Barbecue Bolivar?

Ah, the acrid waft of smouldering lighter fluid; the unmistakable crunch of carbonized pork products; the worryingly soft texture of undercooked chicken.

Yes folks, barbecue weather is finally upon us.

Man cook meat. Woman prepare all other necessary salads, sauces, condiments, cutlery, napkins drinks, tables, chairs and the like. Doesn’t matter if man never goes anywhere near a stove and wouldn’t know a succulent ‘on point’ chunk of chicken breast that had gently been marinating in chilli, fish sauce and turmeric overnight if it leaped off the grill and slapped him around the chops.

Despite the forebodings above though, barbecue grilling, roasting and general outdoor kitchen shenanigans have improved immeasurably and woodfired ovens, comfortable seating areas and competent and practical equipment means we’re perhaps spending more time enjoying our patios and gardens than ever before.

Which is good news for the cigar smoker.

When you’ve got an excuse to be fiddling about outside for hours on end – lighting and tending fires, poking about in the ash, placing and removing various bits of ironmongery – you can use the time to maximum profit. A cold beer and a good cigar are a natural companion.

I wouldn’t suggest a Bolivar, to be honest; too robust and rambunctious for a warm
afternoon in front of the barby. But if you’re in for a long session, why not try a
Diplomaticos No.2? It’s a long, heavenly, medium-bodied smoke and I guarantee you won’t want to put it down, even when the food’s ready and the kids are hungry. You might be tempted to overcook the burgers just so you can finish it.

Or, if time is short and you want a back straightener of a cigar to kickstart the party before serving up and settling down with friends and family, look no further than the simply wonderful Partagas Serie D No.6 – a short, fat espresso blast of cigar loveliness that you can puff on with some potency and be rewarded with a delicious quick smoke.

Once the cooking is over and you’re settling back into that lovely, languid, post-lunch/pre-dinner timeless stretch of abandon, then perhaps take the time to enjoy something sublime. If you don’t know the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2, you haven’t lived. It’s a classic, graceful cigar, full of rich flavours and delicate complexity, yet light in strength. I can’t think of a better way to spend a delightful British Summer afternoon – friends, family, drinks, smokes, all the fun and all the smokes.

Happy barbecuing.