After watching the United States Men’s National Team lose in extra time to Belgium in this year’s World Cup, I just felt like I needed a good cigar and a few sips of whiskey. Although my liquid choices had to be whittled down to one bourbon, one scotch and one beer, the cigar selection was an easy one. Not only did I select a cigar that is from an American Standard bearer, but its name also reflects the record-setting performance of US Goal Keeper Tim Howard. In what was probably his final game, Howard recorded 16 saves, a World Cup record, and made my choice of smoking a Brick House an easy one.

Now before you try and correct me, yes I know that the Brick House is a Nicaraguan Puro. I also know that it is made up of some of the finest tobaccos one will find in that Central American nation. The cigar is produced by the JC Newman Cigar Company, located in Tampa, Fla. Now to give you a little background on this American institution, the company has been around since 1895 when its founder Julius Caeser Newman began producing cigars in Cleveland, Ohio. The company later relocated to Tampa, which at the time was known as Cigar City. There were once over 150 cigar factories in this historic city and today only JC Newman remains. Most of their cigars are made in the Dominican Republic by the Fuente family, but they still crank out a few sticks with their antique equipment here in The United States.

But the American spirit just doesn’t end with their cigar production. Today, brothers Eric and Bobby Newman also fight against legislation that threatens their industry at the same time funding humanitarian efforts in the places that provide them with most of their precious tobacco. At this very moment, JC Newman is battling against proposed laws that could close the doors on the last cigar factory in Tampa.

The Brick House name actually comes from the original Hungarian home of the Newman family. A cool spot in which they lived on the second floor and operated a local tavern on the first floor. Julius Caeser Newman originally created the Brick House line in 1937, and it was resurrected in 2009 by grandsons Eric and Bobby.

So what makes this cigar so special? It is a Nicaraguan puro and it has everything I love about Nicaraguan tobacco. The strength is medium to full and, of course, the cigar has some wonderful pepper notes. The cigar also has some toasted bread flavors, as well some woodsy characteristics. The sweetness in the cigar is that of honey and it seems to linger throughout most of the smoking experience. This cigar burns flawlessly which is a testament to its quality construction.

I enjoyed this cigar with a glass of Glenmorangie Nectar D’or 12 year, then heated things up with a few sips of Booker’s 126.7 proof bourbon. I cooled my palate as I puffed on the final third of my cigar with a nice pale lager from Fort Collins, CO. Yes, the beer is made by New Belgium, so consider that a tip of the cap to the victors in our knockout game.

Who says that we Americans can’t be gracious in defeat? I know losing isn’t something to be relished, but having a great cigar made by a great American family and a few adult beverages as a companion certainly does lessen the sting a bit.

Long Ashes,

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

Follow me on Twitter @abccigarchris