I think cigars have a certain mystique about them...

When you think about it, it makes sense...

Smoking a cigar is an option. I used to smoke cigarettes. When the ole' nicotides start callin', you better light up!

Smoking a cigar takes dedication. Having a cigarette is a 5 minute task, you step out, have a quick smoke, and you're back in the swing of things. To have a cigar, you're talking 30-60 minutes at least! That takes planning and foresight.

Most people flat out don't know cigars. Think about cigarettes. In the United States, we know Winston, Camel, Marlboro, Parliament, and a few lesser brands. We all know the Marlboro man, Joe Camel, and No Bull. The options are pretty simple: light, medium, wide, menthol, unfiltered. Compared to Toro, Corona, Double Corona, Robusto, Presidente, Perfecto, and Torpedo, that's pretty simple, especially since most of the designations are pretty vague.

Cigar smokers enjoy variety and lack brand loyalty. As a beer drinker, people are always asking me what I drink. Most people will respond "Bud" or "Guinness". I've enjoyed hundreds of labels in dozens of styles and have been known to order my beer only after deciding on my meal (I don't want to get stuck drinking a pale when a heffeweisen would be more suitable!). Cigar guys are the same way. We may have some favorite smokes, but we tend to have well-stocked humidors and choose a particular stick based on mood.

And of course, many people associate cigars with the cheap drugstore stinkers, so if you light up, most people think you're going to take them on a stinktrip. In fact, when I set up my smoking porch, my girlfriend (who I thought would HATE the idea) said she liked the way it made the room smell...