Check out Jason and Shellie Stocksdale, of Jefforsonville, IN, who recently got married and celebrated with a couple La Palina Cigars! Best of luck to the new married couple!

Here’s the nice message they included with the picture they sent us: “Jason and Shellie Stocksdale were married on October 8, 2011 and we celebrated with La Palina Cigars purchased at Riverside Cigar Shop in Jeffersonville, Indiana! Thanks for crafting such an excellent cigar!”

#10: You deserve it.
Last but not least in importance to the enjoyment of the cigar experience is setting. Where you are, who you are with, what your mood is, the weather, the comfort of your chair, are all elements in the gestalt of the great cigar. In other words what you bring to the cigar is as important as what the cigar brings to you. As my mentor, the great cigar writer and raconteur said; the best cigar is the one you are smoking now.

#9: It’s better than you deserve.
Whether experienced alone or in the company of old friends or new acquaintances, smoking a cigar is a supremely pleasant gift to oneself. Sometimes it’s best to treat yourself to a great cigar, even if you don’t think you deserve such a treat! Entitling yourself to a fine cigar signifies a self-acceptance and self-regard which is necessary to any man or woman.

#8: When you finish, you want another.
As a cigar burns, tastes change and body and strength increase or recede. The melody of this emerging experience is a song the smoker listens to as the progression of the smoke emerges. Smoking is a process that takes a while and the smoker is encouraged to set time aside and be engaged with the sensations it evokes.

Sometimes the best way to tell how enjoyable a cigar has been is whether you immediately want to enjoy a second as your finally finishing the last few puffs on the first. A great cigar should be something that you thoroughly enjoy; something that you look forward to enjoying again in the near future!

#7: That it does not tire you out or make you dizzy.

Strength is the next criteria of the fine cigar. This refers to the amount of nicotine that is delivered. Preferences in this regard are purely personal. This is not to be confused with body, which is a measurement of the amount of taste provided with each puff and the impact it has within the mouth. I prefer a medium to full body cigar, but love a light cigar if it contains nuance and subtle complexity.

A good cigar typically is will be one that doesn’t make you tired or dizzy after smoking it, like some cigars do. Nothing ruins a great evening like smoking a cigar after a wonderful dinner and starting to feel sick because of it.