Saturday, February 04 2012
By Paul Davis | PokerJunkie.com
When many people think of the game of poker, especially poker games of the past, they think of men in smoke-filled rooms sitting around the table with a good drink and smoking fine cigars. For many poker players, a fine cigar is still an indulgence, but one that can no longer be enjoyed in many casinos. Let's look at a few brands that poker players commonly smoke.
Surprisingly, a brand that you will often see being smoked are Phillies Blunts cigars. This blend of mild smoking Dominican and Honduran tobaccos seem to be a big hit with the 35 to 45 year old crowd. Part of that may be due to the brand being very popular during the 80's. Many of them grew up hearing about, and maybe even sneaking a few puffs of these classic machine-made cigars from their fathers. Before you ask, "Why the hell would they smoke a cheap-ass Phillies?" consider that many times these players do not have a lot of time to enjoy a good cigar. Many times, the breaks are no longer than 10 minutes. This doesn’t leave a lot of time, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense to waste, say, a Fuente Fuente OpusX. Save those for your home games or your dinner break.
Now, a lot of the younger poker crowd that likes to smoke cigars tend to lean towards the
Swisher Sweets Black cigars. The combination of both air and fire cured tobaccos tends to offer a sweet taste and an aroma that doesn't overpower you like some cigars. Another reason Swishers tend to be popular is the price. Swisher Sweets tend to be on the lower end with regard to price, making them ideal for young poker players whose bankrolls go up and down more often than the Dow Jones Industrial average.
If you happen to run with some of the higher rollers who smoke cigars, many of them prefer Don Diego's or the Kristoff GC Signature Series. Don Diego is a mid-to-high-end cigar that is famous for its smooth and mellow taste. You won't see as many poker players smoking these, but your higher rollers, or "more sophisticated" poker players tend to lean toward the Kristoff GC Signature Series. Why? Because they are high-end cigars that come in a variety of top-grade wrappers and various blends of Dominican and Honduran tobaccos. Moreover, some players like giving off the "baller" image at and away from the tables.
Granted, not all poker players fall into such a small range when it comes to the brands of cigars they smoke. Take, for instance, Paul McKinney, the player known as "Cigar." McKinney won the 2005 World Series of Poker Seniors Event at the age of 80! He listed his hobbies as moonshine, cigars, and young women. (Go Paul!)
Though he was always seen with a cigar in his mouth at the poker table, McKinney reportedly did not have extravagant tastes in cigars. While nobody actually asked him directly, some reported he smoked Phillies, while others said that he enjoyed King Edward Cigars. As a result, McKinney may not have been considered a "high-roller" based on the cigars he smoked, but he sure looked like one after the Seniors event. He took home $202,725 in prize money and most every photo you see of him, including the winner’s photo, he's chomping on his favorite cigar.
As for most poker players, they love to gamble, enjoy a good drink, and enjoy the pleasure of a great cigar, even if some of them are not
regular cigar smokers. They may not be able to sit in their favorite casino and smoke them as in old days, but that doesn't stop them from lighting one up
after the game. However, there are many home games where players can enjoy a good cigar while trying to "stack" their opponents. For those situations I would recommend the following cigars:
Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos
La Flor Dominicana Premium Line
Ashton Cabinet Selection
If you have a favorite poker cigar that you smoke during your weekly
home game or on breaks during live events, please share them by leaving a
comment.
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