I don’t like to be a complainer. I have way too much to be thankful for than to spend my time griping about this and whining about that. As a writer, reader, and lover of cigars, though, I recognize that sometimes grievances need to be aired. Today is one of those times.

In a previous listing of my top cigar pet peeves, I noted that while I consider cigars to be one of the great joys of my life, there are a number of cigar-related problems that continually irk me. Some are trivial, others not so much. In any event, I list a handful of them here:

Cigars with a Poor Draw

The more cigars I enjoy, the more I realize that I’m an enthusiast who wants the smoke to come free and easy. There’s nothing like a great-tasting stick that smokes like a chimney, emitting bountiful tufts of flavorful, aromatic smoke. I have a low tolerance for cigars that are tight, or cigars that draw inconsistently from stick to stick. A straight burn and a solid ash are important to construction, but these days I’m all about the draw.

The Government

The biggest threats to the cigar industry are the meddling politicians in Washington and in state capitals across the country. Tobacco taxes, smoking bans, and the potential of stifling regulations from the FDA all spell trouble for cigar companies, those who depend on cigar jobs at home and abroad, tobacco shops, and every cigar smoker. I believe many of the best cigars that have ever been made are in production today. Yet our so-called “leaders” are doing everything they can to make cigars too expensive, make smoke-friendly establishments illegal, make limited edition blends impossible to roll out, and make boutique manufacturers a thing of the past.

Shops with Bad Customer Service

Is it too much to ask for a tobacconist to have a basic understanding of his inventory? Or to be attentive to his customer’s needs? Or to act like he actually appreciates your business? Even though many B&Ms are average to excellent in terms of customer service, that still leaves far too many with a lot of room for improvement. It’s crummy to have a bad experience in a shop, especially when you can probably buy the same cigars online for a fraction of the price.

Guys Who Only Smoke Cubans

Every so often I run into a guy who says he only smokes Cubans. I can’t understand this. While Cuba produces some fine cigars, I continue to encounter inconsistency issues with many Cuban smokes, and the prices are often too high for what you get in return. Meanwhile, countries like Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic are turning out awesome blends and leading the industry in quality control. This guy may think he’s better than everyone else, but he’s missing out on the best tobacco in the world.

So those are my gripes for today. Feel free to share your feedback, or your own cigar pet peeves, in the comments below. It’s Wednesday, and today is a good day to complain.

–Patrick A



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