A “Man Room” for the Ages
No, a “man room” is not where men go to the bathroom (although the toilet is something that will come up a little later). A “man room” is a room — or even space in, near or around the home — where a man feels comfortable knowing it’s his space. Friends, spouses, children, etc. are welcome to join him, but they have no right to try and change it or even criticize him for it. It is an area that reflects who he is, as opposed to what others may want him to be. The people in his life could view the room for the first time and just know: “This is !”
My “man room” is fairly modest — my home office. It works for me, but it is not worth writing home (or in Bullz-Eye) about. Now my friend and neighbor, Mike, does have one worth noting. In my mind, it’s the ultimate “man room” that I have seen. It’s actually a “man wing” of the house, the entire third floor. It is done up in a cozy, sophisticated cigar/sports bar theme, and yes, his wife actually allows him to smoke cigars there. It certainly helps that she is an occasional cigar smoker herself, granted they are smaller and typically flavored. The smoking room has a faux fireplace and an exhaust fan to help move the smoke out of the house. A big window between the two big leather smoking couches also keeps the buildup of smoke from becoming too oppressive. A handsome, well-stocked humidor sits within reach of the two couches, which face each other separated by an oversized coffee table to hold the drinks and ashtray. This set up makes for excellent smoking and conversation. In another area of this “wing,” you’ll find the bar, also well stocked with top-shelf libations and within viewing distance of the big screen TV. The TV is hooked to the satellite feed that includes the complete NFL package.
However, the crowning touch in Mike’s “man room” is the “men’s room,” complete with only a urinal and a sink. This sends a clear and distinct message – this is Mike’s space. His wife and any female friends are always welcome in the room, but if they don’t like cigar smoke, or just need to pee, they will be guided to another room in the house that provides the proper smoke-free environment and bathroom facilities.
So, if you want a little place to call your own, you should insist on it. Shoot for a “man room” for the ages, complete with cigar smoking privileges, the football package and a urinal (good luck selling that one to the wife!). If it works, send me an email – I could use the sales training around my own home.
Since writing this piece, I became aware of an article on this exact topic published in the “Washington Post” on Feb. 10. Apparently, the “man room” is a strong trend in the real estate market today. Go to www.washingtonpost.com and search on “Man, what a setup” to read the article. Be sure to use the quotes on each end of the phrase within the search engine. It may help you make the business case for your own “man room.” Good luck!
Now, Let’s get smokin’
Cigar Review:
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real
Size: #2 6 1/8” X 52
Price: $5.50 to 6.50 range
Introduced in Cuba in 1875, the Romeo y Julieta (the ‘J’ is pronounced as an ‘H’ – Hulieta) line of cigars is a mainstay, a prime cigar of choice among all types of cigar smokers. The Reserva Real blend is crafted in the Dominican Republic and represents one of the newest lines in the Romeo y Julieta family. The first full box of cigars I ever purchased was from the Reserva Real line. Its flavor, aroma and construction are an example of what a good cigar should be.
Tobacco blend:
Wrapper: Connecticut shade wrapper – Ecuadoran grown (tan)
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan blend
Binder: Nicaraguan
Context
I had never smoked this particular size (#2) of the RyJ Reserva Real. It was gifted to me by a fellow “brother of the leaf” as something of a Christmas present. After storage in the humidor for a few weeks, I took it on a business trip out West. On a Thursday night in downtown Denver, I finally had the opportunity to spark it. The setting was the Churchill Cigar Bar in the Brown Palace Hotel, an oasis for the cigar smoker. If you want to step back in time to what a first-rate smoking lounge was and should be, stop in for a drink and/or smoke the next time you happen to be in Denver. I thought I would keep it simple and pair this smoke with a Fat Tire Ale, a regional but well known microbrew.
Look and feel
This cigar has the traditional light, golden tan wrapper, a direct result of it being shade grown. Construction was fine – I’ve smoked more RyJ’s than probably any other cigar and I don’t recall ever having a poorly constructed one. The cut was excellent, made the night before I left on the trip.
Aroma and Taste
I followed my typical routine: toast the foot of the cigar, then puff it to ensure an even and full light. The draw was fine, and the familiar flavor of the Reserva Real met me like a long lost friend. It is best characterized as being wood flavored, most notably in the finish. It is a smooth cigar, light to medium in body. Throughout the cigar, the taste remained consistent, with only an occasional slight spiciness. The burn was straight and required virtually no maintenance.
The Romeo y Julieta is a very good cigar and is an excellent one for the less seasoned cigar smoker to try. It is just a straightforward cigar with consistency in flavor, burn and construction – all qualities that any smoker can appreciate. I found the larger sized #2 to be to my liking, providing more smoke on the draw than, say, the corona size. If you’re a newbie, you may want to start with the corona, otherwise go for something a little larger in the ring size.
RATING: 8.9 (on a scale of 1 to 10)
Just a good, solid cigar – a classic.
By Bob Hritsko
Did you know?
Women bought fewer than one-tenth of a percent of all cigars in the 1980s. Now women buy more than five percent of all cigars.
DISCLAIMER: At the risk of sounding too much like a TV commercial, I do want to sincerely state: This feature is NOT intended to advocate the smoking of cigars any more or any less than you already do, nor do I intend to influence the non-smoker to begin smoking cigars. Make no mistake about it; CIGAR SMOKING MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.