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Discussion: Inside or Outside?

Discussion: Inside or Outside?

Happy Wednesday, folks! 

We’ve been talking about the differences between indoor and outdoor smoking lately in the smoke pit, and I’m curious to hear your thoughts. Usually these conversations happen when we’re all bundled up, wishing we had an indoor area to get out of the wind. 

Do you prefer to smoke inside or outside?

Myself, I’ll always prefer to smoke outside if I can justify the weather.  I feel like my senses pick up more from the cigar overall, and I can get a much more enjoyable experience outside. 

Inside, it usually feels like I’m smoking in cold weather.  Like I’m sipping on chilled bourbon with dulled flavors.  Even if I’m the only one in the lounge at the time, it usually feels like I enjoy the cigar less.  Of course, when mother nature turns against you something is better than nothing.

That isn’t to say that this is always the case.  I was shocked to burn several cigars inside Maxamar’s Ultimate Cigar Lounge (our Brick & Mortar store) a few months ago without noticing the same effect.  I’m not sure if it’s the use of exhaust only rather than air purifiers, or just the sheer power of the exhaust overall that kept smoke from lingering too long.  Whatever they did, it was my best indoor smoking experience to date. 

What about you? What are your preferences and why? 

  • Do you notice a difference inside versus outside? 
  • How about in an empty lounge compared to a full lounge? 
  • Am I the only one that feels the same way? 

Cheers to a great rest of your week!

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I’ll be randomly selecting a comment below this Sunday after sending out the Weekly Newsletter. The winner can expect a comment with his or her name in it, a congratulations email, and an email with the $25 gift card information.  The actual gift card email takes some time to generate from the system and may lag behind by up to 48 hours. 

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Comments

2/12/2020 6:04 AM
Outside is preferred as long as it’s above 55 degrees and the wind isn’t strong. It’s 25 degrees in Chicago Land and I do most of my smoking in my truck these days.
2/12/2020 6:13 AM
Outside for me. Love a beautiful spring day sitting in the sun and smoking a great cigar. I don't really have the option to smoke indoors anywhere.
2/12/2020 6:28 AM
My hierarchy of enjoyment/preference is:

1. Inside garage with a door open to allow good ventilation, but also you can bask in the room smoke and foot smoke as it rises from the cigar to catch all the finer nuances of the smoke.  

2. Outside in the open.  You lose a ton of flavor because the foot smoke dissipates quickly. Wind or even sometimes a light breeze can really affect the burn line of a cigar also.  BUT, your clothes and skin don't smell as bad for as long.  Plus, being outside is nice.

3.  Lounge.  Socially, this is great.  For cigar enjoyment, I HATE smoking in lounges.  You cannot smell or taste your own cigar with other folk's smoke swirling around, and you smell like an ashtray for 2 days.  It seeps into your pores lol.  

Ideal smoke session is: alone in garage, door slightly cracked, a fine beverage (coffee, bourbon, or beer for me), some tunes, maybe the Cigar Dojo show, and off I go.
2/12/2020 7:39 AM
Wisconsinite here!

45 degrees and above I am outside or in the garage watching TV with my cigar in the evening.
But, wintertime's weather is brutal, even what the rest of the world calls spring, we can have snowstorms and temps way below freezing. I have a propane heater for the garage and cold weather hunting gear I can wear, but with the heaters noise, salt stained garage floor and rock hard brown frozen falling off the cars, its a rather unpleasant experience.
Thankfully, I am able to talk my wife into letting me go to a few events (I have small kids) at the lounge where I can sit back and relax, without needing hand warmers, insulated boots and clothing that stinks and covered in burrs.
BRING ON THE WARMER WEATHER!
2/12/2020 9:22 AM
Being in sunny Southern California, outdoor smoking takes the cake (and is rarely not an option). However, I have a great lounge just down the street that is nice to go to with some buddies or for a sporting event. But 9 times out of 10, I'd go with outside.
2/12/2020 10:49 AM
Outside with an adult beverage, the Cigar Authority on, and good company.
2/12/2020 11:10 AM
I always prefer to smoke outside. I like being outdoors anyhow and usually when I smoke cigars, I’m around the farm doing stuff or playing with the dogs. I find that I pick up flavors much better, probably because of having fresh air. I live in the Northeast, so we experience uncomfortably cold weather at times, but I have no problem smoking outside as long as it’s above 20ish and isn’t super windy. I’d actually rather smoke in 30 degree weather than 85-90 degree temps we see in the summer cause it’s always coupled with high humidity. If it’s raining or snowing, I’ll just hang out in the garage or barn and smoke with the doors open so I still have fresh air moving.

When I am in a lounge (full or empty), I have a lot of trouble picking up distinct flavor notes and my guess is because the air inside a lounge isn’t fresh like outdoors.
2/12/2020 11:28 AM
Outside. I prefer a fresh air exchange at all times. It keeps the experience pleasant and the flavors and aroma clean in my opinion. Purifiers don't bring in the fresh air  that gives me the same experience as being outside and I have yet to experience the exhaust system experience you describe, clearing the air and bringing in enough fresh air to leave me with that "fresh air" experience. Perhaps it was the size of your warehouse and exhaust system that allowed for this?

I also enjoy the outdoor atmosphere better due to the glow of the moon light, rustle of the leaves, or relaxing nature's back drop that is perfect for blazing a cigar in. Being around other cigar smokers outside, I can also enjoy the possible conversations and comradery that it brings, without their smoke overwhelming or choking out my experience.
2/12/2020 11:38 AM
Outside 100%.  I recently moved back to Colorado and have been getting fully decked out in cold weather gear to be able to smoke outside.  Admittedly, I choose smaller vitolas, but being outside in fresh air (even cold) helps me enjoy the experience so much more than being trapped inside.  I am inside most of the day for work, in a building with almost no windows.  Less of that please!
2/12/2020 11:49 AM
I definitely prefer smoking inside on my couch watching TV. I put a window fan in the window and put it so it exhausts outside and actually works really well. I find if I'm outside it's not nearly as enjoyable. I like to let the smoke out slowly and that's rather impossible outside with the slightest breeze.
2/12/2020 11:51 AM
Rain or shine, I prefer smoking outdoors. Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to smoke on my patio, so 95% of the time I need to go to the lounge to smoke.
2/12/2020 12:42 PM
Completely Outside. I live in Alaska so temps don't bother me too much as long as its above 15 degrees. I usually don't some when it is too windy or raining, but that doesn't always stop me.
2/12/2020 12:56 PM
I tend to enjoy my sticks indoors. O don’t know what it is but they really taste better to me indoors. Probably just my weird self. I love going to my local B&M and socializing with the older guys there. They usually have all kinds of stories that interest me.
2/12/2020 1:45 PM
As long as it's not too windy and is not freezing, outside is always the first choice. Also, sometimes in the spring if I can't get my allergies under control I'll smoke inside.
2/12/2020 7:44 PM
Unless I'm at a lounge, I smoke outside.... or at least at the door to the garage.  If it's windy, yes it can play havoc on the burn, but it's much more enjoyable than stinking to high heaven.
2/12/2020 8:59 PM
Outside for sure!  I even prefer to walk if it’s nice enough (which includes winter in WI).  I don’t mind smoking inside though either if needed.  Unfortunately I don’t have many indoor places to go, which is limiting this time of the year...
2/12/2020 9:44 PM
Outdoor for sure. This winter I've been enjoying some PlayStation classic in the garage with a kerosene heater while smoking but the one day it was above 40 last week was glorious outside.
2/12/2020 10:06 PM
I prefer outside if the weather permits. My absolute favorite is after a nice hike. Whether I end up at waterfall or beautiful Alpine lake. If I could this would be where I enjoyed every cigar. Of course that's not realistic though. I'm fine with smoking indoors but that doesn't happen much if at all where I live. It's just not really an option.
2/13/2020 7:00 AM
I'd much rather smoke outside. However, if I had a slick indoor setup I'd probably stay in there.
2/13/2020 7:27 AM
I think both have their own pros and cons.  If I had to call it something I would say is 51/49 outside. Whether outside or inside I just love to enjoy my stogie.
2/13/2020 8:55 AM
In the winter, like it is now, indoors in front of my tv or stereo or watching the birds attack my window feeders.
The rest of the year 70% indoors 30% outdoors on my deck watching the great grandkids swimming.
I do not like it windy, a little breeze is nice though. During a heavy rain I will sit in the garage with the doors open and relax to the sounds of the rain while puffing away.
2/13/2020 11:35 AM
My best experience is sitting outside my regular cigar lounge where tables and chairs are provided. I bring my own beverage and chat with others. I live in Tampa, Fl and the weather is not always inviting, but this time of year, a cigar tastes the most flavorful under a full moon surrounded by other cigar smokers. Inside the lounge, there is too much smoke and it bothers my eyes. Outside excessive smoke is not a problem. To best enjoy a cigar, you need to taste, feel and smell it. Outside air is the best!
2/13/2020 11:47 AM
Outside is preferred as long as it's above 60.  I love sitting on my patio enjoying a cigar, bourbon, and listening to music. In the winter I'm usually stuck smoking in my garage since it's typically cold in Western PA.
2/13/2020 4:56 PM
Inside or out definitely depends heavily on the location as well as mood. If I am wound tight and need to relax, and I’m in the noisy city, with lots of commotion, I prefer to sit in a nice quiet and comfortable lounge. If I am
at home, or on vacation at a nice quiet resort, outside in the open air it is. I’ll even take outside on a chilly evening if I have a nice firepit to ease up to!
2/15/2020 7:17 AM
I love the idea of smoking inside, but I don't enjoy the overwhelming amounts of smoke that usually knock out my tastebuds and make me stink like old ashtrays.  Smoking outside comes with its challenges in Chicago (cold and unpredictable weather and lots of wind), but I find I can focus more on my cigar experience and explore how a blend works with my palate when I don't have a lot of competing smoke.  That said, I happily use my folks' garage whenever it's cold here - as long as there aren't more than two cigars being enjoyed.
2/16/2020 7:04 PM
Congrats Brent!  And thanks to everyone else for participating!