Friday, February 13 2009
By Heather Waibel Haddad (
FumeeWorld.com)
I hate Valentine's day. Crowded restaurants. Overpriced flowers. Tacky heart-shaped jewelry. And, let's face it, your expectations are never met. This year, I'm going to try something different. I can't go into detail, but let's just say it involves a bottle of Pot Belly Port, a good cigar, and a little Barry White.
Here's the point. Valentine's day is overrated, but you can still have a good time if you do it right. And doing it right means spending it with the person you love (or like well enough) and doing things you both enjoy, like having a cigar (you) and being wined and dined (by your sweetheart).
Of course, since it is a day to celebrate your love, you shouldn't smoke that cigar all alone this February 14th. At this point you might be chuckling, “How do I get my sweetheart to join me?” Never fear, we're here to help. Follow our tips and you'll both be blowing smoke-hearts before you know it. (Of course if you're both already cigar enthusiasts, you can skip ahead to the end.)
1. Choose your cigar carefully. Longer cigars, like a Churchill, will burn cooler, while a shorter cigar, like a Robusto, will burn hotter and have more of a bite. Although a large cigar is more intimidating to a new smoker, it's actually the better choice. It should also go without saying that you don't want select anything too strong. Nausea doesn't make for romance.
2. Woo them. Present the cigar as a part of a larger gift. They won't feel slighted if there are also diamonds and a bottle of Beaujolais in the mix. I can assure you, smoking a cigar is a lot more fun when the hand holding it is sparkling from the diamonds in a new tennis bracelet.
3. Bribe them. Include a card stating both your love for your sweetie and cigars. Therein, promise that the day will include an event that they enjoy that you wouldn't normally partake in (a trip to the art museum, a picnic in the park, or a couples massage). They'll be more amenable to your idea when they know that their turn is coming up.
4) Take the pressure off. Explain to your sweetie that they don't have to smoke the whole cigar. It's perfectly proper to put down a cigar as soon as you're no longer enjoying it. Knowing that they just have to put in a good effort might just convince them to give it a go. (And to avoid any unpleasantness, don't give them your Padron 80th Anniversary if there's a risk that they might only smoke an inch of it. Supply them with something good, but not too lavish.)
5) Location matters. Make sure the location is appealing. Sitting on a folding chair in your garage isn't going to make them think that this is a special experience. Visit your local shop or, if the weather is nice enough, a bar with a great patio.
6) Pamper them. If your significant other is not too keen on smelling like a cigar for your valentine's dinner, the solution is simple. Explain that after your romantic espresso-and-cigar hour, you will be drawing her a bath with rose petals and a glass of wine. She'll love the chivalry and you'll love the fact that she'll still smell, well, like roses.
Remember, this is a day to show you care. So, if you meet some resistance, don't push it. You can always spend Feb. 15 at your local cigar shop. £
About Heather Waibel Haddad
Heather Waibel Haddad discovered her love of cigars when she was eighteen. She began a quest to bring beauty to the art of cigar smoking, and along the way discovered another passion: entrepreneurship. Ms. Haddad owns www.fumeeworld.com and the Fumée Cigar Lounge in Cedar Park, Texas. Fumée, the feminine French word for "smoke" was chosen to reflect the feminine ownership of the company.
