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Cigars and Gender

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men and cigars
When someone mentions cigars, what is the first picture that comes to mind? Think gender-wise – do you see men smoking them or do you immediately see women smoking them? Now don’t get me wrong – I am not being sexist or anything here. I was just reading a blog post by Gary Korb over at Cigar Advisor – it was about cigars being a “guy thing.” As I was reading it, I was going, “yeah…” in a musing manner.

Indeed, why is it that cigars are almost always associated with men? Gary presents a feasible explanation:

I guess the sexual divide has mostly to do with the origins of cigar smoking, which throughout history has been a male-dominated practice. Take it to the next level, and maybe one of the big reasons a lot of men band together to smoke cigars is because, let’s face it, it’s one of the few times they can get away from their “significant others.”

It’s true, isn’t it? Throughout much of history, cigars are for the men. When couples have dinner with other couples, the men go to the study for a cigar while the women congregate around something else. I think a lot of women will react to the last line but perhaps it is true. 😉

Then again, we really cannot discount the women who do smoke cigars. As few as they may be – at least when compared to the opposite sex who smoke cigars – they still exist and the least we could do is to admire and respect them for that.

Originally posted on April 9, 2008 @ 8:20 am

Arturo Fuente Cigar Club

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A calm Monday night in Santo Domingo. After a great diner at, Franco’s, one of the best Italian restaurants of the city, where we had a gorgious linguine al vongole, we head for the best cigar club in town: Arturo Fuente’s, where the place is packed with affluent passionados.

Men only, although you can perfectly bring your wife, the extraction system in the huge ceilings is very performant. Enjoying a Glenlivet 15 years, we smoke of course a cigar from the house, an Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva flor fina. The adjacent humidor shop in this fantastic place carries all the Fuente’s  you can dream of, the whole range inclusive the limited editions is present here, as well as all the branded accessories ( humidors, cutters, ashtrays, lighters…)There are six private rooms here you can hire. Apart from the full bar top-shelf wines and spirits, you can order great tapa’s here.

We’ve seen a lot of cigar bars and lounges in the world, but this is by far the most impressive till now. The Fuente family spent more than a million dollars in the design of the place, done partly by the famous artist Florence Weriath.  It was built in 1997, but completely remodeled in 2011.

My companion Gustavo De Hostos, who lives in this city, recognises a lot of millionaires at the bar, even a minister. He also finds this is the nicest cigar bar in the whole Carabean. He has a locker here, and comes once every week to smoke. And sometimes he performs, in May he will give a crooner concert with a famous trumpettist. Gustavo , active in aviation, produces his own cigars, Puros de Hostos, which are manufactured by De los Reyes since ten years. He sells about 100.000 sticks per year, mostly exported to the Middle-East.

But here he is relaxing and sipping his single malt, while enjoying the particular atmosphere in this luxury bar, and making jokes to Mario, the second best bartender on the island.

“ In the weekend you have to wait for three hours to get in”, it’s an open club although the 750 members of the club always have priority. It’s the beau monde of the capital you see here” and when he drives me back to his home you can see that this city quite developed the last ten years. Brand new enlighted tunnels to ease the busy trafic, new office buildings, recent cars, it all gives the impression of economic prosperity. I’m travelling to the cigar capital Santiago de los Caballeros tomorrow to attend the Procigar Festival. I hope I’ll find a place like this over there!

Arturo Fuente CIgar Club
Av 27 de Febrero 211, Santo Domingo
Arturofuentecigarclub.com
Opens every day from 10 am till 00.00

Text: Ben Vinken

Originally posted on February 27, 2023 @ 1:17 pm

News: Artesano Del Tobacco to Self Distribute

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Artesano Del Tobacco have announced that their distribution agreement with AJ Fernandez Co. distribution has come to an end as of January 2023. Artesano Del Tobacco will start to independently distribute their own cigars. Artesano Del Tobacco will begin the distribution in Doral, FL. They also noted that their brands Viva La Vida cigars and EL Pulpo cigars will continue to be made by AJ Fernandez in Nicaragua.

Billy & Gus of Artesano Del Tobacco stated “We are grateful for an amazing job AJ Fernandez organization did for our cigar brand Viva La Vida , we are grateful for the amazing opportunity Abdel Fernandez gave us when he took our brand Viva La Vida 5 years ago and passionately introduced it to the market nationally and internationally.” They continued “We are forever grateful for Abdel Fernandez and his team. Our relationship with Abdel is built on friendship, brotherhood, and most importantly selfness .”

The post Artesano Del Tobacco to Self Distribute appeared first on Cigar Dojo.

Originally posted on February 27, 2023 @ 1:17 pm