My dad always said the Bluegill in the lake were “…as big as your hand!”
My dad taught me to live simply, think positively, choose kindness, and to always work hard. He was especially fond of fishing, and enjoying a great cigar. Some of the best memories shared with him were when we were casting lines in a body of water somewhere. It could be a pond, a lake, a stream, a river, or just offshore in the flats of The Gulf of Mexico. He could catch his limit in any condition.
Growing up, I was blessed to have a small pond behind the house, and a 14′ john boat with an underpowered trolling motor. Weather permitting, we’d often head out at dawn, tackle boxes full of colorful gear, and several rods rigged and ready to go. After a bit, dad would cut the motor, and the boat would drift with the wind for a few casts. As the sun rose, we settled in the shade along the shoreline and the ritual of sipping & smoking would commence.
The squeaky lid on the old metal thermos announced the coffee was being poured, and the warm earthy aroma would waft to the bow of the boat. With the steaming coffee in his mug, the cigar was next. Dad’s fishing vest featured a cutter on a retractable lanyard to snip the cap off his cigar. He favored a swift straight cut, you’d hear the snip followed by several rapid clicks of him opening and closing the blades to clear the small fragments of tobacco holding on.
He’d toast the foot of his cigar with the soft flame generated by scrolling the gritty sparkwheel of his trusty BIC®. Then he’d gently blow on it like it was an ember of glowing tinder at the start of a primitive campfire. The first few puffs of smoke extended like blue and grey ribbons flowing over the water, sending the scents of leather and spice downwind. While it wasn’t important that we caught any fish, dad always seemed to lure a keeper into the boat, even if the rest of us didn’t. He’d wink, smirk, and say ‘it’s all in the wrist’. When I was of age, I began smoking cigars, and further devloped my own passion for fishing too.
As he got older there were less outings in the boat, but we could still enjoy a good cigar and jaw about the one (or two) that got away. In June of 2023, at 90 years old, he shared what would be his last cigar, surrounded by friends and family who gathered for his birthday to celebrate a life well lived. A few weeks later, in his words, ‘his time was up’ and he passed away peacefully. In the weeks that followed so many brothers & sisters of the leaf shared stories of meeting my dad, smoking cigars, and shooting the breeze with him at one of the local shops, or visiting on his back porch.
In honor of my dad, I created Lure Cigars as a way to remember some of the best times shared with him and to encourage others to make time to … Smoke Great Cigars & Tell Tall Tales.
If you’re near Scottsboro, AL don’t miss an opportunity to visit The Vault on Laurel. Grant was generous in his hospitality, and gave me the blessing of extra time to take a late day break from the road. While it was a brief, unplanned visit, we shared a smoke with fellow enthusiasts who stopped in and traded fish stories, discussed a bit of philosophy and faith, and a I learned about Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, a delicious experience… Grant, thank you for the gift of the hand ground, pour-over cup of coffee, I think you nailed the perfect pairing with ‘The Fat Matt’ Sun Grown.
Cigars are an instrument of respite for the body and soul… and help to recharge the physical, mental, and spiritual batteries that help to keep us going.
I look forward to visiting The Vault again soon to ‘Smoke Great Cigars & Tell Tall Tales!’
🔥🎣💨
#thevaultal #cigars #coffeeandcigar #smokelurecigars #hospitality
@grant_thevaultlounges
@thevaultal
Had a great visit to @creeksidecigarco today and met up with the amazing staff and some of the local patrons. I didn’t capture many photos while we were ‘smoking great cigars & telling tall tales’ but you can catch some of our conversation soon. Thank you to @dimber, Tyler, Brandon, and Felix for your hospitality today. I want to thank @jjstogies for making the trip to share a couple cigars and catch up in person. I wonder what fish are swimming in the Creek! 🔥🎣💨
Check out Lure Cigars in the humidor and online at https://creeksidecigarco.com/ now.
#SIGC #creekside #smokelurecigars #smokegreatcigarstelltalltales #cigars
When you get a recommendation for the best Italian sandwich (sub? hoagie? grinder?) and it’s also a cigar shop, you have to go. I stopped by @smokin_brews today and met Paul and Mike and some of their family and friends. I was welcomed and had the best Italian sandwich I’ve ever had. While we were ‘smoking great cigars & telling tall tales’ another cigar enthusiast stopped by to get out of the pouring rain. Who else but @josephr.gannascoli Vito from the Sopranos. I was doing my best not to geek out as we sat and enjoyed cigars and stories. These guys know their baseball history, and it was a pleasure to learn more about Roberto Clemente and other Pittsburgh greats. Thank you for making the afternoon one to remember. Salud!
#vitosmokescigars #smokinbrews #cigars #lurecigars #bestsandwich
Hanging out sipping some great coffee and meeting the locals on in the Strip District at @leafandbeanbyislandjim … live music keepin’ it real. Thanks for making time to ‘Smoke Great Cigars & Tell Tall Tales!’🔥🎣💨
#cigars #leafandbean #smokegreatcigarsandtelltalltales #nowsmokingacigar
Had a great day with the family of @dirtyashcommunity and @cigarvaultoakdale to celebrate and reflect on what makes this al worth doing. Many great cigars were smoked and tall tales told. I hope everyone makes it back home safely. Tight Lines & Long Ashes!
Until next time… 🔥🎣💨
#cigars #smokegreatcigarsandtelltalltales #dac #cigarvaultoakdale #family
Had a great time at @goodfellascigarloungesc last night. Thank you for the hospitality and support! It’s always a blessing to be able to ‘Smoke Great Cigars & Tell Tall Tales!’ with you. 🔥🎣💨
#goodfellassc #lurecigars #smokegreatcigarstelltalltales #cigars
EVENT – CREEKSIDE CIGAR CO. – Maineville, OH! Join us on Monday 8/17 from 11:00am-3:00pm for coffee and a chance to ‘Smoke Great Cigars & Tell Tall Tales… in Good Company’ 🔥🎣💨❤️
Creekside Cigar Co.
1381 US-22
Maineville, OH 45039
(513) 630-1044
#cigars #creeksidecigarco #sigc #smokegreatcigarstelltalltales #lurecigars
