Room 101 by Camacho (808 6x60)

So this past Wednesday was my birthday, and after the first 30 or so they just get boring and pointless, just another day. Work and the responsibilities of life don't come to a halt to allow a chance to catch a breath, and adding another year really has no cognitive effect on life other than the fact that with this being my 36th year of existence, I am now statistically 50% complete with the average 72 year life span of a white male in America.

OK, so maybe that is a dark way to look at it, but a fact is a fact and the harsh reality that statistically life is 50% complete for me illustrates the need to do exactly what I ended up doing the afternoon of my birthday.

I called a friend, suggested beers and cigars at the local cigar hangout Stogie's, and an afternoon that should have been spent doing "work" was spent doing something tangible, hanging out and having fun with friends.

I suggested the afternoon out with my friend the night before via e-mail which was followed up with his reply e-mail simply asking "?" to which I told him of my birthday to which he then replied back insisting he buy the first round of drinks and cigars.

I told him that I wasn't looking for a freebie, but he insisted and my Dad didn't raise a fool either so I accepted his generous offer and plans were firmed up.

We met up around 1:00 and headed over to Stogie's, and honestly I am like a kid in the candy store looking at the vast selection of cigars I haven't smoked yet. I eventually settled on a Room 101 by Camacho, and since time was on my side I went big choosing the 6" 60 ring gauge smoke pairing it with a Sam Adam's Oktoberfest that my sister had suggested. My friend went with a Rocky Patel Edge Light, a cigar I have reviewed here a few weeks ago selecting the same Sam Adam's which Stogie's has on tap for our enjoyment.

I utilized a punch to open up the 101 and slowly toasted the foot. The big 60 ring gauge took a long time to get lit evenly, and after taking a few draws and checking the foot, I was confident it was fully lit and burning evenly.

Camacho is known for making some pretty strong cigars, and this 101 was no exception. It started strong with an earthen flavor that was strong and powerful. Big (in terms of size) like this 101 demands a firm draw, but a full mouth of smoke is certainly the reward, and the 101 returns the favor for those who work at it.

The flavor profile is strong, it is somewhat 2 dimensional in that it does suggest a very earthy flavor on the draw with an almost burnt charcoal taste on the finish. The cigar did not burn very evenly either necessitating the need to relight it 2-3 times to keep the whole cigar going, and I know that this did not help the flavor profile.

I found myself drawing 2-3 times a minute making sure it didn't self extinguish, the Sam Adam's actually worked to enhance the flavor the cigar on its own was missing. I am not much of a beer drinker, but found myself enjoying the Sam Adam's finding the pairing quite nice - although certainly not as a result of my knowledge of beer. After about 45 minutes or so the 101 had passed what I think was its sweet spot, and the smoke continued to take on a stronger and stronger carbon flavor that I personally find offensive, and after drawing and really getting the essence of stale smoke I elected to let the 101 burn itself out and move on to round 2.

It's funny how time seems to slow when you are having fun, and seeing it was barely a few ticks past 2 I suggest round 2 to my friend, this time my treat. I told him let me pick the cigar for both of us, and after perusing the humidor I landed on suggesting either the Cain F or the Rocky Patel Patel Bros., my buddy said lets go with the RP and so we did.

He continued drinking a second Sam Adam's while I selected a Boylan Ginger Ale. Having already been familiar with the Rocky Patel, I was actually impressed with how well the very sweet Ginger Ale paired with the RP.

I probably smoked the RP faster than needed, but it is such a great cigar I do deserve to be forgiven.

Time continued to march on and finally the time came whereupon the need to return to reality and resume life was upon us. We settled up and headed for home knowing that at a time not so long from now we could again sneak away from life for a few hours and and enjoy LIFE.

I got home and was greeted with my wife and 4-year old jumping out of the laundry room to "surprise" me for my birthday. My son gave me a gift bag that he had chosen the present that was within, a Thomas the Tank Uno game, ages 3 & up. My wife chuckled saying "you should have seen some of the other things he wanted to buy you!"

She then hugged me and asked me if I was having a good birthday. I told her, "No, I am having a great birthday!"

As I sat around 2 days later in a meeting that my friend who spent the afternoon with me was a part of as well, I made some smart ass remark to the effect that we should have been having our meeting at Stogie's. Of course my friend having shared the afternoon perked up and smirked knowing the fun we had was done while others sit in their cubicles slaving away for another day.

FOLKS, LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO NOT SPEND SOME TIME AND ENJOY IT.

I am thankful that for at least a few minutes I was able to sneak away from life and actually enjoy it.

Until we smoke again.