Charles Barkley • March/April 2020
One of the best to ever play in the NBA and an unabashed cigar lover, Charles Barkley has continued his legacy with his witty commentary in the broadcast booth. We sit down with the basketball legend to talk about his humble upbringing, his love of golf and plans for the future. We also look at 25 years of the Golf Channel, pair 16 Bourbons with cigars and tell the story of one blackjack expert who's learned how to beat the casinos (and teaches others his tricks). Plus, we profile violin virtuoso Charlie Siem, analyze trends in all of our 2019 cigar ratings, take a peek inside Cuba's new state-of-the-art box factory and review 76 cigars in six size categories.
Features
Sir Charles Holds Court
It’s his voice that you hear first, the warm, loud voice that has made him famous, and occasionally gotten him in trouble. “Hello everybody,” he says. Soon, you see him as he …
Golf's TV Heart
In a modest neighborhood in the southern part of Orlando, away from the manicured fairways of a golf mecca and the manic machinations of Disney World, sits the warren of offices …
Bonding with Bourbon
It’s no secret that brown leaves and brown liquids make excellent partners for smoking and sipping together. It’s harder to determine what cigar pairs best with what spirit. So …
Beating Blackjack in the 21st Century
Most every successful person has an ah-ha moment, an epiphany that alters the trajectory of what he does and changes his life for the better. Colin Jones, now 39, experienced his …
Cigars
Analysis: The Scores of 2019
An analysis of the 548 cigars that Cigar Aficionado tasters ranked in 2019 offers interesting insights into where the best are made and how to get the biggest bang for the buck.
Fiddler on the Loose
The violin vurtuoso Charlie Siem has mastered the classics, but isn't above cutting loose with Lady Gaga. And he always carries cigars in his fiddle case.
Inside Cuba's New Cigar Box Factory
Habanos S.A. unveils a state-of-the-art box factory that highlights solar panels, improved production and an eye toward worker safety.
Connoisseur’s Corner: Punch Punch
How did the 29-year-old Cuban Punch stand the test of time in its majestic 50-count cabinet? Plus, a nearly perfect score along with more reviews of their Cuban counterparts.
Ratings from this Issue
Up Front
The Good and the Bad
There have been two recent and major developments in the war on cigars, one of them quite good and the other mixed. Let’s begin with the good. On February 3, U.S. District Judge …
The Good Life
Bugatti Lighters
It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen any real innovation in the world of jet-flame torches, but Bugatti has created a line of sleek, handheld models that solve some of the …
The Villas at the Mirage, Las Vegas
When the Mirage opened in 1989 as the largest hotel in the world at the time, with its unrivaled opulence, star headliners and theatrical exploding volcano, few visitors noticed …
Custom Jeans
The welcoming of casual attire in the work place comes with some pitfalls and responsibility. Losing your jacket and tie doesn’t mean dressing like a slob, and even as jeans are …
Three Herbal Cocktails to Beat the Heat
After a winter of fighting the cold with nogs and toddies, sprightly herbal cocktails can be a more welcoming harbinger of spring than robin red breast or the crack of horsehide …
Wood Pellet Smokers
A good pellet smoker is all you need to make great barbecue. So contends the man credited as the first to win a barbecue competition with pellets back in 1992. But the utility of …
Aston Martin Vantage AMR
The latest James Bond spy romp, No Time to Die, showcases an array of Aston Martins, including the vintage DB5, with which he is so closely associated. Perhaps that’s because the …
Integrated Bracelets
Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak sport watch fairly rocked the watch industry in 1972 with an integrated bracelet that seamlessly flowed from its case. In 1976, the designer, Gérald …
Lightweight Golf Bags
Remember the colossal golf bag Rodney Dangerfield sports in Caddyshack, the one with the functioning beer tap, a (very) loud music system and a belly fat enough to swallow four …