Just as abruptly, it occurred to me recently that I am drawn to cigars. I've smoked a few here and there, but less than 5 in my life. It was clear that I had no idea what I was doing, how to appreciate them, or anything about them.
I stopped in Nickel's Arcade in Ann Arbor today for my first "cigar with intention." The proprietor, who was patient and kind, told me that I should begin with a cigar that would serve as a benchmark. For this he recommended an Ashton Majesty.
Although I asked him for details on smoking this cigar, he gave a sage smile and told me not to worry about the prescribed rules and rituals that others would have me believe. Just smoke the cigar and figure out the experience on my own. He did advise, though, that since he clipped the cigar for me, that it should be smoked today. I spent the day looking forward to experiencing my cigar at home.
While I haven't developed the vocabulary to describe cigars in detail yet, I will say that it was mild, slightly woody, and the finish has stayed with me for a good long time.
More than that, though - the experience of smoking a cigar rendered clear some of my cultural and identity assumptions. The viscerality and liminality of cigar smoking - well, I'm sure what it means will become more apparent as time goes on. The budding phenomenologist in me will surely intrude.
More with the next cigar...and a bit more thought.
