Famous Smokes & More

With the recent introduction of Camel Snus, more and more people are looking to find out exactly what it is.  Camel Snus has come up with a line of smokeless tobacco pouches, that come in two kinds. Frost Snus and Mellow Snus. Snus is a moist tobacco product that is ground up and sold in pouches that are similar to a tea bag. Each pouch is placed between the lip and gum.  It typically last for about a half an hour.  The two flavors available are the mellow, which is a natural tobacco flavor and the Frost which is a cool mint flavor.  It is kind of like regular and menthol cigarettes.  Snus tobacco is a great way to get your nicotine fix if you are in a location that does not allow smoking cigarettes. They are also great for those trying to quit smoking cigarettes. The original snus tobacco was created in Sweden and is still widely popular in that area. It has helped many Swedish men to stop smoking. Snus and dip tobacco are very similar, but spitting is not required when you are using snus products. Snus is typically kept in refrigorators to maintain its freshness, but it is not required.  Which would you try, the Frost Snus or Mellow Snus?

I am a long time smoker of cigarettes, and recently with all of the smoking bans and increase in price per pack, I decided I would try chewing tobacco.  I picked up a can of timberwolf tobacco and reluctantly tried my first chew ever.  I have to say that it wasn’t bad.  A bit different than getting nicotine from a cigarette, but much more flavorful.  I always liked the way cigarettes tasted, I love the taste of tobacco. I am not sure why I have never tried chew before. It has a much stronger flavor, and I don’t lose any of the nicotine that I crave.  I do miss the physical part of smoking, having something to keep my hands busy, but with chew, I am able to stay at my desk and work, while I chew.  Before I was constantly getting up to go outside to smoke. I work at home, but the wife doesn’t allow smoking inside. She doesn’t enjoy the smell.  I can’t completely blame her.  Chewing tobacco alleviates the smell all together, but I do have to have a cup handy to spit.  I have kept the cup hidden from my wife, I think she would probably freak out if she saw what I had inside.  Other than that, the Timberwolf that I bought was inexpensive, and it comes in a variety of flavors. My first can was of a natural long cut.  I am not exactly sure what the differences are in the cuts of chewing tobacco, but I think it may be a matter of personal preference. My next can of timberwolf tobacco is going to be the Wintergreen.  Maybe I will try a different cut to test them out.  But, I am not sure if I will ever try any of the fruity flavors.  It is only personal, but I am not a fan of apple of peach types of tobaccos.  Seems to be to much like candy. But, I have to admit now, that I have completely switched from cigarettes to chewing tobacco, and so far so good.

A Calumet is a ceremonial smoking pipe employed by some native american states. These Old World Pipes were smoked to seal a covenant or contract, or to offer requests in a religious rite. “Calumet ” is a Norman word, first used by Norman-French settlers in Qubec to describe the ceremonial pipes they saw in use among the first states folk of the area. The name came into English-language use as a common term for a ceremonial pipe, though in the cultures in question it is commoner for a culturally-specific term to be used. A common material for calumet pipe bowls is red pipestone or catlinite, a fine-grained easily-worked stone of a rich red colour of the Coteau des Prairies, west of the gigantic Stone Lake in South Dakota. The pipestone quarries have traditionally been neutral ground among warring clans, as people from multiple countries travelled to the quarry to obtain the holy pipestone. A variety of herbal tobacco or mixture of herbs was often reserved for special smoking occasions, with each region’s folks using the plants that were hereabouts considered to have special qualities or a culturally condoned foundation for ceremonial use. Some northwards Sioux folks used long, stemmed pipes for rites while others e. G the Catawbas in the southeast used ceremonial pipes formed as round, footed bowls with a tubular smoke tip projecting from each cardinal direction on the bowl. Calumets and other native american ceremonial pipes have frequently been given the misnomer, “peace pipe” ; this is an EU construct based on just one sort of pipe and one way it was employed. Various types of ceremonial pipes have been used by multiple native american cultures, with the style of pipe, materials smoked, and rites being unique to the distinct religions of those countries. In ceremonial usage, the smoke is believed to carry prayers to the eye of the Creator or other strong spirits. Lakota custom has it that White Buffalo Calf lady, brought the Chanunpa to the people, and instructed them in its symbolism and rites. According to oral conventions, and amply illustrated by pre-contact pipes in museums and tribal and private holdings, some ceremonial pipes are decorated with feathers, fur, human or animal hair, beadwork, quills, carvings or other items having importance for the owner. Other pipes are extremely simple. Many aren’t kept by an individual person but are instead held collectively by a medication society or similar ceremonial organization. Historically, native americans who utilized the bow and arrow also employed bow drills that used hard white quartz points which, when combined with water, could bore out even the toughest of pipestones. Early indigenous Americans employed moistened rawhide strips rolled in crushed white quartz and stretched with a bow handle to shape and coarse the pipes. The efficiency of such bow stone saws in cutting and slabbing a large piece of red pipestone is sort of surprising given their seeming simplicity. Pipes were also shaped and roughed with hard sandstones, afterward polished with water, then sanded with progressively finer and finer abrasive grit and animal hide, ultimately being rubbed with fat or facial oils to finish polishing.

The normal match for a good cigar is frequently a powerful spirit – perhaps the refined sweetness of an aged rum or brandy, or the heady, smoky nose of a fine single malt Scotch or whiskey are faithful and true cigar companions. But what about the often neglected cigar pairing – beer?

Pairing any strongly flavored comestibles isn’t straightforward, and there are naturally both bad and good selections to be made. You probably wouldn’t enjoy cigars online with a crisp Hefeweizen any more than you may drink a tannic red Chianti wine with raw oysters in lemon vinaigrette. Give me that refreshing pale Hefeweizen with those oysters and that’s a good match. And if you’d like to drink that young Chianti, set fire to the pasta pot and load on the Bolognese sauce. A hearty Italian dinner would also be a fine time to pop a rich deep stout with the will to carry its own weight under the load of acidic tomatoes and savory, spicy pieces of sausage.

My partner has been smoking cigars for many years now.  I keep telling him to stop, for many reasons.  Naturally due to his health , but the second is because it stinks our place up.  He smokes about 2 a day and I let him know every day to go outside with it.  We finally compromised and he is now smoking in our garage, if it is too cold to go outside.  This way, atleast when i have guest over I haven’t got to light twenty candles.  But the other day, to my surprise I went in the garage to check on him and I smelled something awfully sweet and pleasant.  I was shocked.  I did not know there were cigars that smelled good.  I asked him what it was, and he announced it was CAO Flavored Cigars.  I did not know there was such a thing as flavored cigars.  I asked him how it tasted and he said that he was astonished, that this was sweet, but not so sweet.  I am still not going to allow him come within with those things, but i was glad to discover that there are cigars out there that do not make me gag.

I had a party at my home for new years, and wanted to celebrate with the guys with a couple of nice cigars. Before the party I went to pick some up from the cigar shop near by. I told the sales lady that I was having a new years party and she suggested a few different cigars that everyone would enjoy. I bought some mild cigars as well as some heavier cigars that the pro’s would enjoy. The lady also recommended a flavored cigar that she thought some might like. She said that many beginners and even non-smokers prefer these because the taste and smell pleasant. I had never wanted to try a vanilla cigar, or a chocolate cigar, or any other sweet flavors. Not a big fan of really sweet things. But, she recommended an Amaretto Miami Suites Cigars. At first I was opposed to it, but then I thought, maybe that would be nice to have later as the party was winding down. So I went ahead and got them along with the others. When I brought them out, my friends laughed at first, but once I lit one up, the aroma filled the room. Not minutes after lighting and getting a nose full of the amaretto, a few of my friends gave in and lit up as well. I have to say, not bad. I was so suprised that I really enjoyed the taste. It left a semi-sweet taste on my lips that was very welcomed after all the drinks and heavier cigars from earlier. I am now a believer in flavored cigars, but only once in a while. There are a few other liquor flavors that I would like to try, like rum and irish cream. But, for the everyday smoke, I am going to stick with the natural flavored cigars.

So, my town has chosen a smoking ban for all restaurants and bars, with only minimum exemptions. I’m so tired of my rights being abolished, I’m sick. I cannot fathom the reason non-smokers have such a aggressive personal opinion on what we smokers are doing. I understand that smoking is foul, but I made a conscience choice when I started smoking, observant of the fact it was harmful. Just because non-smokers want me to stop, will not mean that it will happen. Smoking in pubs has been a favor, but most restaurants include a chosen smoking room. If you do not want to inhale the smoke, don’t sit in the smoking room, you are not coerced to sit in the smoking section. And as far as the workers of these restaurants that comment they are tortured by second hand smoke, what a joke. I held jobs in the service industry for over 10 years, and I know that the majority of theco-workers were smokers.  Interacting with the public, if anything, drives you to puff.  And, I have never overheard one non-smoking co-worker ever protest about second hand smoke while working in the smoking room. Putting a smoking prohibition in restaurants and bars, can only save me money, considering I won’t go out after the January 1st.

I have choose this holiday to ask for simple presents that my wife can pick out competently for me. My number one gift, as always, is my favorite smoke from nat-sherman.com. My wife won’t even have to leave the condo, she can go on the internet (I have all my favorites sites saved) and enter the order there. As far as anything else, she can go to the closest store and pick something up. She argues every holiday that I am utterly baffling person to shop for. But we have been married for almost 15 years! And if she doesn’t understand the things I want by now, I quit. I always say every December, “I want smokes”, I puff on 1 or 2 per day, and that adds up. I have a humidor for keeping my smokes, “what’s that for?” my love inquires. Well my love, it’s to keep my cigars alive. So, if you get me some for christmas I can keep them in that for a few months and remove one when I am ready to fancy one. Although I have to say, I was lucky last year, my love gave me a lighter that was ingraved with my initials. The prior year, she got me a fishing pole, without thinking I said I wanted to go fishing again someday. Well, I went fishing one time after that, but guess what, I still enjoy 1-2 smokes a day. In the end what do I want for my present this year? I want Cigars, and anything else would just be an secondary enjoyment.

Choosing a cigar: The ring gauge of the cigar will give you a common indication of how full bodied the taste is. The larger the ring size, typically means, the smoother, fuller, slower and cooler the cigar will be.

Cutting a stogie: The head of a hand rolled cigar must be cut before lighting it. You can do this with punch cutters, cigar scissors, or guillotine cutters. The guillotine is recommended for the best cut. Make sure not to snip the complete cap off, because this probably will damage its wrapper.

Handmade cigar fans are known for their admiration of food and wine. One of the best times to offer a cigar is after a meal. Other great times to indulge in your favorite cigars are: during or after business meetings, while walking the dog, while commuting to and from work or ulitmately just any time you’re looking to enjoy the fulfillment and relaxation catered by a handmade cigar.

Smoking a Stogie: Cigars are meant to be admired and savored for the feel, taste and the aroma. Smoke slowly. Don’t puff to hard. If your cigar extinguishes itself, it is proper to relight it within one to two hours. Any later than that, it will taste limp.