Robert Rudl, better known on Instagram as @thecigarsmoker with over 100,000 followers, is a true Cigar Aficionado with a deep understanding of cigar culture. Although he never smoked cigarettes, he accidentally stepped into the world of cigars in the early 2000s, which today resulted in an impressive collection of over 2,000 Cuban cigars. Through years of research, Mr. Rudl has built a deep passion and love for the art of cigars, which is reflected in his private lounge dedicated to enjoying them.
Robert Rudl @thecigarsmoker
As an ambassador of the prestigious French brand Elie Bleu, known for luxury accessories for cigars such as cutters, ashtrays, lighters, cases, etc., Mr. Rudl further confirms his expertise and status in the community of cigar lovers. During the conversation, he shared his experiences about what attracted him to cigars, how he chooses them for different occasions, and which cigar he would smoke for the rest of his life. We asked him 20 questions, here are the answers we got.
How did the idea of a private cigar lounge come about?
R: A few years ago we bought a new house and we weren't sure what to do with one room. I came up with the idea to make my own cigar lounge there. Its dimensions are 6x3m and everything is decorated with furniture that I bought at auctions in the Netherlands. For example the coffee table is made of massive brass and is from 1940. The armchairs are from 1875, for example. All the hi-fi equipment I have is from the 70s of the last century. I have a total of 4 humidors in the lounge. One is on the table, it is a daily humidor that has about 30 cigars. I had a slightly larger one with about 100 cigars custom made in England. I keep special cigars in it, that is, I leave the last cigar from each box for that humidor. I also have two large tower humidors, with over 2000 pieces.
Cigar lounge
Is there a way you choose cigars for different occasions?
R: Yes, if it's during the day with coffee, it's about shorter, lighter cigars like, for example, Qual Dorsay Number 50 or Rafael Gonzales Perlas. These are small cigars lasting from 20 minutes to half an hour. Since I'm a fan of Italian espresso, I like them lightly with coffee. For daytime, I like smaller cigars with thinner rings like Partagas Mille Fleur or Por Larrañaga Petit Coronas. For the evening, robusto Partagas D4 is among my favorites.
Do you have 3 favorite cigar brands?
R: If you ask me which cigar I would choose for the rest of my life, it would be Partagas series D number 4. It is always a good cigar for me for any occasion. My favorite brands are Partagas, Montecristo and Cohiba, which in my opinion must be aged for at least 5 years so that you can feel its quality. If they are fresh, they are not really "good". I buy cigars in boxes and I certainly let them age in the humidor for 4 to 5 years, some even 8 years. Now they are just ripe.
@thecigarsmoker
Can a cigar be too wet?
R: Of course you can. If there is too much moisture, it is congealed and difficult to pull. If it is too dry, then it burns too quickly and then the temperature of the smoke is much higher and you will feel a strong heat in your mouth. So, it is very important that the cigars are stored in the right conditions. The humidity must be between 65 and 70 degrees and the optimum temperature between 16 and 20 degrees. I keep my cigars at 67 percent and 17 degrees. My humidor is electronically adjustable and has cooling/heating and maintains the temperature itself due to the diluent.
Have you ever found a cigar too dry? Can such a cigar be saved?
R: Well, it can be saved. It is important that the humidity does not rise too quickly because it can crack. It is necessary to raise the moisture slowly. First at 60, 65, 69 and then 72 degrees, otherwise the cigar may swell and crack. Then it can no longer be smoked and you can practically throw it away.
Do you only smoke cigars from Cuba or also New World cigars?
R: I have tried New World cigars. I can say that there are very good ones, but they are too strong for me. I prefer milder cigars. In my humidor, you won't find any cigars other than Cuban ones.
@thecigarsmoker
Have you ever smoked an unforgettable cigar?
R: There were enough of them. Some of them are Cohiba 1996 Edición Limitada 2011, Montecristo 80 Aniversario, Cohiba Lancerosi 2007, of which I still have 5 pieces. It is an unforgettable cigar. I also tried Punch 40 from 1984 Corona vitola, which although it was 40 years old had all the aromas and was not dried out. One of the holy grail cigars I smoked was a Cuban Davidoff from 1980. I still have one. I'm hoping to get a whole box of Davidoff Chateau Margaux Pet it Coronas. It 's a thing but the best thing to try. There were also cigars of poor quality, such as the Cuban ones from 2016, 2017, which could not be smoked because they were thick. There were really bad cigars from those years. Likewise, there were cigars where the tobacco was not well aged, so chlorophyll could be felt on the tobacco.
Which cut do you most often use when smoking a cigar?
R: Classic straight cut or guillotine. I fell in love with Elie Bleu, whose ambassador I am. I adore their entire Casa Cubana collection, from ashtrays to table lighters. I also love the Les Fines Lames le petit cigar cutter, and of the St Dupont lighters, the line 2 is a classic.
Elie Bleu Casa Cubana case
Do you have rituals before smoking?
R: When I come to my lounge, I play music first. I choose a cigar and think about what I'm going to drink. I sit down, take the cutter. First, I moisten the cigar because if the cap is too dry, it will crack when cut. I cut off the cap and set it on fire with a soft flame (not a burner). I use St. Dupont Ligne 2 , it is a classic yellow flame lighter.
How do you choose the alcohol to pair with a cigar?
R: I like single malt whiskey. I now have a collection of 25 bottles of McCallan, Glenlivet, Talisker etc, so I like to drink some of those the most.
@thecigarsmoker
How much does your mood affect the choice of cigar?
R: Most of the time I don't know what I'm going to smoke. It would be simpler if I chose between 5 cigars, but I have a large collection so it's not always the easiest. It takes me at least 5 minutes to choose what I will smoke that day. Generally, I only decide what I'm going to smoke when I get to the lounge.
Do you perform retrohales when smoking cigars and how important is that in your opinion?
R: No, rarely. I don't like blowing smoke through my nose. It doesn't suit me.
Do you smoke pipes?
R: Rarely, because it's pointless for me to pay a couple of euros for a can when I know I'm going to throw it away. But there are some very good tubos cigars that I have tried.
Considering that cigar smoking is considered a ritual, do you prefer to smoke alone in your lounge or do you prefer it in company?
R: Now my son has also started into the world of cigars, so the two of us smoke together on weekends and there are always a couple of friends. Sometimes my wife also lights up with me, but mostly I smoke alone, it's still a ritual.
Can you recommend a good cigar under € 10 ?
R: I buy a lot of cigars in Italy because the prices here in Slovenia and Croatia are quite high. In Italy, you can still buy Partagas Mille Fleur for less than € 10. It's a great cigar with a typical peppery profile. The vitola is a Petit Corona, excellently made, just right for 1 hour of nice smoking. Another variant is Rafael Gonzales Perlas, a slightly smaller cigar, thinner. Unfortunately, the rest is getting more expensive. I prefer classic cigars like the Partagas 898, premium cigars that are very hard to come by today due to the low production volume. The market demands all the big rings like 52, 54, 56 etc.
@thecigarsmoker
What is the best cigar lounge you have visited?
R: In my opinion, the best cigar lounge I've been to is in Madrid. It's called Pasión Habanos is a private club that can only be entered by invitation. It is beautifully decorated, nice selection of cigars, drinks, classic design. I can tell you that the Havana lounge in Zagreb is also very nicely done.
How did you start with the @thecigarsmoker Instagram profile?
R: I started quite by accident in 2014. I didn't have Instagram but I decided to open it and start posting pictures of cigars. Today I have over 100,000 followers and I take pictures and manage them all myself. I can say that cigars simply brought me closer to people online and I met a lot of charismatic people like various NBA players and owners of Bell & Ross, for example, where we smoked together in their offices in Paris. It's amazing how cigars bring like-minded people together, and if you don't have the same opinion, when you smoke cigars you speak the same language.
What is the most common myth or question you hear about cigars?
R: The most common is whether a cigar can be inhaled ? I always say try it and you'll see haha. I'm joking, of course, but people often associate cigars with cigarettes, which is the complete opposite.
Has your love for cigars ever taken you around the world?
R: Of course, yes. I travel often because I am often invited to various events related to cigars. I have not visited Cuba yet and I would really like to.
What would be your advice for someone entering the world of cigars for the first time?
R: Try as many different cigars as possible, from different countries and different vitolas, because what suits me may not suit someone else. The important thing is that you find what works for you and when you find it, stick to it.
Robert Rudl @thecigarsmoker
Images: @thecigarsmoker
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