February 4, 2023: People Try to Fix You

People try to fix you
as if you’re broken
or as if you have been doing things wrong
all your life.

They tell you, “You don’t understand.
Let me show you how it’s done.”
And you let them.
You stay calm and let them
teach you whatever it is they want to teach you.

People try to fix you
and expect you to be fixed the next time they see you.
But they don’t understand that they can never change you
because they are the ones who need to change.

They try to fix you
only because they are broken,
and you don’t have the courage or the time
to tell them that they are.

My Father La Gran Oferta Toro

Have a Cigar: My Father La Gran Oferta Toro

Name: My Father La Gran Oferta Toro

Country: Nicaragua

Shape: Parejo

Size: Toro (6 inches x 50)

Strength: Medium to Full

A cigar with a nice complexity that comes with a harmony of notes, including wood, cayenne, earth, and coffee. It was nicely paired with Johnnie Walker Black Label.

Branding: Good. Nothing too impressive to talk about except the name. It has a “Godfather” feel, which I like.

Construction: Good.

Pre-light: Promising and sexy.

Cut: Straight cut, no problems.

Burn: Mostly even. I didn’t have major problems. Fixed it a couple of times.

Duration: 60 minutes.

Draw: Great.

Smoke: Generous.

Ash: Good.

Flavor: Notes of wood, medium-roast coffee, earth, cayenne.

Bellas Artes Maduro Toro at Mareva Club.

Have a Cigar: Bellas Artes Maduro Toro

Name: Bellas Artes Maduro Toro

Country: Nicaragua

Shape: Box-Pressed

Size: Toro (6 inches x 54)

Strength: Medium to Full

With my wife and friends, having drinks and smoking cigars in a lounge on a Saturday evening.

My first cigar was done, and I was ready to light a second one. I walked in the humidor and spent a good ten minutes there. I had no idea what I wanted other than I felt like smoking something new. I looked around. One of the shop owners was there trying to help me by showing me the new arrivals, but I wasn’t in the mood to try something too new or too fancy. Then I spotted the Bellas Artes Maduro Toro and picked it up.

“This looks good. A brand by A.J. Fernandez? Never tried it. I’ll give it a try now.”

Branding: Shiny and classy. Impressive name.

Construction: No weak spots. Very well done.

Pre-light: I got notes of sugar cane, Arabic coffee, and vanilla.

Cut: Straight cut.

Burn: Even throughout. Never went off.

Duration: 90 minutes.

Draw: Good, but a little firm.

Smoke: Good, but it wasn’t generous until the second half.

Ash: Beautiful.

Flavor: Notes of earth, sugar cane, light roast coffee, and black pepper.