When I have a passion for something, I like to write about my experiences and thoughts. It’s a way for me to document my journey and share knowledge and information with others. Back in 1994, when the Web was still new, I started a journal (it was a blog before the blog became a thing) on the Delphi programming language called the Delphi Corner to document the techniques I learned and share various innovations. That site is still around and is probably one of the oldest websites in existence.
And over the years, I’ve written a few other blogs on other passions such as guitar gear (GuitarGear.org), golf (The Lateral Hazard), and wine (The Pinot Philes). And now I’m writing about cigars.
I’ve been smoking cigars since the early ’90s but up until the last year or so, it had been a once or twice a month thing for me. I maintained a small desktop humidor but kept the rest (I always had at least 20-30) in the freezer. That worked for me for decades! I had Cubans (when they were affordable) and Fuentes and others that I purchased at lounges all around the US.
When my daughter graduated from Fordham University in 2022, the entire family took a trip to New York City (one of my favorite places), and we stayed in Harlem. There I found the Harlem Cigar Room and I purchased a bunch of cigars. I don’t remember exactly what I purchased, but I do know that included in the thirty or so that I left with, there were Plasencia and Oliva cigars included in the mix.
That’s when I decided to start smoking regularly. And my good friend Jorge helped my passion by gifting me some great smokes or trading sticks with me. So, a few months ago, because I was starting to smoke several assorted brands and blends, I decided to write down my thoughts and experiences so I wouldn’t forget. Thus, Unco B’s Stogie Diary came to life.
To be clear, this isn’t a review site, though I do include tasting notes. But those notes are for me and me alone. While I have an educated palate and tasting vocabulary from all the years I’ve spent tasting and writing about wine, this by no means makes me an expert on cigars. The descriptions I write are cues to help me remember what I’ve smoked.
Even more so than wine, cigar taste is intensely personal. Give three people the same stick and they will describe wildly different things. That’s why for those who read my notes, I will simply provide this disclaimer: I’m describing what I taste. And if folks find it useful, that’s awesome.
And as far as this blog goes, for the first time in writing blogs, I’ve decided not to share my link to it. If people find my blog that’s great, but I’m not going out of my way to advertise it.
But like any connoisseur, I will be writing about LOTS of different cigars. I have friends who stick with the same few and that’s that. Besides, I’m not on some sort of journey as I’ve heard others say. I’m just trying out a lot of different cigars because I want to experience as many distinct aspects of cigars as possible. That’s not so much a journey as it is aimlessly wandering.
So where does the name Unco B come from? Over the last few years, I’ve spent a lot of time in Hawaii. My daughter lives there and my wife and I just bought a house with her on Oahu. When I’m there, the young people call me “Uncle” though they prounounce it unco. So, since my name is Brendan, I tell folks just to call me Unco B.
Unco B's Stogie Diary 