My friends, the world seems to be coming apart at the seams.  Never in my lifetime have we witnessed something as far-reaching and impactful upon our daily lives as this pandemic.  It is a trying time for sure, but maintaining some semblance of normalcy will be key in making it through the coming weeks.  For some, this is jogging or cooking or doing virtual happy hours with friends.

For me, this is the time to unwind and be able to actually sit and enjoy some of the fantastic cigars I’ve acquired over the years.  Cigars have a magical ability to make us forget the troubles of the world and simply sit back, take it all in, and relax.  This is something that is crucial during times like this.  So, I want to make sure that all my BOTLS and SOTLS are set up with the perfect way to self-isolate with your cigars.

First, you need to make sure you are stocked up on cigars.  While many of us might have a big enough collection to last us through the next decade, a majority of casual smokers might not.  You want to stock up on some cigars as soon as you can.  Even with the current laws and rules in place, you have options to load up on some fine smokes.

To buy cigars during the pandemic, you can obviously order through us, as we are still shipping.  However, I don’t want to sound too self-serving.  Many retail stores, including the Casa de Montecristo stores, are offering both shipping orders right to your house and curbside pick-up.  This is a great option not just to stock up but also to maintain your social distance and to help out your local cigar store during these times.

What’s worse than having no cigars? Having some cigars but no tools to smoke them with.  You want to make sure you are loaded up on all cigar essentials.  This includes lighters, cutters, fuel, and matches.  I can tell you, I’m already running low on wood matches and had to put in a call to a friend for some more.

This is also a great time to pick up some humidor supplies, such as Boveda packs.  Take this time to reorganize your humidor and get it set up the way you want.

Seeing has how most, if not all, cigar lounges are now closed, you’re going to need to find a spot to set up and enjoy your cigars.  For some, this is more difficult than others.  While many smokers might have the luxury of a man cave or just smoke in their house, for most of us I want to say this isn’t true.  If you have the availability of a back deck or porch, I suggest you use it.

It is important to remember that you will now be responsible for your own ash and clean up.  Make sure you have a trusty ashtray handy and that you are regularly cleaning it out.  Make a little spot for yourself where you can just sit and relax, make it your little vacation each day.

Thank the Lord in heaven that in many states, liquor stores were deemed as essential businesses.  I don’t know how I would get through something like this without a good cigar and a good drink.  Even if you don’t imbibe in alcohol use this time to craft some cigar pairings for yourself.  This can be done with essentially any drink, from whiskey to beer, to coffee, or juice.  Even a nice root beer could pair nicely with a dark and rich cigar.

When it comes to pairing, you want to read up on the cigar and drink you are going to try to make sure they will go well together.  A sweet bourbon, for example, will go very well with a dark, rich and sweet broadleaf cigar.  If you are having a more hoppy IPA or a smoky scotch, you want a cigar with a little more spice and pep to it.  This is also a great way to expand your palate and appreciate the nuances of the cigar and beverage.

For me, one of the more unique aspects of cigar smoking is the sense of community.  It has this amazing ability to bring people of all genders, races, creeds, and religions together.  Some of the best people I know I have met through my time in the cigar industry.  Unfortunately, the communal aspect of cigars is suffering greatly during these times.  However, through the power of social media, we can still come together and interact.

Several sites are offering virtual happy hours where you can vid chat with your friends from anywhere in the world.  Cigar Dojo is offering a 24-hour virtual herf through its mobile app.  We are interviewing major manufacturers every day through our YouTube channel to bring you both interesting content and updates from around the industry.  There are still plenty of ways for you to get involved and interact with the industry.

My friends, these are troubling times I know.  However, I know that we will come out on the other side stronger and closer.  We just need to keep our chins up, look towards the horizon and try to find those little joys in life that might give us even the slightest reprieve from the situation.  I wish you all well and look forward to seeing you on the other side.