Cohiba Siglo VI

[larrysputnik]

December 13, 2008 - The "Golden Goblet," essentially the dingiest pub in Pittsburgh. The guy next to me at the bar said he would "stab me in the leg" if I lit up my cigar. I took this picture right after he said that.

[Robusto]

Fantastic picture, Joe.
Glorious cigar to be toking, too.

PLEASE can you explain to the Brits what the situation is where you are if you want to light up in a bar? (Not for New York or California).

Are smoking bars - cigar bars - an exception?

I now have the house to myself and am about to enjoy a home Havana smoke.

Eighteen months ago, I could have walked five minutes to my local pub and lit up in there just like you in your picture.

I'm really very pissed off that that possibility has been taken away.

Bollocks. I'll enjoy my Partagas whatever!

[Robusto]

PS The lights behind you are a bit bell end.

[larrysputnik]

We have a ban on smoking everywhere except in private clubs and bars that make less than 30% of their sales in food. Basically, if it is just a drink serving pub you can smoke in it. The shit end of it though is that cigarette smokers don't always tolerate cigar smoking and some bars have the same line of thinking. There are plenty of bars that allow smoking but kick me out when I light up a cigar. So I have to go to real dive bars to enjoy smoking in the winter because most of the dirty shitty dives don't care what you smoke as long as you're ordering drinks and tipping. In fact, most of the places that tolerate cigar smoking are so shitty that they don't even carry scotch or imported beer for those of us who might have a palate.

Now, the cigar lounges, on the other hand, are really classy places. But I have to drive 30 minutes to get to the closest one. All in all, I can't wait for spring so I can sit outside again, drink what I want and smoke what I want in the fresh air.

It's just a matter of time until we have the same situation you have over there, what with politicians writing policy to protect us from ourselves. On a similar sidenote concerning this imposing political reach we have a 10% drink tax now in Pittsburgh, which means any alcoholic drink poured is taxed another 10%. They passed this tax in 2008 to help fund public transportation and in two months grossly exceeded the amount of money that they needed. Unfortunately, we are still paying the tax and no one seems to want to tell us where the extra money is going.

Sorry for the rant. I have to wait until tomorrow night to smoke a cigar.

[Robusto]

Bizarrely - because I suspect I would not be at home with his politics - I admire Schwarzeneggar as he smokes cigars openly and publicly in California. He says bollocks to the smoke police and enjoys his sticks. I wish we had a prominent cigar smoking Member of Parliament over here. Well, Ken Clarke is back, I guess, and he's always smoked cigars merrily and publicly.

I wish more prominent people would stand up for the cigar habit. NOT to make it their biggest cause, but just to speak up about it casually and in a cool way in the face of determined anti-smoking twats.

I've started to do that away from obsessive spaces like this. With "normal" folk, if the topic of smoking crops up, I take the cigar corner every time. I try to speak sense about cigars (vs cigarettes) in the smoking debate.

PS - Joe. That really is a cool photo.

[Robusto]

It's just a matter of time until we have the same situation you have over there, what with politicians writing policy to protect us from ourselves. On a similar sidenote concerning this imposing political reach we have a 10% drink tax now in Pittsburgh, which means any alcoholic drink poured is taxed another 10%. They passed this tax in 2008 to help fund public transportation and in two months grossly exceeded the amount of money that they needed. Unfortunately, we are still paying the tax and no one seems to want to tell us where the extra money is going.

Hot air balloons, mate?...

[cohibaIV]

Things we do to have a good cigar eh????

[Robusto]

We play one of two really shitty pubs in the band, but even the most ghastly pub has had to ban smoking.

RAUCHEN STRENGST VERBOTEN!
SIEG HEIL!

That can mean that in a break between our sets, five out of the seven of us can be found smoking outside these pubs in black suits.

I'm the one enjoying the best quality and most civilised smoke, of course.

[larrysputnik]

That can mean that in a break between our sets, five out of the seven of us can be found smoking outside these pubs in black suits.

That should make it easier for people to "dine and dash" don't you think?

"Uh, I'm just stepping out for a smoke. The food was excellent; I'll be back in a jiffy to settle up the bill..."

[Robusto]

Where I'm thinking of is the World Of Pork Scratchings.
I bet you don't have those in Pennsylvania, Joe!
Havanas are much better for your diet and wellbeing.

Actually I skipped my dinner for my D4 last night.
Didn't return to it.
I think I'm becoming hooked and evil.

[larrysputnik]

Well, I've always wanted to skip out on a check after eating without paying for it, but I've never had the balls. My inner teacher tells me not to.

[Robusto]

I taught all day with my after work cigar on my mind all day. It's been a bit tiresome today, so the future Havana thought kept me smiling within.

[TJCoro]

Robusto,

Good to know that I'm not the only one that keeps his spirits lifted during the work day with the the though of a wonder CC at the other end. At the moment I'm enjoying a fine puro - Cohiba Siglo VI - while enjoying the Super Bowl.

[Robusto]

TJ - It's like a secret pot of gold down the road. It's like chasing Hansel and Gretel. It's like stroking a mink stoll. It's whatever you want it to be.

For me, it's a growing obsession. It makes me a happier person. I love it.

[TJCoro]

Robuto,

Exactly - It is an obsession. Like meditating or taking a deep yoga breath at the end of a long day before sinking into a favorite chair.

For me, it's sitting outside on a cool, clear day simply watching the world float by - cloud by cloud - just me, my dogs, and favorite puro.

Since it's Monday, I may have to smoke one of my best tonight - Siglo VI, CoRo, or Maybe a Trinidad Robusto Extra. How about you?