There is nothing more relaxing than a nice cigar in the evening. After the stresses of the day have hounded you into near submission, it's the peaceful respite of an hour and a half long smoke that really softens the edges. But as relaxing as a cigar may be in the evening, enjoying one for breakfast can be equally as appealing.

As I type this I am enjoying a pre-dawn cigar as I contemplate my final day of a long and very busy week. As with many things in life, the projects I put so much planning into seemed to fall apart with each passing day. There were many unforeseen challenges that made things difficult for my entire team, but we were able to forge ahead and get things done.

As I puff on this Foundry cigar and sip on some Dominican coffee, I can't help but think of when I was in the DR and our friends at General Cigar were just launching this beauty. I remember smoking quite a few of them that week, along with some delicious local coffee. The cigar actually became a morning staple for me, and smoking one now takes me back to that fun trip.

When it comes to selecting a breakfast cigar there are two schools of thought. Since it is early in the day, conventional wisdom would suggest that you go with a mild selection. The Foundry is certainly on that side of the spectrum. However, I have also discovered that smoking a full-bodied cigar in the morning can also provide one with a nice jump start to the day. I would warn anyone that decides to go with a power stick for breakfast to make sure that they go slow. Even with some breakfast in your stomach, a novice smoker may get a little green under the gills if they try and overdo it. Early in the morning isn't the best time to rush a cigar.

For breakfast I tend to choose a cigar that complements my coffee. Connecticut and Ecuadorian Connecticut are great wrapper choices for breakfast. Consider them as the cream to your coffee. I'm not saying that a maduro won't do, but since there is plenty of coffee flavor in the cup, I find it better to contrast tastes a bit.

So, if you are having a tough week or just want to get the weekend started off right, fire up a breakfast cigar. It's also ok to get up a few hours early to fully enjoy it—especially if you work where you can't smell like a cigar all day. You can be done with your smoke and shower before the sun comes up. I can't think of a better way to greet the new day.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits North Florida regional manager, Certified Tobacconist and Cicerone Beer Server

Follow me on Twitter @abccigarchris