Saturday, August 06 2011
By Gary Korb
A few months ago I was sitting at home smoking one of my favorite cigars. I don't remember how the idea came into my head, but I began to think, "If cigars were bands or musicians, singers, etc. how would they match up?" As a marketing writer, I've personified cigars in many different ways over the years, but I thought this would be an amusing challenge. So, as I kicked back with my cigar and my vodka & tonic with a slice of lime, I began to ponder the question.
It could be any cigar or brand, but the strength, flavor and complexity of the cigar should play some part in the decision. For example, Crème de Jamaica cigars made me think of Bob Marley for obvious reasons. Moreover, they're pretty mild and laid back like reggae music, too. However, you may associate a cigar like Graycliff with Bob Marley, or maybe more appropriately, Phillies Blunts. ;-)
First, I made up my own list. I could've gone on forever, but here are 10 more match-ups that I came up with:
- ACID = Jimi Hendrix
- Arturo Fuente = Bob Dylan
- Avo Classic = Frank Sinatra
- CAO Italia = Louis Prima
- Joya De Nicaragua 1970 Antaño = AC/DC
- Macanudo Café = Barry Manilow
- Oliva Serie V = Led Zeppelin
- Padron Anniversary 1964 Maduro = Nirvana
- Rocky Patel Vintage = The Rolling Stones
- Tatuaje = Red Hot Chili Peppers
Next, I sent an email around the Famous Smoke Shop office asking the regular cigar smokers on the staff to take a shot at it. Some are a bit farfetched, but that's part of the fun.
Adam Fullen / Web Application Developer
Alec Bradley Overture = Radiohead
Bayamo = Johnny Cash
Onyx Reserve = Rancid
Padron = Ray LaMontagne
Jeff Brown / COO Cigar Works Division
Famous Nicaraguan 3000 = Motorhead
Vudu = Buckwheat Zydeco
Hayward Tenney / Marketing Copywriter
La Flor Dominicana = (old) Metallica
Humberto Gonzalez / Buyer, Sampler Monkey
Bahia = Prince
CAO Flavours = Spice Girls
Gran Habano = Smashing Pumpkins
Gurkha = Blues Traveler
Illusione = Dean Martin
Jaime Garcia = Ruben Blades
Kristoff = The Police
La Flor Dominicana = Guns 'n Roses
Leon Jimenez = The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
John Spisak / Graphic Designer, Catalog
Backwoods = Lynyrd Skynyrd
Opus X = The Beatles
Phillies = Black Eyed Peas
Mike Klingerman / Inventory Manager
Fonseca = The Doors
Don Pepin = John Lennon
Don Tomas = INXS
La Aurora = Luther Vandross
Khoung Pham / CigarMonster.com Manager
CAO Flavors = The Go Go’s
Capoeira = The Village People
Gran Habano = The Butthole Surfers
Bill Miller / Graphic Designer, Catalog
Tabamex = Carlos Santana
Scott Shemtov / Programmer, SEO
Phillies = Cypress Hill
White Owl = Wu Tang Clan
I also put this out to some of our regular contributors:
Robustojoe, Purveyor, Robustojoe.com
Cu Avana Punisher = Ravi Shankar
Padilla Dominus = Steely Dan
Padron Anniversary 1964 = The Doors
Perdomo Champagne = Enya
So, now I put the question to you. Please type your musician comparisons to your favorite cigars/brands in the comments section. I'm looking forward to reading your picks. Have fun!
(_[GK]__{{{~
