A Short Thick Smoke
2020 may sound good if you are having your eyes tested.
But if you mention 2020 to someone like us in the small, specialist retail trade I think you will find that it doesn’t ring well for them – good riddance to it.
The threat of Covid-19 has put paid to my spending even one day in my shop - from the first day of lockdown up to today.
However, amongst other things, committing myself to the task of placing the weekly orders for all the consumables we sell, especially cigars, has kept me up to date with the action in the shop.
It has been interesting to see how little trends, or patterns, have formed over the years, and even during the course of each year.
The sales of boxes of 25 or more cigars have dropped, but the sales of the same cigars in boxes of 10 or packs of 5 or even 3 have risen to the extent that over the year their sales have gone up.
This could be that more and more cigar smokers have their own humidors holding 50-100 cigars, and they want more variety than just 2 or 4 different cigars available to them at any one time.
In these cases, they “top-up” missing sizes from time to time.
It is also easier to try something new if it is available in small quantities. (This is where our 3 pack “Selections” come in handy.)
It could also be a cash flow relief.
I can remember as a young man muttering about the increasing cost of filling the petrol tank of my car. A wiser, older friend suggested to me that if I filled the tank up as it reached the halfway mark, I would always have enough fuel for an emergency situation, and a better more even cash flow most of the time - sound advice!
Back to the cigars – it might be nice to have a good Churchill size cigar now and then, but you may not need half your humidor full of them. 3, 5 or 10 varied sizes may do, to be topped up as they reach the halfway mark.
I mention all this because, with what is predicted to be a long cold winter coming up, you may need a few more short, larger ring size cigars. These could be enjoyed either outside in the brisk, cold air, or, if you are lucky, in front of a warm fire, either real or gas.
Many of these short, thick cigars have fallen into the generic name “Nub”.
The original Nub was produced in the very early 2000’s by a salesman for Oliva cigars in America.
Sensing the demand for a short, thicker cigar, probably to complement or compete with the Robusto, he rolled a 102mm x 60 ring size cigar in his garage and very appropriately named it a “Nub”.
The concept was an immediate success, but it wasn’t as easy to put into practice as some cigar producers found out.
To put it simply one could not just cut a large ring size cigar to 102mm and call it a Nub expecting it to give the smoking experience of a true Nub.
Cigar Aficionado in March 2008 described the concept:
Just the sweet spot -- that is the theory behind the Nub, a new line of short, ultra-thick cigars made by Oliva Cigar Co.
The concept for the Nub is based on the idea that the average cigar usually finds its sweet spot -- the part of the cigar that is most flavorful and balanced -- at the 3 1/2 inch- to 4-inch (90-102mm) point of a cigar. No Nub is longer than 4 inches long. Oliva says Nub cigars are loaded with copious amounts of tobacco; some of the cigars are as thick as 66 ring gauge, or more than one inch in diameter. The large ring gauge not only produces abundant amounts of smoke, but consequently forms a dense ash which, Oliva says, insulates the cigar as it burns, keeping it cool and maintaining its flavors.
Today we have a nice selection of these chubby, short masterpieces offered by several brands from which you can choose.
If these are new to you, you could be in for a very pleasant surprise by what a satisfying a smoke they give you.
Click here to see the Nub variations currently available
Cutting a “Nub”
Opening up the full head of cigars of such large ringsizes may overwhelm you with smoke.
You may like to try punching 2 or 3 holes in a compact pattern over the head of the cigar (works for any cigar)
The Punch:
We have several models – from the budget model with rubberised casing, the GunMetal model, and the aluminium-cased Passatore models to the superb Dunhill punch.
Each has a surgical steel “punch” and a manual ejection system with key-ring fitment
Note: Turn the punch, not the cigar.
Idea: If you moisten the head of the cigar you may get a smoother cut.
Remove the concern about cutting too much off the top of your cigar – punch it!
The “Cuban Cut”
Alternatively try the “Cuban cut” – that is, slice off a portion of the shoulder of the cigar to reduce the flow of smoke. Smoke the cigar with the open part uppermost in the mouth and the smooth section on the tongue.
This was told to me some years ago. My informant called this the “Cuban cut” (and he seemed to know what he was talking about).
Whatever it is called, I like it and I use it often.
A “V-cutter” is not normally suitable.
To give you an opportunity to replace or change your cutter, we offer:
25% off the price of all Cigar Cutters and Punches
Normal Prices from R69.00 to R3990.00
May 13-26, 2021
Only from Wesley’s Shops and Online |
Cutting your cigar appropriately is an important step to real enjoyment.
Colin Wesley
No.494 May 6-19, 2021
All previous blogs are archived in the Library, by date and by subject.
A visit will allow you to choose from any of the more than 400 blogs to read or re-read at your leisure.
Note:
By law, no South African citizen, living in South Africa can buy a tobacco product via the internet or postal system. In fact, you may not receive a tobacco product through the post.
In addition we may not receive payment through the internet for tobacco products.
We may only supply tobacco products within the trade – not to private individuals. The fine is substantial
Contact us for help in getting tobacco to your area.
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(ZAR)
