Acid Cigars & More

White Owl Cigars have been about for many many years and I have smoked them for so long as i can remember. I found an article from July 1932 about the General Cigar company, which manufacturer’s White Owls. At the time, these machine made cigars were being sold at seven cents. And that price was a bit to high for cigar smokers of that day. The average price of a machine made was about five cents. Many folks went to General to get them to reduce their price down to five cents. Not only did they require the price lowered, but they didn’t require the blunt to be modified in any way. They wanted the same size and quality filler at a cheaper price. White Owl cigars are made with the most costly filler that the US grows and is a quality cigar that some aficionado’s did not care paying one or two extra cents. Many middle management of the company were not willing to switch the price, they might be making the lowest profit from the change and other corporations using scraps and damaged ends of tobacco would still be making a serious profit margin, for less superior cigars. In the final analysis, the choice was made to low the costs, but keeping the practice of great long filler and over sized cigars. Once the reduction was put into effect, the company broke records for quick increase in consumption. They managed to do this with organized production and gigantic output. I only wish they still only cost five cents per cigar, that would save me a lot of cash, I think I would be fine with paying the seven cents too.

Almost all of the time, if you let cigars dry out, you’ve got to write off your investment as a learning experience, even though infrequently a costly one.  In a few cases, cigars can be refitted thru weeks in a good humidor, but it is a troublesome business, and best left to somebody with great patience and experience.  If you insist on attempting to do it yourself, proceed slowly.  Over a period of several weeks, continuously move the cigars from the outer corners into the centre of your humidor. 

All the other parables about the best way to restore dried-out cigars are just that — myths.  Remember that a cigar has many layers of tobacco.  It’s tragic for the various layers to become moist or dry out at different rates.  For example, if a cigar is placed in a hyper-moist environment, and then taken out of that wet environment, the outside dries and shrinks while the interior is still distended, and the cigar splits open.  ( Not a pretty sight.  )

these are some of the odder recommendations we’ve heard.  Don’t try these.  EVER. 
* Sneak them into the steam room at the health club.
* Steam them in the higher rack of a dishwasher. 
* Put your cigars in the bathroom and run the shower till the hot water gives out.  

The straightforward answer is : Yes, it is legal to grow tobacco in the US.  As for other nations, I do not know, but I might think so.  Some states need a permit to grow it, and you would need to check with your local municipality to work out if you need one.  If you decide you need to sell your own tobacco, regardless of what state you are in, you will need to fill out some bureaucracy ( aka permits and tax info ), but for the needs of this article, we’re going to assume that you are just growing it for yourself and some select mates.

Another question I am asked a lot when it comes to growing tobacco and rolling cigars ( growing in particular ), is why even trouble.  Isn’t it a lot simpler to go to the store and get a cigar.  Isn’t it quicker?  Isn’t the quality better?

The list of questions goes on and on.  If you have that many questions, chances are your first instinct is right : growing and rolling your own tobacco is not for you.  I feel the same way about people that raise their own fish, fastidiously watching its diet and growth, then frying it up a fortnight later.

The simplest method of identifying cigars is by the method in which they are made. Cigars are either rolled by hand, or manufactured by machines. The beginner smoker may be tempted to start by trying those machine made brands sold in Drug Stores, such as Parodi. However, the Beginner should consider spending a few more pennies and moving up to hand rolled cigars, which are sold online or at a local tobacco retailer. Heavy smokers Vs Connoisseurs TypicalIndividual cigar smokers have their own unique tastes, and have their own individual budget. Those who are smoking many cigars per day may need an “everyday” cigar that is less expensive. Therefore, the taste and cost of machine made cigars can be very attractive to some smokers. However, to the beginner or experienced connoisseurs, the ones who enjoy an occasional cigar as a special treat, the hand rolled cigar is worth every penny.

Well, St. Louis has chosen a smoking ban for all restaurants and bars, with only a short list exemptions. I’m so done with my constitutional rights being abolished, I’m annoyed. I can’t fathom the reason non-smokers have such a aggressive personal judgement on what us smokers are doing. I comprehend that smoking is damaging, but I made a conscience decision when I started smoking, observant of the fact it was not good. Just because non-smokers want me to cease, does not mean that it is going to happen. Smoking in restaurants has been a favor, but most restaurants include a approved smoking section. If you do not want to smell the smoke, don’t eat in the smoking section, you are not coerced to sit in that section. And as far as the employees of these bars that say they are distressed by second hand smoke, I don’t believe it. I held jobs in the restaurant business for more than 10 years, and I know that almost all of thefellow workers were smokers.  Dealing with the public, tends to, drives you to smoke.  Also, I have never overheard one non-smoking co-worker ever protest about second hand smoke while at work in the smoking section. Putting a smoking prohibition in restaurants and bars, can only save me money, considering I will not go out after the January 1st.

Credit goes to my father-in-law for sending this to me- I couldn’t believe it and had to share it with you:

Tobacco Smoke Enemas (1750s – 1810s)
The tobacco enema was used to infuse tobacco smoke into a patient’s rectum for various medical purposes, primarily the resuscitation of drowning victims.  A rectal tube inserted into the anus was connected to a fumigator and bellows that forced the smoke towards the rectum.  The warmth of the smoke was thought to promote respiration, but doubts about the credibility of tobacco enemas led to the popular phrase “blow smoke up one’s ass.” 

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