading to factory workers as they sat at their workstations for long hours. Without any heavy machinery to stifle noise, a lector could broadcast his or her voice to hundreds of rollers, keeping their minds engaged as their hands performed mindless, repetitive work. Newspapers were read, and so were novels. Some would work harder and longer if it meant staying to see ..read more

Cigar Tobacco Leafs Often when lighting up that special smoke you couldn’t wait to get your hands on, we sometimes pause, look inquisitively at the cigar and ask the question…how did you get here ?  Listen, we know where we purchased it, the alleged countries involved, the brands and bands; but there’s more to consider, the genesis of it all, where did the goddamn leafs come from in the first place. I mean it’s not like Coca Cola, or a Big Mac, for many casual smokers there are unanswered questions that haven’t even been born as questions yet.  Well kids, it’s time uncle Monte, gave you the t ..read more

A remnant of a cigar lifestyle connecting two worlds The wonderful world of cigars and the cigar lifestyle in general constantly provides enjoyment, camaraderie, and a connection to a rich history…each and every stone I turn rewards me with a limitless wealth of information.  Cigar truth. News to me was the fact that some aficionados collect cigar labels from the period of “When Key West was Cuban” 1860s, 70s and 80s, waves of Cuban immigrants crossed the Florida Straights searching for political freedom and economic possibilities.  It worked, they would begin to start their own businesses an ..read more