Tag: Cigar

Smoking a Don Rafa cigar in the Bekaa Valley on a sunny day.

Have a Cigar: Don Rafa Torpedo

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Name: Don Rafa Torpedo

Country: Nicaragua

Shape: Parejo

Size: (6 inches x 52)

Strength: Medium

There is a type of cigar that I call the “just in case” cigar. The “just in case” cigar is the one you keep in your car or in the inside pocket of your jacket just in case you suddenly find an opportunity to light an ‘unplanned’ cigar.

Unplanned cigars are the most gratifying. When you light one, the world instantly becomes a better place. You will understand that life will occasionally reward you simply because you survived another day. And that’s a good thing. That’s a very good thing.

A Plasencia cigar during sunset.

Have a Cigar: Plasencia Alma Fuerte Nestor IV

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Name: Plasencia Alma Fuerte Nestor IV

Country: Nicaragua

Shape: Box-Pressed

Size: Robusto (6 1/4 inches x 54)

Strength: Medium to Full

In his book Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, Ludwig Wittgenstein says that there can never be surprises in logic. Accordingly, I wasn’t surprised when I found the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Toro to be an excellent cigar. I already somewhat knew that I would not be disappointed. Logically speaking, when you light something beautiful, you will likely have a beautiful experience smoking it.

FJ Cigars smoked at an Armenian bistro called Seza in Beirut, Lebanon.

Have a Cigar: FJ Tanit

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Last night I smoked a pretty decent cigar. I’d say it was full-bodied with strong notes of hazelnut, leather, and cocoa. I smoked it while having dinner at an Armenian restaurant in Beirut.

All I know about the cigar is that it’s called “FJ Cigars.” I can’t find anything when I try to google the name. So, I’m assuming it’s either a very new brand (but who would launch a new cigar without at least setting up a website for it?) or it’s custom-made for someone or some shop. I’ll be going back to the same shop I got it from to find out.

I paired it with various drinks. It didn’t go so well with white wine, but it was okay when I paired it with pilsner and great when I paired it with Arabic coffee.

Edit: I went back to the shop I bought the FJ cigar from, but I couldn’t get the information I wanted from them. They only said that the one I smoked is probably called “Tanit” – accordingly, I updated the title of this blog post. But that’s all I have. Too bad.