What a wonderful opportunity to speak to Jitka the #SOTL over at Prague. As the cigar industry continuously booms year over year, more and more people find themselves immersed in cigar smoking. Follow her on instagram @redhead_withsoul.
So Jitka, let’s kick things off the old-fashioned way. Please tell us something about yourself and how you first fell in love with cigars.
J: I am a woman that likes to surround herself with quality things. I prefer to have fewer things, knowing that I can rely on them being fantastic and lasting a long time. This is doubly relevant as concerns alcohol and cigars, because although the idea may be unpopular in some circles, they are harmful to health. It’s good to be aware of this and behave accordingly.
I got into cigars when I started exploring the whisky bar life in my hometown, Prague. From there it was just a step to the first quality cigar.
The male-dominated tobacco industry has recently seen a big shift, with a lot of knowledgeable women entering the market. What do you think led to this?
J: Women were no longer brought up to see any difference between male and female, so they find their own way without prejudice from themselves or those around them. And when the tobacco industry is a regular option of livelihood and entertainment in your area, it’s natural.
What is it about the cigar/tobacco culture that keeps you involved?
J: Discovering the flavours in tobacco and combining them with beverages. Most often with alcohol, but also with premium quality unflavoured black tea or coffee. There is no rush with a cigar, it is smoked for a longer period of time depending on the vitola and your mind has to be calm. Complement it with your favourite drink, chat with the bartender, discuss what direction your next glass should take. For me it’s also about good company, dialogue with others and the opportunity to learn from people who have enough knowledge and experience to move me forward.
But there is a downside. When gentlemen want to talk to me in the cigar lounge about cigars, and discover that in many cases, I know more about cigars than they do. It’s funny on one hand and unpleasant on the other.
As a woman in this industry, what do you see as the mistakes by big tobacco brands when it comes to making tobacco more approachable to more women like yourself?
J: Above all, brands should not focus on gender at all in production, but rather on the product itself. When everything is done right with good ingredients, it tastes good to everyone. I think it should stay that way.
Every time someone recommended a cigar that I was guaranteed to like because ‘this is what women like’, it turned out badly. And the same goes for whisk(e)y and rum.
I don’t see any other fundamental flaw. A woman like me finds a hobby like this deliberately, it doesn’t find her.
Let’s get personal. What is your favourite place of origin for tobacco? Are you a Cuban girl or do you dabble in all different types of cigars?
J: I typically prefer cigars from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua, in that order. I most often smoke Cuban cigars. It’s partly due to my preference for tobacco, and partly to the fact that I’ve imported a supply of cigars from Cuba that I’m gradually using up.
Accessories and proper lighting techniques—do they really matter when it comes to enjoying a cigar, or are they all gimmicks in your opinion?
J: That depends on why you’re smoking the cigar. If you want to smoke without hassle, pair a cigar for its flavours and perceive it favourably, then yes. If your only criterion is that it has to have a dense smoke and easy draw, then it’s questionable.
Cigars are very sensitive to handling, humidity, odours and temperature. If you cut it with a blunt guillotine (or other blunt object), then light it with a petrol lighter, suck the head, light only part of the heel and then draw like crazy, then your experience won’t be great, to say the least.
The rest of a badly or crookedly trimmed cap will crumble in your mouth, a soggy wrapper may burn in your mouth, and a petrol lighter will make the cigar smell. Not to mention that if you light anything only partially, uneven burning can occur.
If you make the effort and use a sharp tool that you know how to handle for trimming and light the cigar properly with an un-impregnated match, cedar or gar lighter, you will eliminate any unpleasantness that could appear from the start of smoking. The whole process is actually a kind of constant elimination of mistakes in order to maintain the comfort of smoking. Using the right tools is closely related to this.
The cigar industry is getting bigger and bigger every year, with more brands arriving on the scene. If I was a beginner, what advice would you give me to stop me getting out of my depth?
J: It’s the same as any other new hobby or field you want to pursue. Educate yourself on the theory, read available articles, reach out to someone who has experience, but build your own opinion.
Smoke a few cigars from each country to learn about the basic geographical diversity of tobacco. This will give you an idea of the direction you want to take. However, it is necessary to be guided by the origin of the filler and not by where the cigar was made.
Initially, it may be better to focus on shorter cigars from established brands, and perhaps even cheaper ones, to give you something to practice trimming and lighting on. It is also necessary to consider the nicotine content of the cigar so that it doesn’t knock you over. Any dealer should be able to give you this information.
How long have you been smoking cigars, and do you remember your first?
J: I tasted my first cigar when I was 15. A classmate brought it on the last day of school and passed it around. I don’t remember what it tasted like, but I still get queasy when I remember how soggy it was from spit.
I’ve taken a greater interest in cigars since 2011. Since then, it feels like I see a cigar smoker on every corner.
You must travel a lot. Can you tell us about a few places around the world where you had your best smoking experiences?
J: I absolutely must mention travelling to Cuba for cigars. When touring the local tobacco farms, I realized that cigars taste different in their homeland, and it’s not just about the different setting. Their flavour is fuller, juicier. The cigars I imported from Cuba to the heart of Europe are great, but only great on the level of ordinary imports. I’m ageing them in my humidor now.
What is your favourite cigar and why?
J: If I have to give a name then the Montecristo A. Vitola is big enough for a long smoke, the flavour is mild but full-bodied with flavours of leather, cedar and nuts. This is my favourite combination, which allows complementary pairing with interesting cocktails. Of the smaller ones, my favourite is Trinidad Reyes.
