Featured Woman

Rhonda Taormina, Houston, Texas: My husband and I live outside of Houston with our three year old son. I work for a small ad agency in Houston. I first started smoking cigars last summer, shortly after my husband got back into the hobby. Through an online cigar forum, he met some other local cigar smokers and attended a couple local herfs. I decided to see what all the fuss was about. So, I started out smoking a couple of flavored cigars and then just grabbed something from his humidor that looked appealing to see what direction I wanted to go in. Within a week or two, I settled on a medium to full flavored smoke. Now I've got what I like, he has what he likes and the humidor has exploded. I still like to try out different things, but now that I know a bit more about the different types of wrappers and such, I have a much better understanding as to what may or may not fit my flavor profile.

There's a special camaraderie between cigar smokers that I really love being around. We're in the Houston area and we have a wonderful group of people who get together for a monthly herf somewhere in the area and I've met some really great friends through this addictive hobby.(When I say the hobby is addictive, I don't mean it in the I gotta have a smoke now kind of way but more along the lines of: I must find this particular cigar or accessory for our collection.) What I really enjoy the most is to just walk outside or sit down with friends at our local cigar bar, light up a good cigar and relax without any other distractions and just take in my surroundings. Although we most often smoke at home outside, it's always a treat when our local shop has a manufacturer's event. Being able to meet the person who created the cigar you're smoking just makes that smoke even more pleasurable. Sitting down and chatting with these guys face to face really hones in the passion they have for their craft. Again, this goes back to the camaraderie factor, there are not that many industries these days where the creator takes the time to mingle with the end user in such a relaxed fashion. So I feel I've been fortunate to have met some really wonderful people from all spectrums of the cigar world: blenders, shop owners, manufacturer's reps and other smokers just like me. Many of these people have become dear friends and it was the common thread of a cigar which brought us into the same circle.

For the most part, I smoke with my husband or at a get together with friends and how often I smoke can fluctuate from three or four times a week to almost none. It really depends on the mood and whether or not I've got the time to commit to the entire stick. I have to think that it's the best of both worlds when a couple can share such a hobby. So instead of the hubby being banished outside to smoke by himself, we both can sit outside on the porch together and just unwind, relax and share our experiences of the day over a nice cigar (and maybe a cold beverage as well). However the downside would be the already bulging cigar budget now has a second wishlist added to it. So it's great when we find a line we both enjoy, which there are a couple of (Rocky Patel Sungrowns being one of those we both like). Personally, my favorite cigar at the moment is the Rocky Patel Edge Maduro Toro. Can't get enough of them. I'm also partial to the J. Fuego Corojos and the CAO Sopranos which are more of a special occasion smoke. But a good old standby for me would have to be the H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon.I have never been too big on Connecticut wrappers, but I do like to try cigars that are new to me periodically so I don't get burned out smoking the same thing all the time. Essentially, I know what I like but I am definitely open to suggestions. There are so many different cigars out on the market today and if I just stick to one particular line, I may be depriving myself of the next greatest thing if I don't keep an open mind.

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