I started smoking cigars back in my days as an undergrad at Cornell University. I always had an interest in cigars. Everyone cool smoked cigars. Cigars were meant for the very strong, from Hannibal Smith of the A-Team, Winston Churchill and even the main man himself, Lobo all smoked stoogies.
A history professor once told me "A gentleman is well versed in history and art and has a fine palate for alcohol and tobacco". This adage, along with my long admiration of mercenaries, former British Prime Ministers and a comic book anti-hero sealed the deal. I decided to begin my journey at the tender age of 18 by starting with the lowliest, crappiest cigars I could find. I wanted to start at the bottom rung so my palate would become more refined and appreciated of the better cigars. This was a sort of boot-camp for my tastebuds. I decided to start off with something resembling a cigar called "Romeo". These were sold out of a hot truck (their sandwiches were awful anyway) and were so awful that Juliet had a better mind to never associate with it. I started off on "Romeos", White Owl, Philly Blunts and then moved on to better cigars. Although I have to say that some cigars I have come across are rather comparable to the lower rung of the cigar step-ladder (i.e. avoid Helix, unless you like the taste of burnt bark).
So here I am, writing about cigars. I hope you enjoy the blogs. I would like to thank Tony and Eugene for this opportunity. I have to admit, we have carried Cigar Fridays to new levels. From its lowly beginnings in New York Medical College, to smoking on a curb outside Kirkley Lodge, the journey has only begun.
-Mike
