We have entered odd times. We are seeing businesses closed for the public safety, and a lot of our cigar stores are affected. I’ve been in touch with a few earlier this week, and already things have changed. On Monday the four or five shops I spoke with were business as usual, and by yesterday, they had closed the lounges, and were only open for grab-and-go purchases. Many had gone to a call ahead with curb-side pick-up, those that offer online ordering continue to do so. These are small businesses, they can’t afford to close, it would be devastating. Obviously, this extends much further than our little corner of the world, this is happening in all areas if life. I’ve been out of work since November, and the job market now looks bleaker than it did before. I’m, at least, in the same position I’ve been in for the past several months. I’m hoping for an extension in unemployment benefits, but I’m not counting on it. With any luck in a few weeks things will return to normal. I would say if you have the means and you need cigars, or food, or supplies, buy them from a local small business. If you don’t have a local shop, there are several great retailers who advertise on my page who you can patronize.
I’ve found myself smoking a little more than usual. I generally smoke one a day, but I’ve been having two here and there, digging into some of the older cigars in my humidors. Last week I found an Emilio La Musa Malete that had deeply yellowed cello that was very nice, and a Leccia Luchador El Gringo Frogsplash. I liked the Frogsplash much better with a few years of age than when they were younger, I was less of a fen of the El Gringo line than the original Luchador, but age helped a lot.
Yesterday was March 17, and Saint Patrick’s Day is usually a big party day, not that I every took part in much other than the smoking of the green. I typically do smoke a candela cigar of some sort. I couldn’t wait to smoke the latest Alec Bradley seasonal release, this year they added the triple wrapped Filthy Hooligan Shamrock. I smoked one a few weeks ago and thought it was great. So yesterday I went with the RoMaCraft CroMagnon EMH Don Bosco. This cigar was a gift to me by PJ when I met him last September, muchos gracias! This is a 5″ x 56 Ecuadorian Connecticut Candela cigar with stripes of Connecticut broadleaf. From what I read, it’s the opposite of the Black Irish. I have always enjoyed the Fomorian, which is all candela, and this was also great, with a little extra greatness added by the broadleaf accent. It burned well, and was very tasty. The candela, for me, is refreshing, it brightens up the heavy CroMagnon core. It was a real treat to have smoked this cigar, which from what I know was very limited and not something one sees very often. Thank you very much to PJ for sharing this with me! It was delicious following the corned beef I had for lunch!
That’s all for now. Make sure you tune in to the I’d Tap That Cigar Show on the Cigar Prop YouTube Channel tonight at 8 for a big announcement. Until the next time,
CigarCraig
Craig,
You are right about the B&M shops, hopefully, these owners will be able to ride this thing out. There is nothing any of us can do but try to stay safe. Every business is on the same rocky sea, as are many individuals, this could be a couple more months or many, but we are all in it together. When things get back to normal, hopefully, we will all have learned a major lesson – not to take everything for granted. Our way of life, our country has changed dramatically, like never before. When we resume our American way of living, will we appreciate each other more? or, will we go back to being as divisive toward each other, as we were, just before this happened?
Good points Dave! Hope we learn from it how to be less divisive!!