Cigars and Metal

Cigars and Metal are two communities that brings people together very well. They both thrive on the people in the community talking with each other, comparing their favorites, and expanding their knowledge. This article is accompanied by the Great Cigars Podcast episode "Cigars X Metal", where I go into a bit more detail, so make sure you go listen.

First, lets talk about metal. Metal is a music genre which incorporates a heavy, hard exterior. With heavy bass playing, powerful guitar playing, and concussive drumming, metal puts on a pretty heavy exterior. However, every metal concert I've been to, I've met people who are nothing short of salt-of-the-earth. Honestly, some of the nicest people you could ever meet.

The people who go to metal shows are looking for a few things. First off, obviously, is good music. The second thing they're looking for is good people to enjoy the music with. This metal community has a deep, and dedicated fan base. There are also a lot of metal sub-genres, leading toa lot of community sub-genres. I don't like using the word "clique". It makes me feel like I'm in high school. Some of these community sub-genres are die-hard for their music, while others are more open, and looking to expand their horizons with other forms of metal.

Now, let's talk cigars. Cigars share a lot of characteristics with metal. Their fanbase is dedicated and eager to enjoy with other people. Just as metal has the stage and the venue, cigars have the humidor and the cigar lounge. This is where the members of the cigar community come to enjoy different cigars, speak with each other, and learn about other cigars. Just like metal, cigars have their own sub-genre communities. In the cigar community, we just call these guys "brand loyalists". You know the kind of guy I'm talking about. :I only smoke Padron" or "I only smoke Fuente". For the most part, cigar smokers expand to different brands, enjoying and learning about them from other people in the lounge.

Cigars and metal go together like beer and pretzels. They are good on their own, but pair wonderfully together. I don't know about you, but when I'm smoking a cigar, I like to have ambience. Metal is usually my go to. Whether it's some of the classics like "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath, "Damage Case" by Motorhead, or some newer works like "Bratva" by Slaughter To Prevail and "Put Your Back Into The Ore" by Amon Amarth, listening to metal while enjoying a premium cigar is a fantastic experience.

Now, there's a series of episodes on the Great Cigars Podcast about non-consumable pairings, which includes metal and music overall. In these episodes, I talk about pairing your cigar with a certain genre, or a certain movie or book. Go listen to those at your leisure, but there's a lot of good information that you may have otherwise overlooked. Metal, is a non-consumable pairing. If you listen to metal while enjoying a cigar, pay attention to how the music effects your smoking experience, and visa versa. Some songs may pair well with the West Tampa Red, while others may pair better with the All Saints Dedicacion. Next time you smoke a cigar, listen to metal, and enjoy the experience.