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A cigar tasting night is a circled event on any cigar lover’s calendar. People look forward to it for weeks in advance and talk about it for weeks after. Some hold them to celebrate a particular milestone: a birthday, a promotion, a bachelor party, etc. Others, meanwhile, consider the premium cigars themselves the only necessary cause for celebration.
Whatever your reasons for hosting, following a few tried-and-tested tips can ensure a smooth and successful tasting. Below, explore a step-by-step guide to organizing the perfect cigar tasting night.
Visit a Trusty Tobacconist to Stock an Array of Options
Cigars are the stars of the show. Therefore, hunting down a diverse array of premium, well-rated options is critical to the evening’s success.
Start your journey at the likeliest place: a quality tobacconist. Inform a knowledgeable sales rep that you are hosting a tasting party, and ask for advice on a range of styles. Specifically, look for regional variations in your lineup (Cubans, Nicaraguans, Dominicans, etc.), taste variations (light claros to darker maduros), and size variations (size affects everything from the richness to the draw).
Store Your Cigars Properly Before the Event
If you don’t yet have a quality, cedar-lined humidor, now is the perfect occasion to get one. Regardless, don’t rely on the humidor alone; add a Boveda 2-way humidity control pack to dial in the relative humidity (RH) to an ideal 69% and keep it there. Presumably, you are bringing home an expensive haul, and a Boveda pack is the only exact way to ensure you preserve that investment before the big night.
Consider Various Drink Pairings
Cigars and drinks are classic bedfellows. One complements the other beautifully. Plus, a drink allows tasters to reset their palate throughout the evening. Classic choices include Scotch whisky, Cognac, rum, and red wine. Consider stocking non-alcoholic drinks (like coffee and tea) to keep the evening inclusive.
Dial in the Ambiance
Cigars practically scream out for a warm, earthy ambiance. Maintain a warm, soft light for a relaxed atmosphere with 3,000 Kelvin bulbs, a roaring fire, or a combination of the two. Consider décor accents like wood, leather, and brass. And choose an understated playlist heavy on blues, jazz, classical, or even some rock genres. Apply these tenets to indoor or outdoor spaces, depending on your preference.
Stock the Necessities: Tasting Notes, Ashtrays, Cutters, and Lighters
Before the event, arrange necessities on the table(s), side tables, or bar. These necessities include tools like lighters and cutters (that can accommodate various ring gauges), as well as plenty of ashtrays for ashing, and tasting note sheets for comparing flavors.
Steer the Conversation
Lastly, as a host, guiding the conversation is never a bad idea. Make necessary introductions between guests. Welcome everyone to the evening with a short spiel about how to proceed. Keep an eye on the pacing to ensure everyone fully enjoys each cigar. And organically drop a few cigar-related conversation starters, like favorite cigar memories, or planned cigar trips.
Long after the smoke clears on the evening, people will remember a noteworthy tasting night. Follow the tips above to create the perfect event. Then, re-read your notes after the event to determine your new favourite cigars.
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