So…I wonder what would be worth putting up here and go for the first idea that comes across me mind. The one I see every time I read the boards: BROTHERS of the Leaf.

I know people have written about this before, but I figure out I might just express me point of view on that particular aspect of our passion: the comradery that conects us all.

If ever ye’ve met a fellow cigar smoker, be it in a cigar lounge or B&M, a bar or restaurant, a front lawn or a beach, ye cannot help but feel a connection. Some might be shy and don’t begin the conversation, but nevertheless, when asked about it, we can ramble on for a long time. Like old acquantainces, conversation flows easily and, even if ye disagree, there’s always a neat ammount of respect in that. Of course, that could be only us Latins and our drunkiness…but, whatever the reason is, I’ve always connected well to a fellow BOTL.

What’s even more, I’ve always found that a conversation with a cigar is a good conversation. Whatever the chat’s about, if it includes a cigar, it usually is a reasoned out, well thought conversation where there’s always a way to agree by sacrificing things which aren’t important. Be it with another cigar smoker or not. Me best chats with me dad have been when I have a cigar (he dissaproves, but respects me enough to not complain and ask me to stop). With me ma, the same. With Shmear, we obviously share a cigar.

Now, why not a cigar and a drink? Most of us being men, we know how far a simple beer can go. Offering to buy a pintto that bloke ye just fought is the universal language for: let’s leave all those bollocks behind, shall we? Or why not, just a thought, why not simply try and share this attitude with whomever, whatever the circumstances are? Smoking a cigar or not. Drinking cocktails or coffee. Whatever the circumstances are, why not behave as brothers? Who knows, maybe we’ll be lucky enough to not be seen as the selfish blokes those anti-smoking campaigns want us to.

This is meant for those of ye who still need a nudge to fall down THIS slope; as well as those who sometimes forget. Meself included.

And remember, when in doubt; go out, have a cigar. It’ll come to ye.

This Nicaraguan Puro is blended for United Tobacco Inc by the legendary Pepin Garcia. The Green Label Oscuro is latest addition to the EO 601 line released at 2007 RTDA Trade Show. Touted as the fullest bodied cigar of the EO 601 brand, it isn’t for the faint of heart.

I’m really looking forward to my first RTDA show and meeting those who will be there! From Cigar Jack to some of our website sponsors to the guys over at DogWatch Social Club and lastly, the Heavenly honeys and CAO girls.

If you are attending, please stop and say hello! I’ll be wearing one of our new colored BOTL T-shirts exclusively available at the BOTL Shop. See you here in Houston!

Or so I thought.

You see, not too long ago, a package appeared in my mailbox from Chuck, a bona-fide FOG in the cigar world — and in that package were five very nice, obviously aged cigars. I had several of those very sticks in my humidor, most with a year or two of humidor time on them, and comparing side by side, I could visibly tell these cigars from Chuck were significantly older.

Then I lit one up, and the difference practically jumped up and slapped me in the face! Sure, it was the same brand and vitola I’d had dozens of times before, and yes the signature flavors were there, but it was a completely different smoking experience; the flavors were less separate, seemingly more blended together

Imagine cooking a perfect steak and then pouring a bit of quality steak sauce on it; now imagine marinating that same steak first, prior to cooking it. It’s the same steak with the same general flavor profile, but the marinated steak’s flavors are married and balanced in a much more pleasing manner.

That’s how a well aged cigar tastes; same general flavor profile, but with a more married, balanced, and smooth delivery of those flavors.

I think I’m going to have to develop a whole new level of patience to start really aging my cigars. A couple of years is nice, but a lot of years is much nicer.

The latest example of this came a few weeks ago when the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced that on-screen tobacco smoking — including cigarettes, cigars, and pipes — would be considered in a film’s rating, and given certain circumstances could lead to an ‘R’ rating. In making such an assessment, the ratings board will ask three questions:

#1 - Is the smoking pervasive?
#2 - Does the film glamorize smoking?
#3 - Is there a historic or other mitigating context?

Furthermore, if a film is rated ‘R’ due to smoking, warning phrases such as “glamorized smoking” or “pervasive smoking” will be included in the ratings text, right up there with “nudity”, “explicit sexual content”, “language”, “drug use”, and “excessive violence”.

Some advocates of the smoking related ratings system believe that an “R” rating would prevent almost 200,000 adolescents from starting to smoke every year. I’m not so sure I believe that. I mean, each and every one of those 200,000 kids are already aware of the dangers of smoking, and if they are so inclined to start, I don’t believe an “R” rating is going to make much of a difference; after all, nearly half of all American movies already receive that “R” rating, and that doesn’t seem to stop kids — especially teens — from seeing those films. Of course, I don’t believe that Heavy Metal music makes kids violent, or that Rap music turns kids into gang bangers, either.

Consider the wildly popular PG-13 rated Spider-Man films. The comic book has been published since 1962, and Peter Parker’s boss, newspaper publisher J. Jonah Jameson, has had a cigar in his mouth for 45 years now. Can you imagine the character NOT smoking a cigar? I certainly can’t — and apparently neither could the movie producers, who naturally put one in his mouth.

But under the new ratings system, would that cigar smoking be considered “glamorous” or “pervasive”? Will Spider-Man 4 — which will likely contain no nudity, no explicit sexual content, no bad language, no drug use, no excessive violence, and likely no cigarette smoking — be given an “R” rating simply because J. Jonah Jameson smokes a cigar?

I hope not.

But then again, that’s because I know that cigars and cigarettes are vastly different kinds of tobacco products with vastly different kinds of use.

Unfortunately, I’m not sure the MPAA knows that.