The London Lounge

Hello again,

I briefly wrestled with whether I should just amend the "Rules" post in this forum, however that thread seemed to be concerned with the particular technique of smoking cigars and not so much the "Parlour."

I think when I return for my final undergrad term in NY, I'll find a friend or three and we'll begin a small club and begin understanding cigars. In that interest, I have a few questions about the environment, and other accoutrements related to cigar smoking.

For example, all turn of 20th century English books mention 'retiring to the smoking room.' What distinguished this room from others? Briefly, I imagine that it had to do with keeping the odor confined to one room, separating the men from the women etc. If these assumptions are inaccurate--please correct (and amend them.) Unfortunately, we'll likely have to use a cramped East Village apartment, but that can not be helped lest someone has an extra bachelor pad overlooking the Park that they'd like to lend us.

Likewise, I imagine the reasoning surrounding the 'smoking jacket' had to do with having a jacket that could be donned before smoking and then removed after smoking so that an individual didn't have to walk about with cigar odor about him. Were there any other distinguishing features? Cut, lapels, pockets, etc. I gander the jacket must have been darker colored due to smoke residue. Speaking of which, does anyone know the particular effects of smoking on clothing beyond odor and color?

What about cigar selection? Should we all smoke lighter cigars one evening? More flavorful ones another evening? Or is mixing flavors acceptable and suggested?

It's likely that there are separate ashtrays for cigars, should these be per person or can they be the kind that can hold multiple cigars? The seating arrangement probably dictates that decision, correct? What material should they be made up of, a quick search reveals that there are wood, crystal, and other materials avalable. Would a wood ashtray impart any unwanted flavor since I happen to find crystal ashtrays unattractive?

I believe cigar cutting was mentioned in the other thread, perhaps links to a particularly good cutter?

We have a bit of a predilection towards aligning Music with life's activities. I can imagine that the Indie folk rock I'm prone to listening to while milling about my room isn't apropos for this activity. Shall I find my Beethoven SACD's and put them on a gentle hum? Hmm, No, I'm not sure that will do--fringe and often unexpected musical combinations are something us young'ns in the Village spend an inordinate time worrying about. I think Instrumental Experimental Spacer Rock will suffice. It isn't as frightening as it sounds! A few examples below:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... ge Bamsyia
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... - Phaedra http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... in the Sky

I wonder, did any of you older gentelemen shoegaze at a Can concert in the 70's?

Of the probably many things I haven't thought of mentioning, are there any particular ones I ought look into? In addition, is there any non fiction literature that has relevant and good information? Upon searching cigar aficiondo sites, I find either contradicting, or just plain awful information--is there one a member uses that he'd like to recommend?

Oh, and suggestions for a cigar shop in NYC? Preferbly downtown.

Do take care,

/f

I'll try to address a few of your questions.

The idea of the smoking room is no longer a practical one. I remember when I was young and my father, an American, was on the board of a British conglomerate. My parents would fly to Britain for the meetings, and then everybody would stay at the Chairman's house over the weekend. After dinner, them men would all disappear to the smoking room while the women would sit and talk. When the men returned, all of the American women were angry as the felt discriminated against. That is my way of saying that it is a very old fashioned practice, and does not go over particularly well here. I have the feeling that the idea was to escape the wives as much as to protect them from smoke. The living room, or study is just fine as a smoking room.

The smoking jacket is another anachronism to me. I rarely (as in maybe once every ten years), have a black tie event at home. I feel that this is the only appropriate time for a smoking jacket to be worn. Even at such an event, I would not wear one. If you feel that having one as a club jacket would increase your enjoyment, maybe somebody here will be able to help you. I think your clothes will be fine as long as you refrain from burning holes in them with your lit cigar. If you are wearing tailored clothing, you may want to brush your jacket and pants out at the end of the night, or the next morning.

Cigar ashtrays are particular in that they have large holders for the cigars. Steel, crystal and silver are all appropriate. I would worry more about what looks good in the room than what will help the cigar. Your cigar will not know the difference between ashtrays.

I prefer Eloi cutters from France. You can google "Eloi cigar cutters". This is the model I have



The most useful cutter is the ubiquitous Davidoff Zino cutter that is available at almost any cigar store. They give a great cut and are easy to use. Although I prefer my Eloi, I use my Zino much more often. Also, many people will tell you that Bic lighters are ugly and bad. I use one when I don't have a nice lighter at hand. I would suggest never using a Zippo as it imparts a foul flavor. Make sure you like cigars before dropping a lot of money on a lighter.

I don't think that it makes any sense to require everybody to smoke similar cigars. Your cigar will not bother the taste of somebody elses. If you are going to smoke a lot of cigars in one night, go from lightest to strongest. I don't know any particular cigar stores in New York. I imagine Nat Sherman is just fine. You should know that thanks to the internet, fine quality, reliable Cuban cigars are available. I would never buy thme from anybody in the US, as they are sure to be fake, but mail order sources are very good, rather quick, and not much more expensive than brands available here. I would submit that if you confine yourself to brands available locally, you will not be as likely to truly enjoy cigars. There are many good ones available here, but to turn your back on Havanas is similar to turning your back on French wines. There is also a bit of an ilicit pleasure in waiting for your Havanas, checking them and smoking them.

I hope some of this helps, and I hope you enjoy.

Just to add a few quick observations:

While the mannerism of the men retiring to the smoking room after dinner may no longer be appropriate, the strong and unpleasant effect of stale cigar smoke (which takes a week or so to evaporate from one's drawing room) is enough to persuade me to smoke cigars at my club or in a bar, but not at home. In a smoking room the smell of (fresh) smoke mixes with the leather chairs, the persian carpets, the beeswax polish of the furniture (and the brandy) into a mellow and pleasant atmosphere. Not so in any other room. The higher the ambient temprature and the drier the air, the faster you will be able to eliminate any unpleasant cigar smell.

The smoking jacket was designed as a comfortable and warm alternative to stiff formal dinner jacket when receiving dinner guests at home. This was before the proliferation of effective central heating. Thus today it tends to be an anachronism at best and simply pretentious most of the time. That is not to say that there is not a right time and place for it, and then it can look stunning.

You should rest clothes for a couple of days between wearing them anyway, this should take care of cigar odour in the fabric. Longer when you have been a bad boy and hit the nightlife to often. One of my suits once took two months to loose the olfactory evidence of a week of hard play.