If not for the nicotine why smoke?

[SleepWalker]

It seems through the odd bit of browsing that there is some snobbery amongst some folk though if i am wrong then i am glad. For what is the point in smoking cigars if not for the nicotine hit. Yes the taste is sensuous, the smell rich - and that feeling as you blow through your nose a joy - but why, tell me if not for the nicotine why why why?

[senor_robusto]

because it looks fancy and makes one feel like a king?:noidea::smile:

alex:849::41::41::41::rock::smile:

[PoohBore]

I like it for the flavours but also it gives me a reason to stop and relax for an hour or so. What with my divorce a little while back ( plus the current crap over access to my kids) and the stress of work its quite a good relaxer. I actually don't like it when you get the huge hit from a big cigar on an empty stomach.

[Lascaux]

Why, for the taste that is sensuous, the smell that is rich and the joy as the smoke titillates the nose.

I think as well, like smoking a cigarette whilst working, or listening to the radio whilst cooking - the key to a bit of comfort is to be doing something secondary, on top of whatever else it is you're doing.

A cigarette is NOT smoked just for the nicotine. Not for me. It aids reflection, relaxation, enables you to step back and in that respect shares similarities to meditation. A cigar does all of the same, and aids conversation between smokers too.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Aussiewaz]

I like it for the flavours but also it gives me a reason to stop and relax for an hour or so. What with my divorce a little while back ( plus the current crap over access to my kids) and the stress of work its quite a good relaxer. I actually don't like it when you get the huge hit from a big cigar on an empty stomach.Yep, this is my outlook too. My smoking has nothing to do with image or "Looking Fancy" as I mostly smoke at home.

Sorry to hear on your access drama's Pooh, been there & it was NOT fun.:frown:

[Robusto]

Cigars for all those reasons and especially Lasc's.

I've worked on solo cigar posing via mirrors, stllls, street dance, keyboard gigs and cinema. I love to cigar pose.

Especially when there are no other cigar smokers present.

It adds so much to the pleasure.

[monkey66]

I like something fat in my mouth that isn't always my foot :p

[Stevieboy]

Because it's tough and cool...

....but seriously, it's all about the relaxation for me. I only smoke at weekends and look forward to a stogie all week and when I've packed the kids off to bed, I love being able to loaf in the TV room with my feet up and a drink..usually Hoegaarden :)

[Styler]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of a big nicotine hit. I smoked cigs for 10 years and gave up about 3-4 years ago and although I was very pleased about not being a slave to nicotine anymore I missed the act of smoking, I really did enjoy it. That's why I enjoy a cigar about once or twice a week. Smoking cigars has also made cigarette smoke seem even more bland and disgusting to me. I wouldn't enjoy cigars half as much if I just felt like I was feeding an addiction, I like the fact that I can decide when I want one and can happily go for an indefinite period without one.

[Sludgie]

I like the whole ritual. I mostly smoke cigars at home, and it it is the preparation as much as the cigar itself. I enjoy choosing what smoke I'm going to have - mainly depending on how much time I have, deciding what to drink with it - I like to pair certain cigars with certain single malts, and then there is the dressing up bit - I like any excuse to wear my smoking jacket! Then there is the glorious ritual of cutting and lighting the cigar just so, the different flavours on the palette and the relaxation the whole process gives. I've never smoked cigarettes, so cannot comment on the nicotine hit per se, but I do smoke cigars and pipes, and although I miss them if I do not have them, I do not crave for them - so I like to think it's not the nicotine that is the underlying reason why I smoke. Nick

[Puff Scotty]

Smoking is now seen as fairly anti-social so a lot of Cigarrista's don't want to be included in the 'slave too the weed' category.
This, IMHO, is a small form of snobbery which I can't, & won't (as an ex addict) fall into.
Cigars are habit forming & as well as being superior in everything except price & convenience cannot be taken as a take it or leave it scenario...sooner or later you will become a nicotine addict even in a minor way.
The time/nicotine habit is what you have to break, but don't panic Churchill was addicted so you're in good company.....
Nice one to remember in a restaurant " do you have to masticate like a Orange Utang whilst I'm smoking my puro?" fazes the tobacco snobs! :smoke:

[Styler]

This, IMHO, is a small form of snobbery which I can't, & won't (as an ex addict) fall into.


I've done nicotine addiction, I know what it's like and how hard it is to break. I also know that anything you do regularly can become a habit that's hard to break.

At the end of the day I think it's a little unfair to call someone snobby simply because they are in control of tobacco and not the other way around. It's prefectly possible to achieve.

[Puff Scotty]

I've done nicotine addiction, I know what it's like and how hard it is to break. I also know that anything you do regularly can become a habit that's hard to break.

At the end of the day I think it's a little unfair to call someone snobby simply because they are in control of tobacco and not the other way around. It's prefectly possible to achieve.

Not getting the message behind a post can also be habit forming. Let me know when you're in control of that tobacco, 'cos were all stupid enough to put carcinogens & poisons into ourselves on a regular basis...aren't we? :biggrin1:

[JOAO LA PEZ]

As previously stated the ritual is a big part, satisfies some kind of human need, Japanese Tea ceremony comes to mind. I niether have the funds or the inclination to smoke everyday so the times i smoke are special to me, plus when out the thumbing of ones nose to the muesli tree huggers is most satisfying.
On another level Humans are risk takers by nature, we all know its coming but cocking a snoot at Death is really quite rush, not sure who said it but 15 minutes of brilliant is preferable to a lifetime of nothing special.

[Styler]

Not getting the message behind a post can also be habit forming. Let me know when you're in control of that tobacco, 'cos were all stupid enough to put carcinogens & poisons into ourselves on a regular basis...aren't we? :biggrin1:

I already am my friend! If I ever begin to doubt that then I'll have to address my future as a cigar smoker but if it was going to happen, it would have happened before now. Human beings enjoy things that are bad for them, I wouldn't call it stupidity. Life is all about calculated risks, if it weren't then no one would set foot out of their doors in the morning.

It's very easy to say that anyone who thinks they are in control of tobacco/nicotine consumption is kidding themselves but considering this discussion is focused on snobbery then I would question exactly who is looking down on who.

[Puff Scotty]

It's very easy to say that anyone who thinks they are in control of tobacco/nicotine consumption is kidding themselves but considering this discussion is focused on snobbery then I would question exactly who is looking down on who.

Err! exactly my point that's why I used the words I did as I don't think snob is the correct term, I think maybe were shooting the same target from a different angle...:smile:

[Styler]

Err! exactly my point that's why I used the words I did as I don't think snob is the correct term, I think maybe were shooting the same target from a different angle...:smile:

Quite possibly Puff, my hangover may be playing a small role in that :rolleyes:

Heavy drinking... there's stupidity for you!

[Puff Scotty]

Heavy drinking... there's stupidity for you!

Bugger Matey,,,you lookin for an argument..hic!:849:

[bigbarneyhotdog]

drinking & smoking is cool :849:

[El Catador]

"If not for the nicotine, why smoke?"

Isn't that rather like asking "Why drink alcohol if not to get pissed?"

If it was purely the nicotine buzz, or any other type of intoxication for that matter, that cigar smokers were seeking, then surely there are far more convenient and cheaper ways to achieve it.

After all why splash out on a bottle of vintage champagne or a malt whisky (or fine Cuban) when a few cans of special brew (or a packet of Old Holborn and some rizlas) will get the job done at a fraction of the cost?

Personally, the light-headed feeling I get from nicotine (and alcohol) though not necessarily unpleasant (in small doses) is the least enjoyable aspect of the experience. But that's just me.

(Internet porn though? Well that's a different addiction altogether)

[Smallclub]

"If not for the nicotine, why smoke?"

Isn't that rather like asking "Why drink alcohol if not to get pissed?"

Exactly!
btw when I want a fix of nicotine (it happens sometimes) I smoke a virginia based blend in one of my pipes…
I think there's more nicotine in a small bowl of Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake or Esoterica's Stonehaven than in most cuban cigars, even big ones…

[Fat1]

I enjoy trying to identify all the various flavours I get (from good sticks anyway), then pairing these with a good drink and experiencing the change in flavours as the stick progresses. I also enjoy the ritual of cutting, lighting etc

Its not just about the smoking though, I am now hooked on collecting them and building up a good stock. This may sound a bit weird as well but I just feel sort of 'calm' when I am around them. I love checking them every couple of days for mould / critters etc, smelling them, giving them a gentle squeeze...ooo er! Its hard to describe but with all the stresses of everday life, to know that these things are just sitting there happy in their own little eco system, getting better with age makes me feel good.

[Puff Scotty]

Exactly!
btw when I want a fix of nicotine (it happens sometimes) I smoke a virginia based blend in one of my pipes…
I think there's more nicotine in a small bowl of Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake or Esoterica's Stonehaven than in most cuban cigars, even big ones…
Is the Stonehaven still available 'en France' I can't get it here (unless somebody knows where?)..
:(

[senor_robusto]

right-o,
granting one's self an hour or more to 'blow smoke and relax' is a luxury we afford ourselves!!! it allows us to step out of life and commitments for a short period of time, to relax, be with our thoughts and 'right the wrongs of the world'!!! there are cheaper ways, as someone pointed out, to get nicotine buzzes...... smoke a load of rollies for example (as was pointed out)!!! i don't inhale cigar smoke, for me it's all about the flavours, just like chocloate, coffee, whiskey, brandy, rum etc! i also love the ritual of preparing myself for that hour's meditation and breathing exercise that comes with enjoying cuban cigars, as well as the ritual cutting and firing up!!! also, i'd like to point out, i don't think of it as smoking, more like perfuming the air:smile:........

this guy sums it up pretty well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht0F6y_q9-U&feature=fvsr

you also have to think about the associations made with cigars!!! i know it's stereotyping, but cigars are associated with success and class (what is the old saying, those who can afford to smoke cigars, those who can't smoke paper)! in movies etc, a cigar is usually a reward for a job well done!!! it also looks macho (eg, gangsters and villains usually smoke cigars, typically as a gross representation that they're financially secure and successful as a result of ill gotten gains)!! i would also like to suggest that, talking with most on here, we reward ourselves with the finer things in life for our hard work, success and persistence in life!! to echo poohbears sentiments from post 3 (yep, i'm pretty much in the same boat,:frown:), and to borrow churchill's quote (about champagne, but here it'll do to sum up my thoughts on cuban cigars):
'in victory i deserve it, in defeat i need it!'

anyway, to sum it up!! i hope i don't come across as a cigar snob!!! i like cigars for the flavour & aroma, for the time it affords me to relax and be with my thoughts.........all that as well as looking fancy and make one feel like a king!!! lol!!!

alex:849::41::smile:

[Puff Scotty]

right-o,
granting one's self an hour or more to 'blow smoke and relax' is a luxury we afford ourselves!!! it allows us to step out of life and commitments for a short period of time, to relax, be with our thoughts and 'right the wrongs of the world'!!! there are cheaper ways, as someone pointed out, to get nicotine buzzes...... smoke a load of rollies for example (as was pointed out)!!! i don't inhale cigar smoke, for me it's all about the flavours, just like chocloate, coffee, whiskey, brandy, rum etc! i also love the ritual of preparing myself for that hour's meditation and breathing exercise that comes with enjoying cuban cigars, as well as the ritual cutting and firing up!!! also, i'd like to point out, i don't think of it as smoking, more like perfuming the air:smile:........

this guy sums it up pretty well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht0F6y_q9-U&feature=fvsr

you also have to think about the associations made with cigars!!! i know it's stereotyping, but cigars are associated with success and class (what is the old saying, those who can afford to smoke cigars, those who can't smoke paper)! in movies etc, a cigar is usually a reward for a job well done!!! it also looks macho (eg, gangsters and villains usually smoke cigars, typically as a gross representation that they're financially secure and successful as a result of ill gotten gains)!! i would also like to suggest that, talking with most on here, we reward ourselves with the finer things in life for our hard work, success and persistence in life!! to echo poohbears sentiments from post 3 (yep, i'm pretty much in the same boat,:frown:), and to borrow churchill's quote (about champagne, but here it'll do to sum up my thoughts on cuban cigars):
'in victory i deserve it, in defeat i need it!'

anyway, to sum it up!! i hope i don't come across as a cigar snob!!! i like cigars for the flavour & aroma, for the time it affords me to relax and be with my thoughts.........all that as well as looking fancy and make one feel like a king!!! lol!!!

alex:849::41::smile:

Cor! 10/10 great post, I'll get one of my minions to print it orf :biggrin1:

[Smallclub]

Is the Stonehaven still available 'en France' I can't get it here (unless somebody knows where?)..
:(
Actually Stonehaven has never been available in France (nor any Esoterica product); I used to order it from US retailers, unfortunately it has disappeared from the shelves although it's not officially discontinued… :frown:

[Agricola]

I smoke about twice (two cigars) a week, I used to eat alot ... too much and was about 18 stone or more. I got rid of 4 stone (14 stone now) but wanted to eat in the evenings. I like to sit back and watch my favourite TV shows in the evening whilst munching on junk food.

Well I couldn't do that anymore so now what I do is sit down with a drink and smoke a cigar whilst watching the shows. I don't smoke cigarettes as I find the smell of them a bit fowl.

Yes I enjoy a mild hit from the nicotine as I do the alchohol, the cigar is a reward for my good behavior during the week as I have to watch what I eat and exercise 2 hours a day. It is one of lifes few pleasures and a way of enhancing my evening without turning back into jabba the hutt!

[Robusto]

I love some of these ideas.
There's a part of me that enjoys a good cigar because I want to stick two fingers up to the world.
Especially prats who wave their arms at you outside cafes, and the like.
Those people need to get a life!

[Simon-JG-hr]

Why do I smoke cigars... Hmmm...

Well, first and foremost, I rather enjoy the challenge of working out the differences and then boring people with my thoughts on my blog (just to give my odd obsession with flavour an outlet).

Then there's the general rituals that go with smoking a cigar, and indeed keeping the cigars.

Then, there is the situation in which I will smoke a cigar. It will always be in one of two situations: (1) On my own, contemplating life, nature, nothing, something etc. Just a wonderful period of time to myself, when anything goes. Or (2) At a herf, even if it's just one other person, it's a fantastic social tool, and I've loved every herf I've been to and the company I've kept and friends I've made.

[matt day]

i liketo follow the flavours in a fine ciagr and i also enjoy pairing them with drinks