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Home > What's New > The Big Smoke Atlantic City
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The Big Smoke Atlantic City
Posted: Tuesday, April 20, 2004
By Michael Moretti
Dancers perform behind pink screens to a capacity crowd of 2,400 cigar aficionados.
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Two thousand-four hundred aficionados from around the country sped down the Jersey coast this past weekend to Atlantic City and planted their cigars firmly at the Borgata Hotel, Casino, and Spa -- A.C.'s newest and hippest amalgamation of gaming, entertainment, restaurants…and now, cigars.
The escalator rising from the whirring and ringing of the casino floor led to the second-floor ballroom at the Borgata. The 30,000 square foot space was decked out for the sold-out Big Smoke. Bright lightbulbs climbed up the walls and illuminated the 30-foot high ceiling above the ballroom floor. Beneath, 30 companies set up shop with crates of cigars and beverages.
Guests enter the 30,000 square foot ballroom at the Borgata.
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On the massive 2,000 square foot stage at the front of the room, four dancers stood silhouetted behind neon pink screens and flanked by a state-of-the-art sound system. A buzz filtered into the cavernous area from the eager guests peering in at the entrance. The music boomed from the speakers, the dancers sprang into motion, and the smokers came pouring into the first-ever Big Smoke in Atlantic City.
Some of the best cigar manufacturers in the business welcomed guests to the show: Montecristo Platinum, Saint Luis Rey, Gispert, H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta, Trinidad, Ashton, La Aroma de Cuba, Macanudo, Arturo Fuente, C.A.O., La Flor Dominicana, León Jimenes, Leoninos, Kahlua, Flavors by C.A.O., Fonseca, Carlos Toraño, Cuesta-Rey, Zino Platinum, La Gloria Cubana, The Griffin's, Padrón, Perdomo and Rocky Patel Vintage Series.
Brett Balsley (left), Brian Valley, Tony Giglio and Jeff Alper enjoy a cigar together.
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With their smokes lit, attendees sipped Glenfiddich, Dewar's, The Dalmore, Laphroaig, and Tullamore Dew Scotch; Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek, and Booker's Bourbon; Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey; Hennessey Cognac; St. Francis Vineyards, Ruffino and Casa Lapostolle wine; Fonseca Port; Ron Zacapa Centenario rum; Anheuser World Select beer; Ciroc and Level Vodka Martinis, and washed it all down with San Pellegrino and Aqua Panna water.
Glasses were drained and cigars consumed around displays featuring Puro Humidors and Diamond Crown humidors. Pirelli rolled out high-performance tires with the Pirelli girls, and Jaguar showcased two of its latest model luxury vehicles. The Borgata's showgirls signed their calendar layouts; Colibri exhibited new innovations in the world of lighters and cigar accessories; and Cigar Aficionado provided its own wardrobe booth stocked with hats, magazines and sportswear.
Edward Wickham poses with the Ciroc model.
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The Borgata's acclaimed restaurants catered the event. Old Homestead Steak House carved filet mignon, loin of pork and miniature Kobe beef burgers. Specchio tossed together gourmet Italian pasta dishes, and Mixx and Suilan gave a taste of fusion cooking by serving up Latin/Asian and French/Chinese culinary styles, respectively.
Following the show, fed and fattened, cigar lovers left with Cigar Aficionado tote bags stuffed with nearly 25 cigars. They strolled with their drinks, smoking cigars in hand, and descended the escalator back down to the casino.
Tim Brunnock (left), John and Emma Burke, and Rich and Carmine Zarrilli share a laugh and a smoke.
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The Big Smoke Atlantic City had come to a close, but they did not have to return to reality just yet. Some guests decided to return to the poker room to watch the finals of the Cigar Aficionado Texas Hold'em Tournament, which began earlier in the day with 100 entrees, broke for the Big Smoke and reconvened for the finals, which had whittled the playing field to five with a $25,000 purse to the winner. Click here for the full story.
Others disappeared among the slots and the tables to discover what the Borgata had in store for the evening. After all, it was Saturday and the night was still young -- especially for Atlantic City.
Photos by Lauren Fleishman
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