No.400 March 23 – April 5, 2017 Cigar Talk Seventeen years ago we set up our website. But how, was the question. The very finest cigar I never had You might as well know now. A cigar is the centerpiece of what follows. And you might as well also know that I have been known to smoke one of those things from time to time, despite what I know about all the good reasons not to. I'm just assuming that you sometimes do something of your own that you shouldn't do, either, and will understand. Moreover, I only had one puff from this cigar. Yet it was the cigar I will never forget. One fine fall morning in San Francisco. I had taken a cable car from Union Square to the foot of Columbus Street, intending to walk back through the old Italian quarter of North Beach. In a great mood. A week of hard work had gone well, and now I had a couple of days off to myself. So I had gone into Dunhill's and bought the finest cigar in the shop to smoke on an equally fine walk. If you happen to appreciate cigars, this was a Macanudo, maduro, as big around as my thumb and six-and-a-half inches long—a very serious cigar. If you do not appreciate cigars, this one is best described as one of those cigars that would make you say, "My God, you're not going to smoke that thing in here, are you?" After a few blocks' walk, it was cigar time. With care I removed the cellophane, squeezed the cigar to check for freshness, and held it to my nose to make sure it wasn't sour. Perfect. It so happened that I had been standing in front of a coffeehouse. A cup of fine espresso would add the final right ingredient to a recipe for a memorable morning. Placing the lit cigar carefully on the wide brick window ledge of the coffeehouse, I went inside to order. While waiting at the counter, I glanced out the window to check on my cigar. Gone. My cigar was gone. Abandoning my coffee, I rushed to the door. And stopped short. There on the other side of the glass was an old man examining my cigar with the skill of an aficionado. He held the cigar with respect under his nose and smelled it with eyes closed. He smiled. He squeezed the cigar to check for freshness. He smiled. Looking carefully up and down the street, he took a puff. And smiled again. With a heavenward salute with the cigar, he set off down the street. SMOKING MY CIGAR. I followed, not knowing quite what to do. I really wanted that cigar back. The old man. Salt-and-pepper hair, with grand mustache and eyebrows to match—jaunty black longshoreman's cap, white long-sleeved shirt, black suspenders, and dark brown pants and shoes. Short, plump, wrinkled, walking with a slight limp, the old man ambled on into the morning, unaware of me lurking furtively a few yards behind. Italian. First-generation immigrant probably. As were the friends he visited to report the good news of the cigar that fate had prepared for him that fine day. I got a tour of the old Italian quarter of North Beach I had not anticipated—the real thing. A pasta shop, a fruit stand, a hardware store, a bakery, and the local priest. At each stop, in passionate terms, he exalted the cigar, his good fortune, and this lovely day. Each friend was offered a sample puff. The fruit vendor squeezed the cigar and approved its ripeness. The baker puffed twice and pronounced the cigar "Primo, primo." The priest gave the cigar a mock blessing. In time the old man turned toward the bocce ball courts north of Ghirardelli Square, and when he arrived, he repeated for his compatriots his ritual celebration of the cigar and his good luck. The cigar burned down to a short stub. As it came his turn to play, the old man meditated upon the end of the cigar with dear regret. He did not toss it to the ground and grind it underfoot as I might have. No. Solemnly, he walked over to a flower bed, scooped a small hole beneath a rosebush, laid the cigar butt to rest, covered it with dirt, and patted the small grave smooth with his hand. Pausing, he raised his cap in respect, smiled, and returned to play the game. The old man may have smoked it, but I've not enjoyed a cigar more. If having a lovely memory is the best possession, then that cigar is still mine, is it not? It remains the very finest cigar I never had.
Robert Fulghum has published eight best-selling books of non-fiction. More than 17 million copies of his books are in print, in 31 languages, in 103 countries. Now a wide brick window ledge might be acceptable in certain circumstances. But what about in your favourite smoking place? How clever is that? Elegant and efficient, simply set the rest according to the length of the cigar – slide it as the cigar burns down.
We saw this model of cigar ashtray many years ago in a Davidoff shop in Schaffhausen – and have finally sourced it for your convenience and pleasure. Colin Wesley No.400 March 23 – April 5, 2017 You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library. 
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The article is printed with kind permission of the author and BrightSight Group
Any cigar, irrespective of its length or ringsize has always posed a challenge in finding a suitable resting place, preventing it from tipping into the ashtray, or falling off backwards.
No.401 April 6-19, 2017 The Lorenzo Effect It all started with Lorenzo Tagliabue, already the third Tagliabue to be in the pipe business. He had an incredible flair for designing pipes with shapes never seen before in the world of classic pipe making. At an early stage in his stewardship, Riccardo made the astute decision to start moving the production to Albania with a resultant price benefit. He now produces in Albania the best value pipes available (under the Spitfire by Lorenzo label), as well as the most popular of the original Lorenzo ranges. The “Lorenzo” spirit for innovation has not been lost. Other finishes make the most of the briar bowls available. Finishes such as:
This is where our annual visit to the Lorenzo stockroom in Gallarate is so important for us. We also bought the small Dinky, Mini and Bamby pipes, in various finishes; and topped up our existing stocks of churchwardens. We struck gold in the Oom Paul shapes: “Carvit” blocks straight and bent for the DIY guys – we bought all he had. These are all on our shelves now. Still to come – Original Lorenzo shapes Summa Cum Laude (smooth or spot-carved) and 3 original shapes of the large, standing Valsesia, in thumb rubbing, sandpebble finish. We loved this exciting new finish, carving based on the natural grain. We think you will too. And we have found a shape we had never seen before: Does R750.00 sound better?
It’s in the styles and finishes that the Lorenzo spirit of innovation is continued. Colin Wesley No.401 April 6-19, 2017 You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library.
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Some of the “slightly flawed” blocks showed a large degree of hard wood and excellent grain – it seemed a waste to rusticate the whole bowl to cover these flaws.
No.402 April 20 to May 3, 2017 Meaningful Measurements Spending time in my shop often gives me food for thought for an “Across the Counter” article. Ringsize: In countries using the Imperial system of measurement (feet and inches), such as England in the past and the United States today, the diameter of the cigar is expressed in “rings”, where one ring is 1/64 inch. Back to my customer: We looked at two finger cutters, scissors and punches. We have three guillotine cutters and the Credo two-finger scissors, and other scissors for this size – Ringsize 60 is nearly 24mm diameter. There were further considerations in respect of the actual cutting, the ringsize may be too large for the whole cigar to be comfortable in the mouth: We decided that one of these cutters would work, and if he found the whole cigar too big in his mouth, he could cut the appropriate size hole, press the cigar firmly against his lips, and draw comfortably. On a following Saturday a lady came in with a purposeful look about her. She asked if we had any Petit Churchill size cigars in stock. In the final analysis, for practical purposes, the relevance of ringsize (and length) is that it will determine the rate of draw that is most comfortable for you and the amount of time you need to smoke the cigar. But my customer’s questions continue:
Just arrived are Ramos superior quality leather cigar cases for a variety of sizes. The preferential customs duties from the EU countries has influenced us to re-introduce this Ramos range of cigar cases to our offerings. They are internationally acclaimed for their overall design, workmanship and attention to detail, particularly to the stitching and edge-trimming.
And so ……………
You enjoy these large ringsize cigars? Colin Wesley No.402 April 20 to May 3, 2017 You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library.
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No.403 April 6-19, 2017
Throughout our long association with the Savinelli brand we have always admired the incredible consistency of their production – both in quality, and with shapes. Consistency in quality Consistency in shapes The subtle differences between the two Canadians 804 and 812, clearly distinguish one from the other. No 804 has a rigid exactness about it – the dead straight long oval shank extending from the right angled upright billiard bowl, fitted with a straight tapered short mouthpiece. So how has Savinelli remained innovative, and creative, working within such limitations? Taking inspiration from the beautiful scenery and magnificent art of Italy, and of all things Italian, Savinelli has designed new finishes and ranges in the pre-defined shapes – the annual Collection (see 2017 now available); the Leonardo da Vinci series (now complete); a top quality Punto Oro range (more to arrive); festive St Nicholas pipes; Churchwarden Duo; basic Grezza; and of course the unbeatable Dry System pipes. Always up-to-date, anticipating the same demand for smaller pipes as for shorter cigars, Savinelli offers the “Minuto” 10 minute pipe. A small elegant bent in three finishes, it comes with a neat carry pouch, filters and pipe tool. Adding even more colour to our selection we bought two new rusticated finishes. But it was the new shapes in the Venere brown blasted range that really caught our eye. All the pipes we ordered have arrived.
Experience the pleasure of choosing pipes of different colours and finishes, while being able to rely on the Savinelli commitment to consistent style and quality. Colin Wesley No.403 May 4 - 13, 2017 You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library.
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– a perfectionist
No.404 May 18 - 31, 2017 The Premium Cigar Revolution / Liberation What’s new? Those of us who won’t, or are unlikely to, double our age in this world, remember the days when the only really decent cigars available had to be Cuban. Then the first choice was either a Montecristo No.2 or a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2. In May 2005 I wrote: “Are the Americans Happy?” This situation lasted until the cigar boom of 1990s when Cuban cigars infiltrated the US market and started heading many cigar rating lists in magazines such as Cigar Aficionado. Suddenly the American taste for cigars changed. They wanted more full-bodied, rich-flavoured cigars. Cuban cigars were still appreciated by many, who came by them by hook or by crook. But the manufacturers wanted to impress their own brands before the inevitable day when Cuban cigars were again freely available in the US. Macanudo introduced its “Robust” range and later still its “Maduro” range. Other brands responded similarly, producing what became known as “Cubanesque” cigars. Even Davidoff created the Millenium “Cubanesque” blend. And cigars from Nicaragua or Honduras, where the soil produces leaf far more like the Cuban leaf, were topping the ratings lists. Since 2005 Ecuador has risen to be a top country for wrapper from seeds developed in other countries. Further brands and innovative blends have been developed, offering even more choice for the cigar smokers. In January we talked about the Honduran Don Tomas cigar – new on the South African market at an unbelievable price. This price turned out to be too good to be true – the manufacturers had inadvertently declared a weight of tobacco that was too low. The weights in a subsequent shipment were corrected, and the correct duty was levied – for both shipments. The prices are now more in line with other cigars of similar sizes, and the quality makes the new price well worthwhile. The next cigar name we will be offering to you in the Wesley’s shops is the “Black Lion” from La Aurora. Originally these cigars were made exclusively for J.R. Cigars - one of the biggest retailers of Premium cigars in the U.S.A. His volumes guarantee that his quality demands will be met. One shape, Robusto (127mm x Ring 50), in four different blends. Read more about wrapper leaf, and its effect on a cigar. Here are the blends - taken from the La Aurora website. Some discrepancies on JR website. Black Lion Maduro (Red Label). Black Lion Corojo (Green Label) Black Lion Cameroon (Blue Label) Black Lion Connecticut (Yellow Label) Really good answers to “What’s New” Another revolution is in the cigar ringsize: Shorter thicker cigars – due to time constraints, we are finding the larger ringsizes in even shorter cigars. NEW: Seleccion Petit Robustos (5 brands) (90mm x Ring 50) – R3968.00 box of 10 Thicker cigars have called for a new range of accessories – cutters and cases. Guess which he chose! To thank him for the ideas, we offered a 25% discount.
You enjoy these large ringsize cigars? Colin Wesley You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library.
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