We all have been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. With that in mind, does it mean that a cigar for breakfast would make it more impactful than one used to wind down the evening? Although there is some merit to getting the day started right, I still lean towards the evening cigar being more impactful. If the main reason of enjoying a cigar is to relieve the stresses of the day and I had to choose just one time to smoke, then it would be after work. With that said, I still want to discuss the breakfast cigar.

I do enjoy a cigar in the morning—most notably on the weekends. To me there is no better way to start a Saturday morning than with a cup of Dominican espresso coffee, the morning paper, and a nice cigar. Even if my day is going to be filled with work, it’s a great way to ease into the weekend.

I think that the key to having a good “breakfast experience” with a cigar begins with the proper selection. I think that it is important to keep the strength of the cigar in the mild to medium range. Yes, there are those who only smoke big, bold, power sticks. Personally, I have never found a cigar that was too strong to smoke, but nothing beats a mild cigar for breakfast. And when it comes to breakfast smokes there is no better tobacco leaf more suited to accompany an early morning coffee than Connecticut Shade. As I type this I am sipping on a cup of Dominican espresso and puffing on a Macanudo Gold Label. Puffing on this cigar takes me back to my times spent in the DR, where we started each day with one of these beauties and a cup of Joe fresh out of the Greca. If you are going to spend a day in the cigar factory or walking in the tobacco fields, there’s no better way to get things off on the right foot.

The creaminess of the smoke will add all the cream you need for your coffee. The Macanudo Gold utilizes a special Connecticut Shade wrapper which is thin, delicate, and mildly sweet. The Mexican San Andrean binder adds a bit of contrast and keeps the sweetness in check. The body of the cigar is a blend of Dominican Cuban Piloto and Mexican fillers. This cigar is mild, smooth and well balanced.

The Macanudo Gold cigars are a limited release item, but if you miss out on them there are plenty of others you can turn to for breakfast. I recommend the Rocky Patel 1999, Montecristo Classic #3 and the Macanudo Baron D Rothschilde. If you don’t have a lot of time to smoke an early morning cigar, pick up a tin of Macanudo Ascots. These little cigarillos are made from the same great tobacco as their handmade brothers, they just take a lot less time to smoke.

The point of this story is to remind everyone that the cigar experience shouldn’t be relegated to just poker night, the golf course, or some other rare celebration. It’s just like Champagne. Most people think that the bubbly beverage is only for celebrations and special occasions, but most wine experts would agree that it is one of the most diverse wines in their portfolio. Cigars should be treated the same way. Whether it’s a post meal smoke, the celebration of a new born baby, or a way to brush away the stress of the day, the cigar’s versatility is truly one of its greatest assets.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits North Florida Regional Manager. Certified Tobacconist and Cicerone Beer Server. Follow me on Twitter @abccigarchris.