I can't think of too many places where I couldn't enjoy a cigar. I am almost certain I could enjoy the flavor and relaxation afforded me by a quality smoke even if I were confined to a small prison cell in some distant corner of the globe. Though this may be true, there is something to be said for quality atmosphere.

Have you ever eaten at a seafood restaurant in the middle of town then followed it with a trip to one situated on the water, overlooking the ocean or bay? Now these two establishments may be only miles apart, get their seafood from the same company, and have the same quality level of cooks and servers with the only difference being location. So why does the food taste better at the seaside spot? The simple answer is atmosphere. There is a famous high end steakhouse that has two locations where I reside. One is located in a shopping center and the other sits on the bank of the river and has breathtaking views of the city skyline. I have dined at both and the food and service is outstanding, but it just seems that the river-view location is just a little better.

What better place to enjoy a cigar then on a yacht during after a wine tasting?

I have also found this to be the case with cigars. I have often enjoyed a new cigar with friends maybe on the golf course and really thought that was an amazing cigar. Later when I sat down to review it in a more sterile environment it wasn’t the same. I'm not saying the cigar was bad, but that my initial thoughts were influenced by the good time I was having with my friends.

Smoking while rolling a cigar in a tobacco warehouse. How is that for atmosphere?

My experiences have also shown me that it is very hard not to enjoy a cigar when you are walking through a tobacco field or watching over a roller working in the factory. How can you not have a good experience when you are literally standing right in the middle of the “cigar world?” That's why deciding when and where to smoke a cigar is almost as key as cigar selection itself. I often wonder how this has an effect on someone who is reviewing a cigar. How many “experts” give a cigar a lower rating because they are sitting on a patio alone while they type away on their computer? It is a fact that when one takes something meant to be a pleasure and turns it into work, that is exactly what they get. I’m not saying that some private time with a cigar is a bad thing. Sometimes the solitude is just what the doctor ordered. I just know that my fondest memories of smoking cigars involve a group of friends.

Yes, a great cigar is going to live up to its reputation no matter where choose to light up. But I promise if you smoke in beautiful places with people you enjoy being around, the cigar will taste better.

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